TFN Talks with Lotta Losten
TFN Talks sat down with Swedish actress Lotta Losten, known for her roles in Lights Out, Annabelle Creation and Shazam! to find out what inspires her unique style and creativity, and follow the tale of her remarkable journey from Gothenburg to Hollywood.
Lotta can you tell us about where you grew up and what inspired you to become an actor?
Sure thing! I grew up in Sweden, in the small town Jönköping. I found acting at the best possible time - I was 9 years old and bullied in school. I felt very alone and like I didn’t fit in, and then I found and joined an after school drama class that let me be so much more than than a bullied redhead girl that loved to wear her mother’s 70s hippie blouses to school.
My first role was as a popular girl, and it was mind blowing to me that our teacher thought I could portray that character, and I remember how it made me feel like I could live out every little part of me in the safe environment of the stage. I’ve wanted to be an actor ever since then.
How does acting make you feel? Can you take us through the process of what it takes emotionally, physically and mentally to prepare for a role to become the character you are playing?
It’s a tingling feeling rushing through my body. Complete focus, nerves, joy, and then the emotions the role is bringing up. It’s strange how both exhilarating and draining it can be to do a really emotional scene. You have to feel the emotions fully, but the joy of acting doesn’t leave and therefore it’s still such a wonderful experience.
Since I come from theatre I think my way into a role is a little different from many actors working only in film. I think I start out more technical. For example, I like to know my lines extremely well. Some actors here almost frown upon that. Like if you know what to say it won’t come naturally. If I don’t know my lines all I will think about is what I’m supposed to say next, and then I have no control of what I’m doing. I like having control where it’s possible, and the only way for me to be completely free is by knowing exactly what I’m saying and when. Only then can I fall completely into the moment.
I like finding specific, concrete, things that help me bring my character to life. For Shazam! I bought a perfume that I felt that my character, Dr Lynn Crosby, would like and then I wore it for costume fittings, rehearsal, and on the shoot days. I haven’t worn it since, because it is hers.
Scent is such a powerful sense, it can carry memories and emotions, so I enjoy using it for my role work.
What has so far been your favourite role and why?
I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface with my movie acting so it’s hard to say. I’ve enjoyed all roles I’ve done in Hollywood movies, but with that I count the entire experience of the project, and everything I’ve learned through it. Working with Mark Strong on Shazam! was a highlight for sure, and I feel proud of my scene in Annabelle Creation because I had worked so hard on my accent before that and for the first time I felt comfortable acting in English.
David and I made a short film in quarantine called Not Alone In Here that I really loved to make since it was just the two of us having complete control over every little part of the project. With a runtime of 6 minutes and 19 seconds it’s our longest short film yet, haha, and I got to talk in it, which was a first for our shorts that have been mostly free from words up until then.
In many ways though, I think I have done better things acting wise in the theater acting class I’m in now, or on stage in Sweden. Roles I could go deep into, and stretch my abilities further than I knew I had in me. It’s my most favorite thing, and I hope I get to do it all through my life, in many different ways.
How did you and your husband David Sandberg meet and become a filmmaking team?
Oh, this is a story! We were a couple when we were 11 years old! For 6 months in 5th grade, which is about a life time at that age.
I used to (half) jokingly say that I had my best relationship when I was 11, and then 14 years later- in 2006 - I was living in the student town Lund studying theatre history, when I saw an animated short film on YouTube that had gone viral in Scandinavia. David’s name is quite common in Sweden but I recognized his voice, so I sent him an email congratulating him on the success with his film. We started emailing back and fourth for a couple of months, and then we met up at a cafe right when I was back in our hometown to celebrate Christmas with my family. And that was it.
We almost immediately decided we were going to make films together. Ever since we were kids we’ve been interested in the same things and that hadn’t changed, we had just grown up - he always wanted to be a director and I always wanted to act.
Making movies together felt like a given.
