Meet Rosie Roy

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rosie Roy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rosie, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

Hmm… you know, I never really thought of myself as a big risk-taker or some fearless person like people sometimes say. I don’t take risks that would completely wreck me—I’d call them *semi-calculated* risks with a solid sprinkle of *“ah, whatever, I’m doing this.”*

People love to say, *“You’re so lucky!”* But is it really luck? Or is it just making the decision to actually *go for it* and see what happens? I think I’ve always been drawn to the unknown—new places, new people, new experiences. That little spark of excitement? I’ve learned to pay attention to it and trust it.

And here’s the thing: when something is really meant for you, even if your first thought is “But I don’t have the money!” or *“How the hell will this work?”*—you just got to go for it, and somehow the universe finds a way to make it happen. Whether it’s a trip, a relationship, a creative project—if it truly matters to *you*, that’s the only green light you need. Oprah (queen that she is) said in her book *What I Know for Sure* that fear is the biggest thing holding us back. In 2024, I made a promise to myself: *run toward* the things that scare me. And guess what? The results blew my expectations out of the water.

So, are you going to sit there analyzing every possible *what if*? Or ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Odds are, it’s nowhere near as bad as you think—and probably won’t happen at all.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m Rosie Roy—a 40-year-old gal who, in her late 30s, did something completely wild (or so it seemed). I left my stable job, my fabulous cheap rental in Quebec City, and the life I had built to take *one* acting class in Los Angeles. Just one. But that one class changed everything. I know—it sounds like a movie, right? Well, not quite. But looking back, it was the beginning of a whole new chapter.

I’ll admit, I’m not exactly where I want to be—personally or professionally—but that’s part of why I love acting. It’s about stepping into different lives, telling stories, and, for a moment, escaping into something bigger than myself. Life didn’t turn out exactly as I imagined, but does it ever? So instead of waiting for the “perfect” opportunity, I created one.

What started as a pitch deck for a feature film in my pre-production class at UCLA Extension—thanks to an inspiring teacher, film producer Samantha Sprecher—evolved into something much bigger. During the SAG-AFTRA strike, I asked myself: *How do I keep acting, creating and be 3 steps ahead of this strike ? And then it hit me— that pitch deck!

One by one, I sent it to trusted industry friends, set up coffee dates, and somehow convinced an incredible team to hop on the Rosie train. Fast forward to today, and we’ve officially shot The Big Match Girl—a short film I co-developed, and star in as the lead. And I couldn’t be prouder.

The film follows Brielle, a woman nearing 40 who doesn’t have the life she once imagined for herself. Instead of waiting for things to change, she takes matters into her own hands—hiring actors to play her perfect family for a day. But as fantasy and reality blur, she’s forced to confront what’s truly missing.

The idea came from something that’s been bothering me for a while. Lately, we’ve seen so many stories of women in their late 30s and 40s who *already* have it all—a successful career, a beautiful home, kids, maybe even a hot younger boyfriend. And don’t get me wrong—I love that for them! But what about the women who ‘don’t’ have any of that? Who are still figuring it out? Who don’t own a house, don’t have kids, maybe have multiple jobs just to get by and yes still single?

The truth is, a lot of us feel lost, like we’ve missed some imaginary deadline for having it all together. And that’s the story we ‘don’t’ see enough of on screen. So yes, we’re tired of the “UNTIL YOU MEET THE ONE” formula!

This film shines a light on the reality of millennial women who have taken different paths—some by choice, others because life had its own plans. It’s about the pressure to hit certain milestones and the emotional weight of feeling like we haven’t “measured up.”

I’ll never forget when my 10-year-old niece at the time asked me, “Are you scared of being alone for the rest of your life?” It hit me hard. What messages are we still giving young girls that make them ask these questions? It made me think about how deeply ingrained these expectations are and how they follow us into adulthood.

We romanticize the idea of finding “the one,” reaching that moment where everything ‘clicks.’ But what happens when life doesn’t follow that script? What if we never check off those boxes? Does that make our lives any less meaningful?

One thing I was especially passionate about was having a *women-led crew*—and we made it happen. Since this story tackles the unique challenges women face, it felt right to have a team that truly *gets* it.

Our writer/director, Marie Rouhban, has had her work recognized by major film festivals like LA Film Shorts and HollyShorts. Valentina Chang brings her expertise in marketing and crowdfunding, having successfully led campaigns for independent films. She produced *Grub*, which won Best Horror Film at the Sci-Fi Miami Film Festival. She also played a key role in developing *The Big Match Girl* alongside me and our writer/director, Marie Rouhban, whose work has been recognized at major festivals like LA Film Shorts and HollyShorts. Our production is led by Ilayda Cetinkaya, a Student Academy Awards winner, and Sarah Woodruff, who transitioned from finance into film production.

