Tina Kilberg was recently interviewed by TheCelebrity.Online Magazine and below is the Q&A session we had with her.
Tina Kilberg As Cover Story – January 2025 Edition
Introduction: Who is Tina Kilberg?
I guess the only way to introduce myself would be through my directorial aspirations and screenwriting pursuits, which were truly only developed through my educational background in Politics & International Relations and Entertainment Law. I needed to learn about what motivates people through the intricacies and nuances of human nature, which is inherently political. But I then also had to delve into the dealmaking aspects of the film industry, so Entertainment Law was the only way. I remember telling my dad after the first week of taking Law classes that I was exposed to a completely different world, one that was incredibly different to the last five years of studying Politics during A-Levels and my BA – and how I felt that all I realized about myself was that I knew nothing. He, of course, was quite intrigued by my statement and perhaps had the arrogance to assert that I was a genius; by reminding me that Plato had said the exact same thing ‘All I know is that I know nothing’.
But both fields provided me with a unique perspective on storytelling, contract negotiation and industry dynamics. Once I immersed myself in the entertainment industry, I realized that the best way to truly understand directing was by first experiencing the craft from an actor’s perspective. Acting continues to give me invaluable insight on character development, dialogue delivery and the collaborative nature of filmmaking.
Personal Journey
My transition from childhood to adulthood was marked by my Cambridge years. I attended a British private school when I was growing up in Greece but moved to Cambridge when I was 15. This experience was transformative. It wasn’t a conventional boarding school; classes were held in different buildings scattered across the city and the college rented out apartment buildings for students, meaning I had to learn to live alone from a young age. It wasn’t until I returned to Greece from Vancouver following the global pandemic that I began living at home again.
I do live in my own apartment when I’m in Cyprus, but my parents own the apartment complex so their apartment is just a few floors away from mine. But those three years of being completely alone in Cambridge from the ages of 15-18 truly shaped me; they were pivotal in my development and taught me self-discipline and resilience. I think when you can go through phases of being completely alone at the ages where you are most vulnerable, you never fear being on your own later on in life. There were months that passed where I realized all I ever needed was a hug from someone. That was difficult. So perhaps living with or close to my parents depending on whether I’m in Greece and Cyprus as an adult has taught me to not become completely disassociated or detached from people, like I had been for years. I’m learning that managing our relationships demand as much strength as it does for self-survival, perhaps even more so.
Overcoming Challenges
Throughout my journey in the entertainment industry, I encountered many challenges that tested my mental resilience. I had nobody managing me or guiding me from the age of 23; nobody told me how to act or dress, nobody secured interviews for me or reached out to television networks and magazine editorials on my behalf – I had to do all that on my own. I was simply a young person starting out and trying to figure things out because I never had a team of professionals managing or guiding me. The biggest struggle was navigating the unpredictability of industry players and never remaining disappointed during periods of uncertainty. An actor requires a soldier’s discipline and high stamina if they want to keep working; there is no room for sadness. We need to be energetic and radiate a type of energy or aura that is active and alive when we are navigating through business relationships with industry professionals.
Whether it was dealing with project delays, facing rejection, balancing aspirations with practical realities, I mastered perseverance. It required a quiet confidence to the external world and an explosion of brutal expression in private to remind myself who I was and how nobody could place an expiration date on me or use fame as a currency to assess my value. I decided to eventually change the way I handled networking and used it as an opportunity for others to be intrigued to be coming in contact with me. I don’t believe in narcissism, but I believe every actor needs to acquire a sly arrogance and believe that when they enter a room, they have something to provide; something of value.
Hidden Talents
I’m not naturally funny as people might assume. I am simply just a screenwriter who understands line delivery and good dialogue. Humor comes from a deep understanding of dialogue and timing, not necessarily spontaneous wit. During my years in London and Vancouver I always carried a notebook and wrote anything funny I’d overhear in public. I began comparing cultural humor styles – British humor relies on witty language and metaphor, whereas in Vancouver, I’d read back on things I wrote and realized they weren’t that funny. I had to transport myself back to those moments and remind myself that the humor often came from the delivery rather than the words themselves.
I don’t know if this is a hidden talent, but it’s definitely a secret one as I’m ashamed to admit it publicly and probably never have since now. I began this observational practice to influence my comedic writing, especially when I was developing my screenplay Alpha Omega around 2016 or 2017, which revolves around a strategic alliance between a closeted gay political journalist who wants to run for American presidency and a lesbian stripper from Vegas through a lavender marriage. I wrote it at a time where Donald Trump became president but also during my second year of studying Politics during my BA, where the political climate was quite amusing. I’d probably send Donald Trump a copy of my screenplay. I think he would like it.
Love Life & Relationships
I have a very strong support system and wouldn’t be able to pursue a career in the entertainment industry if it weren’t from my parents. My biggest fear in life is losing both of my parents – I imagine it would have to force me into becoming a stronger person and accept that in life moving forward, I’d truly be alone. I used to suffer from imposter syndrome as a student in the UK because I felt I wasn’t intelligent or successful enough – that the only blessing I had in life was due to my parents opening all the right doors for me. I never had to work any conventional jobs the way others had to. I hate to admit I’m a trust fund kid and wouldn’t need to work a day in my life if I didn’t want to.
But I always seek my dad for advice, who encourages me to be creative with my time, to always write, to never neglect my artistic talent in drawing and painting – and to always study a bit of Law every day. I think his only desire for me is to never stress about making money and never worry about finances; he just wants me to enjoy life and not get upset or disappointed by career setbacks or delays in acting. He’d ideally like me to also quit smoking. So I’m naturally productive and keep myself busy and mentally stimulated. I have very few close friends that have stood by me through the hard times. It’s a huge relief to have friends outside of the world of acting. They’re a good reminder that I do not get swept away by the superficialities of the stage. But I guess that would never be the case due to my educational background – I’m too intellectual for that. A person who has a high opinion of themselves lives in ignorance and is less open to learning; they are more open to getting brainwashed on how one should appear, act and look like.
Social Media and Contact Info
- Instagram: @tinakilberg
- Twitter: @tinakilberg
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11332589/
- Website: www.tinakilberg.com
R. Harwood is the writer and editor in chief of TheCelebrity.Online – Read more on our About Us page.
