Little did the striking Gwendolyn Edwards know while she was in college and majoring in Engineering that one day she would be featured in a critically acclaimed film! But, a few years later, the former engineer is now winning awards for her acting in the highly acclaimed new movie-- THE LAST CONFEDERATE

"Based on a true story: This is a journey through the psyche of a Southern captain in the waning days of the American Civil War. In an emotionally charged performance, Julian Adams portrays his great-great grandfather Robert Adams, a strong willed southern Captain, who used his guns and his heart of fire to rally his men to fight for their lands. Filled with passion, blood and tragedy, "The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams" is the tumultuous true story of a man divided by love for country and for Eveline McCord, his beloved girl from the north. Produced and written by the descendents of Robert and Eveline, this is an explosive, richly detailed saga of fierce combat, honor and the will to risk all that's precious for love or country."

Gwendolyn plays "Eveline", her first starring role. Actually this is her first role in any movie. A true life Cinderalla story, she was 'discovered' and asked to audition for the role and she got it!



"Honestly, I had no idea at the time of the audition that I would even be seriously considered for a role, much less the lead. I had only worked on stage, so I wasn't able to draw on a lot of film experience. But I did have a strong sense of "this feels right," and that fueled me, and hopefully fueled the performance."

I had the pleasure of doing a Q and A with Gwendolyn. I am confident we will all be seeing her name on many more movie marquis!

Q: What is your full name?

Gwen: Gwendolyn Edwards. My friends call me Gwen.

Q: Where do you reside?

Gwen: I’m based in Los Angeles, but home is where my family is, in Southern Illinois.

Q: How long have you been in acting?

Gwen: I blush every time I’m asked this question. This was my first role ever in film. I was actually working as an engineer when I got this role. I had worked & trained as a stage actor in musical theater for a several years, but I had only considered that a hobby really (not a career choice). This was my first experience acting in film & I had to learn the ropes very fast. I (secretly) got a film coach immediately and worked with him for 8 months.

Q: What was your major in college?

Gwen: I majored & degreed in Engineering. I was one of only a couple girls in my graduating class. But I acted in musical theater on the side as a creative outlet. And of course, I daydreamed about my roles while working out differential equations in class. Ha, that’s funny, I hope my professors never hear that.

Q: what was your first acting job?

Gwen: The Last Confederate was my first job in film. I had played several roles in musical theater and Shakespeare since I was 17.

Q: How did you land the role in The Last Confederate?

Gwen: Put simply… good fortune. They needed someone with some musical ability, and I write music, play piano, sing... I was performing in a NC theater production, when someone involved with the film saw me and asked me to go audition for the part. I auditioned with Julian Adams, and there was an instant chemistry. There was just something there that lifted off the page and took on a life of its own! And that fueled me and the performance.

Q: When and where did that film shoot?

Gwen: We shot The Last Confederate mostly in North and South Carolina, as well as in Georgia. Much of the film was shot on location on the land and at the homes of some of the descendents of the actual family the story is about.

Q: How did you prepare for the role?

Gwen: Getting the opportunity to play someone like Eveline was an absolute playground for me. I had the uncommon opportunity to research the role with the actual descendents of my character’s family! At my fingertips, I had actual love letters written between Eveline and Robert (the film’s protagonist). I had music actually written by my character (some of which is still being performed today). I visited her grave. (Her epitaph read- “To know her was to love her”.) I was so immersed in information and research about her and this family… that it really became a part of me. I actually wrote love letters in character, and I wrote music in character. I can still recall some dreams I had in character a few times! The family and this story touched me in an extraordinary way that really motivated me as an actress. I felt I had lived in those rooms, behind those curtains, in those fields & with those people. Eveline lived the life of a true heroine- so it was an honor getting to crawl around in her skin for a while. And I was very passionate about trying to portray her correctly.

Q: Were you surprised you got the part?

Gwen: Oh my gosh -- I met with the producers and auditioned for it all in a day, and then I didn’t hear a single thing for months. I didn’t hear a no, or a yes, or a “we’ll get back to you” or even, “you were so terrible, go back to your day job”. Then 3 months later, out of the blue- I got a call telling me I got the role. I think I literally said “what role”.

Q: Can you describe your character

Gwen:It’s funny, because when I was originally cast, the role of Eveline was a much smaller, supporting role. (The role was later expanded into a lead.) When I began to research and learn about her & this love story was when I realized how meaty this role really was. Eveline was an exceptional woman, especially for her time— uncommonly independent, well-read, so strong, and extraordinarily talented. There is so much about her and her life that the film doesn’t have time to show… And I was definitely a little afraid of playing such an extraordinary woman. It’s amazing & terrifying at the same time when you get to fill such beautiful shoes. It’s an opportunity to be, if only for a second, a true heroine!

I found out so much about myself in playing this part.

Q: Did it go to film festivals and win any awards?

Gwen: I believe the film showed in 11 festivals, and it has won 12 awards worldwide to date, including Best Picture.

Q: Who is distributing the film?

Gwen: THINKFilm purchased the film and is distributing it domestically.

Q: What cities will it play in?

Gwen: It premiers in Columbia, SC on June 2nd, and will be released in LA theaters on June 8th and more cities thereafter.

Q: Have you been nominated for any awards for the film at the festivals?

Gwen: I have received 2 Best Actress nominations to date from festivals in Long Island and LA. I also wrote and performed a couple songs in the film (my character is a musician), and one of those songs won 2 movie soundtrack awards at festivals in LA.

Q: What kind of role would you like to play next?

Gwen: Well, there is no question that the great female roles are so hard to snag. But I like to target roles that play upon my own inherent qualities (good and bad)… my silliness, my faults, strengths… I’ve always loved period films since I was a kid, so I’m naturally drawn to the corset roles. But I would love to find a good, fleshy comedic role to crawl into. Someone with some delicious flaws who doesn’t just stand there and glitter. I can not imagine a better “job” than to go to work and make people laugh.

Q: Do you want to stay in the film industry?

Gwen: This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life… And I loved every minute of it. I want to continue working in film for as long as I can. I have continued working in theater in LA but I just love the adventure of film. The science and messiness of it is so different than anything I’ve done in theater. I loved the camaraderie that formed among the cast and crew from working with the pressures of an indie budget. It was like a well-oiled machine, and I loved being a part of how everyone pulled together like a team to get the job done.

Q: What are your long term acting goals?

Gwen:I just want to continue to grow as an actress and play roles that I’m proud of. The surprising thing about acting is that you learn so much about yourself. It’s an entire science about knowing yourself and really getting inside. So it can be a sort of therapeutic journey. I just want to stay immersed in the profession and bring all of myself to every role I’m able to play.

Q: Who is your role model in the industry?

Gwen: I don’t know that I have a “role model” in the industry, exactly. I do have people whose performances I watch when I’m working on a certain type of role. For The Last Confederate, I drew on certain performances of Julie Christie, Connie Nielson, Julia Ormond, Jodie Foster… for example. I’ve always been a huge fan of Lauren Bacall. You can see so many thoughts going through her head at any time. For comedy, I love watching Terri Garr. I thought she was brilliant in the breakup scene with Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie! My father is probably the biggest creative influence in my life. He is a composer and singer/songwriter, and just a great creative mind. I learn so much from him. Geography keeps us from getting to work together a lot, but I’m constantly inspired by him. My Website is:

www.gwendolynedwards.com


To see a trailer of the film: www.strongbowpictures.com


Gwen's Publicist: Karen Ammond- KBC Media
kbcmedia@att.net