Love Canadian Film

Chandra West has graced the Canadian film and television landscape for great many years. Which is most surprising since she is still in her mid-twenties.

"It first came to my attention," says West, "because my agent gave me the script. I read it and really liked it, and I auditioned on tape in L.A. and that was the end of it." In Something More, West plays the lead female role, a woman torn between her desire to settle down and that of staying single in an effort to not be heart-broken. "Theres a certain similarity I suppose with the other characters that I've played," says West, "in her being independent, smart and strong. But, given the nature of this film, there was an opportunity to have a bit more fun with that. I'm kind of like the straight man in the movie."

For West, making this film was one of the best experiences of her brief career. "Rob's very enthusiastic and really fun on the set," she says. "He really creates a nice atmosphere on set. Everyone was really enjoying being there." At least most of the time, as West recalls. "We all went out one night to a party. It was in Regina in the middle of summer, so the bugs and mosquitoes are enormous. I got a mosquito bit on my eyelid, and because I was having a good time, I didnt think too much about it. I woke up the next morning and it was literally like someone had belted me across the eye. I had an acute allergic reaction and I had to go to the hospital. I was lucky cause I didn't have to shoot two days. But, I was heavily medicated." Director King recalls that incident with a little less fondness. "The mosquitoes were a bit of a problem. For your female lead to have this big red bump all of sudden, you say to yourself, 'Where is Chandra?'"

West, who has tackled roles on television and the big screen, does not feel restricted to performing in only one medium. "TV can be great if you are doing something interesting," she says. "I love doing both." West is definitely exploring her range in a multitude of roles. "I would say that lately I've been getting the roles that I want, which has been terrific," says the former Concordia University theatre student.

It wasn't always the easy road for West, who admits to having taken jobs merely to find work. "I've certainly done a lot of schlocky kind of money jobs," she says, "but, that's being a working actor. That's just being a woman who's just starting out." From working her way out of school to finally getting the roles that she desires, Chandra West tells other beginning actresses exactly what to expect. "You have to be prepared for rejection most of the time," she says. "You have to be pretty thick skinned. It's interesting, because so many actors it seems like, including me, have a funny combination of being really neurotic and insecure, but also egocentric. That must be a combination of what you must have just to get through it."

On the verge of making herself a household name, West is preparing herself for the days to come. "I would think it would be hard not to take things just a little bit personally. But, I'm sure after a little bit of time, you'll just say its par for the course."