In A Kind of Spark – the screen adaptation of Elle McNicoll’s book of the same name, Evie Elgie plays Jenna alongside a cast including Lola Blue, Georgia de Gidlow and Caitlin Hamilton as the three sisters in the show. Having only taken screen acting classes for nine months at the time, Evie booked the regular role of Jenna after just her second ever audition, and the CBBC show is directed by Matt Holt and Marek Losey, and Evie has returned to set to film the upcoming Series 2. Evie had been a dancer for most of her life, until she needed major back surgery in 2020, which then encouraged her to take up acting. Speaking to Evie, she told us about being cast as Jenna in A Kind of Spark, what it’s like being directed by Matt Holt and Marek Losey and returning to film Series 2 of the Elle McNicoll screen adaptation.
Can you tell us about A Kind of Spark and your character Jenna, and was there anything that drew you to the role?
A Kind of Spark is a beautiful story about an autistic teenager called Addie who, after finding out about the witch trials that happened in her hometown, wishes to create a memorial to honour the women who were killed and to apologise to them. As well as this, we see Addie navigate school, friends, bullies and life at home with her parents and older twin sisters.
Jenna used to be friends with Addie, however, after they move into their next year of school, she leaves her for the more ‘cool’ and ‘popular’ Emily. What drew me to the role was that I think Jenna is a character so many people can relate to. Growing up, it’s so common to feel like you need to live up to other people’s expectations and I think it’s great that we get to see Jenna realise that popularity really isn’t important and having good friends and being a good person is what really matters.
What is Jenna like to play and what is it like working alongside the rest of the cast?
Jenna is a super interesting character to bring to life. I think she has a lot of layers and we get to see more of them in Season 2, which is really exciting! Overall, she is really fun to play and in the second season she has a lot of funny moments, which I’m looking forward to people seeing, but obviously it was a little hard during Season 1 as Jenna could be quite mean and you feel so cruel saying those things to Lola Blue (Addie)!
Working with the rest of the cast is absolutely brilliant, it does not feel like you’re working at all. I’ve grown so close to the others, especially Eve (Midgley), Grace (Wood) and Lola and I just feel so lucky they’re my castmates. I’ve also learnt a lot from everyone too and picked up a lot of things from watching other cast in action. I particularly love doing scenes with Julia Haworth (Pamela) as she is so lovely and absolutely nothing like her character but nails it every time.
Had you read Elle McNicoll’s book before auditioning and how is it being part of the screen adaptation?
When I first got the audition, I hadn’t read the book but I immediately got it and read it in less then a day! I really enjoyed it and it helped me understand Jenna a lot more. Being part of the on-screen adaptation is such a privilege. It’s so exciting seeing scenes from the book and the characters come to life and getting to be one of those characters is such a dream come true.
Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role and how are you finding the experience filming your first regular character?
When I was told that I had booked the job, it honestly took a few seconds to hit me. It absolutely did not feel real – I’d only been taking screen acting classes for less than nine months and A Kind of Spark was my second ever audition. I was speechless for a while and it wasn’t until I got off the call with my agent and I talked to my mum that it truly dawned on me and I just started crying out of happiness.
The feeling of filming my first regular character is indescribable. As I said, the world of acting was extremely new to me so I was honestly going in blind and I was slightly nervous but, I have to say, I don’t think there is a better production for me to work on as my first cast role. I felt welcome from the very beginning. I have a particular memory of Georgia de Gidlow (Keedie) making me feel so comfortable when I first met her prior to the readthrough for Season 1 and I can’t thank her enough for that.
How was it seeing the fan response to Season 1 and who do you think will enjoy watching the show?
Seeing the audience’s reaction to the show has got to be one of the highlights of the whole experience for me. It is just incredible seeing people love what so many cast and crew have worked so hard creating and also seeing people feel seen and represented on screen. It’s such a rewarding feeling and being part of it all is such an honour.
The great thing about A Kind of Spark is that it can be watched and enjoyed by anyone! It’s the perfect family show, which has such a fabulous array of characters that I think everyone can find someone to relate to.
How has it been returning to set to film the upcoming Series 2 and what are you looking forward to for the release?
When we first returned for Season 2, it honestly just felt like it had been a few days since we had all last been together filming, not nearly 11 months! Being back with the cast and in familiar sets just felt like I was at home. The new characters and plot lines are so exciting and I can’t wait for everybody to get to watch. One of the things I’m most looking forward to particularly for Jenna is her new storyline, which I know a lot of people are going to be able to relate to, especially as it meant that I got to have more scenes with Caitlin Hamilton (Nina), which I didn’t get to do a lot of in Season 1!
Also, I have to mention how much I love the costumes this season! Timmy (White), the costume designer, did an amazing job with everyone’s looks and, after having a little sneak peek at a few scenes, I can’t express how cool they look on screen, so I’m really excited for everyone to see that too.
Do you have a favourite aspect of filming for a CBBC show and how is it being directed by Matt Holt and Marek Losey?
I think one of the highlights of working on this show is just getting to spend all my time with others my age who are interested in the same things as me as well as meeting people that I would never have known without this job.
I’m so grateful that I get to work with Marek and Matt! They’re both so talented and I love that they’re both very different directors and I definitely look up to them both as someone who has an interest in directing.
Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?
I think my love of acting comes from being such a perfectionist and being so shy when I was younger, which might sound weird but, for me, screen acting means playing someone else. It means that you can get things wrong because the pressure is off and you can do it as many times as you need until you get it right.
I have been dancing and taking part in school shows a lot of my life but, after having a major surgery on my back in 2020 that meant I could no longer dance the way I used to, I took the opportunity to begin acting. There was actually one specific class I wanted to take but unfortunately it was too far away to travel to each week. I must have manifested it though, because the same acting school opened a class close to me just a few months later and I immediately joined, joining their agency not long after.
Have you been given any advice that has stuck with you throughout your time as an actor so far?
One of the best pieces of advice that I have been given would be to take a risk. Especially when it comes to things like auditions because casting directors are going to see so many people who probably look a lot like you so playing it safe or sitting on the fence is not going to catch their eye. If you have a unique direction that you think the scene could go, do it because that’s what’s going to make you stand out.
What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?
One of my favourite shows of all time is Anne with an E. I am obsessed with period dramas because I adore the costuming and the sets and just feeling like you have been transported back in time. It’s a funny, comfort watch with some really important messages. I also have to mention A Series of Unfortunate Events because I think I’ve rewatched it a million times and I’m such a sucker for shows that have clues dotted about all throughout the series (although I think the books take first place for me).
When it comes to movies, I love anything from the early 2000s-ish: 10 Things I Hate About You, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Get a Clue to name a few (honestly, anything Lindsay Lohan). Also, my sister and I grew up watching Studio Ghibli films so The Cat Returns and My Neighbour Totoro are definitely on the list.
How do you like to spend your free time?
When I’m not acting, I’m quite an avid baker and enjoy cooking up complicated projects in the kitchen (usually something sweet). I have the cutest Springer Spaniel, Alfie, who I love spending time with and I’m also a lover of all things mystery so I often am sat with a mystery book or watching shows like Death in Paradise and Only Murders in the Building.
Do you have any acting projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping this year brings for you?
I don’t have any acting projects lined up at the moment but I’m definitely hoping that this new year will bring me another exciting role, as well as hopefully Season 3 of A Kind of Spark!
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