We Speak Actors

Billie Vee stars in her self-penned film ‘Sparrow’s Call’, premiering at the London Independent Film Festival

Published

2 years ago

April 20, 2024

Greek-British actress Billie Vee has written – and stars in – the psychological thriller ‘Sparrow’s Call’, which is showing at London’s Genesis Cinema on Sunday 21st April. Billie is thrilled that the film, which is directed by Tim Kent, has been officially selected for the London Independent Film Festival as it explores the challenges of being a migrant in this country, a topic that’s close to her heart. Here she talks about growing up in the birthplace of theatre, why she loves writing, and filming her movie during the Covid lockdown.

How did you get started as an actress?

“I was born in Athens, Greece, the birthplace of theatre, and I couldn’t even remotely imagine that years later I would be making films in London. From a very young age I remember being in awe of actors on stage. However it was when my parents took me to the cinema for the first time that I felt completely mesmerised. That’s when I knew I wanted to be an actor and that my biggest dream was to star in an English-language feature film.”

Where did you train?

“I trained at the Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun and I received my degree in theatre studies from the University of Athens. After graduating, I started working and gaining experience that spanned from TV and film roles and TV presenting to performing on stage, including the ancient open theatre Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Wanting to expand my artistic horizons and learn how to act in English, I moved to London, where I immersed myself into a journey of continuous self-improvement and development of my craft.”

You wrote the screenplay for ‘Sparrow’s Call’ – how did that come about?

“While continuing my career as an actor in London, I felt the urge to pursue my childhood dream of starring in a feature film. That’s how writing came to my life and I started creating my own work. ‘Sparrow’s Call’ (directed by Tim Kent and produced by Alessio Bergamo) is my first feature film as a writer, after having scripted several award-winning short films and a web series.

“When I write something, it comes from inside me, as a need to express something deeper and then it transforms into a work of fiction to entertain an audience, and make them think and feel.”

Where did you get the inspiration for ‘Sparrow’s Call’?

“‘Sparrow’s Call’ is inspired by my personal journey as a generic migrant in London. Being a foreign actor, I was constantly labelled as ‘Greek’ or ‘exotic”, so I took those labels and moulded them into a fictitious character, Val. The only thing that happened for real and that’s depicted in the film is an incident with a sparrow that took place when I was a child in my father’s village. That’s how I came up with the title of the film.”

What’s the plot of the film?

‘Sparrow’s Call’ follows the story of Mike, a successful philosophy lecturer and a family man who is captivated by Val, an exotic dancer, after saving her from danger. When they throw themselves into a rollercoaster of physical and intellectual connection, Mike fears his whole world is about to fall apart and must face the consequences of his affair.I play Val, who’s a migrant from Greece, but her nationality remains obscure throughout the film. She comes from a low socio-economic background, working in the sex industry as an exotic dancer. She is hardened by life and wants to escape from her environment. She lives with her grandmother who is severely paralysed, but whose mind works perfectly well. By a twist of fate, Val meets Mike and falls in love with him, but also sees him as an opportunity to get out of what seems to be a hopeless situation.”

What was it like working on the film set?

“Working on the set of ‘Sparrow’s Call’ was an absolute blast from start to finish. I had the chance to play opposite David Bark-Jones, who brilliantly portrays the character of Mike, and also to work with the wonderful Valerie Colgan, who plays my grandma.”

“All the cast and crew were truly committed to the project, the environment felt safe and the whole set was oozing positive energy, something that was much-needed considering the fact that we were filming during the Covid lockdown.”

Where can we see the film?

“‘Sparrow’s Call has been officially selected for the London Independent Film Festival and will be premiering on 21 April at the Genesis Cinema. It’s highly recommended for those who love twisted psychological thrillers with an existential touch and subtle social commentary.”

Photo credit: Ryan O’Donoghue

We Speak Actors

Actress Marta Svetek talks ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and expanding her career from Games to Film

Published

5 days ago

April 13, 2026

Anna Sutton

Slovenian actress Marta Svetek has been building an impressive international career across both video games and film. Known for her work in major gaming franchises including ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and ‘Battlefield’, Svetek has become a familiar presence in the world of video game acting. Her performance work also spans major titles such as ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ and ‘Destiny 2’, where motion capture plays a crucial role in bringing complex characters to life. Alongside her work in gaming, Svetek has also appeared on screen in films including ‘I Am Rage’, with upcoming projects such as ‘Savage Prey’ and ‘The Death of Us’ set for release in 2026. In this interview, she speaks about her journey from Slovenia to London, working inside some of the world’s biggest game franchises, and why motion capture is one of the purest forms of acting.

