Exclusive Interview with Sister Duo Taking Over Genre Films, Madeleine and Violet McGraw

Madeleine and Violet McGraw, two of Hollywood’s brightest young stars, are set to captivate audiences in the upcoming supernatural thriller “Curse of the Necklace” in theaters, which they also Executive Produced. Set in the 1960s, the film follows sisters Judy and Ellen Davis, played by Madeleine and Violet, as they face a terrifying curse unleashed by an antique necklace given to their mother by their estranged father. Madeleine takes on the role of Judy, a 16-year-old with a fierce determination to protect her family, while Violet plays Ellen, her 11-year-old sister who must navigate the chilling supernatural forces alongside her.

Madeleine McGraw has quickly risen in Hollywood, known for her roles in Warner Bros’ “American Sniper” and Blumhouse’s “The Black Phone,” where she starred alongside Ethan Hawke. She will reprise her role in “The Black Phone” sequel in 2025. Madeleine has also been a standout in TV series like Disney Channel’s “Secrets of Sulphur Springs” and Cinemax’s “Outcast.” Beyond live-action, she has voiced Bonnie in Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” and appeared in major franchises such as Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”

At just 13, Violet McGraw is already a seasoned talent with roles in Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House” and the 2022 Blumhouse hit “M3GAN,” where she will reprise her role in the sequel. She played Young Yelena Belova in Marvel’s “Black Widow” and starred alongside Casey Affleck in “Our Friend.” Violet continues to build her career with diverse roles in projects like HBO Max’s “A Christmas Mystery” and Cinemax’s “Jett.”

1. Madeleine welcome back to OLC! And Violet we’re so happy to have you here for your first time at OLC! So the “Curse of the Necklace” is set in the 1960s and follows two sisters facing a terrifying curse. How did you both prepare to bring Judy and Ellen Davis to life in such a unique time period and storyline? 

Madeleine: Thank you so much for having me back by the way.  So fun to talk to you again. 

Violet: Yes.  Thank you for having me.

Madeleine: As far as preparation for me, I had conversations with JP, our amazing director, about teens during that time. He created a playlist for Judith and I would add to it as we went along. JP also sent me clips of teens from that time. It was very interesting to see how teens were back in the early 60’s. They were more proper with the way they were with their speech. I tried to incorporate some of that into who Judith was and still find sides of her that teens today could relate to. 

Violet: I also had conversations with JP. The clothes also made me feel so much more connected to that time. Elizabeth Jett, who has been the customer on every ESX project I have done, is so amazing. She makes every project unique. I love her so much. 

2. You both also executive produced the film. What inspired you to take on this role behind the scenes, and how did it shape your experience on set? 

Madeleine: I have been wanting to explore more behind the camera roles for a while now. One of my biggest mentors and role models is Megan Park. She started as an actress and now she writes and directs. Her latest movie, My Old Ass, is literally my favorite movie right now. I met her when I was six when she cast me in her directorial and writing debut for a short she did called Lucy in My Eyes. She has always championed me to be more and have bigger goals. Taking on the producing side definitely added a lot of pressure and more responsibility, but I actually liked it.  It was definitely more scary to have things fall more on your shoulders, but having someone like Christina Moore to call and ask questions to or lean on for support is literally everything.  I felt like I noticed things on and off set that I normally wouldn’t notice before. Like every little detail.  I am also a very happy and positive person by nature, but I made it a point (even on days I had emotional or intense scenes) to always show up to set relaxed and filled with love because I feel like people pick up on energy whether good or bad and if you want a positive set environment, you have to lead it that way.  

Violet: Like Maddy said, it’s something we have been talking about for a while.  Being 13, I wasn’t sure if I could handle the extra responsibilities, but having my sister by my side and the amazing team at ESX Productions, it was actually such a fun and interesting process.  I learned so much.  Then going from The Curse of the Necklace to M3GAN 2.0 and watching a girl boss like Alison Williams act and produce has definitely inspired me to keep going and learning.  

3. Madeleine, your character Judy is fiercely determined to protect her family. How did you tap into that sense of strength and leadership in such a suspenseful, supernatural setting?

Madeleine: In my personal life, my family and close friends are everything to me and even though I am technically a thirdborn, I have always felt like a firstborn. I would do anything to protect my family and friends so finding that strength and leadership side was definitely easier to tap into. 

4. Violet, Ellen is younger and must face these supernatural forces alongside her sister. What were some of the biggest challenges in portraying Ellen’s vulnerability and bravery at the same time? 

Violet: I think having Maddy on set made both my vulnerability and bravery easier to play. I never wanted to let her or JP (our director) down and made sure I was always emotionally available. The bravery part was fun to play because I got to kind of take on a leadership role and that felt good being the youngest in my actual family. 

