Interview with Ocean Whisperer’s Frances Katz

Frances Katz is a Latina-British actress, stunt performer, fight choreographer and a water specialist. She starred in and produced Ocean Whisperer, an action short directed by Bulent Ozlarusso. She stars as Alexa Ramirez alongside Shinji Ishigaki who plays Aoki Nakamua. The short film follows Private Office Alexa Ramirez, a former Special Ops: Lioness, as she embarks on a mission to redeem herself after leaving a military career in the wake of her mentor Grayson Moore’s tragic death. Haunted by flashbacks of their bond and guided by his inner voice, Alexa must confront her past while navigating the challenges of her mission.

Ocean Whisperer was screened on our 10th Anniversary of Fighting Spirit Film Festival and was nominated for Best British Short Film and Best British Cinematography.

Describe yourself in three fictional characters.

Wonder Woman, I always admired her as a beautiful super hero but also her leadership.

Gracie Heart from Miss Congeniality

Xena Princess Warrior, my childhood hero!

Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired by people in this industry who don’t just perform, but stand for something meaningful for this world, like Angelina Jolie or Jane Fonda. And organisations like Sea Shepherd, who are out there doing the work to protect the environment. That balance of artistry and impact is something I really connect with and inspires me as a creative person.

Image Courtesy of Frances Katz

Tell us about your career journey into stunts and action choreography. How did your journey start?

I was drawn into stunts back in 2017, when I started my career as a martial artist. Before that, I was a professional dancer, and even before that, my life was always full of sports: swimming, gymnastics, outdoor running you name it. I come from a very sporty family, so being athletic was just part of who I am. Stunts felt like the perfect combination of performing and being physically active. I remember hearing about the casting for Wonder Woman, and all I wanted was to be involved, that was the entry point that got me hooked.

Action choreography came a bit later, as I began blending my martial arts and movement knowledge and taking creative risks. By that time, I had trained in China and other parts of the world, which gave me so much insight and perspective. I trusted my own capabilities and started creating choreography, initially small with friends, but soon I was collaborating with different artists, designing action that specifically blended the art of dance and movement with fight choreography.

As you have a physically demanding job in a creative field, how do you take care of your physical and mental health?

I treat my body exactly how it deserves to be treated, at the end of the day, it’s my most important asset. Being a trainer myself, I approach the physical side: rehab, strengthening, conditioning, just as I would with a client, making sure I stay consistent and intentional.

For mental health, I make it a priority to communicate openly with friends, sharing both wins and insecurities. I think having that support, and being able to process experiences with people you trust, is just as important as physical care. Balancing both allows me to perform at my best, creatively and physically.

How did you get into acting? What was your first role?

I got into acting through formal training at Laine Theatre Arts, where I focused on musical theatre as part of my diploma. After that, I spent a year training with The Impulse Company and worked with private coaches who really helped elevate my confidence and approach as an actor. I’m especially grateful to my first private coach, Sarah Jane Butler, whose guidance opened a whole new layer of performance for me.

My first acting role on a film set was with singer Anne-Marie and KSI, where I played a hero- villain type in a production that included some intense fight scenes. It was a fantastic way to combine my acting and stunt skills right from the start.

How did you meet Bulent Ozlarusso and how did Ocean Whisperer come about?

I first met Bulent Ozlarusso at the BFI Action Festival. We grabbed dinner after some viewings, started chatting, and quickly realised we had a great creative synergy. Ocean Whisperer began as a spontaneous idea to shoot a fight scene during the cold UK winter by the beach. Initially, it was just about movement, but as I kept pushing the shoot days because of snow, I realised the concept needed a deeper story in order to choreograph with real feeling. I found myself essentially choreographing for my dream role, so I decided to write a full backstory and a previs short film for the fight concept. That’s when the idea of combining action, ocean, and water stunts evolved into a story about an elite special forces operative: Alexa Ramirez.

How did you prepare for your role of Alexa Ramirez in Ocean Whisperer? I know that for the role you underwent Special Ops training with a former Marine Raider, can you talk about the different types of training you did?

