Deaf actress Henrianne Jansen chatted about starring in the Dutch short film “Beyond Silence,” which was shortlisted in the Top 15 for an Academy Award for “Best Live Action Short Film.”
It was written and directed by Marnie Block, and it also stars Sigrid ten Napel, and Tamar van den Dop.
The synopsis is: The synopsis is: Two women, two generations, one shared trauma. One has been silent for over 30 years, the other for only 1.5 years. Where one retreats further into silence after a confrontation, the other finds the courage to break it.
Starring in ‘Beyond Silence’
On starring in the short “Beyond Silence,” she remarked, “It felt incredible and overwhelming. This was my very first time acting in a film, and suddenly I was playing a role that is so important and impactful.”
“I’m grateful that through the role of Eva I was able to contribute to such a powerful film,” she added.
Playing Eva in ‘Beyond Silence’
On playing Eva, Jansen stated, “Eva is brave and intelligent. I recognize a lot of her courage in myself, even though life doesn’t always go the way you expect. She dares to stand up against injustice and tell her own story, with the support of her sister Anna.”
“Playing Eva showed me how important it is to talk about difficult subjects and to allow vulnerability. It also reminded me that you don’t have to face everything alone. It felt very special to be part of such an important story,” she underscored.
Working with writer and director Marnie Blok
On collaborating with Marnie Block as writer and director, Jansen said, “It was wonderful to work with her. Marnie trusted me as an inexperienced actress and told me that Deaf people can absolutely act, which gave me a lot of confidence.”
“Marnie taught me so much about acting, working with the camera, and how to handle emotions on screen. We also shared personal conversations and life experiences,” she elaborated.
“Marnie showed genuine interest in my Deaf culture and actively thought about how to include it in the film. I’m grateful for her trust and guidance,” she added.
Working with Tamar and Sigrid
On working with Tamar and Sigrid, Jansen said, “Tamar and Sigrid are both fantastic actors and wonderful to work with. Especially with Sigrid, I practiced a lot — not only sign language, but also different acting techniques.”
“They both showed me how to bring a character to life and how important collaboration is. Through teamwork, actors can truly grow,” she added.
Lessons learned from this screenplay
On the lessons learned from this screenplay, Jansen reflected, “It taught me that I can act, even without prior experience. Through this role, I learned how to step into a character, how to separate myself from the role, and how to let emotions support the performance without losing myself in them.”
“It helped me regain my self-confidence and believe again in my own talent and dreams. I also learned how much you can grow through collaboration and the support of others,” she added.
‘Beyond Silence’ making the Oscars Top 15 short-list
On making the Top 15 Oscars shortlist, Jansen said, “Honestly, I still can’t quite believe it. This is my first film, and to be on the Oscars Top 15 shortlist feels unreal.”
“I’m incredibly grateful to the entire team, the director, and my fellow actors who made this possible,” she added.
The digital age
On being an actor and performer in the digital age, Jansen said, “It feels special that the message of the film can reach people all over the world. Especially for me as a Deaf actress, this is important, as it can serve as a role model within the Deaf community. If I can act, other Deaf people can too.”
“Many Deaf people have experienced similar situations but may not dare to speak up because the Deaf community is small and close-knit. Through this film, I hope the taboo around these topics can be broken,” she acknowledged.
Future plans
Regarding her future plans, Jansen shared, “For a long time, I wasn’t sure. My dream of becoming an actress disappeared after I was rejected by a drama school because they believed Deaf people couldn’t act. That changed my path.”
“Thanks to Marnie, who showed me that Deaf people can act, I regained my confidence and my dream,” she noted.
“Since ‘Beyond Silence,’ I know what I want again: I want to continue acting and developing myself as an actress. This project brought my dream back, and now I want to explore it further,” she elaborated.
Advice for young and emerging actors
For young and aspiring actors, she said, “Believe in yourselves, even if you don’t have experience yet. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, to practice, and to learn. If you believe in yourself and dare to try, you can achieve a lot.”
Success
Regarding her definition of the word success, Jansen said, “For me, success means following your dreams despite obstacles, even if the steps are small.”
“I already feel successful because ‘Beyond Silence’ has been received so well and has reached so many people. It shows me that staying true to yourself and believing in your path can lead to meaningful moments,” she elaborated.
“Success doesn’t always have to be something big, sometimes it’s simply realizing that you’re growing and allowing yourself to be proud of that,” she added.
Closing thoughts on ‘Beyond Silence’
For fans and viewers, she expressed about “Beyond Silence,” “What I want people to know about Beyond Silence is that it carries a very important message. That’s why I played Eva as well and emotionally as possible, to help break the taboo.”
“I hope this brave story reaches people, encourages conversation, and raises awareness about what is happening,” Jansen concluded.
To learn more about rising Deaf actress Henrianne Jansen, follow her on Instagram.
For more information on the short movie “Beyond Silence,” follow its Instagram page.
Read More: “Beyond Silence” review.
