Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
Karen Cliche, a Canadian actress best known for her captivating performances in renowned television series like Vampire High ,Adventure Inc. ,Mutant X, Young Blades, and Flash Gordon. In addition to her time starring as the lead on the previously mentioned series, she is also no stranger to the silver screen and has been seen in Saw VI, Steal, Killer Mom, I Do (But I Don’t), Turkey Drop, and more.
Single mother to a nearly 14-year-old daughter, Cliche temporarily stepped away from the spotlight to embrace motherhood. Today, she has returned to the industry, channeling her passion into supporting critical causes. She’s a dedicated advocate against sex trafficking and actively champions various women’s issues. She currently resides in Ottawa with her daughter and family.
Hi Karen welcome to OLC! We got the chance to see “Thanksgiving” at the films premiere, such a great film. How did you prepare for your role in Eli Roth’s latest film, and what drew you to the project?
I am so glad you loved it! I was so honoured to have been cast in this film, I was a fan of Eli’s and knew this would be something special and fun. I simply sent in a tape and got cast- an actor’s dream!
Having been part of popular television series like Vampire High and Adventure Inc., how does the experience of working in a film like Thanksgiving differ from your work in TV?
TV works fast, whether it is is MOW’s or Series, I was used to the fast pace. Theatrical releases take more time and you get a real chance to develop character and have more takes per scene, so I love that. It took a whole day to film the oven scene in Thanksgiving, so that was so satisfying as an actor to dive so deep into it. Then when it finally comes out, it is so exciting to see it on the big screen!
Your character in Thanksgiving finds herself at the center of a memorable Thanksgiving dinner. Can you share any challenges or memorable moments from filming that scene?
Well, that was my prosthetic head and body in the scene ( but I was there in spirit haha!) – but the filming of the stalking scene and then oven was super intense. I was bruised up, lost my voice from screaming, had dirt under my nails for days- and I loved every minute of it! The most memorable was when I was being “seasoned” on the table with course sea salt, a huge dumping of it landed in my eye as it was closed, and mixed with the olive oil… well, it was seeping into my eye and burning but I had to hold still. Then Eli says “Ok Karen, open your eyes!” To which I responded….”I CAN’T!!! LOL” We had to flush out my eye and reset.
After taking a break to embrace motherhood, what motivated you to return to the entertainment industry, and how has your perspective on acting evolved?
I was doing maybe one or two projects a year but not fully back to work when I started teaching acting at an academy here, as well as online private coaching. I absolutely loved it and sparked my passion for it again. So I called up my team and asked it they wanted to get back at it and they said yes, thank God lol. So it really was only about 2 years ago that I got back in the game, and I am so glad I did. I feel ready and more myself than ever.
As an advocate against sex trafficking, could you tell us more about your involvement in supporting this cause and other women’s issues?
I am very passionate about helping women leave abusive and toxic relationships as well. I volunteer at a women’s shelter here and have helped with fundraising, cleaning apartments, running the food bank, etc. to help start these women on their new lives, free from violence. My mom left an abusive marriage and was so brave, with no money and 2 teenage girls. So we are very lucky we got out and thrived! With sex trafficking , I am a huge advocate for ownership of one’s own body, and when these women ( girls and boys) are trafficked, they are enslaved and abused. In an ideal world, sex work should be freedom of choice and not slavery.
With a diverse portfolio including Saw VI, Mutant X, and Young Blades, how do you choose roles, and what attracts you to a particular project?
As actors we would love to choose all the roles we want! But sadly it is not up to us, and we audition and hope we get picked, basically. There are some projects you pass on for various reasons, but I have been so fortunate to play strong female characters and very physical roles. I love a challenge and definitely want more dramatic roles that push me out of my comfort zone in the future. A strong cast that is kind and fun is so important, as well as a great script- one that really affects people, makes them think. White Lotus is an example of a project I would love to be in. It has all the elements…including amazing locations!
In Thanksgiving, you join a cast featuring Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, and others. What was the collaborative experience like, and were there any memorable behind-the-scenes moments?
This cast was incredible, so fun, sweet, full of energy. I am so happy for the success of the film for the younger cast, I feel like the mom, so excited for their future. Working with Patrick for the first time was definitely a little nerve-racking! I tried to play it cool and I think I pulled it off, but inside I was a little “OMG”. But he is so great, kind and actually hilarious, that it all went away within a few minutes. Addison is super sweet and kind.
As a single mother, how do you balance your acting career with parenting responsibilities, and has it influenced your choice of roles?
I am recently separated so this is new to me, but my ex and I have a great co parenting relationship and my family is only blocks away, so as they say, it takes a village- especially in this business with the long hours and erratic schedule. It will be a juggle but my daughter is almost 14 now and I was with her pretty much 24/7 most of her life so I feel she has a nice solid foundation. She is awesome.
Thanksgiving is based on a mock-trailer from Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse. How did this unique concept impact your approach to the film, and what was it like working within the horror genre?
Because of the mock trailer I knew this already had a cult following and lots of anticipation, so you only hope you do it justice for the fans. I knew Eli would deliver but I wanted to make him proud too. I had worked on SAW 6 before so I had experienced filming these terrifying gory scenes before, but this was next level for me. I love hearing the feedback from people that say my scene was hard to watch and they felt sorry for me, despite my character not having been the most empathetic beforehand. I am looking forward to doing horror conventions next year and meeting the fans!
You’ve had significant success both in TV and film. Can you share any advice for aspiring actors, especially those looking to navigate a career in both mediums?
When I teach and coach acting, I get asked for advice and insight. I tell them to have a vision, a goal, and to not let rejection deter them. I say take all the on camera experience you can, this is best way to learn, and ideally do both TV and Film. TV has changed a lot now for the better, and I actually watch more series than I do movies. I love variety in my life, so I welcome any mediums, including hosting and producing my own cooking show last year. I just love it all!
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