Entertainment Spotlight: Mattea Conforti, NOS4A2
Millie is the daughter of vampire Charlie Manx—can you tell us a bit about her? What made the role fun to play?
Millie Manx is a very interesting character to play. She is definitely strong and unafraid of a lot of things. She can be mean and even deadly, and she takes a lot of cues from her father, Charlie Manx. She is very devoted to her father, and she will do anything to please him. However, there is also a side of Millie, and it especially emerges this season, where she begins to question all that she knows. She starts to develop real fears of losing her father, and she also starts to emerge as a true leader. This role is both really fun and challenging to play. Playing a demon child is like nothing I’ve ever done before, and getting into all the special effects makeup, my demon wig and fang-like teeth is really fun. In Season 2, I am able to develop Millie’s character far beyond her scary, gory presence in Season 1. Millie is much more than a scary horror character. She is loving, thoughtful, scared, brave, independent and vulnerable, all at the same time. I really enjoy the challenge of showing this unexpected side of Millie Manx.
You began your career on the stage, how do you find the work differs between stage and screen, and do you prefer one over the other?
Working on the stage is completely different than working on a tv or movie set. In theatre, you get one chance each night to connect with your audience, to make bold acting choices, to express your character the way that you want. But, with TV and movies, you are given multiple opportunities to explore your character’s range. You can take a note from a director and then a few minutes later apply it to the scene you are shooting again. In theatre, everything is big – your movements, your expressions, your vocals; because you need to reach the people in the back and the people in the balcony. But, on the screen, I’ve learned to make my acting more subtle, because the camera is usually right there with you, and you don’t need to exaggerate your actions. I don’t really have a preference between stage and screen, I’m just so grateful to have had the opportunity to work in both. Both are unique in their own way, and I would welcome the opportunity to work in either genre in the future.
Do you have any fun facts about the making of the show that fans would be surprised to find out?
Well, I have found it interesting that in making this type of horror/fantasy show, it is not scary at all to do my job. Actually, this show has so much gore and scary scenes that when we are filming, we have a lot of fun joking around and being silly, in between takes, amongst all the gore and special effects. There are some really cool and scary scenes coming up in Season 2 that I got to be a part of, and I would like the fans to know just how much fun it was to shoot them!
Do you think you’d make a good vampire? What would that look like?
I’m not sure that I would make a good vampire. I’m kind of afraid of the dark, so I probably wouldn’t be very good at it. Also, I really do like people, and I’m not a big fan of playing deadly games like, “Scissors for The Drifter.”
Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite line of dialogue from the show (yours or someone else’s)?
My favorite line from the show is definitely with Zachary says in Episode 202, “Who wants to go to Christmasland?!?” when we are in the wraith. This line makes me smile because we shot that scene so many times, and each time Zachary said that line a different way. I loved it because I never really knew how he was going to deliver it, and I challenged myself to match his energy with my response every single time.
If NOS4A2 were a musical, what would Millie’s big number be?
Great question! Millie’s big number would have to be, “Who Wants To Go To Christmasland?” and it would come right before intermission, to hook the audience. I think the first act of the musical would build to Charlie and Millie Manx’s first arrival in Christmasland. They would fly through the theatre in the wraith, and the song would end with them stepping out of the wraith and seeing Christmasland for the very first time.
Which, if any, fandoms are you in?
I’m actually not in any fandoms. I have so many varying interests in the entertainment industry that I prefer to support as many different genres as I can.
You’ve worked on two iterations in the Frozen universe, playing both young Elsa and young Anna in different projects. Which of the sisters do you prefer to bring to life?
I still can’t believe that I’ve played both princesses! My experience bringing Young Anna to life for Frozen the Broadway Musical, and my experience playing Young Elsa in Frozen II were so unique, and as different as the two sisters really are. I started originating the role of Young Anna for Broadway when I was 9, so I could very much relate to the younger princess at the time. I was definitely a spunky, carefree, and funny, just like Young Anna! I started recording for Frozen II as Young Elsa when I was around 12, so I was a bit older, and I think more mature and cautious, like Elsa. I could never pick which sister/experience I prefer because they were both such incredible opportunities that I will never forget.
If you could play any character, historical or fictional, who would it be, and why?
That’s a really tough question to answer, and I don’t think I could pick just one character. I think the most important thing in selecting a role is to make sure that I am being challenged to tell a very important story. I love characters with a lot of depth to them, where I can show my acting range and make bold choices.
What does your ideal day off look like?
My ideal day off is definitely a summer day. I would spend my day on the beach with my family and friends, swim in the ocean, and go for long walks to find shells and sea glass. It would also include some really good food and of course, ice cream for dessert!
Thanks for taking the time, Mattea! Catch NOS4A2 Sundays on AMC.
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