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Articles by Orla Smith

Orla Smith is the former Executive Editor of Seventh Row, a regular contributor at The Film Stage, and a freelance writer with bylines at JumpCut Online, Cinema Year Zero, and Girls on Tops. In her free time she makes movies.

A still of a crowd scene in Quo Vadis, Aida?, behind a headshot of director Jasmila Žbanić. The text on the image reads, 'Interview'.

Orla Smith / January 27, 2021

‘She is like many women I know who were lionesses’: Jasmila Žbanić on Quo Vadis, Aida?

Writer-director Jasmila Žbanić discusses her blistering film about the Bosnian genocide, Quo Vaids, Aida?, which is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entry for the Best International Feature Oscar.

A still from makeup next to a headshot of director Claire Oakley. The text on the image says, 'Interview'.

Orla Smith / January 24, 2021

Claire Oakley on her genre bending coming-of-ager Make Up

First time filmmaker Claire Oakley discusses the dream that inspired her stylised, genre bending coming-of-age film, Make Up.

A grid of four images from the Small Axe series, exhibiting the hair and makeup work of JoJo Williams. The images features the text, 'Interview'.

Orla Smith / January 18, 2021

Makeup and hair designer JoJo Williams shares stories from the set of Small Axe

JoJo Williams, who led the makeup and hair department on the entire Small Axe series, shares stories about working with Steve McQueen and fitting hundreds of wigs.

A still of Kingsley Ben-Adir in One Night in Miami in front of a still from the film, with the text 'Interview' over the image.

Orla Smith / January 14, 2021

‘The vulnerability of these men was the centre of the piece’: Kingsley Ben-Adir on One Night in Miami

Kingsley Ben-Adir on the challenge of playing Malcolm X in One Night in Miami as a man with vulnerabilities that the public rarely saw.

A still of David Thewlis in I'm Thinking of Ending Things, in front of a blue background.

Orla Smith / January 3, 2021

FYC: David Thewlis’s feat of physical comedy in I’m Thinking of Ending Things

In I’m Thinking of Ending Things, David Thewlis hilariously twists and contorts his body like rubber in a feat of physical comedy.

A still of Matthew Macfadyen sitting at a desk in The Assistant, set against a pale pink background.

Orla Smith / December 30, 2020

FYC: Matthew Macfadyen’s one-scene wonder in The Assistant

In The Assistant, Matthew Macfadyen is the key ingredient that makes the film’s best scene so chilling. This is the first in a series of For Your Consideration essays looking back at the best performances and crafts of 2020.

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