In Los Angeles at the world premier of the new blockbuster movie, The Revenant, Grace Dove stood on the red carpet between two of Hollywood's favourite leading men – Tom Hardy and Leonardo DiCaprio – cameras flashing, and the beautiful young Shuswap actress, luxurious hair spilling over the shoulder of her shining blue dress, looked every bit the movie star.
In the last two months, the Canim Lake Band member who grew up in Prince George and studied acting in Vancouver, has gone from near anonymity on television to the pages of the New York Times and to the big screen in movie theatres across the world after landing the life-changing role of DiCaprio’s character's wife in the recently released big budget western thriller.
Filmed partly in British Columbia and Alberta, The Revenant was directed by Academy Award-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman, 21 Grams) and is said to be a likely frontrunner in the 2016 Oscar race.
Grace was in correspondence with the 100 Mile House Free Press recently while spending time with her family in B.C. during the holiday season.
Grace's grandparents are Sandy and May Archie and her parents are Martyn and Georgina Syme. She has two older brothers, Joseph and Thomas. Georgina, her mother, grew up in Canim Lake, the small First Nations community near 100 Mile House.
"I am so grateful for my Secwepemc heritage and the ancestors who guide me in my day-to-day life," says Grace, in response to a question about her history in this part of B.C.
Looking back on her youth, Grace says she has always been a performer and comfortable in front of the camera. She booked her first TV show, Splatterday, on CKPG in Prince George when she was 11, and Grace adds she knew then that she had found her life's ambition.
After that, she continued working with the TV station as the "Fun-chaser," a community reporter, along with many theatre projects along the way.
Her parents asked her to graduate from high school before pursuing her journey to Hollywood, and she obliged.
After attending acting school in Vancouver, she auditioned regularly for a number of years without success before booking her current TV show, UnderEXPOSED, an action-adventure sports series that has a new season coming out
this month on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
When the audition for The Revenant came along, Grace says she used the tools she had been crafting over those years
to land the part.
"Working on this high level production made me better in every way, as a person and as an artist. Alejandro believed I had what it took to play with some of the most recognized actors of our time, so I had to believe in myself and stand grounded in my moccasins.
“To work alongside Leonardo DiCaprio is such an honour, and I have nothing but gratitude for his mentorship. He is truly amazing at what he does, and his work encourages me to continue towards my
dreams."
Looking ahead, Grace says 2016 is going to be a huge year. She is currently finishing Season 4 of UnderEXPOSED, which is set to air in 2017.
"I already have other opportunities in the works; I'm just waiting for the right script. I have no doubt I will continue working hard and saying yes to my dreams."
Grace also has a message for all the youth in the Cariboo: "Don't let anyone tell you something isn't possible."
"Most often people didn't believe in me as much as I did and that didn't stop me. Be persistent and get out of your own way. The world is an exciting place and just waiting for you to say yes to your dreams.
“Move forward with love, and always remember your roots. Kukwtsétsemc to the creator and my family for this life."
