Romy Weltman was only a child when she saw her first live stage production. It was The Sound of Music, and seeing the children on stage portraying the von Trapps, she suddenly was inspired. Even at a young age, she was able to appreciate the talent of the actors. Ever since that moment, Weltman’s dedication to the art of acting has never wavered, and at only 18, she is a leader in Canada’s film and television industry.
Best known for her work on the Disney Channel hit show Backstage, Weltman is an instantly recognizable face for many. She has been acting professionally since the age of 12, and has starred in films like The Returned, Strike! and The Red Maple Leaf, working in different genres and showing audiences just how versatile she really is.
“What makes Romy a great actress is that she is continuously trying to get better and learn more about her craft. Her goal is to grow every time she’s in class or prepping for an audition. Her curiosity in character development is always at the forefront of her prep, and her love for the work is always clearly evident. Romy is an incredibly talented young actor who just wants to keep improving. Her work ethic and dedication is extremely impressive,” said Steven Yaffee, Actor.
Last year, Weltman made her way to the small screen yet again with her role in Syfy’s popular show Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments. The show, also a success on Netflix, is loosely based on the book series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. It follows Clary Fray, a normal teenager living in Brooklyn with her mother. One day, she discovers that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters; humans born with angelic blood that fight to protect our world from demons. After her mother is kidnapped, Clary must team up with three Shadowhunters: Jace, Alec and Isabelle and her best friend Simon on a quest to find her mother and recover her past
“As soon as I received the audition, I was so excited to go into the room. The vibe of the show is something I enjoy playing, as it is rather dark and has supernatural aspects. There are also very talented working actors on the show who I look up to greatly. Getting an opportunity to work with them was one I could not pass,” said Weltman.
Weltman portrayed Young Isabelle in the episode “Parabatai Lost”. Young Isabelle shows a flashback to one of the main characters. She is a young girl who is very mature for her age. She is a Shadowhunter who convinces her older brother, Alec, to make important decisions. Although she is younger, she certainly acts like the older sibling.
“What I specifically like about the story is how Isabelle has such a strong influence over Alec. The show itself portrays such an interesting world with characters that are so different from the next. The story has such beautiful connections to the real world yet is just so different from any other show,” Weltman described.
As Isabelle is a fierce woman who really believes in herself and pushes for the people she loves, playing the younger version of the character required Weltman to adopt the same mindset. The character is loved by fans, and Weltman wanted the younger version to receive the same adoration. In order to get into the mindset of the character, the actress studied the show and how Isabelle reacts to certain situations. In one scene, she was even given a whip, which also gave Weltman the freedom to decide how Isabelle trained at a young age and to what extent. With Weltman’s portrayal of the iconic character, she gave viewers an inside look into Isabelle’s childhood, and allowed fans to receive some missing puzzle pieces they had been longing for.
“I really enjoyed getting to play such a strong female character. I find that so inspiring and getting the opportunity to portray a young woman like that was an experience of a lifetime. I also loved the sass and edgy side of the character. I love getting to play those types of roles,” she said.
Playing the young version of an already established character is not easy, as you have to mimic their behaviors and habits, convincing audiences that you are in fact that same person. Weltman took the opportunity in Shadowhunters and soared, leaving no doubt in the audience’s mind that she was Isabelle. There is clearly a lot more that we can expect in this actress’ future. For now, she encourages anyone that is looking to pursue acting, whatever their age, to follow their dreams.
“The best advice I can give someone who is looking to pursue acting is, do not give up and keep training. It is easy to feel discouraged at times. However, that is part of the business. You need to push yourself and keep on going. Training will also take you to new places. You can watch others and learn so much from them as well as a coach. It’s important to not limit yourself,” she concluded.a