Currently, Beatriz Romilly is making her West End debut playing Lauren in 2:22 A Ghost Story, having joined the cast when it returned on 7th May this year, and she performs alongside a cast including Tom Felton, Mandip Gill and Sam Swainsbury. The award-winning play is written by Danny Robins and continues at the Criterion Theatre until 8th January 2023. Prior to starting her run in 2:22 A Ghost Story, Beatriz played Jess in Grand Horizons as part of Auckland Theatre Company, and her previous stage roles have seen her in shows such as Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre and Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties at Southwark Playhouse. On screen, Beatriz filmed for War of the Worlds as Ines and she voices characters in animated series Lilybuds and video games including the Final Fantasy and Assassin’s Creed franchises. We chatted to Beatriz about playing Lauren in 2:22 A Ghost Story, making her West End debut in the Danny Robins play and working in voiceover and screen.

You are currently playing Lauren in the West End cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Criterion Theatre, how much did you know about the show before booking your role and how was it reading the script for the first time?

I knew nothing about the show before booking the role. I was on the edge of my seat when I first read the script. It’s such a beautifully crafted story with four wonderful characters.

Was there anything that drew you to the role of Lauren and what is she like to play?

I love Lauren, roles like these don’t come around very often. Her vulnerability and impulsiveness are what drew me to her. She’s one of those roles that will keep me on my toes.

What is it like having 2:22 A Ghost Story as your West End debut and how is it working with the rest of the cast?

I feel very lucky to part of the 2:22 A Ghost Story family, and to have it as my West End debut is pretty awesome. The cast are a dream, it’s a joy to be working with such a talented, beautiful bunch of people.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see the show in the West End at the Criterion Theatre?

Oh… the Criterion Theatre is a magical space, it has so much atmosphere. It’s an intimate space and perfect for a ghost story.

Earlier this year, you played Jess in Grand Horizons as part of the Auckland Theatre Company, how was this?

Again, I was very lucky to be working with a wonderful bunch of actors. Audiences in Auckland are full of warmth, and it was a real treat to be working in such a beautiful city.

How did you find the experience performing at the Chichester Festival Theatre in Macbeth?

Most of the Shakespeare plays I’ve performed in have been on outdoor stages, so it was a treat to get to do Macbeth in an indoor space like Chichester Festival Theatre.

Your other theatre work over the years has included Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties, The Duchess of Malfi and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, can you tell us about some of them?

Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties is a play I would do again and again. Jen Silverman is such a refreshing, exciting playwright. Again, I was spoilt with the incredible group of actresses I got to work with, we had a lot of fun. For A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we got to tour it in several places in Russia, Singapore, China and Taiwan. Performing to audiences that in some places were experiencing this play for the first time was magic.

In 2019, you played Ines in War of the Worlds, what was the series like to be involved with?

I love travelling with work, with War of the Worlds I got to visit some stunning locations in France. I only had a short filming schedule for this show but got to work with some wonderful French actors.

As a voiceover artist, you voiced the roles of Penelope and Olivia in Lilybuds, what did you enjoy most about working on this series?

I learnt tonnes on this show. The challenge of discovering all these characters and knowing that my young nephews and nieces could watch this, is what I enjoyed the most.

Having voiced many video games including Final Fantasy and Assassin’s Creed, what are these like to do?

They are a lot of fun to do. I’m always amazed with the amount of detail that goes into creating these worlds.

What would you say are some of your highlights from your voiceover career so far?

I think my highlights are coming up with different death noises and playing a sassy worm. I can’t believe I get to do this for a living.

How different do you find working in voiceover opposed to acting in TV or stage, and what’s it like seeing a character you’ve voiced come to life on screen?

Voiceovers can be quite lonely as you normally don’t have another actor to bounce off. Having said that, you do get to play some pretty amazing characters. I always get huge joy in seeing what the animators have created with each character I’ve played. It’s pretty magic.

Is acting and voiceover something you always wanted to do and how did you get into both?

Acting is something I’ve wanted to do since I was little, I had a brilliant drama teacher at primary school who cast me as Aladdin in the school production. The acting bug grew from there and her wonderful enthusiasm and care. I accidentally stumbled upon voiceover work, I got my first voiceover gig in 2007 for a game called The Wheelman, they were looking for a Spanish actress to play Vin Diesel’s love interest.

What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch and how do you like to spend your time away from your career?

I love adventure, science fiction and horror films. Films like The Matrix, The Lord of The Rings, The Goonies, Aliens, Get Out and Hereditary just to name a few. I also love everything Pedro Almodóvar has done. I would love to work with him. For TV, I love things like Better Call Saul, The Sopranos and Midnight Diner. My favourite kind of theatre is a show I watched many years ago called Shockheaded Peter, also Cabaret, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical and I love plays directed by Emma Rice and Ned Bennett.

Away from my career, I love spending time with family and friends, reading a good book and taking the dogs for a walk.