INTERVIEW
TEKLE
BAROTI
“The hardest part so far was making the decision and I chose to listen to my heart.”
After 12 years as an award-winning classical pianist in Lithuania and a degree in Entertainment Management from a prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, TeklÄ— Baroti is now an actress gaining recognition in film and on stage in London. With a list of many independent shorts and theatre productions, she got her first big break in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” (Walt Disney Pictures, dir. Joachim Rønning, 2019).
Since moving to London, TeklÄ— has not only become an active presence in the local performing community (became a founding member of the Sedos Improv group) but also established connections in Lithuania by joining the Women in Film and TV organization.
Thank you so much for doing interview with us! Can you share your story on how did you get started in film industry?
Acting has always been my big dream, but it took me some time to admit it. At least I knew for sure that I would not steer far from film one way or another. When I graduated with an Entertainment Manager’s diploma, I was on my way to becoming a producer. I had a couple of projects lined up for short films and I even managed to get a job in a post-production company to cover all possible grounds in the industry. In a year, I received an offer for a manager’s position. However, at that point, I had already started paving an alternative route for myself. I never had the courage to do it and always doubted my ability, but I realised that my desire to express myself through acting won’t disappear and I had to give it a try. I still remember the first time I decided to book an acting course — I think I was dreading it more than actually walking on stage. I was afraid that as a foreigner I won’t be able to keep up and eventually realise that my dream is just that. Nevertheless, as soon as the first class started, I finally felt that I am exactly where I am supposed to be — I felt free and inspired. Therefore, when that promotion in the company reached me, I handed in my resignation — I was certain it was not the path for me. It was a risky move to just drop everything and delve into something rather unfamiliar, especially when you’re living in London. Fortunately, I had some savings and a plan: I needed to gain as many credits as I could so I could start approaching agents and casting directors. I gave myself six months to concentrate only on that and then find a part-time job to earn a living. Miraculously, after exactly half a year an agent contacted me and offered representation. I guess after all my education in management was handy when it came to managing my own career.
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What a great story! Who are you grateful towards your success and can you share a story about that?
Well, firstly, I am not sure if my story is one of success just yet. Nevertheless, whatever I have achieved so far, I could only thank my piano teacher for. It might seem unrelated as it has nothing to do with acting at first glance, but what she taught me whilst playing the piano became the foundation of pretty much everything I do as an actor. From mind-frame regarding the whole artistic path to preparation for performances — I couldn’t think of a single element of my acting career where her teachings didn’t influence me. I shall forever be grateful for having her as a gift to my life.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Oh, there are many stories!… I guess the most interesting one is the one about what happened when I was cast in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”. In a matter of a split second, my whole life had to turn 180 degrees.
On that day I had to skip my lunch break at work to run to an audition nearby. On my way back, my agent called and told me that I got the role! At that point, I was rushing past Piccadilly. I stopped, my heart went to my knees and I forgot about the world. It lasted about a couple of seconds, but it seemed like forever. I swiftly had to come out of it because I realised that I was in a bit of trouble: I was in rehearsals for two plays that were to premiere when I was now needed on set and, of course, I was scheduled to work in my part-time job on other days. I ran back to work and spoke to my manager straight away. Luckily, everyone was very helpful and understanding and managed to let me go for the time I needed. Nonetheless, it was heartbreaking when I had to break the news to the directors of those plays I was working on. I had to pull out literally two weeks before the premieres. It was tough, but through incredible kindness of people, it was way easier than it might have been.
In the end, I was still doing shifts in my part-time job when I wasn’t on set and sometimes had situations where I was taken to work by a designated driver in a luxurious vehicle after spending the morning with Hollywood legends. It felt like a Cinderella story.
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What what would you say has been the biggest challenge in your career so far? How did you overcome it?
I believe the hardest part so far was making the decision of whether to stay in London and continue pursuing my career here or go back to Lithuania and try to establish myself there. I made lists of pros and cons, spoke to people on both sides of the spectrum, tried to be as objective as I could possibly get on a rather sensitive subject and when my mind just tipped over the boiling point I chose to listen to my heart. It wasn’t easy, but I also realised that it doesn’t have to be permanent. I’ve learnt over time that you always have the freedom to choose and it’s never too late to start a new journey.
What are your ‘‘5 things I do to prepare for the role” and are you able to share a story or example for each?
