Lyndsey Gavin, who has roots in Lake Cowichan, has gone from being a smash on The Bachelor Canada to landing a leading role in the Hollywood biopic The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Emily Blunt, which is set to hit theatres in 2025.
While Gavin currently lives in North Vancover, she has strong ties to the Cowichan Valley 鈥� her mother was raised in Duncan and both her parents now reside in Lake Cowichan where they are enjoying retirement.
"I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful for this opportunity," said Gavin. "It鈥檚 a small part, but being in a feature alongside such legendary actors is a dream come true. When I landed the audition for the role, that was a massive win for me and I was convinced that there was no way I鈥檇 actually land it, but so grateful to even be able to read for it. When I received the call that I got the role I felt overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement. I was actually sitting in the Edmonton airport and starting crying.
"My friends and family are the best, we had a wine and cheese celebration night when I signed the contract. My siblings are the most supportive group, and I think this experience is as much theirs, as it is mine."
Landing a role in such a major production is a rare and thrilling milestone for Gavin who has dreamed of becoming an actor since she was a little girl, and has now been acting professionally for the past four years. Her first major brush with fame came when she was a contestant on The Bachelor in 2017 capturing the hearts of the masses when she chose to live in beautiful B.C., over romance.
Since, she has continued her 'day job' in luxury vinyl flooring sales while making significant waves in the acting world, beginning with landing some commercials and a role in the Hallmark movie Always Amore directed by Kevin Fair and starring Autumn Reeser.
"It鈥檚 always been a pipe dream, but I never really thought it was something I could pursue seriously, and then life humbles you," said Gavin. "When I turned 27 I was offered a role as a ukulele singer in Always Amore. The director asked me what I wanted to do. I pointed at Autumn Reeser, and said I want to be like her."
After Always Amore wrapped Fair sat down with Gavin over coffee to talk about her next steps and pointed her to the right people at Vancouver Acting School where she began with their fundamentals class, and has been honing her acting chops there ever since. She is currently in Daniel Bacon鈥檚 Audition Class and said it鈥檚 one of her favourite parts of the week.
The Smashing Machine, which is written and directed by American screenwriter Benny Safdie, is a biographical sports drama that looks at the life of former wrestler and mixed martial artist Mark Kerr played by Johnson, with Blunt playing the role of his wife. Gavin said it's been a total dream to work with Safdie whose body of work includes Heaven Knows What, Good Time, and most recently in 2019 Uncut Gems starring Adam Sandler.
"His way of directing is so unique and he has a way of making everyone on set feel so comfortable and like we all belong," said Gavin. "Our costume designer Heidi Bivens is also such a powerhouse, the attention to detail in her choices is unbelievable."
Since embarking on this project Safdie had his sights set on Johnson playing the role of Kerr from the get-go. Johnson confirmed that Blunt officially signed on to play the role of Kerr's wife Dawn Staples, during the 96th Academy Awards this past March. By May, Gavin had been offered the role of Emily Coleman alongside actor Ryan Bader who plays her husband and Kerr's close friend Mark.
Gavin said that by far one of the most exciting parts of this opportunity has been getting to meet everyone on set, and she is grateful for the great friendship that she has developed with her on-screen hubby through the process.
Gavin said she loves acting in all its forms including theatre, commercials, TV, or film and would love nothing more than to make acting her full-time career. For now, she is counting her lucky stars that she is fortunate enough to share the screen with some great ones. She is savouring every moment and detail of this experience as she know opportunities like this don't knock often.
"I know that the stars had to align just right in order for me to land this role, and I don鈥檛 take any of that for granted," said Gavin. "I hope that when I鈥檓 old and grey I can watch this movie and recall all of the little moments that went into landing this. My hope is that movie buffs and mixed martial arts fans alike will find The Smashing Machine to be a compelling and authentic portrayal of the sport and its athletes. I want them to appreciate the intense physical and emotional journey of the characters, and to gain a deeper understanding of the dedication and sacrifices involved in MMA.
"Ultimately, I hope the film leaves them inspired and with a newfound respect for the fighters, and their craft."
