Monday, 5/5/97 Vujcic gets big break with ‘Broken English’
Discovery in New Zealand bar leads to role for Croatian-born
actress
By Aimee Phan Daily Bruin Contributor Many aspiring actors and
actresses dream of being discovered. Favorite Hollywood fairy tales
have told stories of movie stars being discovered in restaurants or
clubs by a famous producer or director, paving the way for a
successful career and stardom. And often, these discovered people
had no intention of acting until that fateful meeting. Add newcomer
Aleksandra Vujcic to the list of discoveries. The actress, who
stars in the upcoming "Broken English," was partying with friends
on St. Patrick’s Day in a New Zealand bar when a casting director
spotted her and offered her a screen test for the film. Vujcic, who
had been a receptionist at a modeling agency at the time, was
stunned at the prospect of acting for a career. "I had never acted
before," Vujcic says. "I never thought about it. I had loved
movies, but just because there are great movies out there, it
doesn’t mean I thought I should pursue acting. It wasn’t my goal.
But by the time it got to me, I was ready for it. So I quit my job
and went to do the movie, and now all I want to do is act." Born in
Croatia, Vujcic had moved to New Zealand only several years ago. At
23, her heavily accented voice indicates the multiple languages she
has acquired from her many travels. Like her character in the film,
Vujcic is proud of her background and culture, believing they are
integral to making her the person she is today. "Growing up in
Croatia was beautiful," Vujcic remembers. "I had grown up in
communism, but then the war started and there were big changes. But
whatever’s happening in the country, you still have friends and
family there, and they are the ones who shape you and make you who
you are. I am very proud of where I come from. It got me to the
place where I’m at now." Luckily for Vujcic, the role she was
offered makes for an impressive debut. In the female leading role,
Vujcic stars as Nina, a young Croatian-born New Zealand woman who
rebels against her domineering father when she falls in love with a
dashing Maori man. While this may have been Vujcic’s first chance
to act, she admits she wasn’t nervous or scared, thanks to director
Gregor Nicholas and a supportive cast and crew. "We spent a lot of
time together beforehand working on the project in preproduction so
we were like a small family," Vujcic says. "We were comfortable
with each other and I wasn’t afraid of the camera or anything else
that acting brings. It was a very beautiful experience for me." As
the central character in the story, Vujcic credits the director and
her co-stars for helping her performance and enhancing her
blossoming acting ability. She doesn’t believe that a person can
turn in a stellar performance without a strong supporting cast.
"It’s not just you who are making the role," Vujcic says. "Everyone
else helps you with their involvement with their jobs. I had a
fantastic director who introduced me to everything, involving me in
the script procedure and talked to me about character development
and asking me what I thought about his ideas. So I was lucky,
really, to be introduced in such a normal and generous way." The
family-like atmosphere during the shooting of the film allowed the
actors to discuss and improvise their characters, making for a more
relaxed set. Vujcic’s involvement in her character’s development
also included script changes that would make the character of Nina
more of her own. "We all worked together to create these
characters," Vujcic says. "Gregory was very open to using
improvisation and open to shaping and reshaping the characters. In
the original script, the family had come from Croatia 30 years ago
and my character was born in New Zealand. But they had to adjust
the script to my English abilities, so we made (her English) more
broken." The role of Nina also provided Vujcic with the opportunity
to project a wide array of emotions, as the character struggles
between her sense of family obligation and her growing attraction
to her true love. While some newcomers may gawk at the idea of
portraying such a loaded character, Vujcic was thrilled to have the
chance to play such a complex young woman. "I think she was very
brave and strong-headed woman," Vujcic says. "She was a very
delightful and beautiful character to play because she had such a
range of emotions during the movie. She grows from being a daddy’s
girl to being a woman and having a child with the man she loves. It
was very, very challenging, but that’s what I liked about it." Like
her character, Vujcic is also experiencing life changes as she
makes the transition to the acting world. As her debut film is
about to open, Vujcic anticipates the actor’s life of traveling to
different countries for different films. While some people may be
nervous at the prospect of moving all the time, Vujcic is excited
about the new exposure to a different culture. She recalls her
anticipation in moving to New Zealand for the first time. "I don’t
think I would do anything if I was scared," Vujcic says. "I wasn’t
scared (about moving to New Zealand from Croatia) at all, I was
more curious. It was unknown and calling to me. I couldn’t wait to
get here. I came there open-minded to learn and accept. It’s new
and refreshing and challenging." If things go well for Vujcic,
another move may be in the future. After coming to America to do
press for "Broken English," Vujcic fell in love with New York City,
appreciating its vibrancy and nightlife. "I haven’t seen much of
New York, but it’s a dream," Vujcic says. "From what I’ve seen
already, it’s perfect. It’s got that real urban thing going on
there 24 hours a day. It’s my dream city. Everything is so tall and
beautiful there. I love it." While Vujcic would certainly like to
pursue acting as a career, she holds no set ambitions, preferring
to let life go wherever it may. She isn’t sure she wants to be an
actress for the rest of her life. "The rest of my life is a long
time," Vujcic says. "I don’t know what I want to do for the rest of
my life – it’s such a big word. At this moment, I know I want to be
an actress. I’m open for whatever comes." Sony Pictures
Entertainment Aleksandra Vujcic stars as Nina in "Broken
English."