I’ll try to list them as it might be easier.
1. Words. I pay attention to the words and expressions the character uses to get the feel of personality, upbringing, education. That’s my basic step to build a background.
When I was cast in Alan Bennett’s “Say Something Happened”, the role was deeply rooted in its Yorkshire setting. For me, it was a whole new territory as I have never even been to those parts of the UK. The way my character spoke, the words she used, gave me an understanding of what kind of world she’s been exposed to. For instance, her Yorkshire accent wasn’t as strong because she watched a lot of television and listened to American music, however, her vocabulary was slightly stilted because she didn’t read as much.
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2. Backstory. I write a little biography for my character, so I know what my journey has been so far.
In my role as the only daughter of a terminally ill woman in “Crêpes”, I had the opportunity to work closely with the scriptwriter. We spent days discussing various subtleties of my character’s behaviour and attitude, and how it stemmed from her previous experiences. I ended up writing a mini-biography addressing those points. It was extremely useful not only in my own feeling of certainty when performing but also in my partner’s awareness of the story we shared.
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3. Physicality. How would my character with the upbringing and life up to this point look?
I was cast in two rather contrasting stage roles back-to-back: a military officer and a grief-stricken friend. I had to take into consideration that the posture of one shall reflect someone who has gone through an extensive physical training and the other — someone who has not moved from the bar for days. In some cases these might be very subtle tweaks, but the image it creates can leave an enduring impression without the need for explanations.
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4. Relationship. That’s always a fundamental element for me. The relationship with other characters and even the surroundings of the story informs everything in the portrayal that I am creating.
My role in “Pre-Occupation” would probably be a good example of the importance a relationship has in character development. The story was very clear and simple, but the interaction between the roles fleshed out intricacies in our character personalities that were not readily visible in the script. It’s something you add to the description of your character by reading between the lines.
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5. Research. That’s probably one of my favourite and most time-consuming steps of preparation for a role. I love to do research. I could dig to infinity for clues, tips and images of anything that could help me build the world my character lives in.
I believe the one role I’ve done most research for was again “Say Something Happened” for the VAULT Festival. It was set in Yorkshire of the 80s. I come from Lithuania so I had to do extensive research on what life was like in the region and the rest of the country back in the day, what people were like, what concerns and cultural shifts dominated. Furthermore, I had to learn the accent and specific expressions used by the locals. It was great fun and I learnt so much! Most importantly, it was essential to how I created my character and the world around her.
What methods or techniques do you use to find truth in your character’s behaviour?
Most of this comes from Stanislavsky’s acting school, but I found it truly useful in my work: I try to put myself in their shoes. There are these universal truths about human behaviour and emotions — something we all have in common or can relate to on some level. I try to get to know my characters on a personal level void of any judgement, find how we resonate, and then place that in the context of the character’s world. I need to be able to then employ all the senses to physically inhabit that world so I can bring out truthful responses to the moment. This is why I believe it is very important to constantly train and develop the imagination.
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What are your top 3 tips for actors that are starting out?
Firstly, truly ask yourself if, at the very core of your heart, this is what you seek in life. It’s a tough path and only genuine devotion can help you through all the hurdles. Secondly, remember that you are your best and only representation. Your uniqueness is your selling point — show yourself and be bold about it. Finally, it might sound like a cliché, but do keep in mind that this is a marathon and not a sprint. Focus on your craft and be ready to be the best you can be in the long run.
What has been inspiring you lately?
If I am completely honest, lately I’ve been most inspired by some of my favourite artists. The way they seek perfection, yet constantly being aware of their limits. I am inspired by how they manage to put all their heart and soul into something they truly believe in; how they manage to chose self-confidence instead of doubt even when everything seems to be dragging them down.
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What movie would you recommend watching and why?
I am a huge fan of classics. It’s tough to choose just one to recommend, but I guess the one that comes to mind straight away is “Network” (MGM, dir. Sidney Lumet, 1976). It’s engrossing, powerful in its message and character portrayals — by the end, I was just shocked. I’ve seen a great deal of films from all over the world, different eras and genres, but nothing stuck with me quite as much as “Network”.
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What is one message you would give to your fans?
Everything is possible. You just have to find a way!
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How can our readers find you online?
Official website: https://www.teklebaroti.com/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/teklebaroti
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teklebaroti
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/go.r.i.l.l.a/
