An award-winning writer and director from Birmingham, Louisa Connolly-Burnham founded her own production company Thimble Films in 2019. Most recently, she directed and starred in Sister Wives, a short that has qualified for both the 2025 BAFTAs and Oscars. The film —also starring How to Have Sex’s Mia McKenna-Bruce—is available to stream on Channel 4 and is currently being developed into a feature film with Mia set to reprise her role.
The last thing I saw and loved was… The Substance. It’s utterly sexy and completely disgusting which feels like an impossible balance to strike and yet Coralie Fargeat does this unbelievably stylishly. I love it when someone makes something totally unique – it’s so hard to shock audiences these days as it feels like everything’s been done—Coralie proves it hasn’t. There’s just something about French female directors. They know how to do it.
The book I keep coming back to… I think a book I’ll always return to is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I adore her exploration of beauty, morality and obsession. Her characters are so rich and complex – I fall in love with a different one every time. I’d love to see it turned into a film or TV show, there’s so much to explore in the text and it’d be wonderful to see her dark, intellectual world on-screen.
I find inspiration in… the obvious answer here would be books, film and theatre, and whilst that’s absolutely true, I actually feel most inspired after seeing my friends. I’ve had the same friendship group since high school and whenever I see them I just feel so recharged, like they remind me who I am. I want to make stuff they like. I want to impress them.
My favourite film is… Portrait of a Lady on Fire by Celine Sciamma. I actually took a lot of inspiration from this film in the making of my film Sister Wives. Every frame could be a painting, and the chemistry between Héloïse and Marianne is electric. I love queer stories in period settings as it shows our stories have always existed, they were often just hidden.
My career highlight is… I’ve had so many wonderful moments, but the journey I’m on right now with Sister Wives feels different and special. A couple of years ago, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make this film. It was the biggest project I’d ever taken on. The fact we did it, and get to share these characters with the world, and shoot the feature next year, is honestly beyond my wildest dreams.
The song I listen to to get in the zone is… “About You” by The 1975 if I need a cry, “Give A Little” by Maggie Rogers if I need energy and Chopin if I need to write – nothing with lyrics as I’m the most easily-distracted person in the world.
I never leave the house without… AirPods. There have been so many times I’ve left the house without them and had to turn back to get them, even if it means being late because I hate being alone with my own thoughts. I also always grab my Dr. PawPaw lip balm, the yellow one, especially now the weather is getting colder.
The performance I still think about is… two performances that left a lasting impression were actually two of your remarkable Irish talents: Aoife Duffin in A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing and Denise Gough in People, Places, and Things. I was lucky enough to catch both the original run of Gough’s performance and the revival this year, both were astonishing.
My dream role would be… this is a classic actress answer, but I have to say Lady Macbeth – and that’s honestly been my answer since I was a kid. I’ve always been fascinated by her, and how Shakespeare writes his women. I love that I’ve never seen Lady Macbeth performed the same way twice; it keeps her endlessly unpredictable and exciting. I know exactly how I’d pitch her and hopefully, I’ll have the chance one day.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… ever since I was little, my dad always said “You’ll never get poor by being generous.” He always encouraged me to try and help others no matter what position I was in at the time. This doesn’t have to mean financially, it can mean being generous with your time, energy and heart too. I think currency comes in many forms and I think about my dad’s words often.
The most challenging thing about being an actor is… saying goodbye to the little family you create while working on a project. As actors, we often forge deep, intense relationships quickly, which makes it hard to walk away. And then of course there’s the dread of not knowing if you’ll ever work again…
After a performance, I… have a bath and a sweet treat and read a book. I’m currently in my smutty fairy fantasy era. If you know, you know.
If I wasn’t an actor, I would be… a groundskeeper. I love gardening and solitude so I think it’d be perfect for me.
The magic of film to me is… changing people’s minds.
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