Sofia Antonia Milone

I saw the stunningly powerful @ninesixteenthstheplay last week at The Lowry. It’s all about Janet Jackson’s “nipple gate” in 2004, which frankly most of us have forgotten about, something the show highlights as deserving examination. This is a wonderfully personal and very thorough analysis of the history and politics surrounding the minuscule moment that resulted in Miss Jackson effectively being black-listed despite a public apology by her, for something that was done to her. Expected spoiler: white men are involved, and forgiven, by white men. Told through the lens of writer and performer @paulavarjack , backed by a cast of hugely talented black women over 40, this show is brilliantly engaging, impressively crafted and thoroughly educational. Packed with collated evidence through the years, delivered with ingenuity and panache - I laughed, I gasped, I was angered to tears. It runs 19-30 May at Brixton House. If you are in London, I urge you to grab a ticket. You will be richer for it! It was so good I added a link in my bio.

Last weekend I did a win in Crown Green Bowling at West Heaton. I've dabbled in playing for a couple of years, entering comps mostly to make up numbers. Somehow I managed to make 3 finals despite very sporadic play. But I'm finally taking it more seriously, and practising. And after a couple of months of being quite unwell, this was a brilliant moment of sunshine for me. It may be the only trophy I bring home for a while, but I'm very happy with it - as you can see🤣

Just over a week ago I wrapped on the short film Article 31 (@article.31 ), exploring a near-future world where women are paid by the state to have babies. A very believable scenario. An impressive and truly lovely crew and cast with a bright future ahead of them. Great fun. Long nights, but playing a sickly mother, at least I wasn’t in makeup for long… Look out for the soup. You know I love soup. But cold, and porridge-like is not my fave. Writer/Director: Charlotte Curtis (productionsby.cc) Actors: Jemima Robyns (@jem.emes ), Sofia Antonia Milone, Sumudhu Macarthur Producer/1st AD: Lyla Latif (@lylalateef ) DOP: Soloman Wyles (@sol.w.films ) Editor / Script Supervisor: Leo Cooper (@leocoooper ) Gaffer: Harry Wiggins (@film.cucumber ) Boom Op / Composer: Stanley Oram (@sublunar___ ) BTS: Lucy Bernado (@lucybernardo0 ) Apologies for anyone I missed, please make yourself know and I’ll tag you!

INTRODUCING… Sofia Antonia Milone as Amanda Owens

I absolutely adored playing crusty drug-fuelled Mica in The Score. After a fantastic festival run, I can finally share it with the world! Be warned: drugs, guns, blood, violence, and beautiful cinematography… See LinkTree in Bio for full film. Crusty Mica had a huge impact on me. I remember Ellie in the sound dept seeing me early one morning before I went in for makeup and saying “I forgot how glamourous you are, I’ve been so used to seeing Mica!” I don’t think anyone has ever called me, Sofia, glamourous before. I had no makeup on, I’d merely showered and dried my hair (which compared to Mica is definitely glamourous). But in that moment I was able to acknowledge something I’d been feeling deeply: how freeing it is to play someone who never once, not even when looking in the mirror, cares about how she looks. The worse I looked, the more I embodied her. And watching playback, I realised something — I don’t see myself on screen. I see the person I’m portraying. I have zero anxiety over how that person looks, because it’s not me. Acting is such a strangely playful, liberating experience. How lucky I am to be gifted these characters.

This New Year I played the wonderful DLO tournament, with the impeccable Bianca Bleeser. It was such a joy, and we won the women’s open! And now I’m stuck in Amsterdam, after many cancelled flights. It has made casting my next film with Anna Lee a bit challenging! But thanks to two incredible humans, Caroline and Eline, I am able to work from their home. Hoping to get a flight back to Manchester tonight, wish me luck! I was supposed to go home on Monday 😂

My Round Up Reel: Every finished film since I returned to acting. In 2022, thirsting to be around more creatives, on a whim I applied for a role online. A lot had changed since 2002 when I last considered myself a professional. Not least, online applications and self-tapes. Miraculously, I booked that first role. A small part in a Manchester Film School final year film. A set packed with talent and enthusiasm, operating at a professional level (not many student sets have a video and sound village and 40+ crew). I was hooked again. My next role was paid. A lead in a short. Before I even had a reel or decent headshots. I imagined what I might do with an actual CV. I stuck to expenses-only work with solid scripts and screen time for the next 8 films, and within a few months got together a showreel whilst bringing myself back up to speed with the job, and how it had changed.

