With the sci-fi thriller feature film The Assessment releasing earlier this year, Anaya Thorley played Amelia for her film debut alongside a cast including Elizabeth Olsen, Himesh Patel and Alicia Vikander, and she attended the UK premiere at the BFI Film Festival in 2024. In the Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off series Knuckles, Anaya worked on an episode as Sally, with Idris Elba voicing Knuckles, and her further screen experience includes commercials such as Disney Collectibles and Vodafone. Anaya is set to star as Grace in the BBC short film The Immaculate Heart, and she has a project in the works that she has met the director for. Alongside acting, Anaya is a model, having modelled for companies including River Island, Marks & Spencer and JD Sports. We caught up with Anaya about playing Amelia for her film debut in The Assessment, working on an episode of Knuckles and her upcoming starring role of Grace in BBC short film The Immaculate Heart.

In this year’s release of sci-fi thriller feature film The Assessment, you play Amelia, how did you find the experience on set of your first feature film?

I found it really enjoyable. It helped me to realise how much I enjoy being on set, I didn’t want the experience to end.

Can you tell us about The Assessment and how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role of Amelia?

I’ve only watched my own scene as the film is a 15! I know it’s a dystopian sci-fi thriller, based sometime in the future. It’s about needing an assessment to be able to have a child as the ‘new’ world is very strict.

It seems like a lifetime ago now, I felt really happy, I actually taped for the role almost a year before being confirmed for the part, so it was a wonderful surprise.

How would you describe Amelia and what was she like to play?

Amelia is artsy, intelligent and inquisitive. I think she has a good sense of humour – if you watch the scene I’m in you’ll see why! Amelia is quite different from my own personality, obviously her society is different to mine so she grew up very different to the way I am growing up! I really enjoyed stepping into her shoes.

What was it like meeting and filming with the rest of the cast, which included Elizabeth Olsen, Himesh Patel and Alicia Vikander, and being directed by Fleur Fortuné?

It was very surreal! The cast was huge! My mum told me some of the projects the other actors had worked on and what an experience to be sat with them all round the table. I was starstruck with Lizzie, we really hit it off. She was so kind and down to earth. Fleur is a wonderful director. She actually sits on set so she can feel the scene, which I think is a great way of directing. It feels more personal.

What did you enjoy most about being part of The Assessment and what do you feel you’ve learnt from working on the project?

I can’t pinpoint any favourite part as I enjoyed the experience as a whole! It was filmed in Cologne, Germany so that was cool, getting lots of advice from seasoned actors was really helpful. Stephen (Woolley), the producer, said I reminded him of a young Kirsten Dunst in Interview with the Vampire so that was a huge compliment. I learnt too much to list everything but how to be patient – we did a lot of takes for one scene! And how to take direction when on set, it’s nice to bring someone else’s vision of a character to life.

What was it like attending the UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October last year and walking the red carpet?

SURREAL! It was amazing to be on the red carpet and I got to reconnect with some of the actors and crew I had met on set so that was wonderful.

The wonderful team at Junona gifted me a beautiful dress so I felt like a superstar!

How was your time filming for an episode of Knuckles for Paramount+ as Sally?

This was my first time on a professional set! So I was in awe of how they completely rebuilt a whole set on top of a bowling alley! The episode was filmed over three days and I had a wonderful time!

How much did you know about the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise before auditioning and what was it like being involved with the spin-off series?

I had watched the movies so when I found out I had an audition and then a recall I was very excited! I wanted to meet Idris (Elba) but he does all his work in the recording studio for Knuckles! The whole experience was really fun though, I loved my costume!

We understand you will be starring as Grace in the BBC short film The Immaculate Heart, is there anything you can say about this?

The Immaculate Heart is a BBC short film about a young girl who is of dual heritage, she is struggling with her identity in the film and she has a wonderful bond with her big brother, who was played by Tyrelle in the film. We now have a wonderful bond outside of filming and he’s like a real big brother to me now!

The film is hitting festivals this year, I’ve not seen the final edit yet so I’m really looking forward to it.

Fenn O’Meally, the director and writer, is such a wonderful person, I really look up to her.

Having worked on commercials for Disney Collectibles, Poundland, Panadol and Vodafone, what are commercials like to work on?

TVCs are very different on set to being in a TV show or a film. They’re both really fun, but I definitely prefer being on a film set as I can really get into a character and build on them, showcase them and express their thoughts subtly. Commercials are sometimes quite ‘extra’ as you’re helping a company to sell something.

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?

I’ve always been a bit of a drama queen and when I found acting it felt natural – I had finally found somewhere to channel it! I actually started with modelling and then acting kind of came along with it as the agency I was signed with at the time subbed me for stills and talent jobs!

Can you tell us about some of your modelling work?

My favourite jobs as a model are definitely campaigns. I’ve previously worked with River Island, M&S, Very, JD Sports and F&F (to name a few). I’ve been in Tatler magazine, which was amazing as I got to wear some beautiful designer clothes! My dream modelling job would be Zara, of course, and a big sports campaign like Nike.

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

My favourite film is The Notebook – I think that Rachel McAdams is so emotive in it. I cry every time I watch it. My favourite TV show? Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I’m a sucker for a comedy and would absolutely love to be cast as a regular character in a comedy TV series!

How do you like to spend your free time?

Just like most kids my age really, locked away in my bedroom some days, I train in dancing so that keeps me active and I love spending time with my friends. I have screen acting lessons once a week which I really enjoy too.

Is there anything you enjoy most about being an actor?

That’s a hard question to answer. I like to create a character from scratch – so sometimes you’ll get a brief for a character audition and it’s clearly outlined what they want – that’s quite hard as a lot of the time a casting director will already have in their head what they want and if you don’t bring that, you’re out the game. So what I enjoy most is being able to build a character from my own interpretation and bring that character to life – I give them a backstory, hobbies, traits and habits. It’s fun to create a whole new person and then step into their shoes.

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

I’m hoping this year brings more opportunities. Getting into the room with more directors so I can get out there and be seen. There is a huge, exciting project in the works that I met the director for, the project is going to be picking back up early next year, so I can’t say much else about that right now but hopefully we will hear more soon!

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