Anna-Maria Sieklucka, Charlotte Kirk: Compulsion Special

In an exclusive conversation hosted by co-founder Ariel Lavi, Compulsion stars Anna-Maria Sieklucka and Charlotte Kirk open up about the psychological weight of their characters, the transition from stage to screen, and the deeply human need for connection that drives their craft.

Anna-Maria Sieklucka

In the British film Compulsion, your character Evie carries a deep emotional past. Do you build a character like this from the inside out through psychology, or from the outside in using posture and physical movement?

"I always start from the inside," she answers without hesitation. "Before I think about how a character walks or moves, I need to understand who they are." For Sieklucka, the physical manifestation of a role is secondary to its psychological core. "I ask myself how their past shaped the person they’ve become and what emotional scars they’re carrying. Once I have that, everything physical follows naturally."

You are now working across both Polish and English-language productions. Does acting in a second language change how you access a character's emotions, or do you find that the emotional core remains exactly the same regardless of the vocabulary?

"It definitely does. Since English isn’t my first language, it has a completely different rhythm and melody," she explains. "I’m also very aware of my accent; I never want the way I speak to feel forced or unnatural." Yet, the foundation remains untouched. "But emotionally, nothing changes. The emotional truth is exactly the same." She leans forward, elaborating on the cognitive shift required. "What does change is the way I think. When I speak English, my thoughts are structured differently because the language itself works differently. That naturally influences the way I express emotions and ideas."

With your podcast, P.S. I LOVE YOU, you are the one asking the questions and guiding the conversation. What has stepping into the role of an interviewer taught you about human connection?

"Hosting my podcast has taught me that everyone carries invisible layers shaped by their own life experiences," Sieklucka reflects, her tone shifting to one of quiet observation. "We all move through the world with patterns we’ve learned along the way. That’s why I’ve become much more careful about any judgments - you never really know what someone has been through or what emotional weight they’re carrying." Leaning into the thought, she adds, "I truly believe empathy is the foundation of every meaningful relationship."

You have experienced massive international fame, yet you continue to work deeply in local Polish theater. Why is it so necessary for you to keep one foot firmly planted in your home country's artistic community?

Her answer is immediate and grounded. "Because I honestly believe every actor should experience theatre. There’s no better place to develop your craft. On stage, you’re standing in front of a live audience - you can’t hide behind editing or multiple takes. If something isn’t truthful, people feel it instantly." The stage, she explains, is an ongoing education. "You spend weeks building a character while also learning how to move and breathe as part of an ensemble. Every performance is different because everything happens in real time. And when something unexpected happens - like someone forgetting a line - you simply have to stay present, trust your instincts, and keep going." That livewire energy is essential to her work. "That’s where spontaneity is born. I’m incredibly grateful that my career allows me to move between theatre, television and film, because each of them has taught me something different."

How has the success of 365 Days affected your personality?

"365 Days is one of the experiences that helped shape the woman I am today," she says, reflecting on the global phenomenon that launched her career. "I’ve grown so much since then - not just as an actress, but as a woman. Today I know who I am, what I stand for, and what I want from both my career and my life." Looking back at the milestone, she maintains a deep appreciation for the journey. "I’ll always be grateful for that chapter. It was my first real experience on a film set, and creating Laura is something I’ll always carry within me."

Charlotte Kirk

You co-wrote Compulsion before playing Diana. How does building a character from a blank page change your emotional approach on set, and is it harder to let her go at the end of the day?

"Because I helped shape Diana from the ground up, on set it felt like peeling back layers rather than inventing them," Kirk reveals, leaning into the depth of the creative process. "That closeness is powerful, but it also means she can linger." To detach from the psychological weight of the role, she relies on the mundane. "To wind down, I’d do something very ordinary," she adds. "Shower, change clothes, call a friend—something to return to myself."

Diana hides her true ambition behind an alluring persona to win Evie over. As an actress, how do you find the authentic emotional core in a character who is actively wearing a mask?

"Diana is a very complex character, and one of the things I loved about playing her was that she’s always revealing different sides of herself," Kirk observes. Pushing back slightly on the premise, she clarifies her method. "As an actor, I don’t really think in terms of a character wearing a mask. I try to understand what they’re protecting and why. Usually, there’s something vulnerable underneath." For this particular role, the focus was deeply internal. "For Diana, it was important to focus on her emotional needs, her desires, and what she’s searching for. Once you connect to that human truth, the character feels authentic, regardless of how much of themselves they’re choosing to reveal." She pauses, offering a knowing smile. "What I will say about this film is no one is who they seem to be."

The film's tension relies on the intense bond between Diana and Evie. How did you and Anna-Maria Sieklucka build the trust necessary to make such a high-stakes relationship feel real?

"Anna-Maria was wonderful to work with," Kirk shares warmly. "We spent a lot of time talking through the characters and their relationship before filming, which helped create a genuine level of trust between us." That off-screen grounding was essential for the on-screen stakes. "The story only works if the audience believes the connection between Diana and Evie, so we focused on building that foundation first," she explains. "Once that trust existed off camera, it allowed us to take bigger emotional risks on camera. We both understood that the relationship had to feel authentic, even when the story takes darker and more unpredictable turns."

Shooting in Malta provided a distinct sense of isolation. How did the physical environment and the classic thriller atmosphere influence your internal process and physical tension?

"Malta was an incredible location because it offered both beauty and a sense of isolation," Kirk notes, reflecting on the striking Mediterranean backdrop. "The contrast between the stunning scenery and the psychological tension of the story created a very unsettling atmosphere, which was perfect for the film." The setting became a quiet co-star, shaping her physical performance. "The environment naturally influenced my performance because Diana is constantly navigating uncertainty and emotional pressure," she adds. "Being surrounded by unfamiliar landscapes and spending long days immersed in that suspenseful world helped maintain a level of tension that felt very organic rather than forced."

Behind Diana's survival instincts is a deeply human desperation. In the quiet moments before the plot spirals, what emotional anchors did you hold onto to keep her grounded for the audience?

"For me, it was Diana’s longing for connection," Kirk says, her tone softening as she considers the character's hidden fragility. "Beneath her strength and determination, there’s someone who wants to be seen, understood, and ultimately find a place where she belongs." Those emotional anchors were vital during the production's quieter beats. "Those were the emotions I kept coming back to in the quieter moments," she continues. "No matter what choices she makes throughout the story, I always tried to hold onto that very human need for connection, because that’s what makes her relatable and keeps her grounded for the audience."