Aftersun's child star Frankie: 'I had never acted before this'

The prima of Bafta-winning movie Aftersun had ne'er acted earlier she got her portion arsenic a young miss connected an idyllic vacation with her father.

Twelve-year-old Frankie Corio, from Livingston successful West Lothian, plays Sophie alongside Paul Mescal.

She won the portion aft her photograph was sent by her mum Leona to a casting cause which had published an advert seeking tomboyish girls aged betwixt 10 and 12.

Frankie explains: "I had not been trying to get into acting.

"My mum conscionable came location 1 time and said 'I've enactment you up for a casting audition thing,' and I was similar 'cool'.

"I understood what it was but I didn't deliberation I was going to get it."

In the movie quality Sophie is the girl of Calum, a young antheral with intelligence wellness issues, who is played by Mescal.

The big Sophie, played by Celia Rowlson-Hall, reminisces astir a vacation to a Turkish edifice with her dada 20 years previously.

The scenes Frankie did arsenic the young Sophie were changeable connected determination successful Turkey during the summertime past year.

Her mum, begetter Frank, 44, sister Mariella, 13, and member Lorenzo, six, stayed with her for the afloat 2 months of filming.

Primary teacher Leona said she felt truthful arrogant watching her daughter.

The 40-year-old told BBC Scotland: "Francesca had a chaperone each the clip and they were truly relaxed, I could travel and spell connected set.

"My hubby and I took turns going connected acceptable but we besides wanted to springiness her a spot of abstraction to beryllium herself and to physique up a narration with Paul.

"We gave them a spot of state and we besides didn't privation to travel crossed arsenic pushy parents."

Leona said she had been successful "disbelief" erstwhile she heard her girl had won the part.

"Everyone said however earthy her acting is. In her existent beingness she is precise expressive truthful to spot her playing it truly calm and not going implicit the apical it was similar 'wow, she is truly acting'."

Frankie enjoyed making the movie but for 1 happening - singing.

In 1 country she was connected signifier successful beforehand of a assemblage having to execute REM's "Losing My Religion".

"I hated it, I hated each moment. I hated the opus and having to sing. There were a batch of radical there.

"I got done it by pretending I was Sophie, my character. I did it for each my scenes, I conscionable acted similar I was idiosyncratic else."

Frankie spent 2 weeks getting to cognize Mescal - who played Connell successful Normal People - earlier filming started.

"We went swimming successful the sea, played excavation and ate ice-cream," she said.

"I had nary grooming isolated from learning to play excavation for immoderate scenes. Paul taught maine to play pool," Frankie added.

Although she feels she is rather akin to her movie character, Frankie spelled retired the differences.

She said: "I'm not arsenic embarrassing arsenic her similar singing karaoke and besides jumping successful the excavation with my shoes connected - a spot of an unusual decision.

"But sometimes I ne'er saw it arsenic acting, it was conscionable hanging retired saying lines alternatively of seeing it similar acting."

To assistance her done she picked up tips by watching her favourite actress, Millie Bobby Brown successful Stranger Things.

Her friends successful Scotland person been precise supportive and were "so excited" erstwhile she took them to a screening.

And she felt "very proud" erstwhile she heard her teachers were readying a nighttime retired to the cinema to spot it.

The film, which opened the Edinburgh International Film festival successful 2022, is directed by Charlotte Wells. It won a Bafta for the outstanding British debut movie.

Frankie said: "I deliberation it's a precise large film. I'm besides precise arrogant of being a Scottish histrion and hopefully it makes much Scottish actors.

"I privation to proceed being an histrion erstwhile I turn up. It's amusive getting to play idiosyncratic you're not."