“I Just Want To Keep Creating”: An Interview With Employee of the Dead Star Ellie Raé Winstone

The youngest daughter of actor Ray Winstone and his wife Elaine. Ellie has two older sisters, former actress Lois Winstone and actress and model Jaime Winstone.

Ellie debuted as a child actress in the 2009 film “Fathers of Girls“, starring both her father and eldest sister. In 2012 she acted alongside both her father and sister Lois in “The Hot Potato“.

In February 2017, she debuted as a runway model for Pam Hogg at the Autumn Winter 2017 London Fashion’s week. She would model in the catwalk for Hogg for 4 more years, her last runway was in February 2020, the Autumn Winter 2020 London Fashion Week before the global Covid pandemic.

Ellie graduated from Drama at London’s Fine Arts College in Hampstead in 2019, and from Professional Acting at LAMDA in 2020.

In 2019 she acted in the short film “The Trap“, and from 2020 she is also an artist. From January 13 to January 15, 2022 she acted in the stage play “Trains, Not Boats and Planes” at Questors Theatre’s Playhouse, in Ealing (UK).

She resumed her fashion shows with Pam Hogg during London Fashion Week on September 17, 2022 and also modeled for Jayne Pierson Ceridwen and again Pam Hogg Catwalk LFW SS24.

In Employeee of the Dead, A frustrated supermarket worker secretly shoots a no-budget zombie movie during his night shifts with help from his sister and coworkers, risking his job and relationships for one last shot at becoming a real filmmaker.

The Fan Carpet‘s Marc Jason Ali recently sat down with actress Ellie Raé Winstone to discuss Employee of the Dead, filmmaking, creativity, collaboration and the importance of following your own path within the industry…

 

 

Employee of the Dead has generated a lot of excitement already. What was it about the project that made you want to get involved?
What really appealed to me was the combination of humour, horror and heart. It has a unique voice and a great team behind it, which made it a project I wanted to be part of.

 

Independent filmmaking often relies on collaboration. How important is that collaborative process to you?
It’s incredibly important. Film is such a collaborative medium. Everyone brings something different to the table and the best projects are often the result of people working together towards a shared vision.

 

During our conversation we ended up talking about much more than just the film. Do you enjoy those wider creative discussions?
Absolutely. Creativity doesn’t exist in isolation. The conversations you have, the people you meet and the experiences you have all influence the work you create.

 

What continues to excite you most about acting?
The opportunity to tell stories and step into different worlds. Every project is different and every character teaches you something new.

 

Horror has always been a genre that allows filmmakers to explore deeper themes beneath the surface. What appeals to you about genre storytelling?
Genre films can entertain while also exploring bigger ideas. Horror in particular often allows audiences to engage with fears, emotions and social themes in interesting ways.

 

What have you learned about yourself through working within the industry so far?
I’ve learned the importance of persistence and staying true to who you are. The industry can be unpredictable, but believing in yourself and continuing to create is incredibly important.

 

 

Many people know your surname, but it feels as though you’re building your own path as a performer and creative. How important is that to you?
Every creative journey is unique. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, but ultimately I want my work to speak for itself and to continue growing as an artist.

 

Looking ahead, what kinds of stories are you most interested in telling?
Stories that connect with people. Whether that’s through drama, horror, comedy or something else entirely, I want to be involved in projects that have something meaningful to say.

 

What would success look like for you over the next few years?
Continuing to work, continuing to learn and continuing to create. That’s always the goal.

 

Finally, what do you hope audiences take away from Employee of the Dead?
I hope they have fun with it. It’s a unique project with a lot of passion behind it and I think audiences are going to have a great time.

 

Employee of the Dead Film Page

Employee of the Dead launches its crowdfunder on Indiegogo on June 30th 2026. For more information and to support the project, visit the official campaign page. Join the mailing list and get a special message from Dani Harmer and Joe Acres!

Photography © Hannah Davis Creative

Poster Designed by Ignacio Mazuecoz