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Olivia O’Neill is a young actor who made her debut on the big screen in the part of Katherine, one of the two girls possessed in the Blumhouse/Universal Pictures reboot of the Exorcist series, The Exorcist: Believer.
1. Olivia, welcome to OLC! Congratulations on landing the lead role in the sequel to “The Exorcist”, called The Exorcist: Believer. I got the chance to catch this at the premiere thanks to Universal Pictures and I have to say I loved it. Can you share with us how you felt when you first learned you got the part?
Thank you!! I’m so excited to be here. Starting from the beginning, finding out I got the part was such a blur, but I’ll never forget the feeling of that. I combination of feeling overwhelmed and relieved. With this being my first film, I felt so accomplished, but I knew there was a steep road ahead.
2. “The Exorcist” is a legendary horror franchise. What can fans expect from this new installment, and how does your character, Katherine, fit into the story?
The Exorcist is such a cult classic and I love that this installment introduces some of the younger generations to such an iconic film. I think this film has its differences from a lot of modern day horror movies. It’s not focusing on the jump scares and intense gore. There’s lots of heart behind it. I like to say it’s a story about the power of community, that just happens to have this horrifying factor driving it. The story follows the families of Katherine and her friend Angela and how they deal with this tragedy.
3. Working with renowned actors like Leslie Odom Jr. and Ellen Burstyn must have been an incredible experience. Can you tell us about any memorable moments on set with the cast and what did you learn from them?
Oh, it was the coolest. I remember my first time meeting Ellen so well. She took me by the hands and gave me the biggest hug. It was so indulging to watch her work and see the way she goes about her craft. She’s such an inspiration to me.
4. This film is part of a new trilogy. What can you reveal about the direction this trilogy will take the story of “The Exorcist”?
I wish I knew! The studios keep such a tight wrap on this sort of thing. When auditioning, I didn’t even know it was for The Exorcist. I’m looking forward to seeing what direction this story ends up going.
5. “The Exorcist” has a rich history and is considered a classic in the horror genre. How did you prepare for your role and honor the legacy of the original film?
Well, I made sure to watch the original a few times so I could pay specific attention to the details. I also binged out on videos and documentaries about the making of the original Exorcist movie. It was also important to me to research actual possessions, to see how horrifying and overtaking those can really be. Long story short, my search history was odd for a good few months there.
6. What was it like collaborating with director David Gordon Green on this project, especially considering his success with the recent “Halloween” trilogy?
Getting to work with David Gordon Green was such an honor. He is such a collaborative director and really allowed the cast and I to be a part of so many important discussions. Many times he would give me a general idea of what he wanted to see in the scene we were filming and then let me go with my instincts. David is amazing.
7. Horror films often require intense and emotional performances. How did you approach the challenging aspects of your role in terms of the horror elements?
David and the producers were very protective of the well-being of everyone while filming. That being said, the really intense scenes were shot over various different days and broken up into sections to help with the intensity. Mental breaks to recoup were an important part of my process during the rigorous days of shooting. It was the best to have my costar, Lidya, on set with me. We were literally attached at the hip and having her there always kept everything so lighthearted.
8. You have a background in musical theater, having played Matilda in “Matilda The Musical.” How does your experience in theater influence your approach to acting in a horror film like “The Exorcist”?
I think my theater training was really valuable in helping me to learn how to break down a script and develop my character. When you do theater, you have to know everything like the back of your hand to go out that night and give it everything you’ve got for one performance. Although in film you can reshoot things as many times as you need, my theater training helped me to get to that level of intensity needed from the minute that David said action.
9. With the film’s release, what are you most excited about, and what do you hope audiences take away from your performance?
It’s been so great already hearing people come up to me and tell me how much the movie meant to them. That’s really all you can ask for as a creative. I hope that this film allows people to walk away being moved by what they just felt a part of.
10. “The Exorcist” is known for its impact on the horror genre. What do you believe sets this new installment apart from other horror films released in recent years?
As I mentioned earlier, this film doesn’t focus on the horror of it all. It has such a heart behind it and the horrifying acts just promote this. It really makes this movie something for lovers of all genres.
11. Lastly, could you share any upcoming projects or goals you have in your career?
I’d love to play around in other genres! I like to stay on my toes and challenge myself into gray areas. We’ll see what’s to come.
***This Interview Was Conducted Prior To The Strike***
