Jolene Legrand speaks with the kind of warm confidence that immediately puts you at ease. The Venezuelan-born, Italian-raised actress has been making waves in British cinema since 2019, bringing an international perspective that sets her apart in London’s competitive film scene.
“Since moving to the UK in 2019, I’ve been fortunate to explore diverse roles,” she explains, her accent carrying hints of her international upbringing. Her recent roles include Elizabeth in “Modern Day Masking” (2023), Amy in “Same Lovers” (2024), and an Italian reporter in “Shockwaves 2” (2024).
But it’s while discussing “Dance with The King,” currently in post-production under director Sonia Amino, that Legrand’s enthusiasm shines through. Set for release in Summer 2025, the film sprouted from an unexpected seed of inspiration. “The whole concept of the movie was born when a guy I was friends with described me as a femme fatale,” she recalls. “I then started watching Noir movies and falling in love.”
When asked about her artistic approach, Legrand opens up with characteristic warmth. “I would describe myself as an ambitious and resilient person with a passion for storytelling. My work and art are what fulfill my life the most.”
A visit to her Instagram reveals an artist who’s as comfortable behind the scenes as she is in front of the camera. Her toolkit isn’t just emotional depth – she brings technical prowess too, with fluency in Italian and Spanish, a mezzo-soprano voice that could’ve led her down a different artistic path, and the kind of stage combat training that makes action sequences look effortless.
“I love to work on Thrillers, Action and Psychological movies that allow me to use my voice as a creative,” she shares. “I want to shed light on issues we still face in society today.” This vision comes to life in “Dance with the King,” where she takes on the complex lead role of Bridgette.
The film represents her approach to challenging noir conventions. “I wanted to de-objectify the figure of the Femme Fatale, make her more human,” she emphasizes. “A film where the femme fatale is not just a mysterious, sexual and dangerous woman, but a human being with emotions.”
These days, Legrand juggles a feature film project with regular auditions. Fans can keep up with the award-winning actress through her Linktree, where she maintains a direct line to her growing audience.
Asked about her hopes for viewers, she responds with characteristic warmth: “I hope my work will inspire people, I like to think that if someone else can do something, so can I. So if I can, you can too. To never stop pursuing their dream and enjoy the ride.”
After making its rounds on the festival circuit, “Dance with the King” will find its home on streaming platforms including Prime Video and Mubi. Through her performance, Legrand aims to bring a fresh perspective to a classic character archetype.
Her journey from Venezuela to Italy to the UK has shaped an actress who brings an international perspective to British screens. With several acting projects in development and a clear vision for her future roles, she represents a fresh voice in contemporary cinema.
“Dance with the King will be out this Summer 2025!” she announces with evident excitement. For Legrand, this is just the beginning of a much longer story.
