Meet Under the Mountain's twins

BY CHRIS SCHULZ

Most actors begin their careers with cringeworthy commercials, forgettable short films or little-watched television shows. Not the stars of Under the Mountain.

For Sophie McBride and Tom Cameron, who play redhead twins Rachel and Theo Matheson in the film adaptation of Maurice Gee's iconic 1979 book, it's their first ever on-screen role.

And with the film - also starring Sam Neill and Oliver Driver - due for release on Thursday, both McBride, 18, and Cameron, 16, are starting to feel a little nervous.

"People say, 'That is such an essential Kiwi book' and you're like, 'I know'," McBride told Stuff.co.nz during a press event to promote the film.

"It's really starting to freak me out."

Cameron agreed: "I can't believe we've been involved in such an iconic New Zealand film ... Everyone we know grew up with it. It's only going down from here I guess."

He's joking, but you can understand their concern. The success of Under the Mountain hinges on the chemistry they generate as the twins who hold the key to defeating an evil underground alien race called The Wilberforces.

The pair were chosen by director Jonathan Cameron from more than 500 auditions. It was McBride's first ever audition, and Cameron's fourth, and they're buzzing about it.

While they hadn't read the book and had seen only snippets of the 1981 cult television series, the pair were put through their paces before shooting began in October last year by acting coach Miranda Harcourt.

"We did lots of exercises to speed up the process," McBride said. "We had to stand in a room together with relaxing music and hug for two minutes, just to get comfortable with each other."

And it paid off with their own moment of "twin-ness" at a pre-shoot dinner party held by King.

"I planned on saying something (at the party)," Cameron said. "I was about to say it, and (McBride) goes, 'What'd you say?'

"I hadn't said anything."

McBride laughs: "It was the 'twin-ness ... the twin-ness was happening."

Both actors - who were joined by actor Leon Wadham for the interview, who plays cousin Ricky in the film - said working on a feature film was a steep learning curve.

McBride: "You do the acting, and that goes well, but at the end you realise how small a part you are because there are so many other things that go into it. All these people are involved to make it what it is and you go, 'Well, actors aren't as big as you think.'

"They get all the attention but we're only a small part of the machine."

Under the Mountain is released on Thursday.

Under the Mountain
Director: Jonathan King
Starring: Sam Neill, Oliver Driver, Sophie McBride, Tom Cameron, Matthew Chamberlain, Michaela Rooney
Trailer: Flicks.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News