Celebrity Spotlight: Carly Pope

Tell me about your current project.

“Demonic” is a lo-fi high-tech small budget big concept sci-fi super-horror hybrid film from Neill Blomkamp. Makes sense?! It’s the story of a woman who, having been estranged from her mother and her mother’s dark past, has to confront it all when she’s asked to participate in an experimental procedure to help draw out the truth.

What attracted you to the role?

I always look to the nucleus of a film, and in the case of “Demonic”, that’s really about forgiveness. Healing the wounds- or sins- of the past. The concept of the parent/child dynamic being fraught and potentially too far gone, at my age, is a really intense landscape to navigate. What do you do if you don’t have much time? What if it’s too late? What have you always needed to ask or understand from your parent in order to evolve that relationship? “Carly” has been alienated from her mother for so long that re-integrating back into any form of life with her is terrifying, in and of itself. The horror of that (hopefully) sets the tone for the rest. “Carly” is also very much out of place in this world- what’s cool about that is that the audience gets to experience it at the same time that she does. If I’ve done my job, even half-right, I’m hoping it’s as real-time immersive as it was when I first read the script.

What were some challenges to playing the role?

I think my biggest intimidation going in was that I’d never really done horror before. I worried that I’d neither have the stamina nor the (emotional) well to pull from. On the other hand, having worked with Neill before and, therefore, much of our crew allowed for a really comfortable and accessible environment to just trust and play. Terry Chen and Kandyse McClure are 2 of my great mates, so working with them was like having an ever-present talisman. Neill, Michael Rogers, and I had done a short together previously, and Neill had worked with Nathalie (Boltt) and Chris (William Martin), too. So really, it was one big reunion, and everybody was just cool and already had a helpful shorthand. It really salves, especially when the stakes are high, to just start from a place of ease.

In what ways do you relate to the character?

I resonated with “Carly’s” isolation and withdrawal, living with PTSD myself. To be honest, this probably should have been mentioned in the previous answer but, my fear was that this character would activate or trigger (or conflate) my own trauma response. But I find that space really interesting to mine. Exposure therapy is a real thing! “Carly” works so hard to suppress access to those feelings, and, for me, I’ve worked hard and long to confront them. So, I guess, we’re an opposite, yin yang, of one another. Maybe even symbiotic. I’ve also been known to have bad dreams. But I digress.

What do you hope people enjoy about this project?

It came about just before the pandemic took hold as a down and dirty minimal cast and minimal location opportunity. As experimental as its inception was, I really hope people see it as another addition to Neill’s cannon of purposeful art. I barrack for Neill always and forever. He has a point of view, a hunger to create, the gumption to take big swings, and he just loves making film. I respect that. I hope others do too.

What else are you working on?

I’ve just finished a role in Jo Koy’s upcoming Amblin comedy loosely based on his experiences as a Filipino- American called “Easter Sunday.” It was such fun switching gears to comedy. Of Broken Lizard fame, Jay Chandrasekhar was at the helm, and it was an utter blast to shoot. This is the type of film that I’d be really excited to see, so it’s always a yummy bonus to be a part of a project like that.

Tell me a fun fact about yourself.

I find crafting, puzzling, word games super relaxing. Like, genuinely hypnotic. Like, I start and end my day with something of that ilk. Like, I become very very quiet. On the crafting front, my first boyfriend, actually, taught me how to crochet- he was incredible at it- but I’ve since forgotten, so I’m aiming to re-learn. Currently working on a reusable market bag- it’s for sure going to look more like a sock for a tree stump- but I’m trying to stretch. I could whip you up some mean dish rags, though, meanwhile!

What are you watching on TV these days?

I’ve just binged both seasons of “This Way Up.” Aisling Bea is glory. This show is glorious. Everyone is- across the board- fantastic, and Miss Bea has created a stark and compassionate account of struggling, stumbling, and persevering with so much humor and hope along the way. It’s “grand.” My huz is super into the Olympics…but I’m sleeping on them. I am catching up on “P-Valley,” instead, which tickles all my buttons. I’m only on ep 3, but I’m so hooked. Uncle Clifford is a phenomenal character, Nicco Annan is bewitching on every level. And all of the athleticism in the show from every single one of the actors IS, in fact, Olympian.

Anything else you want to share?

I appreciate you having me on. You can’t see me, but I’m dancing my sweatiest grapevine as an offering!