British actress Clare-Hope Ashitey admits she just "fell into acting", but she seemed to have landed very much on her feet as she attended the LA premiere of her film Children Of Men this week. The 19-year-old schoolgirl-turned-movie star joined established actors Clive Owen and Chiwetel Ejiofor on the red carpet - something she's going to be getting used to.
"Working with great actors is initially intimidating, as you never know what everyone will be like," she recently explained. "But everyone I've worked with has been so patient and friendly, it's just been a great opportunity to learn."
The pretty student, who stars as a pregnant refugee who can save mankind from extinction, filmed the apocalyptic thriller during her gap year. In the film she shares the screen with not only leading man Clive, 42, and Kinky Boots actor Chiwetel, but also Hollywood veteran Michael Caine and American actress Julianne Moore.
"It was quite daunting at times, just being on set with so many people who are great at what they do," she says. "I can tell you it's been a steep learning curve for me. The physical aspect of being pregnant and giving birth in the film was really hard to master, having never done it myself."
Clare seems to be taking her newfound fame in her stride, though, as she was snapped alongside Clive, Chiwetel, Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron and British actor Charlie Hunnam at Thursday's glitzy screening.
Although she landed the plum part of Kee just after finishing her A-levels, the flick is not her first taste of showbiz. She was plucked from obscurity while still at school to film Shooting Dogs during her summer vacation. "It was mad," she admits. "I finished school, did the film for nine weeks, flew back and was in school on Monday. It was a phenomenal experience."
But the rising star is nothing but down-to-earth about her acting career. Hoping to continue her studies as a back-up, she has a place to study social anthropology at University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies.
"She is very academic," says her agent, "and she didn't necessarily want to do acting. It was a hobby but she had the right breaks and loved it when she was doing it."
Despite her academic plans, Clare is currently filming her next movie, Exodus. Due out next year, it is inspired by the biblical story of Exodus and set in Margate 20 years in the future.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
