Actress Jenny Boyd (“Legacies” on The CW) chatted about starring in the new movie “Royally Screwed,” which premiered on the streaming service Passionflix.
The film was directed by Sophia Kiapos from a screenplay by Emma Chase, Joany Kane, and Tosca Musk (the CEO and co-founder of Passionflix). It is based on the New York Times bestselling book of the same name by Emma Chase.
The synopsis is: This movie follows a rebellious prince Nicholas (Max Rinehart) and a sharp-witted Manhattan waitress Olivia (Jenny Boyd) whose chance encounter ignites a modern royal romance that puts tradition, tabloids, and the crown to the test.
As their chemistry deepens, the couple must navigate palace politics and public scrutiny to see if love can really rewrite the rules. Nicholas will be left with a challenging decision… will he choose the throne or the girl?
How was your experience filming “Royally Screwed”?
It was a whirlwind. We shot this movie very quickly but everyone rose to the challenge.
Most of all we had our Director Sophia Kiapos to thank for bringing so much passion and energy to set every day, she kept all of us cohesive & optimistic. We were very lucky with the cast and crew on this.
I met wonderful people who I hope to work with again, and adored shooting in the UK, where the locations were breathtaking
What was it like working with Max Rinehart as your leading man?
Max Rinehart brought so much intelligence and nuance to the role of Nicholas, a role that I think many would find intimidating.
Nicholas is not a likable character when we first meet him, and his evolution to the end of the film required a mammoth amount of vulnerability and talent.
From our first rehearsal, he, Sophia, and I clicked instantly. I remember thinking “Ah, this is really working, the three of us have a great synergy and way of collaborating.” It all felt easy.
Max is crazy smart, warm, and steady. He helped to keep it fun when things were stressful around him, staying calm, and showing care for others around him on set at all times. His wonderful acting elevated the whole project.
What was it like working with Sophia Kiapos as the director?
Sophia was our heartbeat—she’s one of those rare, magnetic people who makes everyone believe things are possible- her passion is so infectious.
What she was able to accomplish in a 17 day shoot and less than six months post-production is nothing short of a miracle.
She worked seamlessly with our amazing DP Adam Feuerman to create beautiful shots, and her clear vision gave the film that nostalgic 90s rom‑com glow she wanted.
What was it like working with Shohreh Aghdashloo and Grant Rosenmeyer as well?
Shohreh Aghdashloo is the definition of regal grace. Acting alongside her was an absolute honor, if there is anyone to look up to in this industry it’s her; what an incredible career she has had!
Grant Rosenmeyer is smart, driven and hilarious. He carried the comedy in this movie, He improvised brilliantly and brought so much more to Marty than was on the page.
His demeanor of professionalism and optimism helped bring up the energy on set every day he was there.
What did this screenplay teach you about yourself?
This is my first time working in the romance genre and I loved it. The screenplay, which is faithfully adapted from Emma Chase’s bestselling novel is fun, spicy and unexpected.
When people first encounter the film they may think “oh another royal romance, sort of formulaic and Hallmark-y” but then they hear some of the lines we say and are downright shocked.
It completely turns it on its head and keeps people guessing about what is coming next, and I think that unexpected nature of the storyline is what hooked me in as well.
Equally, this experience for me was a reminder to stay open to things outside of expectation. Surprising twists are the spice of life, just try to go with it and see where it takes you.
How does it feel to be an actor in the digital age? (Now with streaming, technology and social media being so prevalent)
Social media allows us to control our public narrative, but it can dilute creativity and presence. I find real inspiration when I unplug.
The streaming age has positives and negatives as well, algorithms often stifle art, and culture has suffered because of them. But there are glimmers of hope.
Every now and then a truly bold project breaks through that shows Hollywood’s metrics are wrong.
When execs stop chasing ‘safety’ and trust true creatives with strong vision, cast for talent instead of follower count, and focus on story instead of spending, we may be able to create more unique and beautiful projects than ever before.
How was your experience playing Lizzie in “Legacies” on The CW?
Lizzie Saltzman was a once‑in‑a‑lifetime role—complicated, humorous and gutsy. She pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, and informed the person I’ve become.
That show was pure creativity—different worlds, genres, and tones every season. It gave me so many opportunities to explore and grow as an artist. I love the supernatural/fantasy genre most of all, I would happily play there for the rest of my career.
I owe Julie Plec and Brett Matthews an eternal amount of gratitude for trusting me with that character, giving me all the best comedy lines, incredible dream sequence situations, and countless adventures.
What is your advice for young and emerging actors?
Oh boy, well the world has changed a lot hasn’t it… I dread to think of leaving drama school now, and not getting any face to face time with casting directors and creators.
I always say auditioning in the room was over half the job, and even if you weren’t booking all the time, you still had a sense of momentum, feeling accomplishment and connection by going into those rooms every week and giving it your all.
To stand out now in a sea of self-tapes it feels like you need to try to bring as much creativity to the process as possible, and find a way to enjoy it. It’s difficult, and anyone who has the desire to stick it out really must love love acting for its own sake.
Stay true to yourself, because authenticity will always read best, try to keep the fear away by filling your life with as much meaning as possible. Don’t wait, go out and live, enjoy the journey.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
Making this project with friends, people I have known for many years, made me aware of a whole new version of success. Creating something with people you trust is a kind of success money can’t buy. That sense of shared purpose is everything.
You rise up to the challenge for those around you, because you would never let them down, and focusing beyond ourselves when the going gets tough is what unleashes our true hidden potential.
That feeling is something I hope to have much more of in my career.
What would you like to say to our readers about “Royally Screwed”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
Olivia has given up hope for a future to be excited about when we meet her. She has no idea what is coming for her and only when she lets go & risks do things begin to change.
All the best things that have ever happened in my life have come quickly and unexpectedly, I had no idea that they were right around the corner.
Keeping that hope alive is all that we can have power over sometimes. And in the meantime we must try to keep an open heart.
To learn more about actress Jenny Boyd, follow her on Instagram.
Read More: “Royally Screwed” movie review.
