From Debut Filmmaker to Creative Advocate: Daisy Aitkens on Her Journey and Motherhood

Since launching VAAI, it has always been the vision of creative director Hetal to document the real-life diaries of professional women.

When Daisy Aitkens and VAAI creative director Hetal met through mutual connections, they hit it off immediately due to their shared creative entrepreneurial journeys and their experiences as mothers who faced early labor and the challenges of raising premature babies. Hetal was delighted when Daisy agreed to be part of the real-women diary series.

We asked Daisy what motivates her work and how the birth of her premature daughter inspired her to become an ambassador for the leading charity for premature babies—Baby Lifeline.

What inspires you?
Watching actors say lines I’ve written is an incredible pleasure. That’s the aim I’m always working towards. Directing feels like an extension of that—collaborating with actors on how a line can be delivered or understood. When I write, I strive to make everything true to the characters. It’s fun to explore my thoughts through them. The song is right: “Nice work if you can get it!”

Work as Ambassador
Baby Lifeline is a charity that provides education, training, and research to help babies who are born small or unwell. I first worked with Baby Lifeline while exploring early pregnancies in a film I wrote and directed. At the time, I had no children and didn’t feel it was right to tackle this topic without involving a charity with direct experience. Then, a year later, I went into early labor myself and spent time in NICU wards, gaining firsthand insight into the training, expertise, equipment, and skills needed to save babies' lives and help them thrive. Since then, I’ve gotten to know the founder, Judy Ledger, very well and have done what I can to raise awareness of the charity and its amazing work.

What’s next?
I’ve written an adaptation of a Sophia Money-Coutts novel that I’m really looking forward to directing. It was great working with Sophia to reimagine her book for the screen. I also have a couple of TV projects in development, including one I’m writing with Georgia Tennant about her time playing adult netball. It’s gloriously funny, and we can’t wait to make it!

Follow Daisy on IG @daisy_aitkens, X on DaisyAitkens