You have worked across both voice acting and motion capture for some of the biggest video game franchises, including ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and ‘Battlefield’. What first drew you to performance work in the gaming industry, and how did that journey begin for you?

I’ve been mashing buttons on controllers since before I could walk! I literally grew up with video games, and it turns out they would also become the thing that changed my life in the most amazing ways. I’m from Slovenia, a small country where having an acting career is challenging — although, isn’t it everywhere? I originally chose the “stable job” route in technology that made my family happy and ultimately brought me to London, but I always kept one foot in acting. It was actually my tech job that gave me the break I needed to start working in games. It was a case of opportunity meeting my fairly unique set of skills — acting, martial arts, technical understanding, and a lifelong love of games — that gave me the start I needed.

You made your debut in the ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ franchise with ‘Security Breach’ and continued working on the series with Steel Wool Studios. What was it like stepping into such an iconic gaming universe and becoming part of a franchise with such a dedicated global fanbase?

It’s always amazing — and always a little terrifying! I was aware of the franchise at the time, but I had no idea how big it had become. When the ‘Security Breach’ trailer came out and reached 2.4 million views in just 24 hours, it really started to sink in. The reaction to the characters I was trusted with was just… wow — especially for Gregory and Roxanne Wolf.

“The feeling of having your performance reach so many people in such a meaningful way is hard to describe and always fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.”

It’s why I chose to become an actor — to connect. Now I also get to connect with fans in person at conventions all around the world.

Your motion capture work includes major titles such as ‘Destiny 2: The Witch Queen’, ‘Horizon: Forbidden West’, and the official F1 games. What is the most exciting or challenging aspect of performing through motion capture compared to traditional acting?

Motion capture is like Marmite for actors — you either love it or hate it. But if you ask me, it’s also one of the purest forms of acting. You’re in a big empty room wearing a Velcro suit, surrounded by infrared cameras. You have minimal props and maybe some tape on the floor to represent objects, and you still have to deliver a completely truthful performance, no matter how outlandish the circumstances.

“Your imagination has to fill in so many blanks. And I absolutely love it. It’s a space where I’m not limited by my appearance or by fitting a certain archetype. It’s pure performance.”

In ‘Destiny 2’ alone, I was an alien queen, an augmented human sorceress, and the literal embodiment of a dark hive mind!

In addition to gaming, you are also appearing in films including ‘I Am Rage’ and the upcoming projects ‘Savage Prey’ and ‘The Death of Us’. How has working across both film and gaming shaped you as a performer?

Acting is always about finding the truth of the character — the choice, the story. But jumping between these two very different worlds has undeniably made me a different calibre of actor. I started in games and later moved into film, and I’ve really enjoyed leaning into the subtlety of film performance over the past few years. At the same time, my voiceover and motion capture background made things like ADR and stunts so much easier. Particularly on ‘Savage Prey’, I needed to bring a subtle and intense performance for the camera while also performing my own stunts and practically setting a new speed record for ADR. That hugely benefited production — and it all comes from the crucible of video game performance.

With your career spanning major game franchises and upcoming film releases, what kinds of roles or projects are you most excited to explore next?

Even though I still have so much I want to explore in both film and games, my dream project would actually be joining the cast of a TV adaptation of a game — something like ‘Fallout’ or Henry Cavill’s upcoming ‘Warhammer’ 40k series. I’m such a hardcore 40k fan that I absolutely need to be part of that universe — whether as a Sister of Battle, an Eldar, or maybe an intrepid Cadian. Just don’t kill me off too quickly! As an actor and artist, I feel like I was meant to tell those larger-than-life stories of hope, heroism, and impossible odds. I’m getting fired up just talking about it — that’s exactly the kind of storytelling I’m most excited to explore next.

Featured photo credit: Urban Bradesko