Fil-German actress Isabel Lamers on her first Cannes experience and being part of 'Club Zero'

It has almost been a tradition for us to discover new talents at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the biggest and most prestigious film festivals in the world.

The Croisette has definitely been a breeding ground for exciting talents from filmmakers to actors. Last year, Dolly de Leon blew us away with her scene-stealing performance as Abigail in the Palme d'Or winning Ruben Ostlund film "Triangle of Sadness."

This year, we discovered upcoming actress Isabel Lamers who is in the critically acclaimed debut feature of Jessica Hausner, "Club Zero," which competed for the Palme d'Or award at this year's 76th Cannes Film Festival.

Starring Mia Wasikowska as Miss Novak, the new teacher in an elite school who bonds with five students in the school and leads them to believe that "not eating is good" for one's total physical and mental well-being, the drama thriller is from the screenplay of Hausner and Geraldine Bajard.

Born Anna Isabel Campos Lamers to a Filipina mom and a German dad, Lamers is featured in the movie as the doctor. She talked to us in person as we interviewed her about her first Cannes experience, being involved in the much-talked-about Cannes drama, and her Filipino roots, among others.

So nice to see you here. So, how's Cannes treating you right now?

It's been so nice. There have been so many events going on. Everyone's been so friendly. I had very interesting meetings and conversations, so I've been loving it.

Tell us about your involvement in the movie, "Club Zero." How was it?

Yeah. So, I was cast in that last year. I was shooting in Vienna and had a really good time. It was really good working with the team. Jessica Hausner's amazing. And I played the doctor, so it's a rather small role, but a very interesting role for me to play, and especially to be here now.

Stars arrive at Cannes Film Festival for CLUB ZERO premiere. Photos by Earl Gibson III

Did you audition for this? How did you find this role?

I was in touch with the casting director who happened to be casting for "Club Zero," which I didn't know, but she thought of me for the role and then she asked me to audition and I did. I think it was a few weeks that I didn't hear anything and then I got the call, like they say. Yeah.

"Club Zero" has been getting a lot of good reviews and it's also one of the top 10 films that is being predicted to win the Palme d'Or.

Yes.

It's so interesting. It's about eating disorders and a cult teacher talking to kids about trying not to eat. So, can you talk about that theme?

Yeah. When I heard about the theme, when I read the script, I was really intrigued because I actually personally know someone who's a cult leader who does not eat. So, I met him I think five years ago now, and he was telling me as well, "You don't need to eat. I just live from emotions and light." And he had a whole following. And by the time I met him, he hadn't been eating for 10 years, he says. Some people tell me he must have eaten something, but at the time, I was really taken in.

So, I got this feeling of being drawn in by someone who tells you, you don't need to eat. It's fine. You feel much more energized and everything. In the movie, you see how the kids are really taken in and they make themselves believe that they have more energy and everything. At the moment, there's so much about eating, don't eat too much, don't eat this, don't eat carbs, don't eat whatever. I mean, we've seen it with vegan, all the trends. So, I think it's a very confusing time, especially for young people, and a lot of eating disorders come from that. So, it's such an important topic.

Were you able to work with Mia? How was she and, did you meet her?

I did not meet Mia, but she's such a lovely actress. She's so amazing. I just congratulated her and I think she was very happy with the results.

How was it working with Jessica? She's one of the few female directors who are involved in Cannes right now, and we're really proud of her.

Yeah, me too. She's so amazing. When I came to set and also in the fitting before, she was so friendly. She would be welcoming to everyone. That's something that really took me in right away. And to work with her, I think she's just really precise with the work.

The whole set was very intricate. Everything was on point, and I loved the focus of the team. Everyone was very focused. You felt that even when there was something you had to agree on, everyone was focused on the end results and the thing they want to reach.

When I was there, I had the feeling that we would go to Cannes, because I know that Jessica... I mean, she's her second, there was Little Joe before, so I was like, "Ooh, I feel that it's magical, how they're working on this." And just to be a part of that, it's very exciting.

You were also in a "small" movie called "Tár" with Cate Blanchett. Talk about your participation in that movie.

