Paris Joy is a spirited Australian actress behind the impactful short film ‘Final Curtain Call.’ Paris’s talent is limitless, from starring in the original Sydney cast of the Royal Shakespeare’s ‘Matilda the Musical’ to leading roles in recognized short films. A seasoned performer for Disney and Nickelodeon, Paris’s career spans commercials, music videos, and the Peter Allen ‘Not the Boy Next Door’ mini-series. Her passion for making a difference led her to address human trafficking in her latest project. As the creator, co-writer, producer, and lead actress in ‘Final Curtain Call,’ Paris takes her talents to the American Arts Film and Television Academy for full-time studies.
HELLO, WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS PARIS JOY IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
I’d say Paris Joy is a little pocket rocket who loves to entertain others and spread positivity. I’ve always had a big heart and I aim to bring joy to the world and encourage others to do the same. I love being able to make people smile and thus my love for entertaining emerged, from as little as the age of 2. I am a triple threat as I act, dance and sing, but I also have a passion for beauty, fashion, and health and fitness.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ACTRESS, AND HOW DID YOUR JOURNEY BEGIN IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY?
Growing up it was obvious I had a passion for the creative arts industry, which was recognised by everyone around me. I began dancing at 2 years old, and my teacher encouraged me to try acting. I instantly fell in love with it and was signed to my first acting agent at age 5. Being able to step into various characters and portray a range of experiences fulfilled me like nothing else did. I knew this was the path I was meant for and I have never given up since. I went from commercials to short films to musicals to studying drama throughout high school, my love for acting only growing. After I graduated I was accepted to study at the American Arts Film and Television Academy (AAFTA), where I completed a summer intensive 4 week program. Afterwards, I was asked to join their 6 month Actor’s Conservatory and following my success during the program, I was awarded the Certificate of Alumni Achievement for my outstanding talent, creativity and dedication. From this, I was offered a position in the Artist Lab Mentorship with Diversity Pictures.
YOU’VE HAD DIVERSE ROLES, FROM MUSICALS TO MINI-SERIES. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE ROLE TO DATE, AND WHY?
One of the most memorable experiences of my life was with The Royal Shakespeare’s Matilda the Musical. The audition process was like no other. There were over a thousand kids competing for 29 roles. I went through rounds and rounds of auditions over a few days and slowly more people were cut. The remaining group was told to wait for an email to inform us if we were successful or not. Fortunately I was, and thus I landed the role Amanda Thripp. Since the musical had never been performed in Australia, I was not only a part of the original Sydney cast, but also a part of developing and constructing the show for the rest of Australia. I worked alongside the choreographer from London’s Matilda the Musical, Fabian Aloise, who adjusted the show for Australian stages. I also got the privilege to perform in front of Tim Minchin. After the Sydney season was completed, my compelling performances, strong work ethic, and unwavering dedication was recognised and I was brought back to continue with Matilda the Musical’s touring cast where I performed in Perth, Adelaide and New Zealand in over 150 shows. The entire experience was extremely memorable and helped mold me into the performer I am today, as I was working in such a highly professional environment across 3 years.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO CREATE ‘FINAL CURTAIN CALL,’ AND WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE TO CONVEY THROUGH THIS FILM?
In 2022, I was the lead actress in a music video ‘Rolling Back The Curtains’ by Jessica Jasmine, which metaphorically conveyed removing the blindfold on society to raise awareness for human trafficking. This sparked an interest in me and since then, I’ve had a passion to be a voice for the voiceless. I want to speak up, as the only way to prevent human trafficking is by starting conversations to make people aware. Thus, when I had the opportunity to create my own short film, I instantly knew the message I wanted to show the world. I was fortunate to collaborate with Diversity Pictures, Ryde Entertainment and Young One Studios to make my vision come to life. Through the offputting atmosphere, dramatic elements and the power of music, my film ‘The Final Curtain Call’ conveys the devastating effects of human trafficking, in hopes to prompt others to talk about the topic, to stamp it out.
ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A SIGNIFICANT AND CHALLENGING TOPIC. HOW DID YOU APPROACH THIS SUBJECT IN YOUR FILM, AND WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE IT HAS?
During the writing process, I knew I needed to be cautious and mindful in addressing an uncomfortable topic that is often suppressed. To do this I chose to convert my film to a musical. Music is an incredible artform that can express emotion, move audiences and develop the story all while making it digestible for viewers. Additionally, I didn’t include any graphic scenes, as the story is powerful enough to allow audiences to interpret the meaning without fully showing it. I hope the impact of my film can shed light on this subject to continue being a voice and start conversations.
AS THE CREATOR, CO-WRITER, PRODUCER, AND LEAD ACTRESS OF ‘FINAL CURTAIN CALL,’ HOW DID YOU BALANCE THESE RESPONSIBILITIES DURING THE PRODUCTION?
By knowing the responsibilities of each role, I knew when they were needed. Depending on the task at hand, I would step into which role was suitable. This made the process as smooth as possible. If I was ever unsure or overwhelmed, I was fortunate to have an amazing team that I would collaborate with and rely on, including my director and co-writer Jessica Orcsik. When it was time to film I switched into actor mode to purely focus on my performance to ensure it was my personal best.
CAN YOU SHARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH DISNEY, NICKELODEON, AND IN THE MINI-SERIES ‘PETER ALLEN: NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR’?
Working at the level of professionalism of Disney and Nickelodeon from a young age, truly developed my experience and I learnt so much. I was able to understand the practices and language used on set, as well as connecting with other amazing creatives. The mini-series ‘Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door’ gave me an insight into how episodic shows are filmed. It was interesting to witness how characters develop over each episode. All this led me to landing the lead roles in multiple short films. I starred alongside Odessa Young in ‘The Tender Dark’ written by Lily Rolfe and Akos Armont. Additionally, I was the lead in ‘The Flying Adventures of Amelia’ produced by AFTRS starring Nathaniel Dean, and ‘The Forgotten Tree’. I continue to learn and grow from every acting opportunity, increasing my confidence as an actor and ease on set, so I can continuously perform at my best.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE ASPIRATIONS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY, AND ARE THERE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS YOU’RE PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT?
My dream is to be the lead in feature films and television shows that audiences love and are invested in. I aspire to be an actress with great versatility and for the roles I play to be memorable. As for future projects, I am very excited to announce that I have been cast in a tv series that is in development with Rockwell Media Partners, Candlefire Films and Diversity Pictures, starring Sonia Rockwell. I am thrilled for this project and the opportunity to work with skilled industry professionals, including Jessica Orcsik.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG ACTORS WHO ARE JUST STARTING THEIR CAREERS AND LOOK UP TO YOU AS A ROLE MODEL?
Never give up. If acting is truly your passion, keep going! The entertainment industry can be challenging, however if you feel it’s what you’re meant to do then follow your heart and chase your dreams. The best thing is to focus on what you can control. This could include attending acting classes, connecting with like minded people and working on your own scripts. Your time will come when it’s right, and you never know, maybe your next audition could be the one.
WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE?
Readers can find me on all social media platforms @iamparisjoy.