 The next booking was paid, and the one after that. So I stuck to paid, high calibre, low budget. 5 months in I landed a role in a feature and got an agent. They weren’t a good fit, so I went back to self-repping, feeling a little disheartened, but continuing to get good low budget work. 2024 was a hard one, culminating in the devastating death of my best friend. But a wonderful mutual friend I reconnected with eased me back in to working with an agent (I’ll be forever grateful Mel). I now have a really good relationship with my new reps. The skills I have earned over the years, writing, editing, and designing have allowed me to jump in the deep end, with confidence. And this work has allowed me to make genuine re/connections in this industry, bolstering a tribe to help craft my own visions. I’m realistic. It’s a slog. No one is doing it for the money. I love the gift of being asked to step into someone else’s shoes, whether writing characters, or portraying them. So thank you to every person who trusted me to breathe life into their characters and everyone who shared their journey with me. Being trusted with your projects is an honour. I know how much graft went in to getting them on screen. Onward, and upward. Stats since Feb 2022: 119 auditions, 37 bookings. Contact: @23talentmgt

Filming on “Soundcheck” completed last week. The last time I was in this venue I was lead singer/songwriter in punk/pop band GeEkgiRL winning battle of the bands, best cover song, a crate of bear, money for a tour van, and scoring a mini record deal. So returning twenty years later to play a record exec encouraging a young musician to follow her authentic self is beyond ironic. The young team behind this film really have their heads screwed on. Writer/Director Olivia Philips, alongside DOP Jon Dennis and his team are a force, with heart. It was a pleasure to play Erika, thank you. Once again met some lovely people, I shall follow their careers with interest, and fingers crossed we can work with each other again. Writer/Director: @oliviaphillips.film DoP: @jondennisportfolio Producer: @samtrowfilms_ Cast: @sofiaantoniamilone , @rebeccaspoooner , @sambr3ro , @sikes.bow_ , @elliotj3905 1st AD: @jakebellportfolio 1st AC: @emmadbailey Sound: @connieheatonfilm Script Supervisor @tommy.p112 Production Designer @rhysw_1_ Production Assitant: @conniesfilmaccount BTS Photographer: @Thomas.allis_ Editor: @oleta.mov Original Score: @harry_run09 , @sikes.bow_ , @peter.jnorris

@boltonfilmfest is my happy place. Meeting old friends and making new. I almost managed to watch all 250 films... and I cannot wait to cheerlead the wonderful projects I heard about. Our industry may be in free fall, but there's no doubt the energy and smarts of these people can find a way.

@boltonfilmfest I love making film friends, is your film showing?? Let’s hang out!

My block wrapped on the indie feature @theplacesweleavebehind last month. Things have been so hectic since I’ve not had time to post. I met some truly talented and lovely people on this shoot, and I also came to know Macclesfield quite well! Writer/Director: @ellamuscroft DP: @danielllobera 1st ADs: @spoons.x , @hcontentproductions Lighting designer: @andy_spark2495 1st ACs: @japele_ , @adamcowell_ Sound: @cygnetsound , @_jamesfagan , @oliverneat 

Cast: @sarah_de_oliveira3 , @kevjohnsonactor , @dannyjbarton , @thomas.cb.obrien , @joekirk_96 , @louisemaymosley , @thescottthomson , @amyrosebrownphotography , @scarletnewtonn , @elizabeth_hammond_uk , @ekh_c_sez_jo , @edmaxkelly27 , @anniemartin4 , @stooeyb Apologies if I missed anyone!

Logline: An early career writer/director looking for tangible goals discovers a magical pathway that leads to a dream-like creative community lurking beneath the city's train tracks. Thrilled to have been one of just 10 filmmakers selected for @homemcr ’s 2025 Film Lab. An intense week of masterclasses, workshops, collaboration, and learning that generated a milestone strategy for me as a writer/director, and stimulated a straight week of solid screen writing. Huge thanks to course leader @danthorburn , and everyone involved @loranfdunn @iambentaylor @jonaddison_ @maxwellgraham @_jasminjxo @allhailblackstar @milda.bee @bignorthfilmsltd for sharing their time, energy, and knowledge. Thanks to @sarahsweeney.x and @_reubenjohnson for sharing their acting talent, and @isabelle.croissant for facilitating everything. I loved learning and working alongside my cohort, who all have exciting careers ahead: @anniejean_films @emmaddock @nickdunleavy @patrick_nicholls1 @reneecwill @rossi_t_ @samjosephbond @williamjacobdean @taleporos_official Photos (mostly): @shda_ali