How To Work In America: Ophelia Lovibond

British actress Ophelia Lovibond started acting at a young age. She’s known for starring in films No Strings Attached and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and TV series Elementary and W1A. Here, she discusses how to work in America and the main differences of filming across the pond…

The first time I ever went to LA, I had just finished doing FM, which was an ITV comedy with Chris O’Dowd. I went for a month, got the lay of the land. I actually went and stayed with Chris, because we’d become friends and he had a room in his apartment. Not being completely on my own had a big bearing on why I took to the place.

It was a February. More than anything it seemed like the right thing to do. I wasn’t following any kind of plan, I was just following that instinct. But it was definitely a conscious decision, with a view to getting an American agent.

I went back later that year and stayed for nine months. In terms of getting an agent, I was lucky. I’d met someone in London – now my manager – who was already aware of me. I had an ‘in’ in that way, she wanted to represent me.

Is it good to be a Brit in Hollywood? If nothing else, it’s a talking point. You come into the room and there’s immediately something different about you that makes you stand out. And they seem to find the accent infinitely adorable. I suppose beyond that, you’ve come from England to work there, which shows a commitment and dedication.

If you are going to work in the US, you do need your American accent to be flawless. I’ve always loved accents. If I’m telling an anecdote, I give everyone an accent. My American accent was fine, but it was during that initial nine months that it became natural. I could switch between the two without any problem.

As far as visas, there’ll be some no-budget films where you have to sort it out yourself. My first American film was No Strings Attached and part of the deal was they got an immigration lawyer and they put the visa package together. It means you can go freely in and out of the country for two or three years. It’s quite exciting, because you arrive at the airport and they say, ‘Business or pleasure?’ and you say ‘Business’!

I didn’t realise [Elementary] was shot in New York. That was a massive bonus to getting the job; to move to New York for five months. It’s filmed in Long Island and it didn’t hit me until I got to the studio and they were leading me through this warren of corridors. You pass all these different shows and you think what a big undertaking it is.

The main difference between shooting there and in Britain is craft services. In America, they have food at every minute of the day. There’s breakfast, then mid-morning food around 10:30, then lunch and then hot food again around five. And then if they feel like it, they’ll bring in a pizza or churro truck. And then all through the day there’s bagels and sweets and nuts. In England, you get a tray of biscuits and a tea urn. Maybe a slice of melon if you’re lucky.

In my latest movie Man Up, I’m an incredibly irritating optimist. Well-meaning, but cloying. I always envisaged myself doing drama, but I seem to keep booking comedy. It’s an amazing feeling trying to make someone laugh.

• W1A returns for a seconds series on BBC Two, Thursday 23 April at 9pm.
• Man Up is in cinemas from 29 May.