Kat Harlton
Photos: Provided via PR Team / Artist
Actress, model and competitive cheerleader Noa DiBerto stars as Rachel in the highly acclaimed cheerleader feature film Backspot produced by Elliot Page, which stars Devery Jacobs and Evan Rachel Wood. The film made its anticipated theatrical release on May 31st.
Noa’s character Rachel is a spirited cheerleader with a background in gymnastics. She navigates the competitive cheer world alongside friends Riley and Amanda, showcasing athleticism and resilience. Despite her sunny disposition, Rachel’s struggles highlight the hidden burdens of seemingly happy individuals. Through Rachel’s journey, the film explores themes of friendship, mental health, and passion, making her a relatable and captivating character audiences will root for.
The feature which made its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival tells the story of young queer cheerleader Riley, who is the formidable backspot on her mid-level cheerleading squad until professional coach Eileen McNamara gives her an opportunity to join the Thunderhawks, a high performance All Star team. Desperate to be heard and appreciated, Riley will do anything to ingratiate herself to her new coach.
I had the opportunity to chat with Noa about her role, what fans can expect and more.
Kat: You star as Rachel in the highly acclaimed cheerleader feature film Backspot produced by Elliot Page, which made its theatrical release on May 31st. How did you prepare for your role? Did you find any similarities between yourself and your character?
Noa: I prepared by ensuring my lines were memorized perfectly and took time to understand my director’s ( D.W Waterson ) vision. For the physical scenes, I did all of my own stunts and prepared for those scenes the same way I prepared for gymnastics or cheerleading competitions. I ensured my body was warmed up, ate well, and had fun with it. I enjoy tumbling so much, and considering I am on a level 7 coed cheerleading team, I channeled that and gave this film my all. I am VERY similar to my character, Rachel, which made pursuing this role even more enjoyable. Like Rachel, I’ve been involved in gymnastics and cheerleading from a young age, which has instilled a sense of resilience and determination. This background helped me convey Rachel’s character authentically, highlighting the challenges athletes face and the dedication required in sports. Performing my own stunts in the film, especially tumbling, was a fun experience that allowed me to bring my passion for gymnastics and cheerleading to the screen.
My character, Rachel, is comical and uplifting, traits I naturally resonate with. I love making people laugh and being there for my friends like Rachel does. The film portrays her as a spirited cheerleader navigating the competitive cheer world, which mirrors my experiences in cheerleading and gymnastics. Rachel’s journey, with its ups and downs, showcases the complexity of human nature and the importance of reaching out for support—an aspect I admire deeply. The positive feedback from my castmates and respected actors reassured me that my portrayal was genuine and impactful. Overall, Rachel’s strength, comedic timing, resilience, and vulnerability reflect my own experiences and values, making her a character I deeply relate to and am proud to portray.
Kat: What can fans expect from your character in Backspot?
Noa: It’s been such a joy to embody Rachel in the film, bringing her positive energy and comic relief as she navigates the competitive cheer world alongside Riley and Amanda, showcasing athleticism and resilience. Audiences will definitely get a good laugh and rise from my character and enjoy my scenes with friends. My character goes through a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the film, and audiences can surely relate and learn from her experiences. I can’t wait for people to see how she expresses, or sometimes holds back, her feelings and what she shares about her inner struggles.
What I admire most about Rachel is how she reveals the complexity of human nature, showing that it’s perfectly okay not to always be cheerful. My character highlights the importance of reaching out for support when needed, even though she’s seen as the upbeat, happy friend. The movie beautifully captures this aspect through Rachel’s journey, and I’m thrilled for audiences to connect with Rachel and find resonance in her story. What makes Rachel such a relatable and compelling character is her incredible journey filled with ups and downs. One moment, she’s the bubbliest cheerleader, lifting everyone’s spirits with her infectious energy and humor. But then, she faces intense challenges within the sport, pushing her to her limits in silence. Portraying Rachel allowed me to explore many emotions, from joyous to agonizing lows. It truly reflects real life and our challenges when pursuing our dreams.
Kat: How did the competitive cheerleading in the film compare to real life?
Noa: Overall, the on-screen cheerleading versus real-life cheerleading was portrayed very similarly and showcased the realities of cheerleading. Drawing from all my past competitions in both gymnastics and cheerleading, I aimed to convey my character’s determination and the challenges athletes face, breaking stereotypes around cheerleading. Preparing for this role, especially the physical scenes, mirrored my real-life routine. Ensuring proper nutrition, hydration, stretching, and warm-ups was essential. I practiced stunts before filming, similar to my pre-competition routine. To capture the reality of resilience in being a competitive cheerleader, I reflected on my experiences with competitions. Especially last year at nationals, our cheerleading team unfortunately had a couple of falls, but that did not allow us to be down on ourselves. The next day, we performed again, and we had no falls. I took all of this and thought about it deeply before filming the scenes to capture the reality of sports by using my own experience so that it would be portrayed on the screen well.