5. As sisters in real life, did that influence your performances in portraying the close sibling bond between Judy and Ellen on screen?

Madeleine: I would say yes. Absolutely. It was really hard to see Violet get emotional as it made my sisterly side kicked in and I wanted to protect her and take care of her. Violet is incredibly talented and would draw me in so easily that I would forget I was acting and would become so emotionally invested that it was almost hard to separate reality from fiction. 

Violet: oh 100 percent. Maddy is my very best friend in real life. We are so close. There is no way that didn’t impact our performances on screen. It was much harder to act like we didn’t like each other or fight on screen because that’s just not something we do normally. 

6. Was there a particular scene in “Curse of the Necklace” that was especially memorable or challenging to film for either of you?

Madeleine: I loved my scene with Christina and the blood.  I was looking forward to that scene from day one.  I also loved the levitation scene. I have wanted to do something like that since I started doing anything in the horror genre.  

Violet: I also loved the blood scene, even though I couldn’t see at one point. (Laughs) I loved the scenes between me and Maddy, especially the end scene when we are both inhabited by other spirits. 

7. This film dives deep into supernatural horror. Are either of you fans of the horror genre? If so, what do you enjoy most about it? 

Madeleine: I am a huge fan of the horror genre.  I appreciate it more and more the older I get.  I just rewatched the first Scream the other night and man, that movie is just so good.  I think horror movies sometimes get a bad rap when really they are some of the most magical stories to be told. Maggie Levin (another amazing filmmaker) wrote this great post on her Instagram regarding genre and horror films.  You should read it. She touches on why horror and genre films are some of the most enduring throughout history.  

Violet: Horror is probably my favorite.  I love the scared feeling. There is just nothing like a really well-done scary movie. It’s probably why I like roller coasters and stuff. I also feel like horror movies are the most open to children leading these films.  I love that I have had the opportunity to make great horror projects like The Haunting of Hill House, which took such a chance on two little 6-year-olds like me and Julian.  It’s hard to find other genres that are so willing to trust kids to be such a prevalent part of the process.

8. “Curse of the Necklace” is set in the 1960s. How did the historical backdrop influence the way you approached your characters? 

Madeleine: One of the things I found interesting in that time frame, was that women didn’t leave their husbands as much.  Even if the situation was abusive or if they were unhappy.  Women were just expected to stay and take it.  So the fact that our mother, played by the incredible Sarah Lind, was going against societal norms back then is something to be praised. I feel although Judith knew what her mother was doing was right by leaving her dad, it was still so confusing for her and she was so torn and was acting out.  

Violet: I feel Ellen was too young to really grasp what was going on and just wanted her family to be together.  She couldn’t understand the harder choice (for that period of time) her mom was making in hopes to set a better example for her girls, instead, Ellen just felt sad and alone.  

9. You’ve both been part of major Hollywood franchises—Madeleine with “The Black Phone” and Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” and Violet with “M3GAN” and “Black Widow.” How did working on those projects differ from working on an independent film like “Curse of the Necklace”?

Madeleine: I always forget we were both in a Marvel movie as well as Blumhouse/Universal movies.  That’s actually really cool when you think about it.  I think working on big tent pole films and then working on smaller more independent films, is just a mindset.  I am always just so grateful to be there and getting to do what I love.  I have always been very blessed with an amazing cast and crew.  Maybe the only difference is catering.  (Laughs) but trust me, I never go hungry on any set I am on. 

Violet: hmmm…I think the biggest difference might be where you stay, living-wise.  Marvel has definitely spoiled me.  I was in London for quite a while filming Black Widow and they put me right next to Kensington Palace.  I could see Kensington Gardens from my window.  It was pretty magical.  But really it all comes down to the people you work with.  A low-budget independent film can feel like a multi-million dollar movie when you are surrounded by incredible people.  

10. Madeleine, you’ve been praised for your emotional depth, especially in roles like Gwen in “The Black Phone.” How do you prepare for scenes that require such intense emotions?

Madeleine: When it comes to acting, I really try to make sure I am completely emotionally available and super open, so I can experience what the character is experiencing in the moment.  I don’t like to plan too much.  Research is one thing, but planning out how you are going to react seems like it would come across as ingenious.  The best part about acting is feeling in the moment.  

11. Violet, in “M3GAN” you portrayed Cady, a character dealing with grief and forming an unusual bond. How did you transition from that role to Ellen, who faces a completely different set of challenges? 

