Interview with ‘American Siege’ Star Anna Hindman

A new year equals new opportunities, and Anna Hindman isn’t going to miss any chances. The LGBTQ actress started 2022 off with a bang by starring opposite Bruce Willis in the new thriller American Siege playing gun-toting Grace Baker, who goes on a quest to discover the truth about her sister’s disappearance.

Raised in Connecticut, Hindman got her start in acting when she was six years old after being featured in a commercial for a local power company. She would later earn a BA in Musical Theatre and move to Los Angeles upon graduating to pursue a career in film and commercial work.

Currently, the multitalented performer lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee with her wife, and is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ rights and charities. If that wasn’t enough, Hindman also has a love for teaching children, and is working to get her foot in the door of the music industry. She recently released her debut single, “Dislove” on Spotify.

OFM caught up with Hindman to talk more about the film and her future entertainment endeavors.

You play the fearless Grace Baker in the new film American Siege. With this being your first major motion picture, what did you enjoy the most about being involved with this project, and what have you taken away from this experience?
It’s hard to pick just one thing that I enjoyed the most, but I would say the community that the set became. We filmed this in only eight days, so it was a pretty chaotic and crazy time, but it kind of forced us all to immediately mesh and work together. The entire cast and crew really bonded and became one big family because it felt like we all had a similar goal that we were pushing towards, and every single person who was working on that film had such a passion to make something exciting and fun. You could feel that throughout the full eight days.

As for my biggest takeaway, there are so many things. I want to just continue doing this every single day, and I think that was my biggest takeaway. It reaffirmed my absolute love of TV and film and everything that has to do with it.

In addition to Bruce Willis, the film also stars Rob Gough and Timothy V. Murphy. I cannot imagine how much fun it would be to play opposite of them. It sounds like there was instant chemistry between you all.
Yes, absolutely. Rob was the very first person I talked to on set, and we hit it off right away and became friends. Bruce Willis is so down to earth and such a chatty guy. He sits around, tells jokes, and you can have any random conversation with him. Then Timothy V. Murphy, he was so warm and welcoming. There were good vibes all around.

Why should people check out American Siege, and what makes it such a great film?
I think American Siege is a great film because at its heart, it’s a story about love. I know it’s got a lot of guns, action, and things like that, but it’s definitely a film about love. My character, Grace Baker, her sister went missing 10 years ago, and that’s driving her to do whatever it takes to find answers. She’s brought her brother along on this journey, Brigit’s ex-boyfriend, and they all just want answers because they love Brigit so much. That’s what drives them. So, I think at its core, this is a family looking for answers.

Have you always had a passion for acting?
I have. I genuinely cannot remember a time that I haven’t wanted to be a performer in some capacity. My dad is a musician and an artist, and I grew up with him writing songs, playing music, and painting my whole life. So, I wanted to be a performer ever since I can remember, and my parents have been super supportive with that. I was able to get into community theatre and some acting classes as a kid, and I have continued that my whole life.

Not only was American Siege released in theaters, but it was also released on digital streaming platforms. Do you find it to be more beneficial or challenging to be an actress in the digital age today?
Personally, I think it’s beneficial. I think it gives a lot of opportunities for actors, cast, and crew to work on these different projects. I will say, I have heard from other professional actors that the pay grade for these sorts of things is not beneficial to most. I haven’t experienced that as much because this was really my first big motion picture, but I think that’s something valuable to look at as well. To make sure that everyone’s getting paid fairly and getting compensated for the work that they do, but I do think that streaming platforms are super beneficial and accessible for everyone, and it gives more opportunities for everyone involved in the business.

When not performing, you can be found in the classroom teaching seventh grade science. That is quite a transition from acting. How did that come about?
This is my second year of teaching, and I absolutely love it. It is a totally different world from acting. It’s such a joy. I started substitute teaching in Nashville, and then I found this incredible school that I fell in love with. They have a huge push towards social emotional learning, and as an actor, I think that emotions and things like that are very important to express, talk about, and feel. Seeing a school allowing young kids to do that and express themselves, communicate, and feel empathy for others was very exciting for me. That’s what drew me to that school and teaching in general. I am very grateful for that school in particular.

Do you want to continue teaching while also pursuing acting?
Right now, I think I’m starting to kind of transition to just acting. This is kind of a pivotal point in my career, and I’m really hoping that it’s going to push me forward into some more projects in the Nashville area, as well as Atlanta and Los Angeles. I have kind of set myself up for the next couple of months to push harder towards that and not focus so much on teaching.

This past year, you also put out your debut single “Dislove” on Spotify. Would you like to venture more into music as well?
Yes! That’s the cool thing about Nashville. It’s such a mecca for artists and musicians, and I’ve found that community to be extremely welcoming. It’s a huge collaboration and collaborative mindset that I didn’t necessarily feel in Los Angeles. In Nashville, you could legitimately go into a bar that’s playing music, meet complete strangers, and say, “Hey, do you want to set up a co-write?” Then the next week, you guys will be hanging out writing music. It’s really unique, and I would love to continue to do that.

Do you have any music projects currently in the works?
I don’t right now, but I do have a few songs that I want to start producing. I love writing music that is from the LGBTQ perspective because I think that we can always use more music in the world with that, so I have one song called “Let Me Be Your Woman.” I wrote it about two years ago now, and I’ve really been wanting to record that. I am excited to find some producers for that.

What are some future goals you would like to accomplish with your platform and career?
I would love to write and produce scripts that are LGBTQ-forward and normalize the LGBTQ community because I think we’ve made some really good leaps and bounds with portrayals in the media, but I do see a lot of plots revolving around coming out or fear of being targeted. While I definitely think those are valid stories, I would love to make projects that are just normalized. The same plot you would see in a blockbuster movie, or even a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie. The same plot, but it’s two women or two men, or something else that’s queer.

I think just normalizing that and being able to write and produce scripts would be definitely a goal of mine. Then in the long run, just being able to play more strong women. Playing Grace Baker was so much fun because she just doesn’t care what anyone thinks. There’s such a freedom in that, so I would love to be a strong independent woman in more films.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?
Speaking of scripts, I am developing a script called Daughter that I hope to bring to life in the next year. It’s a story about a girl who finds out a secret about her late father, and it kind of turns her world upside down.

Stay up-to-date and connect with Hindman by following her on Instagram @itsannahindman, TikTok @.hindman, or visit her official website, AnnaHindman.com. American Siege is now in theaters and streaming on digital platforms.

Photos Courtesy of Lindsey Michelle