Having graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2019 and with COVID closing theatres, Rosie Taylor-Ritson returned to the stage last year, touring across Kent, Brighton and London in open-air venues during the summer months, playing Bardolph in Henry V and Joanna in Present Laughter, with both shows directed by Rob Forknall for Changeling Theatre Company. On screen, Rosie appeared last year as guest role Nicolette Masterson in an episode of Doctors, and in 2020, she had a guest role in Casualty, playing Nerys Driscoll – the non-identical twin of Lizzie Back’s character. As a child actor, Rosie was in the cast of Annie on stage and starred as Celia Gray in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang alongside Emma Thompson as the titular character, with her further screen work including playing Ella in the feature film Strangers Within, commercials and short films, and she was part of the music video of Depeche Mode’s People Are Good in 2024. Rosie has also worked on the indie short film What’s Wrong, Emma, which premiered early this year, and she has filmed for a feature film – Cost of Living, which will be showing at film festivals later in the year. We chatted to Rosie about touring last year in Henry V and Present Laughter, having guest characters in episodes of Doctors and Casualty and starting her screen career starring as Celia Gray in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang.
Last year, you were performing on stage in Henry V and Present Laughter, how was it working with Changeling Theatre Company and returning to live theatre?
Returning to live theatre with Changeling Theatre Company was exactly what I needed, especially since I hadn’t done much stage work since graduating from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2019 due to COVID etc. There’s something truly special about performing in front of a live audience, and I realised just how much I missed that audience to actor connection.
Henry V and Present Laughter were two shows that Changeling Theatre toured outdoors during the summer. We performed to fantastic audiences all over Kent, Brighton, and London, and the beauty of it was that no two shows were the same. Each night felt fresh because the atmosphere would shift depending on the venue and the audience’s energy. It was unpredictable and thrilling – that spontaneity is what I love most about theatre. One of the best parts was the bonds I built with the cast and crew. We worked together six days a week, living together for the entire summer, which made the experience all-encompassing. We laughed every single day. It was such a supportive and joyful environment, and I walked away with lifelong friends. The whole summer was just pure fun and hard work – an unforgettable experience.
What was it like taking on the role of Bardolph in Henry V and Joanna in Present Laughter, and how different were both characters to play?
I was over the moon when I was cast as Joanna in Present Laughter. She’s such a cunning and cat-like character because she’s always planning to be one step ahead. Out of all the characters, she’s the only one who truly wins over Garry, even if just for a brief moment. I approached the role like a game of chess – Joanna is sweet and calm when you first meet her, but beneath that charm, she’s constantly calculating her next move. Throughout the scenes, she shifts her tactics and approach, always adapting to get what she wants. By the end, the mask slips, and you see her for who she truly is – ruthless in her pursuit of the life she dreams of and what she believes she deserves. Such a fun and challenging part!
Playing Bardolph in Henry V was a completely different experience. Bardolph is rough around the edges, a character with a strong loyalty but also tragic flaws, overall, his emotions were simple and childlike. It was fascinating to switch between Joanna’s cunning sophistication and Bardolph’s more grounded, raw presence every other night. Both characters stretched me as an actor in completely different ways.
What were both productions like to perform in, and how was it touring in open-air venues?
Rob Forknall directed both Henry V and Present Laughter with such a playful style, he has a lot of trust in his actors and has such an in-depth knowledge about language. He’s led Changeling Theatre for years. I was eager to learn from him on Shakespeare while also bringing my own interpretation of playfulness and naturalism to the scripts.
Touring open-air venues was both exciting and challenging. Every night required a new soundcheck to ensure every audience member could hear us and that the performance was nuanced enough for the space. We performed in a range of settings, from large amphitheaters in St Albans to an intimate rose garden in the Kent countryside. It meant constantly adjusting our performances to suit the space, balancing projection with subtle emotional expression.
Also last year, you guest-starred as Nicolette Masterson in an episode of Doctors; can you tell us about your character and storyline?
Doctors is such a well-oiled machine, and I’m really grateful to have been a small cog in it. It’s a fast-paced shooting schedule – I filmed all of my scenes over two days! Nicolette Masterson was a hilariously sassy character, driven by pure jealousy and a determination to put others down just to lift herself up. She was so much fun to play because she’s unapologetically bold.
The costume was fantastic and really helped me slip into character. As soon as I was given the huge false nails, eyelash extensions, and massive bleached blonde space buns, I knew exactly who she was. Those nails completely changed my physicality, making her more snakelike. The attention to detail was amazing, and it allowed me to fully embody her.