The Big Match Girl is a film by Women but not just for Women.

We’re officially launching The Big Match Girl into the festival circuit for May 2025. And after that? I’m already pondering ideas for a Feature ROM-COM because, let’s be real, we desperately need to bring those back—just like the ones in the ’90s!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Oh my goodness, that’s not an easy question! I have to dig deep for this one. But honestly, let me keep it simple—because sometimes the answer really isn’t that complex.

Qualities
1. Resilience – My journey from a stable life and income in Quebec City to pursuing acting in LA wasn’t linear. I took risks, faced uncertainty, and kept pushing forward despite setbacks. My biggest advice? Don’t take things personally. Keep moving forward and just do your thing.

2. Initiative – No matter what, you have to take the first step. Sometimes we think we need a perfect plan before starting, but that’s wrong. Just initiate—take action, create movement, put your ideas into the world—and then hold yourself accountable. Fully commit and don’t stop until you get there.

3. Curiosity – Be curious—not just about what you do, but about others. Curiosity fuels growth, connection, and creativity. It’s how you stay engaged, adaptable, and constantly evolving.

Skills
1. Intentional Listening – This isn’t just about one-on-one conversations. Pay attention to everything—your body language, distractions (hello, cell phone!), the energy in the room, the conversations happening around you. Being fully present can lead to unexpected opportunities.

2. Reinvention – I’ve changed jobs and careers multiple times without even realizing, at the time, that I was reinventing myself. But looking back, I’m so glad I did. Every shift gave me a broader perspective, more life experience, and a deeper understanding of people. Reinvention keeps you growing.

3. Discipline – Dance taught me this. The professional discipline of that industry shaped me—how to present myself, how to respect the craft, and how to maintain high standards. As I always say: “Keep it classy, not trashy.”

Final Thoughts
I keep hearing in this industry: Be nice, be pleasant to work with, don’t be a jerk or an arrogant know-it-all. And honestly? That blows my mind. To me, that’s just common sense. Who wants to work with someone difficult?

Truthfully, I’ve landed most of my gigs not just because of talent, but because I was helpful, kind, and collaborative. Never forget—it’s always a team effort. In dance, we went through every emotion together—ups, downs, tears, sweat, all of it! But that’s what made us great. We supported one another. We were a family.

So, my biggest advice? Be nice. Always. You never know where it’ll take you.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Right now, I’m drawn to projects that shake things up—stories that challenge societal norms and dive deep into the beautifully messy layers of human nature. I’m especially fascinated by characters who are a little offbeat, the ones who see the world through a unique lens, process situations in unexpected ways, or react to life’s curveballs in ways that are unseen yet deeply relatable. Those are the roles that light me up.

I thrive when collaborating with directors and writers who have a bold vision, who aren’t afraid to push boundaries, and who pour their whole soul into storytelling. I live for that electric, creative synergy where everyone brings their A-game, respects the craft, and understands that filmmaking is a TRUE collaboration—no egos, just pure passion.

The people I love working with? They’re the ones who have that unshakable belief in their story, a magnetic energy that pulls you in, and a work ethic that makes magic happen.

Being back home in Québec City for a while has also reignited my connection to my French roots. I’m proud of being perfectly bilingual, and I want to use that to my advantage, exploring both French and English entertainment. French Canadian cinema and television have a distinct voice, and I’d love to be part of that rich storytelling tradition—giving my people yet another artist to be proud of.

Lately, I’ve also felt a strong pull toward comedy. There’s a side of me that I haven’t fully explored yet—the humor, the timing, the raw, unfiltered fun of making people laugh. It’s an exciting new space I’m eager to dive into, and I’m open to projects that allow me to tap into that side of my artistry.

Currently, I’ve got a feature rom-com idea simmering—just casually manifesting Glen Powell as the leading man. No big deal. Universe, do your thing!

If that speaks to you, let’s chat—who knows, we might just cook up something amazing together!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @rosie_roy
• Other: – IMDB; Imdb.me/rosieroy

  – E-mail; rosie.roy.rmr@gmail.com

  – Instagram account for the short The Big Match Girl; @thebigmatchgirl

Image Credits

personal photo credit @lacoco.vintage (IG)