My preparation for Alexa Ramirez was and still is intense and incredibly rewarding. Since 2023, I’ve been training with an amazing team in California called Deep End Fitness, which focuses on underwater training. During that time, I met a former Marine Raider, who encouraged me to take the Special Ops test, “one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done without prior experience”.

That was just the beginning. Seeing my perseverance and dedication, he brought me back for more specialized training, including water-specific military exercises and firearms tactical work. I’ve had the privilege of training alongside Rick and other members of the US Forces, which has given me a real sense of the discipline, mindset, and physical intensity required for elite operators. For me it’s about embodying the mental and physical resilience of someone in that role, and training never stops!

How did you design the fight choreography for Ocean Whisperer? How did you play to your strengths and Shinji Ishigaki’s strengths?

When designing the fight choreography for Ocean Whisperer, I was a bit tight on rehearsal time, but I drew heavily on my knowledge of Jeet Kune Do and knife work to create something dynamic and visually engaging. Fighting in the sand presented its own challenges, and with only one afternoon to film, we had to adapt and restructure a lot on the spot.

Working with Shinji Ishigaki was a real blessing. We’ve trained together for years, and he’s incredibly versatile and collaborative. He always brings fresh ideas, which makes it easy to play to both of our strengths and create choreography that feels exciting and realistic.

Image Courtesy of Frances Katz

What was the best part of filming Ocean Whisperer?

The best part of filming Ocean Whisperer was being in the water, even in the freezing cold! A lot of that footage didn’t make it into the final cut because of the low light and harsh conditions, but working in those elements gave me such an adrenaline rush. There’s something really thrilling about pushing yourself in extreme conditions.

What was the hardest part of filming Ocean Whisperer?

The hardest part of filming Ocean Whisperer was fighting in the sand and getting all the gear up the dunes in icy winds and storms. By the end, we were all a bit crazy.

What did working on Ocean Whisperer teach you?

Working on Ocean Whisperer really taught me that more time is always a blessing. Even a one-minute section of fight choreography can take almost an entire day to film, especially with landscape and environmental challenges. This project really elevated my organizational and producer skills, the more detailed and structured you are with scheduling, the smoother everything runs. Thankfully, being organized made the shoot much more manageable and successful.

What was your favourite part of the final edit?

My favourite part of the final edit was combining the real training footage with the scenes filmed in the UK. Carefully selecting the best frames and moments, and linking everything together to create a cohesive idea and the story of Alexa.

What’s the best feedback you received for Ocean Whisperer?

The best feedback I’ve received for Ocean Whisperer has been about the character and seeing a female lead taking up so much space in action scenes, especially in environments we don’t often see, like water, as a leading operative. People have also commented on how real it feels, from the physicality of the stunts to the more personal, human side of the character.

Do you have any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

I’m currently developing Ocean Whisperer as a TV show, though I’m also open to the possibility of a feature film. I’ve been in pre-development for over a year and a half, building the storyline, characters, and the pitch deck. One of my main goals is to shoot in Chile, my home country, and use its vast and diverse geography to enhance both the photography and the story.

What would you like to work on in the future?

My dream would be to work on a Steven Spielberg film, or a James Cameron production, especially because I’m fascinated by how he blends technical innovation with emotional and physical storytelling, which is something I really connect with, particularly given my background in water stunts and action choreography.

I’m also a big fan of Ryan Coogler, because of how he blends action stories with real emotional depth. I love projects that challenge me physically while also giving me the opportunity to explore character and story on a deeper level.

Image Courtesy of Frances Katz

Speed Round Questions. You have 10 Seconds to pick one film per question.

1. What was the last film you watched?

Dirty Angels - Martin Campbell

2. What is your favourite film by your favourite filmmaker?

Titanic - James Cameron

3. If someone wanted to get to know you, what film would you recommend?

Atomic Blonde & Kill Bill

4. What 2026 film are you looking forward to watching?

Dune: Part Two

5. Which cinematic universe would you like to live in?

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Keep Up To Date with Frances Katz:

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Submissions for Fighting Spirit Film Festival 2026 are open. We accept both short and feature length martial arts/action films. To submit your film or for more information, head over to our filmfreeway.