Landing a role in a major film with Robert Redford may be just the stuff of dreams but for Cali girl Kate Bosworth it became a reality when only in her early teens.

‘When I was about 13, there was word going around that they were casting for a film in upstate New York and they were looking for authentic horseback riders. The director was Robert Redford and that film ended up being The Horse Whisperer.’

With no previous experience as an actress, Bosworth cantered into the role. Post filming, instead of embarking on what would turn out to be a lifelong career,  the unusual choice was made of putting Hollywood on the back burner until she had finished high school.

However, Bosworth never lost sight of her desire to be on the big screen and the brave decision she took to turn down Princeton University paid off when she landed the lead in Blue Crush.

It was watching The Usual Suspects, years before any of this happened, that Bosworth knew she wanted to act. Years later, being able to call one of the stars of that film, Kevin Spacey, a mentor and friend is barely believable. ‘I feel so lucky. I am not really sure how it happened but I’ll take it!’

Not the typical A-lister, Kate is refreshingly grounded. ‘For me, being with your friends, nurturing those relationships, falling in and out of love, of having those experiences, those are the things which will enrich your life.’

Hannah Berry