The main difference was how much more enjoyable cheerleading in a movie was versus everyday practices. Both are so different, but since acting is my passion, I got a rush of adrenaline every day I was on set, especially when filming physical scenes. Therefore, the difference between practicing for my level 7 coed team and this movie is that I was overjoyed to be doing cheerleading and acting simultaneously. Filming for Backspot also differed in how the Thunderhawks are an all-girl team. This showed how strong and capable women are, and it was a similar but different experience. The all girl team was super talented, and it was impressive how fast we all connected and got so much work done in such a short amount of time.
Kat: Was there anything about your role that was particularly challenging?
Noa: The final cheerleading full-out routine was the most challenging scene because we had to work the cameraman into the routine and ensure that everyone was safe and worked around the cameraman despite the flipping and numerous people. This scene was also done all in one take, so we had to do it perfectly, and if not, we had to restart. This scene was a challenge, but in a great way. We all came together, and the outcome turned out to be amazing after a lot of hard work!
Kat: What were some of your favorite scenes to shoot and why?
Noa: One of my favorite scenes is an emotional and painful scene with Evan Rachel Wood. Despite having the privilege of working with her as it is, we’ve had many scenes together throughout the film. It is exciting to watch our characters develop, and our relationships develop together. In this scene, my character is in immense pain, and I had to get into the character and portray this discomfort. It was also a scene that demonstrated the hardships of sports and cheerleading, which I loved because I first hand experienced those hardships daily at cheerleading practice. I’m so grateful that there is now a movie that showcases these struggles and diminishes stereotypes. After this scene, my Director, DW Waterson, told me that it was a one-hit wonder and we would not need to do it again because it was perfect. This added another layer of memorability for me because I was surrounded by so many talented actors like Wendy Crewson, Devery Jacobs and Evan Rachel Wood, and considering I am a newer actor compared to them, hearing that I’m doing a good job and that I did this powerful and difficult scene in one take was such an accomplishment for me. Another amazing scene is the sleepover scenes, where I got to incorporate some improvisation, and it actually made it into the final movie! Those scenes were so funny and enjoyable to film, and it really felt like best friends hanging out. I loved every second of it!
Kat: Is there a type of character that you’d like to portray, that you haven’t had the chance to yet?
Noa: One type of role that particularly intrigues me and that I’ve yet to explore is that of a character in a horror/thriller movie. Landing a role in a movie like “RUN,” written by Aneesh Chaganty, or “Don’t Worry Darling,” written by Katie Silberman, is a dream of mine. Horror and thriller films are my favorite genre because of their mind-twisting and immersive nature. I’m fascinated by the psychological complexities of characters in these films and the intense emotional buildup they often entail. Playing a character in a horror movie would allow me to challenge myself and delve into the depths of fear, suspense, and psychological turmoil. Having the opportunity to keep audiences guessing and to portray a character whose journey elicits a visceral response from viewers. Also, I would love to be a regular on a TV series. My goals are Outer Banks, Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Euphoria, or Friends. The show Friends is obviously finished now. However, I admire how close the cast got and how long they were filming for because that makes you feel like a family, and I love the amount of time and dedication that went into filming that show. Being part of a similar ongoing series with the same camaraderie would be a dream. I’m drawn to these shows for their realistic portrayal of teenage life and their captivating genres. Working alongside actors my age and growing with them throughout seasons would fulfill my acting aspirations and lead to meaningful friendships. Fingers Crossed!!!
Kat: Do you have anything else planned for 2024 that you can share?
Noa: I’m excited to keep exploring acting, modeling, and staying connected to sports, fitness, and health. I aim to inspire others, especially young girls and women, by promoting strength and well-being through my platforms. I’m honored to be in the top 5 running to be the next Ms. Health and Fitness Cover shoot for the Muscle and Fitness HERS magazine! This opportunity resonates deeply with my health and fitness values and is something I am proud to be a part of! I have also partnered with Natasha Nastova Photography and Le Désir Magazine and will be featured in the January Edition. Additionally, I will be featured in 6X Magazine Fashion and Beauty Volume 262 from the same photoshoot! Moving into 2024, I wish to land a role in a TV show and keep exploring fitness modeling. I have experience in fitness modeling, but I would love to dive into more partnerships in modeling as well!
Connect With Noa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noa.diberto