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And you thought exams were scary

Sophie has more than school to cope with, writes Alison O'Riordan -- she's also a rising star

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By Alison O'Riordan
Sunday Nov 22 2009

Ambitious Glasnevin teen Sophie Vavasseur, -- tipped to be Ireland's next big thing -- has put her Leaving Cert studies aside for now to take on the lead role in the latest demonic-possession film, The Exorcismus.

Despite her youth, Sophie has previously starred in various films, including Rain of Fire, Becoming Jane, The Old Curiosity Shop and Resident Evil: Apocalypse.

Best known for her award-nominated role as Evelyn Doyle in the international production Evelyn, alongside Pierce Brosnan, she took two months out from her studies to work 14-hour days and shoot the horror movie, which was made in Barcelona in the documentary style of the Blair Witch Project.

The 17-year-old was given use of her own apartment on the seafront and she also had a tutor on set to keep up with her studies. Still, she found the schedule very gruelling. "I really enjoyed it, but it was really full on and intense," she says.

"That part of it was strenuous and tough to deal with at times. I came home last week when filming completed."

This Spanish-American horror movie, which will hit our screens next year, also features Richard Felix, Doug Bradley and Stephen Billington. "The plot concerns a girl called Emma who is sick of having to stay home and study instead of going to high school like other kids," Sophie says.

"Her parents are overprotective, agnostic and subject their children to a strict upbringing. Emma wishes she had a different life and she was free.

"Then Emma starts to have strange fits, which her parents put down to psychological problems but the girl knows that there's something terrible inside of her and its taking over her," she says.

"All the scary scenes are set in daylight, so it's not set out to scare you.

"What's scary for me about the movie is that demonic possession can happen to anyone," Sophie says.

Sophie believes her acting career will ultimately come down to luck, so she plans to take a year out after she finishes school, although she cannot see herself in an acting school.

"I'm going to take the year off and concentrate on the scripts which my agent sends over. Unless I'm going to make it big, I'd rather not pursue this career line. I'd rather have a degree in something -- but here's hoping," she says.

- Alison O'Riordan

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