INTERVIEW

Oscar Nathwani-Hall | 28/05/2025

For Sienna Kelly’s HATC digital cover, she finds stage to open up and share insights into her work from her new role in 1536 at the Almeida Theatre to her experience on Black Mirror. Beyond her career, Siena reflects openly on the challenges of balancing creative demands with mental health, the impact of technology on daily life, and the personal choices she makes to maintain her wellbeing. Siena offers a quiet look at the realities behind the spotlight and the importance and place for personal care when maintaining a busy life and chasing her dreams.

HATC Alice: Hi! How are you today following our cover shoot?

S: I’m good, thank you! A bit tired, but in a good way, I had my press night last night.

A: Oh wow, congrats! What was the press night for?

S: I’m in a new play at the Almeida Theatre called 1536. It’s been such an exciting experience.

A: Do you have scope to tell us a little bit about the play?

S: Absolutely! It’s a brand new play by Ava Pickett, a first-time playwright who I think is a total genius. The play is set in Tudor England in the year 1536, the year Anne Boleyn was beheaded. But it’s not about the court, it’s about three ordinary women in Essex and how that event impacted their lives. It’s funny, sexy, violent, and very bold.

A: Sounds amazing! Is it a period piece or with some modernisation?

S: It’s a period setting and with incredible costumes—very Tudor—but the language is modern. We’re not doing Shakespearean English. The characters are ordinary women with jobs, not nobles or royals.

A: It feels like a refreshing look at an era where it’s often about nobility. I’m curious whether your love is with new productions and new roles instead of roles that have been done before?

S: I’ve never stepped into someone else’s role. I prefer creating a character from scratch—having the freedom to shape them without a legacy to match. I’ve done some classic plays, but mostly I like to stick to new work.

A: And what about stage vs. screen—where does your heart lie?

S: I love theatre. My “I’ve made it” moments have all been on stage. But you can’t live off theatre pay alone—it’s so low, even for big names. You have to do screen work to survive. If I could make a living off theatre, I’d do it exclusively.

A: That’s such a big issue. Do you think theatre gets the recognition it deserves, especially considering how many big shows and series start out as plays?

S: Not at all. I’ve heard conversations about how streaming services owe a lot to theatre—Fleabag, Baby Reindeer, and so many others started on stage. Theatres put in the early work, develop the scripts, find the talent, but they rarely see any of the financial return when a show blows up.

A: There’s a big debate surrounding the prices of theatre tickets currently.

S: It’s wild. Some theatre prices are embarrassing. Even as an actor, I won’t pay 100 pounds for a show. The Almeida is more reasonable, with discounts for younger audiences. But still, when prices are five times higher than before and wages haven’t changed, you wonder where the money’s going.

A: When it comes to the screen, your role in the iconic Black Mirror no less than an incredible opportunity. What was that like being part of Charlie Brookers world?

S: Black Mirror was my favourite set experience. The crew became like a family—lots of people have worked together before, and that makes the set light-hearted and collaborative, despite the dark tone of the show. We had a lot of creative freedom, which was rare and really fun.

A: Your episode explored a number of things with people picking up on themes like gaslighting—was it important to be part of something so topical?

S: It was. At first, Rosie (who played Verity) and I thought our episode was the lighter one in the series. But looking back, it tackled some deeply uncomfortable themes in a powerful way. It’s an important conversation, and I’m proud to have helped tell that story.

A: The episode tackles some heavy themes, but it still feels quite light. Was that intentional?

S: I think it was done in a really nice way. You can talk about serious things —like mental health—without it always being heavy. People don’t always want to engage with something intense, and sometimes a more playful tone can help them connect with it more.

A: Did you expect the kind of emotional reaction the episode got?

S: Honestly, no. It felt light when we were making it, so I was surprised people had such strong reactions. Some felt divided. But for me, I don’t look at the themes—I just focus on my character. I think that’s the director and writer’s job. Some people saw gaslighting, others saw racial themes, bullying, or misinformation. It’s interesting how varied the interpretations have been.

A: Do you think your approach—focusing only on your character—is the right one?

S: I do. In real life, you don’t walk around thinking about the “theme” of your life. You just live it. So I approach my character the same way.

A: I think Black Mirror for me often comes back if I’m honest to a personal fear of technology?

S: Same here. I don’t have social media. Neither does Rosie, and it was so nice working with someone like that. I even take breaks from takeaway apps and streaming services—I once went six or seven months without one!

A: Why do you feel the need to take breaks from apps and tech?

S: Because they steal your time and money without you realising. That unconscious time-theft really scares me. I’d look at my spending at the end of the year and be shocked. And because I wasn’t cooking, I had nothing at home and would just keep ordering—it’s all designed to trap you like that.

A: Is there a dream role you’d love to play?

S: I’ve been lucky with roles, especially in theatre. But I’m dying to do something really camp and over-the-top—something like Addams Family Values or Death Becomes Her. I feel like we don’t get much of that anymore. My current obsession is Mia Goth in Pearl, it’s huge, theatrical, terrifying, but brilliant.

A: You mentioned you trained as a dancer—do you enjoy finding the physical moments in roles?

S: I’d love to do something really physical. I’m a yoga instructor too, and movement is my first love—whether it’s dancing, stretching, or just walking instead of cycling.

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