What was it like on set of Doctors and filming as a guest role on a long-running BBC soap opera?
As a guest role, you have to jump straight in, hit the ground running, and be ready to perform. It was challenging but also thrilling to work at that pace. I worked as a trio with two other fantastic actors, and we had such a laugh on set. We really played with the script and found so much joy in the process, which naturally built the friendship you see on screen. Everyone was so welcoming and supportive, making it easy to get comfortable and bring the character to life. That trio needs its own spin-off show!
Having also filmed a guest role in Casualty, aired in 2020, what was this show like to film and how was your character Nerys Driscoll involved with the episode?
This Casualty episode holds a special place in my heart and will always be one of the projects I’m most proud of. I played Nerys Driscoll, a non-identical twin, alongside the amazing actor Lizzie Back. We filmed together for two weeks, and in that short time, we built such a strong sisterhood that I was a bridesmaid at her wedding late last year. The bond we created on and off screen I think makes the episode what it is.
The episode tackled breast cancer and the BRCA gene with such sensitivity and impact. It explored how these two sisters both carried the gene but made very different choices – one opting for preventative surgery and the other choosing not to. The script was beautifully written, so delicate and knowledgeable. I feel incredibly grateful to have brought this important story to life and to contribute to a conversation about knowledge and empowerment.
Can you tell us about working on the music video for Depeche Mode’s People Are Good in 2024?
What a job this was! I was cast just two days before shooting and ended up filming at 1am in an airport, digging a grave with makeup smeared down my face dressed as a 1920s housewife hiding from the police – all on my birthday! It was one of the most bonkers and fun days of my life. The vision for the music video felt like a full-length film, and the whole experience was just wild. The final product was great and I encourage everyone to have a watch!
What did you enjoy most about playing Ella in the feature film Strangers Within and how was it being part of a horror/thriller film?
I filmed Strangers Within while I was still at college at 16, which was a challenge in itself. I was at college during the day and filming from 6pm to 3am, so sleep was minimal, but it was totally worth it. Balancing those two worlds reminded me how much I love my career as an actor. I need to be super busy in my life and this job kept me on my toes!
Being part of a horror film was fascinating, especially because it required so much imagination. When you’re shooting without the darkness, tension music, and slow camera zooms, it’s actually not that scary, so as an actor, you really have to place those elements into the performance to bring the fear to life. The highlight of this job was definitely the incredible makeup artistry from Amber Otway. She created a prosthetic of my jaw being bashed in with a hammer – it was hanging off my face, and it was honestly one of the most amazing and surreal things I’ve ever seen.
What are some of your stand-out memories from starring as Celia Gray in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang at the start of your screen career?
One of the most stand-out parts of playing Celia Gray was just how overwhelming (in the best way) the job was. It took over my whole life for six months. I was taken out of school to shoot the film, which felt absolutely surreal at 12 years old. I had my own trailer, was put up in a hotel for the duration, and even got flown to America for press tours and the premiere – it was a complete dream. That whole experience introduced me to the world of screen acting in the most magical, larger-than-life way.
What was Celia like to play and how was it filming with Emma Thompson and the rest of the cast?
Celia, as a character, is still so close to my heart. She comes across spoilt and bossy, but she has a heart of gold, and her journey throughout the film is so moving. She was given everything in life – except the one thing she really craved: love and attention from her parents. She missed them deeply, and I remember feeling that so strongly while filming. Even now, thinking about how much she just wanted her mum still breaks my heart. I adored playing her – she was brave, vulnerable, and full of fire. I think she’ll always stay with me.
Working with Emma Thompson was incredible – she’s an absolute powerhouse of a woman. What made her so special was how much she championed us kids. She constantly asked, “Would you say that?” when we were rehearsing lines, and would help us rework things so they felt natural and authentic to us. She encouraged us to play and explore in the best way. And her laugh was huge and infectious. You felt so proud if you managed to make her laugh on set. She’s beautiful inside and out, and I feel unbelievably grateful that she supported me and believed in me at such a young age. Her presence and guidance have stuck with me throughout my whole career.
As a child actor, you were also in the cast of Annie on stage, what do you remember most from your time performing in the musical?
The thing I remember most about performing in Annie is how hardworking all the girls in the cast were. We were all around 11 to 15 years old, and the work ethic on that stage was unbelievable. We’d rehearse during our break times, in the changing rooms, constantly going over the songs and making sure we were tightening and improving the show. It was such an inclusive and dedicated space for young girls, with everyone lifting each other up and sharing tips and feedback. That sense of teamwork was really special and helped me bring that level of care to every job I do.