Was it challenging to make short films with your partner or was the creative process smooth? When you and David work on an idea, how do you determine what hats you both wear in terms of direction, production, etc?
David and I are very different in how we work- I love getting ideas by throwing out half baked things and see them grow into something whole through collaboration. David works best when he can start out by thinking for himself for a while, have it clear in his head, before sharing his ideas.
I remember when we made the first short film, Cam Closer, in early 2013. It was his idea completely and he just told me what to do. I am not completely happy with the result of that one because I didn’t know what we were doing and I think my acting suffers from it- but also the enjoyment of making it. After that I told David that I had to be more involved in the process of things if we were to make more films. So that’s what we did for Lights Out and all the things we’ve done after. Because of that we have a great shorthand with each other after having been together for 15 years.
I love our differences, they make us a really great team- especially because we acknowledge the differences and work with them instead of trying to change the other person.
Now when we are working on bigger projects together we’re finding that our roles work really well. For example I love the early development phase, figuring out story and problem solving the script, and David shines when the script is more or less set and he knows what we’re working with.
Letting each person be good at what they are good at seems to work well for us since I’m bad at the things David is great at and vice versa.
Working tightly together with any kind of partner is a never ending learning curve though. No one is static, and we figure things out for every project. In many ways I feel like we’re in our early days working together, but I’m sure that sentiment will still be true in 20 years.
How did the short film Lights Out come about and were you at all surprised by the success it had?
It was in 2013 and we had just decided to make shorts together when British filmmaker collective Bloody Cuts held an online competition for horror shorts under 3 minutes. We had another idea first that was very complicated, and time was running out, so we walked around our Gothenburg apartment trying to figure out what we could do instead. We had just bought a coat hanger that was standing at the end of the hallway leading to our bathroom and bedroom. The first couple of nights after getting that coat rack I got so scared of it on my way to the bathroom. It looked like a person standing in the shadows.
We thought about that feeling when you get scared by a shadow and then when you turn the lights on it’s always just a pile of clothes- but what if it wasn’t? What if the shape disappeared when you turned on the lights but was there every time you turned it off?
I think what made Lights Out so successful, apart from sheer luck, was that the premise is something that everyone can recognize themselves in. It’s quite effective and goes to the scary part straight away without any backstory. There is no spoken language so it could be spread all over the world, and it’s only 2 minutes and 40 seconds and people don’t have attention spans anymore, haha!
We were SO surprised when it suddenly went viral. We had only shared it with our family and friends, and then one Friday evening it just blew up online. It was truly exhilarating and it changed everything for us.
Can you tell us about what inspired your move to LA and the journey you have had since?
It was all because of Lights Out.
Our plan had been to make more horror shorts to show the Swedish Film Institute in hopes that we would get a grant from them to make a longer short, and then maybe a feature.
Hollywood saw Lights Out that weekend though, and everything happened all at once. It went viral in March 2014, and we moved to LA in March 2015 to make the feature film version of Lights Out for New Line Cinema.
We had no idea if it would work out or not. I quit my job, we closed the door to our apartment and left and hoped for the best. We had no money so it was very scary and quite the gamble. Now when we think back to that time we realize just how bad it could have gone. It felt like we didn’t have a choice though, this was the opportunity of a lifetime so we had to give it our very best try. Luckily it worked out, we’re still so thankful for that.
It was hard for me in the beginning because Hollywood’s attention had been solely directed towards David and I got lost in it. I think they saw it as David’s film and I was just his actress, they didn’t realize that the entire crew was just the two of us. We were so scared of demanding too much too soon- what if they would say “well then, then we’re not making the movie, back to Sweden you go!”
Our focus became to get me in the movie as an actor. We had to fight a little for it, and it might not have been as big of a part as I had hoped for, but at the same time it was my very first English speaking role so in the end I’m quite happy with it. What we should have pushed for more was to make me a producer on the movie, but we just didn’t dare at that point.
