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Interview:
KR: So Blythe,
are you a fan of the horror genre?
To be completely honest, I’m actually somewhat new to the
horror scene. Like everyone else, I appreciate a good scare
now and then…the occasional psychological warfare to keep my
brain in check. Nevertheless if you played a simple game of
horror trivia with me, I would make a miserable fool out of
myself. But I do know one thing. The “stuff” horror films
are made of is happening around us everyday. Just turn on
the news. Just open the paper. Look at the Jon Bennett
Ramseys of the world. It’s truly frightening.
And that’s what originally attracted me to The Girl Next
Door. There was a real Meg in 1965. She experienced those
things in the book, only a hundred times worse. Her name was
Sylvia Marie Likens. This film doesn’t water any of her
experiences down. It’s like a car accident happening right
before your eyes. You can’t help but watch The Girl Next
Door. It will strike you to the core, shock your senses, and
compel you to react. I did this film because I think it
could make an important statement; show the “horrors” that
humans are capable of committing. Me? I guess I’m just
interested in the horror of life.
KR: How did you land the role of Meg?
I call Los Angeles my home now, but I was in town for a week
for my grandfather’s funeral. My agent asked me if I wanted
to take an audition the day before my family left for the
burial in Ohio and, to clear my head and divert my thoughts
from what lay ahead, I decide to retreat to Manhattan. Well
I went to the audition and, as fate would have it, I booked
the part. A happy moment in the saddest of times.
KR: Can you talk about playing the role and what
challenges arose?
Playing Meg was a challenge, in that I was asked to visit
the “basement” of my being everyday…deep, dark and dripping
with vulnerability. Having to imagine and experience some of
the most ghastly crimes you could commit against an
individual was a daunting undertaking. And how did I make it
through two weeks in the basement? I owe it to a healthy and
supportive family, a professional and sensitive cast and
crew, and an easily accessed emotional life developed
through years of working and training as an actor.
The biggest challenge, actually, was sitting through hours
in “the chair” every morning before filming, as the
application of my special effects make-up was quite
involved. But the end result was well-worth the trouble!
Everything looked so realistic. Shocking. Eerie. Upsetting.
I went to dinner one night with some of my make-up still on;
a bloody head wound, bruises, chafed wrists, the works. I
thought our waitress was going to call the cops. We
definitely got a lot of double-takes, stares and whispers
that night. It was hysterical.
KR: Were you initially intimated playing the role?
I’ve played Anne Frank, Helen Keller, and a young girl who
murdered her own father. Each role was tremendously
demanding and its successful execution intrinsically
rewarding. I welcomed the challenge!
When I was on set, I saw that you would come out of the
make-up room blindfolded, walk to the set that way and never
took it off until the scene was done being shot. I assume
this is to get into character. Can you talk about that whole
process?
The day you visited set, we were filming a scene where
David pulls a blindfold from my eyes after me not seeing the
light of day for some time. I wore my blindfold while Paula
finished my hair and continued to wear it to set, so that my
initial reaction to the light would be as real and truthful
as possible. It was also an attempt to remove myself from
the bustle of set and create a more controlled, focused
environment where I could prepare. The circumstances
surrounding the scene and the scenes leading up to that
moment were so intense; I couldn’t just jump into it.
KR: Have you filmed any scenes that have completely
freaked you out?
If you’ve read the book, you know there are a lot of
difficult and off-putting scenes in The Girl Next Door. But
if you haven’t read the book, I don’t want to give anything
away by describing my experiences with those particular
moments. My mouth is gagged; no pun intended! Now I’m not
going to say this role was a piece of cake; far from it. But
I was able to maintain a sense of self and reality
throughout the whole thing, which helped. Greg and I also
communicated regularly on the phone and in person, which
helped assuage any fears or misgivings I had about what was
being shot. I trusted him entirely. He was great.
KR: Seeing how Blanch Baker plays the evil stepmother
I was wondering what your relationship was like with her
between takes.
That’s where acting comes in handy! Blanche Baker is very
talented and terribly sweet. How could I not enjoy working
with her! Any antagonism was felt only when the camera was
rolling. As soon as the camera cut, Blanche was my acting
partner and my friend who I appreciated and respected
dearly.
KR: What was the last really good horror movie you
saw?
Well I really loved The Sixth Sense. I went back to the
theatre and saw it again the next day to catch everything I
missed the first time watching it. It’s still one of my
favorite twists! But my pet horror film has to be The
Silence of the Lambs. Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and
director Jonathan Demme? The best of the best. Evil
personified.
KR: Beyond movies, what really scares Blythe Auffarth?
I’m scared of snakes. I’m scared of failing. I’m scared when
I think of the world that my children are going to inherit.
I’m scared of loving hard and not being loved in return. Oh
and I’m scared of pleather. I’m really scared of pleather.
KR: What do you do when you’re not acting?
I’ve been dancing since I was three and singing since I
could talk, so you can find me doing both in my free time. I
love going to my yoga classes, reading books my mom’s
recommended, visiting art museums (I love Degas!!!), and
trying out new restaurants. I eat-out way more than I
should. Well I’m not the best cook, so let’s blame it on
that!
KR: Do you have any upcoming projects that you would
like to talk about?
I’m flying right back to NY this week to shoot an episode of
Law and Order: Criminal Intent and then, once I return to
LA, I’ll start auditioning again and who knows. Anything
could happen! Keep your fingers crossed!
KR: Any final thoughts or comments?
Go see The Girl Next Door. If you liked the book, you’ll
love the movie. Just ask Jack.
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