Classically trained actress Camilla Borghesani is steadily building an international career across theatre and film. A graduate of the prestigious St Petersburg Theatre Academy, Camilla has appeared in projects including the upcoming films ‘The Trek’, ‘Breathe Deep’ and ‘The Retreat’. ‘The Trek’, directed by Meekaaeel Adam, has already enjoyed a successful festival run and was screen ed at the Raindance on 20 June. She is now part of the cast of ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day’ as Cassandra Otway, joining an acclaimed ensemble that includes Haley Bennett and Jack Whitehall. We spoke to Camilla about her acting journey, the experience of working on ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day’, and the types of roles she hopes to explore in the future.
For readers who may be discovering your work for the first time, could you tell us a little about your acting journey and what first inspired you to pursue a career in the industry?
My acting journey started as early as I can remember. I grew up in Moscow, Russia, where going to the theatre is a big part of the culture. One of my earliest and most vivid memories is seeing The Seagull, directed by Lev Dodin, when I was five years old. It was a five-hour production, which sounds like a terrible idea for a child, but I did not want it to end. I remember being both confused and absorbed by the intense relationships unfolding on stage, and sitting completely still because I believed the audience were visitors observing another world and that we should not disturb the lives unfolding in front of us. After that, my family took me to the theatre whenever they could. Growing up, I did ballet and musical theatre, and I also trained at Yeralash, a Russian sitcom for children. By the time I was a teenager, I realised theatre was where all my interests converged. My professional debut came in ‘The Suicidalists’ (‘The Suicide’), directed by Egor Baranov, alongside a major Russian ensemble cast featuring some of the country’s most established actors. Soon after, I attended the St Petersburg Theatre Academy and began working with the theatre company Masterskaya while still at university.
“Recently, I’ve shifted my focus towards film, although I would love to return to the stage at some point.”
Looking back on your career so far, which projects are you most proud of and why? Are there any particular roles that have been especially meaningful or transformative for you as an actress?
I feel fortunate that every project has taught me something different, which makes it difficult to single
out just one as the most transformative. My background is primarily in theatre, which has shaped me as much as any individual role. Experiences on screen have also been incredibly valuable. Working on HBO’s ‘Catherine the Great’, starring Helen Mirren and filmed in St Petersburg, was my first experience of working on a large-scale international production and strengthened my desire to pursue film alongside theatre.
You play the role of Cassandra Otway in ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day’. What attracted you to the project and what can you tell us about your role?
‘Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day’ has been particularly meaningful for me. As someone who has loved Virginia Woolf’s work since high school, the opportunity to step into her world and work alongside actors I’ve long admired, such as Timothy Spall, Jennifer Saunders, Sally Phillips and Misia Butler, was incredible. I was also drawn to the themes explored in the story. One thing it reminds you of is how recently many opportunities available to women today simply didn’t exist, and how many of the questions Katharine Hilbery grapples with still feel surprisingly relevant. There’s a real buoyancy to Cassandra and a wonderful rhythm to the way she moves through life. She approaches everything with the same curiosity and enchantment with the world around her. I hugely benefited from the opportunity to work with dialect coach Jay Haydn Rowles. It felt like a miracle that, out of all the dialect coaches in the UK, the production chose the very person whose books I had used so often in my own accent training over the years.
What was your experience like working on ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day’? Are there any memorable behind-the-scenes moments or highlights that stand out?
Working on the film was a lot of fun. Director Tina Gharavi and writer-producer Justine Waddell were brilliant at helping me explore the character. Justine had been developing the project for many years, and it was an honour to be part of something that had been nurtured with so much love and care. Sharing most of my scenes with Jack Whitehall was a real privilege. I have been a fan of his work for a long time, so it was exciting to observe his approach first-hand. Haley Bennett, who plays the lead role, is such a force and was completely immersed in what she was doing.
“No two takes were ever quite the same, which made every scene feel alive and unpredictable.”
During the weeks of filming, I grew just as much from observing great actors as I did from acting myself.
Looking ahead, what types of roles, genres or projects would you most like to explore in the future? Are there any upcoming projects you can share with us?
I’m most interested in characters whose emotional logic and inner compass are completely different from my own. More than any particular genre, I’m looking for stories that expand my understanding of people and challenge me to explore perspectives I might never otherwise encounter. As for upcoming work, I’m excited for audiences to see ‘The Trek’, directed by Meekaaeel Adam. The film has already had a successful festival run and will be screening at Raindance on 20 June. I’m also looking forward to the release of ‘The Retreat’, directed by Schuman Hoque, and ‘Breathe Deep’, directed by James Kermack.