UCLA alumna to trailer park trash ““ actress and former Bruin, Christine Lakin, takes it all on in her new role as Kiki Hamilton in the movie “Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story.”
Building from a Southern accent, ridiculously long nails and a skimpy wardrobe, Lakin created her character Kiki through comedy and improvisation as she added her own element to the film, according to “Screwball” director and producer Tommy Reid.
Lakin began acting at a young age ever since she starred in the 1990s TV show “Step by Step” as Alicia Lambert. Since then, she has taken on a wide range of characters, whether in film or on the stage, including small roles in “You Again” and “Valentine’s Day.”
“(Acting) is really the ability to be able to create something, and even though it’s saying a writer’s words on a page, you (the actor) are the one who brings that to life,” Lakin said.
“(Christine) can literally tackle anything you have. When I met her in casting on “˜Screwball,’ her Southern accent was dead on.
For when I was writing (“Darnell Dawkins: Mouth Guitar Legend”), I asked, “˜Can you do British?’ And her first instinct was, “˜Do you want it Cockney or Scottish?'” said Ross Patterson, the writer of “Screwball,” who also stars in the film.
Lakin was able to adjust to any character, whether it is a white trash groupie in “Screwball” or the British love interest of Jimi Hendrix in “Dawkins,” according to Patterson.
“Screwball” is a sports “mockumentary” about Ted Whitfield, the greatest Wiffle ball player, with supporting cast members Joey Kern as his close friend Willie Hamilton and Lakin as his wife Kiki Hamilton.
“Watching (Lakin and Kern) act is just phenomenal ““ you just have to have a camera and let it go because what you get is just priceless,” Reid said.
Even though Lakin had fun with her role, she still maintains a truly professional attitude, Reid said.
“It was so much fun to be able to direct her because she brought so much to the table as an actress, and it was just allowing her the chances to take it and improv(ise) and go into her character,” Reid said.
While Lakin enjoys the creative freedom and community of being a part of a smaller production like “Screwball,” she also admits that it is very exciting to be a part of a large-scale movie production like “You Again,” where there is a big red carpet event, the equivalent of the prom for Hollywood, according to Lakin.
“I feel very lucky that I am at a point in my career where I am able to do both (big and small films) ““ it’s given me a whole different sense of accomplishment,” Lakin said.
Lakin’s future film projects include a web series called “Lovin’ Lakin,” about her experiences acting as a child star and her role in “Darnell Dawkins: Mouth Guitar Legend.”
Looking back at her UCLA college experience, Lakin said that she gained the ability to analyze and think for herself.
“I love what I do so much and I feel fortunate to have made a living (acting) and doing it from such a young age ““ I just want to keep working,” Lakin said.