We understand you have worked on commercials and short films, can you say about some of the ones you’ve been involved with?
I worked on a commercial for Wirex, a card company dealing with crypto. It was a big challenge for me as I was told I would be reading multiple scripts on an autocue with lots of technical words and I have dyslexia, which can make reading scripts like this a little tricky. I knew I just had to rip the Band-Aid off knowing it would make future jobs easier. I spent about two weeks reading aloud every day, and when I got the script a couple of days before the shoot, I made notes of the words I would struggle with. I spent hours practicing and when I got to set, it felt totally fine! Of course, there were moments where I tripped up, but I just paused, repeated, and carried on. It turned a scary situation into something manageable. Now, I’m proud of the footage, and I’m actually reading an audiobook for Audible coming out later this year – something I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do if I hadn’t been thrown into the deep end with that commercial!
How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do?
I got into acting at a very young age when I was cast in Nanny McPhee. I was always an extroverted kid who loved chatting and getting to know people as well as possible. I still love making friends and connecting with everyone, and I think that naturally makes you an actor – acting is all about discovering the character, understanding who they are, and how they would react in different situations. For me, it’s about knowing when they would pause, why they would pause, and who they would show that vulnerability to.
My parents were never pushy about acting; they just introduced me to different clubs and took me to various lessons, and acting was the one that stuck. In one of my first lessons, an agent came to watch people perform, and everything took off from there. I’ve always seen acting as a career rather than a hobby, and I’m all about working hard and giving it my all in this job.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?
My top five films would definitely be The Florida Project, Judy, Arrival, Little Miss Sunshine, and Booksmart. They’re all incredible in their own right – very different from each other, but equally beautiful and heartbreaking. I get really emotional watching female rage on screen. It’s such a raw, unfiltered emotion that isn’t often shown in films, but movies like Judy and The Florida Project explore it in such a nuanced and delicate way. I was also overwhelmed watching the credits of Booksmart, just seeing how many women worked in the crew! That’s still quite rare, and it made me so proud to have gone to see it and supported it. I try to go to the cinema once a week, and there are so many amazing films out right now. One I recently watched is A Real Pain – it’s such a brilliant character study.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I’m a huge baker and actually run my own baking business to support my acting career. In my free time, I’m obsessed with experimenting with sweet treat flavour combinations, trying out different recipes, and perfecting things like bread and Basque cheesecake. I also love visiting bakeries and coffee shops to get inspired by their creations. Baking is something I really enjoy – it’s a creative outlet that helps me unwind and it’s quite therapeutic. I often find myself baking until late into the night.
Aside from that, I’m big into fitness. I’m training for the Brighton Half Marathon this year, so I run around four times a week. I love exploring different parts of London while I run, especially areas I wouldn’t usually visit, and of course, I always plan my route so I can end up at a coffee shop or bakery for a pastry.
I also spend a lot of time with my mum, who is my biggest supporter. I’m an only child, so we’re really close, and she inspires me every day. She pushes me to work hard, stay humble, and be kind.
What are you hoping this year brings for your career and do you have any projects coming your way that you can share?
This year, I’m really keen to land a series regular role, especially with a character I can see grow and develop over time. The idea of really living with a character for a few months while shooting is something I’d love to experience. I’m also really focused on learning and improving my craft. It’s been five years since I graduated from drama school, and my New Year’s resolution is to continue my education with acting. I’m attending weekly acting lessons, diving into podcasts about how an actor prepares, and learning new accents.
Another dream of mine this year is to perform on more London stages. The Almeida and the Bridge Theatre are doing such exciting work, and I would love to be part of that, especially with a hard-hitting drama – something they’re known for. I saw Girls and Boys at the Bridge Theatre in 2018, which was career-altering for me. It left me with a strong sense of direction for where I want my career to go.
In terms of what’s coming up, last year I was super lucky to film a brilliant indie short film in France – What’s Wrong, Emma, directed by TĂ©o Frank. It premiered in Paris early this year and also screened at the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
I also filmed the feature film Cost of Living, where I played the co-lead alongside the incredible Karina Fernandez. It will be making its way around film festivals later this year. I shot Cost of Living for almost six months on and off during the pandemic, and by the end of it, my character became so ingrained in me that I started thinking like her. She dealt with anxiety, primarily stemming from her complicated, on-and-off relationship with her mother and the ADHD she was only just discovering.
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