DEONA BETHART gives us the scoop on knowing the story and the appeal of Wonder Woman!
AAG: What/Whom is your inspiration for acting/theatre?
DEONA: I’m not sure that there was any one person who really inspired my passion for acting; I think it was a multitude of people. I love stories; life makes sense to me in stories. As I watched these amazing stories play out over the years - on stage, on the screen - I knew that I wanted to be a part of them. I felt a connection to the actors, to the characters and the way they relate to each other and to their respective audiences. It’s a powerful sense of being in community and I knew I had to be a part of it somehow.
AAG: What has been your favorite project to date? Why?
DEONA: Last year I shot a short film, He Said Through Text, and it was a beautiful experience for me. It required a lot of me as an actor. Heavy emotion, but also, it required that I be silent throughout much of the film. That presented me with a challenge (which I love) to communicate without using words. I’m not sure if I pulled it off but it was an excellent learning experience and I look forward to tackling that challenge again.
AAG: What is your dream role? Why?
DEONA: I don’t know if my dream role has been written, yet. I definitely like playing strong, archetypal alpha females, but I also enjoy playing women who are a little bit of a mess, just trying to figure out life and how they fit into it. I think my ideal role would be a combination of drama, comedy, and quirk. Or Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman sounds appealing.
AAG: Who would you like to perform with, in a film/on stage? Why?
DEONA: I would love the opportunity to get in the ring with Tom Hanks. He understands the subtleties of comedy and drama, which is a fine line to walk. In fact, I can’t think of anyone who understands the craft of film acting better, and I would like the chance to study with a master. Also, Jack Lemmon, if he were still alive. He was another one who understood perfectly each role he was playing. He could throw away a line better than anyone else and, still, you’d never forget it.
AAG: Tell us something about you that nobody knows?
DEONA: I think a few people may know this, but most people don’t. My only paid acting gig (at this point) has been as a ring-girl for an amateur wrestling group. It was honestly quite fun and even cathartic - yelling, screaming, pounding the mat. It’s good to let your “id” out once in a while. And much cheaper than therapy.
AAG: Have you ever been starstruck?
DEONA: I don’t know that I’ve ever been starstruck. I do remember being extremely impressed, however, when I got to participate in an acting workshop with Lynn Redgrave many years ago. She could change the entire flavor of a scene just by changing the inflection of one word in one line. She knew how to add “business” to a scene that would bring out the subtext that was brewing. To watch her work was a transforming experience.
AAG: What advice can you offer to a new actor regarding “the audition process”?
DEONA: The piece of advice I would offer to the new actor regarding the “audition process” would be this: know the story. You may only have four lines in the audition sides, but every character has a story. Figure out what it is from those four line. It will bring a fullness to what you are doing and give you the opportunity to create something that none of the other actors auditioning would have thought about. Every other actor is going to worry about the lines; you worry about the story. If you can go in the audition room and tell a story, you’ll give the casting directors something to engage with, maybe even entertain them, and hopefully cement yourself in the forefront of their minds.
AAG: What’s next for Deona?
DEONA: At this point, I don’t know what’s next. There are wonderful things brewing out on the horizon. I can’t see them yet, but I’m confident that right project is coming my way and I’ll be ready for it when it gets here.
Check out Deona's Profile on the AAG website: DEONA B
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