Accolades for former Surf Coast actor and film-maker

SURF COAST actor Harriette St Ledger’s written film debut After Roe Falls was showered with critical acclaim when it premiered in Los Angeles at the American Arts Film and Television Academy (AAFTA).

The short film, documenting a young American woman who finds herself pregnant after the legal right to abortion was overturned, picked up six AAFTA nominations including best short film, best supporting actor and best ensemble (Harriette St Ledger, Maryrose Johnson and Odalis Rojas).

Missing out on a win in any of the categories, Ms St Ledger said she was still pleased with the result.

“We got really great feedback… it was a great deal to be nominated nonetheless,” she said from America, where she now lives.

“I was also starring in another film at the festival, Ex Affliction created by Maddy Leane and Young One Studios. For that I was nominated for best supporting actress and people’s choice best actress. I won the people’s choice best actress.”

The making of After Roe Falls was inspired by Ms St Ledger finding herself among protestors in LA who’d taken to the streets after the US Supreme Court handed down its decision on Roe v Wade in 2022.

“The environment of the protest was invigorating, people of all ages and genders were coming together to fight for their rights,” she said.

Despite having been in LA for less than a week she said “we couldn’t stand by and do nothing, we joined the protests and let our voices be heard”.

Guest starring actors Maryrose Johnson and Odalis Rojas, Ms St Ledger wrote, acted and created After Roe Falls and helped crowdfund its production.