In the new Netflix film Damsel, which is released today, Brooke Carter plays Floria alongside Millie Bobby Brown as her on-screen sister Elodie, and Angela Bassett, Robin Wright and Nick Robinson. Damsel is directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, and Brooke filmed on location in both Portugal and the UK. During her time as an actor so far, Brooke’s projects include playing Irina Zubov in episodes of The Peripheral on Amazon alongside Chloë Grace Moretz, Young Sash in the 2021 mini-series Close to Me with Christopher Eccleston and Connie Nielsen, Georgina in The Irregulars, and she had her first screen role working with Dakota Fanning, Luke Evans and Daniel Brühl when she played Clara in The Alienist. Answering our questions, Brooke chats about playing Floria in the new Netflix film Damsel, working with director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and a cast including Millie Bobby Brown as her on-screen sister Elodie and filming as Irina Zubov for episodes of The Peripheral.

You play Floria in the new Netflix film Damsel, can you tell us about the film and your character?

Damsel is about a fairytale you thought you knew, but later shows to have a dark twist. Floria is an uplifting, chatty character who believes strongly in happy ever after. She’s confident and knows how to lighten the mood.

How did you feel finding out you’d booked the role and how did you prepare for filming?

I was shocked and excited when I got booked for Damsel. I found out while I was at school. When preparing for the role, I thought about Floria’s personality and how she would react to certain situations. I also took JC’s (Fresnadillo) visions for Floria on board to expand the character.

What was Floria like to play and how did you find the experience being directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo?

It was such a fun experience playing Floria. She was relatable in most ways, and it was an enjoyable role to perform. JC is an amazing director and always has clear visions of what he wants from a character. He made it so easy for me to bring his ideas to life for Floria.

How was it filming opposite Millie Bobby Brown as your on-screen sister Elodie, and with other cast members including Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, and Nick Robinson?

It was a dream come true working with some of the most inspirational actors and actresses! They were always there when I needed help and offered me great advice for future jobs and for life in general. They all took me under their wing and helped me make Floria a character to be proud of.

What was it like on set of the film and what are some of your favourite highlights from your time playing Floria?

It was such a great experience working on the Damsel sets. Portugal was an incredible experience working in a real-life castle, but the stage sets in the UK were just as impressive. One of my favourite parts of playing Floria is dressing up. Her costumes were so pretty and made me feel like a princess, which really helped me to get into her fairytale loving character.

What are you looking forward to for the release of Damsel on Netflix on 8th March and who do you think will enjoy watching it?

I’m looking forward to the audiences’ reactions to Floria, portraying her to the world is a big achievement for me. I’m hoping that people of all ages will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed being a part of it.

In 2022, you played Irina Zubov in episodes of The Peripheral for Amazon alongside Chloë Grace Moretz, what was this like to work on?

It was fun to work on the futuristic set of The Peripheral. We spent a lot of time hitting a piñata for a party scene which was great fun. Chloë was so lovely to work with and really made me feel at ease.

How was it playing Young Sash in the TV mini-series Close to Me in 2021?

Close to Me was a great set, and working with Christopher Eccleston and Connie Nielsen was amazing. It was great to watch them at work and see their incredible acting skills.

How would you describe your character Georgina in The Irregulars and what was it like being part of the series?

I would describe Georgina as the friend that gossips and knows everything that’s always going on. She was fun to play, and I had a great time filming alongside Keira Chansa.

What do you remember most from playing Clara in The Alienist for your first on-screen acting role?

The most memorable scene for me was when Dakota Fanning, Luke Evans, and Daniel Brühl save me after my biological mum kidnaps me. It was such an impactful and emotional scene to film but a great test of my skills.

How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do?

I began dancing at the age of two and my parents noticed my love for performing. My mum put me forward for an agency (Bonnie and Betty) at age five and I got my first major TV commercial job within a couple of months. It’s always been my first love but has proven to be hard work to get to where I am now.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

I love the franchise To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and I love the series Benidorm, which is a family favourite in our house.

How do you like to spend your time away from acting?

I’m an Irish dancer so when outside of school and acting I’m usually training or at competitions. I also enjoy reading so I spend lots of my free time doing that.

Have you been given any advice over your career so far that has stuck with you?

I’ve been given a very important piece of advice which is useful for general life and acting which is learning to say no. This is one of the most important things I have learnt in my career as you shouldn’t have to do something you’re not comfortable with or don’t want to do.

What are you hoping this year brings for you and do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about?

So far, we’re just enjoying the build-up to Damsel and all the experiences that come with your first premiere. I hope this year brings me another character to work on and create for the world to see in 2025.

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