That is something we have worked hard on to correct, and now we have our own production company- Mångata- and we’re finally making movies together like we dreamed of back in Sweden. After a few quite lonely years here I finally feel like I belong. It’s a weird city, but I weirdly love it.
You and I met at the launch party for Shazam! , a film we both worked on. What was your shoot like and what did you take away from your time in Toronto?
I love Toronto! I completely fell in love with the city. It was like a mix of Sweden and the US in a way that I really appreciated. I walked all over, found some GREAT vintage shops there, and ate amazing food. And yes, I met you there!
I hope we get to film another project in Toronto in the future, it seems inevitable with all the stuff shooting over there.
My scene in Shazam! was a lot of fun to do. Working with Mark Strong was a real high point for me. It was great meeting such a wonderful actor that had experience in both theatre and film, and have managed to be successful in both. It’s what I dream of.
I remember I had to practice walking in high heels for weeks before the shoot because I had never done that before and my character’s heels where SO high and SO thin! And then on the day of shooting David was like “Actually, could you run in those heels?” Haha, my poor feet! Anything for the art!
What is your relationship with theatre? Which do you prefer film acting or theatre acting and why?
Oh I love theatre so much! It’s where I started my acting journey, and I think it’s something I have to have in my life to be happy.
I love rehearsing, truly getting to know the character, and getting to live the full experience every time. That is something so unique for theatre. In film you will shoot the scenes out of order, and it’s much more technical. Theatre acting and movie acting feels like two completely different things. I would love to do both, because they are both so rewarding to me. Acting in movies is more about working on something for later, for the future. The end result- the film, takes a long time before it’s ready for the world to see, so the acting becomes a bit of a delayed satisfaction, while the theater is all about the right now. It cannot be saved. When you stop doing the play there’s a very definite end to the experience. There is beauty in both, but my heart beats a little extra for theatre.
You have a remarkably inspiring aesthetic when it comes to choosing how you pick out pieces and plants for your home decor judging by what you share on your social media, and also the clothes you wear are just phenomenally beautiful. What inspires your style and what is it about fashion and colour that brings you such joy and inspires such creativity in your life?
Thank you!
It might sound a bit dramatic and over the top, but it’s all part of what I see as my art. I have always looked at clothes in that way; it’s an expression of my creativity. Choosing what to wear in the morning, lying awake at night planning outfits in my head, for some reason it’s always felt bigger and more important to me than just clothes.
I have always been very inspired by vintage fashion, but when I was a child I didn’t know the terms of course. My mother used to take me to flea markets and thrift stores and that’s where my interest started. I realized quickly in school that buying second hand clothes wasn’t cool, but I couldn’t understand why. I sensed that it was seen as worth less to not wear what was new and trendy, but to me it was amazing how cheaply I could get an entire outfit at Salvation Army while I had to save for months to get a brand new Adidas hoodie that everyone else was wearing anyways. What was the fun in that? When I scored something that fit me really well, or that I knew I would be alone in wearing, it made me feel unique and cool. Sometimes I marvel over how I kept wearing whatever the hell I wanted without being crushed down by the norms.
For some reason I just knew I was right. Second Hand is cool.
Through the years my interest has deepened and stretches into every part of my life. I prefer to buy old furniture, because I think the quality and look is just outstanding, AND there is that feeling of wanting to be unique and not like everyone else.
I love pretty things, beautiful color combinations make my eyes sing, and gorgeous light takes my breath away. I think I always search for things that feel wonderful to look at, so that encapsulates everything I do, the pictures I take and what I share on my social media.
There is just something about deep colors and warm light that does it for me.
Can you talk about your love of hula hoops? Are there any other hobbies you have which bring you joy in your daily life?
It’s just so much fun! I’ve hula hooped since I was a child and I don’t really know what it is that I find so joyful about it but yeah, it’s the best!
Hooping to a great song can make me loose track of time, and if I have a grumpy day it never fails to make me in a better mood. I think there is something about hula hooping that makes me feel completely one with the music.
