Sophia Eleni: Horror, History, and Her Breakout Year

From dramatic births in Call the Midwife to being hunted in caves in her latest horror film, Sophia Eleni is proving she’s one of the most versatile young British-Cypriot actresses working today.

Fresh from her starring role in indie video game Cairn — winner of the 2025 Tribeca Games Award — Eleni is now preparing for the release of not one, but two horror films: Bone Keeper, opposite John Rhys-Davies, and As Night Falls, alongside Jack Parr and Mundey Young.

Speaking to Live London Post, Eleni shared what drew her to the horror genre, her most memorable moments on set, and what fans can expect next.

You play Nadia in Bone Keeper, a creature horror with a cave expedition twist. How exciting was that?

“It’s amazing! Working with John Rhys-Davies was a blast – he’s full of wild stories and knows everything about geology, which was perfect for this film. There’s lots of buzz already about Bone Keeper, with a headline release in Variety, and the film went to Cannes this month. I play Nadia – she’s feisty, driven and determined to be the first to discover what’s really hiding in those caves. She’s conflicted between helping her friends, and chasing glory and fulfilling her ambitions. I loved leaning into her tough, tomboy energy – even if I had to fake being good at rock climbing! I seem to get cast a lot in these action-horror type films, which is funny considering I’m not exactly Bear Grylls.”

Was filming as tough as it looked?

“We were filming in wild, rugged landscapes – climbing through caves, crawling and slipping in mud… Halfway through shooting a lot of us got sick, which was intense but also kind of perfect – it mirrored the suffering and resilience of our characters. I love horror because it’s such a rich genre for actors. You get to explore every facet of human nature. Bone Keeper really captures that in a raw and thrilling way.”

You’ve had some memorable roles on British TV. What stands out most?

“In season 10 of Call The Midwife, I played Maria Kaufopolous – a feisty Cypriot woman who goes into labour on Christmas Day. She was such a fun character, with sharp one-liners and zero patience for her useless husband! It was fun making the character my own and bringing my own humour into it, and working alongside Jenny Agutter was a real honour.

I also had a nice gig on Casualty – I’d just passed my driving test and in the episode I had to film a full-blown car crash scene!”

What can you tell us about Cairn?

“Cairn was a really special project for me. I voice and physically perform Aava, a driven mountaineer. The game just won the 2025 Tribeca Games Award, which was incredible. It’s been amazing to see the response — people have really connected with the character and the story.”

You’ve mentioned a big upcoming game project as well.

“Next up, I’m incredibly excited about an ‘AAA’ video game I’ve been working on with Frictional Games, where I play the leading role. It’s been months of intense voice and performance capture work, and I can’t wait for its release – it’s going to be a biggie!”

And As Night Falls premieres soon too?

“We’re premiering in Leicester Square this year, and I play the lead, Jane – who becomes the real emotional anchor of the story. It’s a tense, psychological horror set in an industrial estate, where a group of survivors are hunted by a dark entity that mimics people’s appearances, slowly fracturing their sanity and trust in each other. I’ve always been drawn to characters who feel resilient, complex and full of humanity, and I’m excited to keep telling stories that challenge and connect with audiences.”

Bone Keeper is expected in UK cinemas this autumn, with As Night Falls following later this year.