Editor’s Note: Supporting women should not be limited to a month. So, at Reel 360 News, we have decided to amplify and promote dynamic women’s voices all year long. Today, let us introduce you to a very epic woman—actress and filmmaker Kelly Pantaleoni.
Accomplished Australian actress and filmmaker Kelly Pantaleoni has garnered recognition for her indie film success, notably as the lead in a psychological thriller that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
She seamlessly merges her modeling background with her thriving acting career, appearing in films and television on platforms like Netflix, FX, HBO and Lifetime. With a strong foundation in acting, Kelly’s journey includes training at renowned institutions such as the Ivana Chubbuck Studio and honing her improv and comedy skills at UCB and Groundlings.
Beyond acting, she advocates for crucial issues, from female empowerment to mental health in the highly awarded films she writes and produces. Her upcoming role in the 2024 film Finals showcases impactful storytelling, solidifying Kelly Pantaleoni as a rising Australian star.
Let’s meet Kelly!
What’s your origin story?
I grew up on a farm in the outback of Australia, where playing make believe and watching movies was a way to connect with the outside world. Growing up on a farm made me tough and resilient, hard-working and passionate about the environment and animals a cause I still feel strongly about today; rescuing animals and being conscious of the environment by not eating many animal products and trying to be as sustainable as possible.
How did you break into film?
I was in the Miss California pageant, which helped me get into modeling and understand the business side of the industry. I was working in a Guess Jeans store at the time, and I asked them to sponsor me, which surprisingly they did!
They flew my family from Australia, I got to go on shopping sprees and design a gown with the head of Guess by Marciano. From there, I parlayed modeling into music videos and commercials, which then helped me book the lead in a short film, which premiered at the Cannes Festival. The rest is history!
What fuels your creativity?
I love watching independent cinema, going to museums and art galleries and spending time in nature. But I would say my biggest inspiration for creativity is listening to music while traveling – the combination of movement and sound creates worlds in my mind I would love to re-create in real life.
What’s the biggest myth about women in your field?
That we age out when we get older – Demi Moore is proving we can be beautiful and talented and have breakthroughs at any age – just as many successful men have
Name a creative risk you took that paid off.
I love playing nuanced characters in psychological thrillers, where I have psychotic breaks and can lose myself in the moment. I played a mental hospital patient in my first short film and that was the one that ended up at the Cannes Film Festival, so I would say it paid off!
What’s your take on the rise of AI?
I think AI can be helpful in small ways – I just used it to submit a journal entry and ask it to process the information and help me improve my life. It did actually give me some really great advice, so I might be able to Stop paying my therapist now. But overall, we all know what happens in the movies. Give it too much power, and it will undoubtedly take over the world and realize humans are the worst threat to the planet and eradicate us.
What’s a piece of advice from another woman you carry with you?
Never rely on a man for validation or happiness. you and your achievements will never disappoint you.
How do you balance ambition with self-care?
One thing I am doing fresh out of a relationship that took up far too much of my time is using Sundays purely for self-care. Meditation, journaling, breath work, hair and face masks, etc. I think we need at least one day a week to just purely focus on ourselves without needing to be necessarily productive or Social
You’re writing a memoir. What’s the title?
The Rise and Fall of an Australian Princess (If You Know You Know)
Go to Karaoke song.
Soul Sister by Train – it reminds me of my best friend who died by suicide and it played randomly the other night in a karaoke bar. I almost cried in public, but there was a cute boy next to me
In 10 years, what do you hope to look back and say you changed?
My attachment to toxic men and procrastinating! I don’t know which is worse, and they have both been my downfall. I would’ve won an Academy Award by now If it wasn’t for them, I swear!
Kelly’s Social Media:
Instagram: @KellyPantaleoni
To see who else is a Reel Woman, click here.
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