I love plants, and have a bit of a jungle at home. Taking care of them has definitely brought me a lot of joy.
At the moment I have a newfound love for film photography and developing, and it’s taking up a lot of my time and headspace. Photography has always been a big part of my life, but mostly digital. I took developing classes at school in the early 2000s, but never picked it up again until now, at home, just figuring it out as I go. Its bringing me so much joy.
During this pandemic I got really into cooking. I baked bagels, Japanese Milk bread and bao buns, and I learned how to make pasta.
I enjoy hobbies that I can do by myself, something I can delve into on my own without feeling it has to be perfect for anyone else. Hula hooping, plant care, photography, baking and cooking- all these things are therapeutic to me, and I like how I can loose myself in them.
What is it like to be a Swede in America? How different is your life now from that of back home? Also, what favourite Swedish dish of yours should everyone try?
Our lives are so completely different from our lives in Sweden so it is almost impossible to compare.
I’m glad David and I have had each other through this journey, because it can be very overwhelming so sharing the cultural aspects have helped I think.
We have been treating these past few years as our Hollywood Adventure, the first couple of years we didn’t know if it would work out or if we would be going back to Sweden, so that mentality of “This is an adventure that we’re on, who knows how long it will last” has kept us sane, I think.
Now we have a house in LA, and in Sweden we recently gave up the lease on our apartment so all our belongings over there are in storage. It’s a bit strange to think about, that we are now in some ways more “home” in LA than in Sweden. It’s important for us to keep our roots there though, that became even more apparent during this pandemic, so the plan is to get a place in Sweden someday soon.
We celebrate the holidays the Swedish way, and at Midsommar we eat the traditional smorgasbord. It feels good to have those nostalgic things here in LA.
A Swedish food everyone should try? Well, since it’s almost Christmas I’ll have to say Lussekatter- a slightly sweet saffron wheat bun traditionally eaten around Christmas time in Sweden. I’ll bake the first batch of the season in a week or so. They’re like fluffy clouds!
Shooting films oftentimes requires for you and David to move to foreign cities/countries for lengthy periods of time. How do you cope with the lifestyle of a fearless nomad? What are the pros and cons of having to travel so frequently and what keeps you grounded throughout the process?
The pros are definitely living in a new city for a longer while! I loved getting to know Toronto, finding my favorite neighborhoods, and experiencing life at a place I wouldn’t otherwise.
When we were in Toronto I didn’t have a lot of work so the decision to follow along for the entire time, around 7 months, was quite easy. It was partly very lonely though, and that is for sure the con of following along when you don’t have a purpose of your own in that place. My work in Shazam! was over in a week so it was a long time of mostly trying to entertain myself. I was prepared for it, but it was tough. This spring and summer we were in Atlanta for 6 months and my plan had been to go back and forth between LA and Atlanta, but the pandemic made me feel like it was probably better to just stay there for the entire time. I had more work this time but all of that could be done over zoom, even my theatre class, so that was great. The house we rented had a front porch and oh boy, I loved it so much! I sat out there every day writing, listening to podcasts, having my lunch. And when the Georgia thunderstorms hit, it was lovely to look at the rain and lightning from the safety of that porch.
I really enjoy getting to know cities like that, collecting memories so that years down the line I will remember all these things about my life in Toronto and Atlanta.
I’ve always been fascinated by how different you see a place the first time you’re there, in comparison to how it looks to you when you’ve walked around the neighborhood every day for months. It’s like two different places. You can never again see it like you did that first time, because your knowledge of everything around you- the trees, the side streets, the quirky house, the holes in the sidewalk- it can’t be unlearned. I love that, and every time I find myself in a new city I think about that; how will this street look to me in a few months?
Can you tell us about any new projects you are currently working on?
We have a few projects in early development, many that I can’t talk about, but one is a horror movie for Netflix called Unsound that I am a producer on. And you’ll catch me in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, but you’ll have to wait until 2023 for that one!
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