Andrea Solongi beat a record number of applicants to win a $60,000 prize package at a special event held at West Hollywood’s Soho House last night (US time), winning Australian Film (AiF) ) He became the 12th recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship.
Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Solonge is an Australian actress of Nigerian and Congolese descent who gained critical acclaim for her role as Juno Adebayo in Stan/Roku’s megachurch drama series Prosper, as well as Taika Waititi’s Apple. She also plays Madame Queenie on TV+. Series “Time Bandit”. She will next appear in the Queensland film adaptation of Stan Original Good Cop/Bad Cop, and voiced a character in the animated series Tales from Outer Suburbia.
As part of her prize, Solonge will receive $10,000 to help with her education and career preparation, from private acting coaching to immigration support, as well as assistance with living expenses, rent and transportation in Los Angeles. There will also be a year of mentoring from 2010 winner Bella Heathcote.
The actress, who was selected as a finalist for the 2021 initiative, which was held against the backdrop of the pandemic, said that being able to travel to Los Angeles this time gave her a taste of real life as an actor and set her goals in motion. She added that her next step was to secure representation in the United States.
“For a long time, ever since I started my acting career, I’ve looked at all of the Heath Ledger Scholarship recipients and their career trajectories and their humility and kindness and just wish that that would come true. “I’ve been dreaming of that day,” she said.
“When I was selected as a finalist during the pandemic, it was online, so being able to come live and here in Los Angeles was the most surreal experience. It was truly a dream.”
Solonge was selected by a panel of judges consisting of Sarah Snook, Melanie Lynskey, Gabrielle Union, Charlie Hunnam, Simone Kessel, Cleopatra Coleman, and award-winning casting director Terry Taylor. Ta.
Snook said she loves seeing newcomers show off their talent and passion for acting.
“It was a difficult decision because all of the finalists were amazing, but there was one player who stood out with her mesmerizing depth and strength,” she said.
“We are so excited that Andrea will be this year’s 2024 Heath Ledger Scholarship recipient.”
This year’s finalists included Charles Wu, Taj Aldeeb, Kartanya Maynard, Will McDonald, and Ezekiel Simat.
This year’s announcements include Lynskey, Kessel, Rose Byrne, Max Greenfield, Charmaine Bingwa, Mojang Arias, Sean Keenan, Danielle McDonald, Jonathan LaPaglia, Natasha Bassett, Philip Noyce, Jeremy They were joined by Podeswa, Joanna Caro, and Eunjung Moon.
Kim Ledger, Gregor Jordan, Susie Dobson, and Ann Fay are sponsors of the Heath Ledger Scholarship.
