The Legend of the Five: Interview with Lauren Esposito

In cinemas tomorrow, The Legend of the Five will be the first new Australian feature film to be released in theatres as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

Starring The Conjuring 2’s Lauren Esposito as Zoe, The Legend of the Five follows a group of misfit teenagers who encounter an ancient relic during a school trip. They find themselves caught up in a magical world with elemental powers beyond their belief and the responsibility of stopping an age-old evil from destroying the world.

Legend of the Five is a departure for Esposito and her previous roles in drama and horror. You’ll also recall her work from Season 3 of Love Child.

In our interview, Lauren gives us insight into her career so far which evolved from an interest in music and musical theatre to now being the lead actress in the new family / fantasy film.

It focuses on inspiring youth and finding their place despite negativity encountered from the limited opinions of others. We also touch on Lauren’s perspective in facing rejection to reap the rewards of achieving her goals, her future goals for acting and advice for people just starting out. “…You really gotta love what you do, it’s a hard industry” she says, as she shares advice bestowed upon her in a field with “….so much rejection. You’re not going to book every audition you do. You will need to do over a hundred auditions before your next role”.

The Legend of the Five marks the directing debut of Mad Max’s Joanne Samuel. Joanne’s love of nostalgic cult films such as Labyrinth, Dark Crystal and The Never Ending Story was her inspiration behind the storytelling.

“My goal was to create a world with fantastical possibilities, while still representing as much of modern Australia as possible.” says Joanne Samuel. “The Legend of the Five is about youth, coming of age, finding your place, and understanding that you are worth so much more than the nay-sayers tell you. It is intended to be an invitation for the youth of Australia, and beyond, to engage their imagination, and find the power within themselves to join and protect the world around them.” Says Joanne Samuel.

The Legend of the Five is produced by Benjamin Jon Creative Media, directed by Joanne Samuel and written by Peter McLeod. Check your local listings for sessions – cinemas are now open across most states and territories in Australia with NSW and the remainder of VIC venues to follow from July 1 and 2 respectively.

Photography: FilmInk International

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