Havoc’s Quelin Sepulveda on Movement, Range, and Committing to the Journey

Full of gusto and a commitment to the work, Quelin Sepulveda’s path into acting was not quite straightforward. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, she moved to the UK with her family at the age of ten. A love for body movement came first, she grew up dancing in both countries  but the idea of pursuing a career in the arts didn’t solidify until later. She’s now starring in the action thriller “Havoc” alongside Tom Hardy. We caught up with Quelin just ahead of the film’s release.

“I actually studied History and Criminology at university,” she laughs. “It had nothing to do with performing. But around 19, I got really curious about acting.”

Photographer: David Reiss

Styling: Delaney Williams

Hair: Stefan Bertin

Make-up: Kenneth Soh

After graduating, she juggled multiple jobs while picking up gigs from short films, fringe plays. It wasn’t until her mid-20s that she committed fully. “I realized you can fail at doing something you don’t even like. That filled me with more dread than the risks of chasing what I really love.”

From the grounded drama of “The Man Who Fell to Earth” to the fantastical comedy of "Good Omens,” and now the gritty action of “Havoc,” Sepulveda’s career has put her versatility to the test “I’m a very physical person,” she says. “Every world gives you something, whether it’s the costumes, the set, or the script itself as that is what informs how a character moves and feels.”

Filmed a few years ago, Havoc’s journey to release has been long, but revisiting the finished film felt like stepping into something new for Sepulveda. “So much has happened since then,” she says. “Watching it now, it almost feels like experiencing it for the first time. Gareth [Evans]’s vision is so clear. It’s been a privilege to see it all come together.”

As with many actors, Sepulveda has learned to let go once filming wraps. “There’s so much that’s outside of your control. Once you leave the set, it’s not yours anymore, it belongs to the audience.”

Sepulveda’s first day on the Havoc set involved filming a major scene with none other than Tom Hardy.  “(He’s) so playful. He’s cracking jokes until the moment they call action,” she recalls. “It immediately took away any pressure I was putting on myself. He and Gareth made me feel so supported. I’m really grateful for that.” She credits that experience with helping her trust her instincts more fully: “It was more of a threshold moment for me as an actor.”

Given her background in dance and stage combat training at LAMDA, it’s no surprise Sepulveda did excellent in the physical demands of Havoc. “I loved it,” she says, lighting up. “Fight choreography is just storytelling through your body. Plus, the stunt team was incredible, I felt completely supported throughout the whole process.”

The meticulous planning around the action scenes required adaptability on the dramatic front. On set, narrative scenes would have to be reshaped based on logistical demands of the combat sections. This dynamic forced her and the rest of the cast to stay focused yet flexible when it came to their character at any given moment. “You can’t hold onto anything too tightly. You have to be willing to jump in and play.”

Looking forward, Sepulveda lights up again at the thought of delving deeper into action projects while also looking to stretch into new styles. “I love work that plays with tone, that’s why I love fantasy, action, and sci-fi. I’d love to do something stylistically unique, like a Wes Anderson film,” she says. “Or something physical, like Warrior.”

Ultimately, Sepulveda always circles back to the communal aspect of the work. “I can’t do it alone. Acting is playful, it’s collaborative, and there’s no limit to how much you can learn. It’s creativity shared with others  and that’s what I love most.”

HAVOC is out on Netflix now