Haviland Stillwell [Interview]

Hello Dear Readers! We have an amazing interview for you fine folks today. We are not only once again diving into the absolutely incredible Fallout 4 voice over cast list, but we are making a new friend with an amazing and talented human being. That person is Haviland Stillwell! I will be the first to admit that I was mainly aware of her work as Mariner on the Far Harbor DLC for Fallout 4, but would soon realize that she has always been around, doing amazing work, and I’ve been a fan of hers for quite a while.

Obviously we delve into the FO4 world a little bit, but we learn so much more about Haviland, and I am so excited to share some amazing answers from her right now! She’s an brilliant singer, on screen performer, voice over actor….there really isn’t anything that she can not do! She will soon be appearing in a brand new SyFy film and has a lot to share. So let’s get into it! Please enjoy some amazing words from the brilliant Haviland Stillwell!

When did you discover you had a passion for the world of performance? Was it a deep-rooted yearning you have always had since a youth?

Absolutely. I think I always knew, but it especially sunk in when I saw Bette Midler in Big Business, the classic zany 80’s comedy. I thought “I’m like THAT.” And then, on my first set, Fried Green Tomatoes, I knew the world of entertainment and art was my life forever. Never have questioned that decision – bc it was more of an acknowledgement. Like, yes, this is me. And I just kept going.

What was your very first paid gig you can remember working on? Was it a nerve racking experience? And do you have any sort of lesson learned from this experience that you still incorporate into your work today?

My first paid gig was a workshop of a play in the Southeastern Theatre conference called Low Country Boil. It was amazing and fun and I was SO young, maybe 5 or 6 years old? I was just obsessed with every part of it. To this day, each time I book something, I make it a point to get excited and be grateful for it. It’s such an amazing thing to be able to get to do the thing you love so much, and that you know in your heart you’re supposed to do.

In the voice over world, you have appeared in a one particular video game that we greatly adore, and have actually spoken with about a dozen folks who have also worked on it, which would be the brilliant Fallout 4. You appeared as Mariner, a crucial citizen of the town of Far Harbor, in the DLC of the same name. So how was your experience working within this legendary franchise? Was there anything about it that sets it apart from other work you have done?

The Mariner is similar to all my characters in that she is a very strong woman. What sets her apart is that she is torn about her illness, and so I tried to layer her voice with the many layers of whats happening for her internally. She’s also a lot more reserved than most of the characters I play. There are a lot of women who hold a lot of their feelings inside, and I wanted to be truthful to that, while also making sure to give her the vocal complexity she deserved. It was so much fun and I’m honored when people approach me and say they are touched by her story and my performance.

And have you had any fan experiences since Mariner was introduced to the world? Have you encountered any Fallout fanatics out there?

Oh yes. People LOVE Fallout! A guy helping me at a store recognized my voice and was fully fanboying. I think thats really fun and love when people like what I’m doing. At the end of the day, you want to reach people, entertain them, and hopefully make them feel more connected, so I always love talking to people about projects they love that I’ve worked on.

Beyond just acting, you are also an accomplished pop singer, with an album available now. Although it seems like a reasonable transition, it’s actually not that common. So what inspired you join the world of pop music? And why this genre specifically?

I love singing. I am a trained classical singer and have a degree from NYU in vocal performance. I used to sing opera, and I have done two Broadway shows (Fiddler on the Roof and Fantine in Les Miserables), but I’ve always loved all types of music. My favorite album right now is Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae, and I grew up listening to everything from rap, R&B, old school disco, 80’s pop, 90’s alternative…I like a lot of music, and I like to sing all kinds of things. It’s like if I were a visual artist – I wouldn’t just be a painter. I would sculpt and paint and use markers! (As a side note, maybe my only hobby is collaging, but thats beside the point!)

You have worked in just about every type of performance possible, from voice over work to the Broadway stage. So with that being known, I am curious to know what you would call your favorite method to perform would be? Should you be destined to only work in one field for the rest of your career, what would it be?

It would be television, no doubt. TV is such an expanding frontier, with all the new streaming opportunties. The rule book has been thrown out, so the opportunities are endless. I want to play a superhero, and the president, Madonna and Gloria Steinem. And if I’m playing them, they can all sing. Who doesn’t love a TV musical?!

You appear to be wearing so many proverbial hats in the world of entertainment, it seems like you are just consistently working! But, what about the occasional downtime? What would we find Haviland Stillwell doing for a little bit of me time?

I’m very politically active, so I spend a lot of time reading news, current events, analysis and history, and watching sources I trust. (Shout out to Rachel Maddow!) I also love writing, researching style and coming up with new ideas for characters, voices and costumes and things like that. I watch a ton of TV for fun and for work! I also really love the beach and my family, so the combo of those two is key for my calm.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to share with our readers?

My movie Santa Jaws comes out August 14th at 9 p.m. on the Syfy Channel. I play “Georgia” and she is absolutely hilarious. I’ll be live tweeting during the premiere, so definitely check out my Twitter, @MissHaviland, and my Instagram @haviland for more info on that.

Also, a new anime show I’m in Screechers Wild is out now, and there are many more episodes coming. I play Ann, who is sort of a modern day Lucy from Peanuts! I have two films out now on the festival circuit: Freelancers Anonymous and Brannan and the Monosexuals and a big announcement coming very soon for the show I did a few years ago, Unicorn Plan-it. ALSO…a couple of things that I can’t talk about yet but please do follow me and I’ll make sure you’re in the know. I love connecting with fans.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Honestly, my 4 lb. maltese, Fanny, is curled up next to me right now, and I’m kind of living for her low key slay!

Check out this amazing music video for her single “Muse” from her album Sparks: