ELLA BALINSKA
SFX UK|September 2022
The real-life gamer on her role in the new Resident Evil TV series
Steve O’Brien
ELLA BALINSKA

Right now, I’m in my gaming cave!” Ella Balinksa proudly states to SFX. In a gleaming white space somewhere in Los Angeles, it’s clear that the Westminster-born actor is living her best life now. A self-declared gaming geek, she’s now the lead in the TV adaptation of one of the greatest games of all time – and indeed one of her own favourites: Resident Evil. “I’ve actually just restarted Resident Evil 2, ’cos that was my favourite!” she says.

In Netflix’s latest reimagining of the iconic zombie franchise, Balinska is the adult Jade Wesker, sharing the role with 17-year-old Tamara Smart, who plays the teenage Jade in the modern day (the show takes place in both 2022 and 2036). It meant that she was away from home for most of the year, filming in South Africa. Now it’s finally out, will she be watching the episodes with her mates? “Oh yeah,” she laughs. “’Cos now I can say, look what I was away doing for eight months!”

Because of the dual timelines, presumably you didn’t actually get to work with the actors from the 2022 storyline, like Lance Reddick and Tamara Smart?

This story is from the September 2022 edition of SFX UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2022 edition of SFX UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SFX UKView All
Spooks Ghouls & Freaks Fools
SFX UK

Spooks Ghouls & Freaks Fools

WITH ITS ECLECTIC cast, broad comedy and supernatural farce, Rentaghost was a mainstay of BBC children’s TV from the late ’70s to the mid-’80s and like nothing else.

time-read
10 mins  |
May 2024
LOST IN THE SHADOWS
SFX UK

LOST IN THE SHADOWS

THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS OF INTERDIEW WITH THE DAMPIRE DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF LESTAT, LOUIS, CLAUDIA AND WHERE THE ANNE RICE UNIVERSE IS HEADING

time-read
8 mins  |
May 2024
NINE LIVES
SFX UK

NINE LIVES

ON SET FOR THE FINAL SERIES OF INSIDE NO 9. STEVE PEMBERTON AND REECE SHEARSMITH REFLECT ON THE TYRANNY OF THE TWIST

time-read
9 mins  |
May 2024
NOA'S ARC
SFX UK

NOA'S ARC

CAESAR'S STORY MAY BE DONE AND DUSTED, BUT AS HIS CREATORS RICK JAFFA AND AMANDA SILVER TELL US, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF TERRAIN TO EXPLORE IN - KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

time-read
7 mins  |
May 2024
TICKET TO RIDE
SFX UK

TICKET TO RIDE

DIRECTOR BEN CHESSELL TAKES THE TARDIS BACK IN TIME IN HIS TWO EPISODES

time-read
7 mins  |
May 2024
SERVING FACE
SFX UK

SERVING FACE

HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGNER CLAIRE WILLIAMS ON NEW LOOKS

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2024
BABY BOOM
SFX UK

BABY BOOM

The TARDIS lands on a spaceship. It was very, very hard to shoot. We used real babies! I like to do things that I’ve never done before and sometimes that’s quite hard, with such a long career as mine.

time-read
6 mins  |
May 2024
BOXING CLEVER
SFX UK

BOXING CLEVER

DOCTOR WHO IS BACK AND THIS TIME IT'S TAKING OVER THE PLANET

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 2024
WELCOME HOME
SFX UK

WELCOME HOME

THE CREATIVE MINDS BEHIND THE LIVE-ACTION ADAPTATION OF THE FALLOUT GAME SERIES EXPLAIN THEIR ORIGINAL TAKE ON BETHESDA'S POST-APOCALYPTIC WORLD

time-read
8 mins  |
April 2024
MONSTERS INC
SFX UK

MONSTERS INC

THE TITANS UNITE IN HOT COLLAB GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

time-read
7 mins  |
April 2024