Corinne Furman’s first ever film has just been released in over 600 cinemas across the UK and Ireland. She plays the part of ‘Paige’ in ‘Fisherman’s Friends: One and All’; a ditsy reality star who has just been signed to a record deal. She got to work alongside amazing actors, such as James Purefoy, Maggie Steed, David Hayman, and Imelda May. Following that, she played the leading role of ‘Hope’ in ‘The Hunting of the Snark,’ a feature film directed by Simon Da Vison, alongside Ramon Tikaram. This will be released in the next few months. She also played ‘Maya’ in ‘Rebel Cheer Squad – A Get Even Series’ (Get Even 2), the BBC/Netflix series directed by Nigel Douglas, which is available on Netflix worldwide.
FilmCentral magazine recently caught up with Corinne to discuss her journey in the industry, and here’s what went down:
Can you tell us more about yourself?
My name is Corinne Furman, and I am an actress. I trained from a very young age in dance but fell in love with acting as soon as I started to take acting classes. I was raised in a very animal-orientated family and have travelled worldwide to see incredible wildlife. I absolutely love animals, so I have always been vegetarian (never ever eaten meat), and I am now vegan. My family and friends are very important to me, but my two dogs insist they are the most important!
How did you get started in the entertainment industry?
I started to dance at three years old, and it was always what I enjoyed most. When I was older, I was at dance class nearly every day of the week after school. I then joined a performing arts school when I was nine, and they started showing me the other avenues of the industry (acting/singing). I started taking acting classes every week and absolutely fell in love with it. I realised quickly that I much preferred acting to dancing. The school also had an agency attached, and I started to audition for a few little acting roles. My first ever acting job was a ‘New York Bagels’ advert when I was ten years old, and I remember saying to my mum after that day that acting is what I wanted to do forever.
What do you like most about acting?
It’s not solely the acting I enjoy. The most exciting part for me is being on set – I love doing something different every day, meeting new people, seeing how everything comes together -knowing the months of hard work and preparation prior to filming. In terms of actual acting, I love being able to tell important stories. I think the art of acting is so freeing; you are taken into a place where you can express your emotions and life experiences, good or bad, and channel them into something beautiful. I think acting is so special, in the sense that even if you were doing the same scene, working with different actors would produce different work, as every actor will bring something different to the table.
What are your weak points when it comes to acting? How do you try to improve them?
My main weakness as an actor has been my dyslexia, which may mean I have more trouble initially understanding a script. However, I do believe it means I am a more creative person. I have a very photographic mind; I can see things being played out and the scene as a sort of choreography. I think dyslexia is something that should never hinder an actor but can be used to one’s advantage.
What are your strong points as an actor?
My strong point as an actor is my determination and hard work. I am determined to create the life I want for myself and to be able to do what I love every day. I also believe I am very sociable and find it very easy to get on with most people. This means that I am comfortable working with a whole variety of people.
What have you learned from the directors that you have worked with throughout your career?
Even from a very young age, the directors I’ve worked with were so supportive and inspiring that they’ve reaffirmed to me time and time again that acting is what I want to do forever. I’ve always had the best time on set, and without such amazing directors, it may not have been clear that I wanted to continue on this path. They’ve each taught me different things, but as a collective, they’ve helped me learn always to trust my choices and decisions as an actor and believe in myself.
What are some of the difficulties of the acting business?
The main difficulty is rejection. Also, the determination it takes to get where you want to be. What they say about it not being an easy industry is true, but I guess that’s why so many people give up. I refuse to do anything else; it’s all I think about pretty much every hour of every day – but it is hard sometimes to keep your spirits high, to keep motivated, and keep pushing for it when sometimes it may feel like you’re not getting anywhere with it. I think the times when you’re not working are also super difficult. It’s all I want to be doing.
What’s challenging about bringing a script to life?
I think the most challenging part about bringing a script to life starts with the audition process. Each part within a script can be interpreted in so many ways that it is hard to know what the director/writer/producer has/had in mind. Due to covid, many first-round auditions start with a self-tape (a read-through of a certain scene, by video, done at home), which is then sent directly to the casting directors. Without being in the room with the option of someone asking you to play a part differently, it leaves only your interpretation which you hope hits the mark. I wish we could be given a few directions (play it more subtly, play it more over the top, etc.) which may make the process easier for an actor but obviously a lot longer for casting directors etc.!
What do you do when you’re not filming?
I volunteer for a dog rescue charity in my spare time. They’re called ‘Hungary Hearts Dog Rescue’. We aim to find loving homes for abandoned and neglected dogs on death row in Hungary. We save the dogs from killing stations/the streets in Hungary and bring them to the UK to be homed. It can be heartbreaking at times to see the states that some of the dogs are found in, but it is so rewarding to see them go into their new homes and begin their new lives filled with love. I’ve met such great people along the way, and it’s such a beautiful thing to do. I have two lovely rescue dogs myself who take up a lot of my time, but I love every second I spend with them. They’re the best two little beings that ever came into my life.
What has been the most memorable experience of your career so far?
Hands down, the most memorable and most special experience of my career so far has been attending the ‘Fisherman’s Friends: One and All’ premiere. Seeing myself on the big screen for the first time was so exciting – this was my first ever job after graduating from University, so it was always going to be a really special moment. Hopefully, the first of many more to come! It was great seeing all my fellow cast members again after so long, walking my first ever (little) red carpet, getting my pictures taken, etc. But also, to see the film in its entirety was so special. I felt the pure joy from everyone involved in creating the film throughout the whole cinema, and it made me feel so proud to be part of such an amazing production.
Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far?
The person I’ve really connected with the most has been Ramon Tikaram, who is most known for his roles in ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Eastenders’. Ramon plays ‘Jez’ in ‘Fisherman’s Friends: One and All’. After ‘Fisherman’s Friends’, we worked on another film called ‘The Hunting of the Snark’. ‘The Hunting of the Snark’ is a Lewis Carroll poem and has been adapted into a film by the amazing director Simon Da Vison. It is to be released in the next few months. Ramon has such an incredible energy and talent. As it was my first job, he knew I’d feel a bit nervous, making me feel super comfortable and welcome. He clearly cares a lot about his fellow cast members and has a really big heart.
If someone is going to make your life into a movie, who would play you?
I would play me! The more acting jobs I can do, the happier I’ll be!
What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it.
My full focus is on my acting; it’s what I want more than anything in life. I do have a couple of film roles in the pipeline. I want to continue learning, attend acting classes, and do anything I can to grow my craft and become the best actor I can be. I’d also love the opportunity to travel with work. Outside of my career, I want to continue to help to save as many dogs as possible.
If there is anything else or interesting you can tell us
During my time at University, I worked at a day centre for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. I helped run various activities with their clients, including acting workshops. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I hope in the future, I can use my platform as an actress to help disadvantaged people. I want to help make a difference.