Violet: In M3GAN, thinking about losing my whole family in one freak moment made it easy for me to tap into the grief part.  It makes me sad right now just to think about that. I love having so many siblings and the thought of them not being around hurts in a different place.  Forming a bond with M3GAN was interesting at first.  She was kind of creepy when I first saw her.  But after a while, we became “friends” (laughs) I would talk to the doll a lot in between takes.  It made our relationship feel much more real that way.  Then when Amy Donald would step in to do the movements, I swear it felt like M3GAN was totally real.  It was really cool. I actually missed M3GAN when I wrapped on the first movie.  

With Ellen, she was also so vulnerable because her family was splitting up.  She feels like she is losing her dad and her sister.  So tapping into that sadness wasn’t too hard of a transition.  Being the younger sibling in the 

12. Both of you are still very young but already have impressive careers. How do you balance the demands of acting with your personal lives and education? 

Madeleine: I have to say, homeschooling has made balancing things much easier.  When we did in person schooling, it was a lot tougher.  It added an extra layer of stress that didn’t feel great.  I am also on a club soccer team, so trying to manage school, competitive soccer and acting can be overwhelming at times.  My parents are really good at helping us keep things in perspective.  Prioritizing is the key and then making sure you have the right support is super helpful. 

Violet: I started homeschooling after the second grade, and honestly, I am so grateful.  It really helps in keeping your stress levels down.  I also struggle with dyslexia and homeschooling has been so helpful in identifying it and being able to get the right support when I need it.  I used to hate math and now I have this amazing tutor and I actually look forward to doing math now.  It’s crazy.  I also play club soccer and with homeschooling, I am able to get all my work done, learn lines, and still make it to practice during the week most of the time.  Sometimes I have auditions or events, but my coach is super understanding, thank goodness.

13. What was it like working together as sisters on set? Did you give each other advice or feedback during filming?

Violet: Working together was really amazing.  It has been our dream for a long time to work together. So, we were so glad it finally happened. It was so cool to finally watch Maddy in action and she would always give me great advice and help me become a better actor. 

Madeleine: It was such a goal to work together.  I loved having Violet there every day and being able to run lines with her every night.  I am kind of obsessive with running lines.  We definitely gave each other advice. What really struck me was how committed Violet is to a scene.  There was a scene where Violet gets hurt and I swear it all seemed so real.  I wasn’t required to cry, but I literally couldn’t help myself. I wanted to protect her so badly.  

14. As executive producers, what insights did you gain about the filmmaking process that surprised you or that you hadn’t experienced as actors? 

Madeleine: Being an executive producer and getting to see the other side of making a movie has been incredibly eye-opening.  I am definitely grateful we were surrounded by such seasoned vets who were so willing to help us and include us each and every step of the way.  Things I learned were 1. that money is important.  The more you have of it, the better.  2. Time is also nice.  I still can’t believe we filmed this in 17 days with about two months of post.  With more money, you get more time. I also learned that things don’t just appear.  Everything on set is there for a purpose and there were lots of meetings about that specific thing, otherwise, it wouldn’t have made its way to set.  There were so many meetings about everything. One day we had a meeting where you go through the whole script with every department head and go through everything we may need. It was a really long meeting. But in the end, If you put the right people in place, things go very smoothly, no matter the budget and time restraints. 

Violet: I feel the same as Maddy about how we got to see the entire other side of making a movie and how grateful I am to have been with the ESX production team who have so much experience. I would add a few things. Like Maddy said, money and the budget were so important. We got to see how you have to be creative to get a scene shot in a different way than you planned because the budget didn’t have room for the original layout of a scene. Also, Maddy and I always come prepared and ready to work, but we were also very aware that as producers we had to set an example in the way we came to work each day. On the fun side, there is a scene where I am covered in blood in the movie and I straight up asked if we could do the scene again with even more blood. I think I was more comfortable to ask that question because we were producers.

15. If you could describe “Curse of the Necklace” in one word, what would it be and why?

Madeleine: crazy. Because some crazy things happen. 

Violet: family.  Because love is at the core. 

16. Madeleine, you’re set to reprise your role in “The Black Phone” sequel. What can fans expect from the next chapter, and how does it feel to return to that character? 

I really can’t say anything, but I think fans are going to really enjoy it, at least I hope so. I know I am so excited to play her again and am so grateful to be back.

17. Violet, you’ll also be returning to your role in the “M3GAN” sequel. How do you hope Cady’s journey will evolve, and what are you most excited about for the sequel?

I just wrapped M3GAN 2.0 in mid-September, and although I can’t say much, just know that I had a blast!!! I think people are going to love it!

Ladies Thank you so much for your time and we hope you’ll stop by again 

Madeleine McGraw

https://www.instagram.com/madeleinemcgraw/?hl=en

Violet McGraw

https://www.instagram.com/violetmcgraw/?hl=en

Email:neill@outloudculture.com
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