Leslie Susana Campbell is a Bahamian-Cuban actress based in Los Angeles. Campbell was born to Cuban mother, Susana Campbell, neé Baltrons del Castillo and to Bahamian father, Wesley E. Campbell in Nassau, The Bahamas. Formerly a national swimmer for The Bahamas, Campbell migrated to pursue a future in athletics. She stopped swimming competitively at the age of 17 after having developed acute environmental, and sports-induced asthma. Campbell also states that suffering a serious knee injury the year before also contributed to her leaving the sport. After graduation she attended Arizona State University where she double majored in Theatre, and Global Health. After graduating, with the unique experience of working with directors like Kristen Hunt, Eliza Gonzales, and Michael Rohd, Leslie moved to Los Angeles, to continue learning her craft and making incredible movies that will endure the test of time.
We caught up with Leslie to chat about her role in ‘Guns and Gold at High Noon.’
Welcome Leslie! Your latest project is an action packed Western. Tell us about “Guns and Gold at High Noon.”
Hello – thank you for having me. The movie follows the young protagonist Rick Walters, also known by the nickname of ‘Drift Wood’. Drift Wood is on the run with enemies hot on his trail. Between the hefty 750,000 bounty placed on his head; the Carver sisters: sisters who aren’t blood but trained by life and circumstance to be tougher than any man, more cunning; Solomon Red: a popular, high tempered, blood hungry Mercenary and leader of the Reds; Falcon: a sharpshooter that lives for the thrill of the kill, and many others; Drift Wood has his work cut out for him.
I play Eve Carter, the oldest of the Carter Twins.
How do you start breaking down a new character to portray?
My preferred way to enter into a character is to start off with all of our similarities. I truly try not to focus on how we differ, because that is only going to block me from accessing my emotional truth to show the character’s emotional life. Eve and I share a fierce desire to protect those that we love. Eve’s underlying, motivating factor is living up to her own established sense of altruism. This characteristic is what makes up her humanity, in my opinion. She’s unpredictable as a result. I truly see that within myself as well.
How did you prepare for the role?
This role required me to incorporate my stage combat and martial arts background, so I really wanted to freshen up my basics. We were fortunate enough to have David forward time period/ reference materials, i.e. music and visual suggestions in order to really establish our sense of place and time. The story so far, I know is just a fraction of what David and visions so with this in mind, I didn’t want to play a completed character there needs to be room left open for Eve to evolve with that said, I focused on moment-to-moment work and establishing the relationship and dynamic between my sister, specifically, ‘what makes us the Carter twins’?
What was it like filming at Vasquez Rocks National Park?
The location was beautiful! I immediately slipped into character just being surrounded by the giant rock formations. We were climbing places to get better vantages points for our characters, and for better shots and angles. The time of year we filmed was perfect as well. Though sunny, it wasn’t hot at all! The atmosphere truly captured the heart of being in the West, in my opinion!
Which actors / directors would you like to collaborate with in future?
I would love to collaborate with Adèle Haenel, Cate Blanchett, Zoe Saldana, Ayo Edebiri, Simone Ashley, and Emma D’Arcy.For directors, I would love to work with Ava DuVernay, and Jodie Foster.
I am also an absolute fan of international cinema, and would love to work with Birce Akalay, Deepika Padukone. Directors I’d love to work with would be Celine Sciamma, Metin Huseyin, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
How can we keep up with your news?
For my film and TV projects check out my IMDb and my Instagram for everything else!
Thank you for taking the time for this interview. We look forward to seeing the movie and more from you!