Mercedes Gleitze

Kirsten Callaghan is a British actress, singer and producer, starring in the upcoming biopic 'Vindication Swim', playing the lead role, Mercedes Gleitze.

The film explores the inspirational true story of long-distance swimmer Gleitze, who, having battled the waters of the English Channel and the patriarchal society of 1927, is forced into a fight to retain her record as the first British woman to swim the English Channel. Callaghan performed all of her own swimming scenes for the film, having spent three months training for the part. During filming Callaghan experienced extreme weather changes, encounters with sea-life and drastically cold temperatures.

Born in Brighton, Callaghan graduated from Rose Bruford College in 2015. Whilst at drama school Callaghan wrote and performed the one-woman show 'L'amour Est Mort', based on the French folktale 'Bluebeard', which was chosen to be performed at the London Symposium Festival. Outside of her studies, Callaghan was cast as Noel Olivier in Nick Baldock's historical play 'Verge of Strife' and as lead role, Lula, in comedy play 'Pussy', by BBC and Royal Court Young Writer's graduate, Thomas Clancy.

Callaghan is a trained singer and collaborated with 'Vindication Swim's' composer, Daniel Clive McCallum, on the ending song in the film. As well as playing an active role on screen, Callaghan worked as an executive producer on the production. Nicola Pearcey, former president of Lionsgate UK & Europe, joined the film as an executive producer with her new company Picnik Productions in 2022, alongside co-producers Sally Humphreys and Douglas McJannet.

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Kirsten Callaghan

Writer

Actress

Producer

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Credit Score: Kirsten Callaghan