In "Tár," it was also a small role. It was just one day, so I don't usually talk about it too much, but the project was also so well organized. And this was in Berlin, because I think a lot of the scenes were done there. And I only briefly saw Naomi, but I didn't meet Cate.

Photo by Janet Susan Nepales

You were at the premiere of "Club Zero." How was that experience?

That was my first red carpet experience. I was walking with Andrei Hozoc, one of my co-stars, one of the kids, and he was so nervous and I was too, and we tried to pose a bit and we were trying to face the photographer. So, it was a lot of fun to walk the red carpet and have that thrill and excitement of seeing it for the first time because I hadn't seen it before. And Andrei as well. So, every time we saw ourselves, we were like, "Ugh, cringe."

What was your reaction? This is your first time seeing the movie with the public?

Yes. I especially was thrilled by the music. It really took me because it's very different I feel from the film in a way, but also, it's so complimentary. And since Jessica's husband makes the music, I just love how they collaborate with everything. That's something that makes Jessica's films very strong because she creates an atmosphere of working with everyone closely.

My first impression watching the film, I was just taken in. I was following it. Although I read the script, I was just so curious to see how everything evolved and how the storyline read it through, and what they made of it.

Tell us more about your Philippine roots. Who's Filipino in your family, and have you been to the Philippines before?

Yes, I was born there. I lived in San Juan. My family used to live in Greenhills, not anymore. But my mom is Filipino, my dad is German. I grew up there for most of my childhood.

Then I moved to Germany because my dad wanted to return back, but I never felt at home in Germany. So, I still feel more Filipina than I feel German. But most people see me more as non-Filipina I'd say, or European something. So, it's really heartbreaking sometimes.

Do you speak a little bit Tagalog?

Konti lang.

What province is your mother from?

She lived in Cebu for quite some time, but I'd say originally, she's from Manila. But she speaks Cebuano.

You yourself speak several languages? What languages do you speak?

Yeah, I'm fluent in English, German, and French. And I speak very good Spanish as well. I studied Arabic and Dutch. Yeah, so those are the languages I learned.

And you were educated already in Germany?

My high school was in Germany. And then I studied in Geneva and in Switzerland. Switzerland and in the Netherlands actually.

What made you decide on becoming an actress?

I always wanted to be one. It started, I think, during the "Harry Potter" film time when I was a kid, and I applied for "Harry Potter" as well when I was a child. I sent a little casting form with a passport picture because I didn't have any pictures of myself. And I posted it on the thing. I think it started then, just telling stories, being in different worlds, and being different characters was fascinating for me.

Who are your idols in acting?

Definitely, Meryl Streep and Natalie Portman. She was one of my main inspirations when I was younger because I was very good at school, and I always thought that doesn't match. If you are an actor, you have to have creativity. You're not bookish or anything. I thought it's more, if you're smart, you have to become a doctor or a lawyer or something. But Natalie Portman also has an A grade, so always I had a poster of her up on my wall and I was like, "You can do this."

You're also a singer?

I love to sing, but I think that's our Filipino culture.

Yeah. Karaoke singing.

You are also a martial artist. You are more involved also in sports. So, do you see yourself also doing an action movie?

That would be my dream. I've just met an action director here at Cannes, so hopefully I can work with her. I've done martial arts since I've done kickboxing mostly. Wanting to get more into Taekwondo because I love the kicks. I'm apparently very good at it.

I've done a lot of stunt fighting, so I'm licensed as a stunt fighter. And I can do basically, stunt projects, stunt fights, think of my own choreographies and implement them. So, hopefully one day I can do an action movie as well.

What other film festivals have you attended? Or this is your first film festival?

This is the first. I looked at the Berlinale, but I didn't really access it. Yeah, at the time I was still in the beginning of my career and I didn't really know how to go about it.

Do you see yourself also doing a Filipino movie with a Filipino director?

Yes, I'm hoping for it. I think I should improve my Tagalog for that. And I'm actually talking to a director who wants to do something with a half Filipino, half British actress. I don't think I can tell too much right now. But hopefully, that will be very interesting for the community.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News