In the Sky Original Christmas film Bad Tidings, Millie Kiss played Chloe alongside her on-screen parents played by Lee Mack and Sarah Alexander, with the film written by Chris McCausland, Laurence Rickard and Martha Howe-Douglas. Millie was in the cast of the Hallmark TV movie An American in Austen, which starred Eliza Bennett as Harriet, and in 2021, she played Amy in the horror film The Cursed for her first screen role. On stage, Millie toured in 2023/24 as Anne Frank in Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, and as a child actor, her roles include playing Molly in Annie, Susan Waverley in White Christmas (both at Liverpool Empire), and she was in the Ensemble of The Wind in the Willows, and she previously trained at Stagebox. We found out from Millie about filming as Chloe in the Sky Original Christmas film Bad Tidings, being in the casts of An American in Austen and The Cursed and touring as Anne Frank in Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World.
You play Chloe in the Sky Original Christmas film Bad Tidings, what was it like on set and filming opposite your on-screen parents Lee Mack and Sarah Alexander?
Filming a Christmas film in the spring was definitely an unforgettable experience. Being wrapped up in a Christmas jumper and surrounded by Christmas lights all felt surreal. I thoroughly enjoyed working with both Lee and Sarah – they’re a great duo, very funny together, and it felt natural to create a family dynamic with them both. And OF COURSE, Lee doesn’t fail to make you laugh at any moment.
How would you describe Chloe and how was it getting into character?
There were ways where I could relate to Chloe. She is a pretty typical teenager who, at times, can have an attitude with her dad, and there’s no doubt that I was like that at 14. She is at that age where everything feels embarrassing, especially with parents, so getting into character felt quite natural as it was about tapping into those awkward teenage moments. However, we see Chloe’s bravery toward the end of the film where she steps in to save her dad, and I loved being able to play that out.
What did you enjoy most about working on a Christmas film, and how was it being involved with a project written by Chris McCausland (who also stars as Scott), Laurence Rickard and Martha Howe-Douglas?
I can confidently say that I loved every moment on Bad Tidings. My favourite memories were the night shoots – everyone just gets a bit delirious, and everything feels 10 times funnier.
It was a privilege to be part of a project written by Chris McCausland, Laurence Rickard and Martha Howe-Douglas. And working with Chris was extraordinary. I loved every conversation we had, and he is such a genuine person and absolutely hilarious. You could really feel how much care and humour had gone into the script, and being part of bringing that to life was really special.
What was it like filming for the Hallmark TV movie An American in Austen, which starred Eliza Bennett as Harriet?
This was such a lovely shoot. It was short and sweet, but all felt very relaxed. I liked the challenge of acting outside of my own accent, and in the time that I was in Bulgaria the whole cast felt really close, and it was really lovely to be a part of that.
How did you find the experience being in the cast of the 2021 horror film The Cursed as Amy?
This project is absolutely unforgettable. This was my first ever feature film. I was just 14 years old and had never worked on a movie before. I remember getting the call and just feeling so giddy because I was about to fly out to France to film a horror movie (and also miss four weeks of school)!
This project was definitely what gave me the itch to know that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I remember this whole experience like it was yesterday – everything just felt so surreal. I was completely mesmerised by what a real film set looked like – the trailers, hair and makeup, and just how everything comes together. Being surrounded by such talented and respected actors was incredible, and it really opened my eyes to the industry – an experience I am extremely grateful for.
In the 2023/24 UK Tour of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, you could be seen as Anne Frank; what was it like taking on the role?
It was such an honour to play Anne Frank in a musical where we are celebrating such phenomenal women who deserved to be recognised. Anne’s moment at the end of the show is small, but felt so perfect and powerful. Because the rest of the musical is so upbeat and energetic, there’s a real shift when Anne comes on stage – you can feel the audience go completely quiet, and it becomes this very respectful, emotional moment.
How was it touring with the musical and was there anything that drew you to the production?
This was a four-month tour, and I genuinely loved every moment of it. Performing on stage feels so special to me because it is where it all started. There is something about theatre and having a live audience that I find so beautiful and energising. I have been a lover of Kenny Wax’s productions, so to be able to be a part of one I feel so grateful. It was one of those rare jobs where I was lucky enough to make friends for life. We still speak all the time and continue to support each other by going to watch each other’s projects.
What are some of your favourite memories from your theatre roles as a child performer, where you played Molly in Annie and Susan Waverley in White Christmas at Liverpool Empire and were in the Ensemble in The Wind in the Willows?
Theatre is where it all started for me. From the moment I could talk, I was also singing and dancing. My mum was my number one fan, so as a child she would look out for any open auditions, which led to me landing these roles. My favourite memories would be the trips to Liverpool – staying in a nice hotel with my mum, going on girly shopping trips in the city, and then to the theatre in the evening to go and perform. These are precious memories that will stay with me forever.
How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?
I’ve wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember, which is quite funny because no one in my family, or where I grew up, worked in the industry, so it felt like a very random dream to have. I was completely obsessed with High School Musical. I’d sing and dance in front of the TV from the age of two (I’ve still got the footage – very cute). I just really loved Disney and how magical it was, and then to learn that all of this could be something you can make a career out of – I just knew that was what I was going to do. My parents were incredibly supportive and got me into classes early on, and now, at 21, that passion hasn’t changed, and I still know that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
What do you feel you’ve learnt from your time in the industry so far, and how was it training at Stagebox for a number of years?
I have learnt everything I know both from working in the industry and from my time at Stagebox, but one of the biggest things I’ve realised is that you truly learn by doing. Being on set or in a professional environment teaches you things you just can’t fully understand anywhere else. I remember my first acting job, The Cursed, and feeling completely thrown into the deep end. I had never experienced anything like it before, but just being there – observing, listening and taking everything in – taught me so much about how a film set actually works.
But I absolutely wouldn’t be where I am today without Stagebox. I joined them when I was just 10 years old, and the opportunities that you have in your time there is insane. We had masterclasses with stars from across the musical theatre and film/TV industries, and I don’t think I’ve been able to fully appreciate how cool that is until now as an adult. The training is so intense – I learnt how to audition properly, which is such a huge part of the industry – and Stagebox has prepared me for every job I have ever worked on.
Do you have any favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?
YES! I absolutely thrive from watching films and theatre. My top favourite films are Pirates of the Caribbean, the Tinker Bell movies, The Parent Trap, The Croods (and HSM, of course). I do have favourites other than Disney, but these are my comfort films.
My favourite theatre show is MJ the Musical – I was absolutely in awe of this and was lucky enough to see Myles Frost play MJ, and just the entire show and cast had me blown away. I also love the classic, Les MisĂ©rables – I have seen this musical a good few times, and every time I find it so moving. I have Karate Kid – The Musical booked to go and watch soon, so I am very excited about that.
How do you like to spend your free time?
My new year’s resolution this year was to watch as many films as possible, so this is what I am finding myself doing in my free time. I also absolutely love going to the cinema, and just the other day I went to see Project Hail Mary – absolutely loved it. Ryan Gosling is absolutely hilarious, and I ended up getting emotional at the end.
I love spending my free time with my friends. My best friend and I share a lot of the same interests – we are both big Formula One fans, so we try and watch every race together. We play tennis often, which is always very entertaining.
My boyfriend and I really love board games too, and his family often hold game nights, which I always really look forward to.
What are you hoping this year brings you, and do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about?
I have a lot of hope for this year. So far it has been pretty busy, there isn’t much I can say right now, but my fingers are crossed and hopefully there will be a lot more to talk about by the end of the year.
Follow Millie on: