The Horror Revolution: First off, what’s your favorite horror movie? What movie scared you the most?
Tara Nichol Caldwell: So fun fact, I’m actually a noob in the world of horror films! I used to be unreasonably afraid of anything even remotely scary as a child… I mean I refused to watch The Lord of the Rings with my family at like 15 years old because I thought it looked too scary, haha. That said, I haven’t seen as many as I’d like to (because I do like them now!) but I’d have to say my favorite horror film personally, would have to be the one that made me fall in love with the genre… so for me, that’s Saw. I was horrified yet gripped throughout, and the twist both blew my socks off and made me appreciate just how well a horror film could balance the elements of fear, gore, and story. I loved it!
THR: Your role in Lyvia’s House was incredibly complicated. What inspiration did you draw from in your performance?
TNC: Much of my inspiration was drawn from the content of the story and the life of the character, but also from my own life experiences with relationships, family, personal hardships, and more. I’ve been fairly outspoken as an advocate of mental health & wellness over the years and definitely borrowed or tapped into emotions from some of the lower periods of my past to help me connect with the current tragedy & obstacles that my character was facing within her world at that moment.
THR: Psychological horror is very difficult to pull off, especially when the audience is privy to the events in your character’s head. What are the challenges in performing in a role like this?
TNC: When the audience knows things that the characters don’t (or vice versa) it creates a somewhat intimate relationship between the audience and the characters within the narrative… We as viewers want to warn them! Help them! Stop them! Scream at them, and more! That tension blending the two worlds together is like an act of magic, but like magic it must be well-thought-out and executed magnificently to actually pull it off. I think as an actor this kind of situation creates a really unique opportunity for your performance to become a sort of double entendre. You have to be careful and consider how the viewer may perceive your performance & the expressions of your character before they have that crucial information and how that perception may change after finding out more as the story continues. It can also be very satisfying or rewarding to watch a character finally learn what the audience has known (or suspected) all along and to see how they handle that information.
THR: Lyvia’s House is your feature debut, and you did an incredible job! What
inspired you to become an actress? Were there any films that made you know this is what you wanted to do?
TNC: Thank you so much! My whole life I have been drawn to the arts and specifically to the art of performance. I remember creating dance routines to perform for my family at like 5 years old, and despite being shy I always found my confidence in ballet, dance, and cheer. Something about being on stage… It’s terrifying and amazing all at once. It’s one thing that’s always made me feel very alive, and I guess I just decided it might actually be possible and was worth chasing to find out! For me there wasn’t one particular film or specific moment the dream first sparked, it was more of a feeling. As a child I would watch the other kids on television dancing & performing, and I just always felt like I was meant to be there along with them. It made me feel so proud to create & practice choreography, to put on a show, and to give all of myself to a performance… I think it’s just always been a part of me.
THR: If you could work with anyone in the industry, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
TNC: You know I’m very excited to see what the future holds for me in that regard, but for now I don’t think I could choose just one… Honestly, I had a great experience filming Lyvia’s House and I think I’d really like the opportunity to work together with this same team on something new in the future!
THR: Is horror your preferred genre to work in? Are there other genres that you’re interested in exploring as an actress?
TNC: Horror is, I think, a really fun genre to work in because its foundation includes a lot of imagination, shock, fear, and disbelief. There’s so much room for the impossible to become real and I find that incredibly inspiring! As far as other genres, I definitely want to continue to grow & expand my skills as an actress and I’d love the chance to work more in horror/thriller, as well as action, fantasy/adventure, or in animation as a voice actress.
THR: You played two roles in this film, though one was admittedly a small role. What was the goal in portraying Lyvia, and was it important that you tried to distinguish the characters from each other for the audience?
TNC: Lyvia is a special character to me because I really connected with her story. Drawing from my own experiences as a model, I tried to present Lyvia as poised and elegant. I wanted to showcase that Lyvia has a special kind of energy to her… something that other people can’t help but notice, but that sometimes alienates her from others. The people of River Oaks have opinions on Lyvia and those opinions/assumptions directly influence how Lyvia is seen by the audience. For much of the film, we see Lyvia how they see Lyvia: a fancy girl, with a fancy house, in a fancy dress… But as we learn more about Lyvia for ourselves, we realize that so much of who we thought she was, was just the perception of others, and who she truly is, is actually pretty simple and rather heartbreaking.
The truth is, she’s just a girl. She could have been any girl. In my opinion, Lyvia is meant to be seen as a variable. She is the interchangeable part of the larger mathematical function. She represents the “lost girl” and the women all around the world who go missing everyday. Ultimately, she is decided and dismissed upon, and that is that… until it isn’t. Due to the nature of Lyvia’s arc, it was important for me to establish a slight difference in the overall mannerisms, mindsets, & behaviors of the two characters. I wanted to introduce a little doubt in the beginning… (Wait, is that the same actress? –Or maybe her sister?) …but as the story builds and reality becomes increasingly harder to hold onto, I wanted that distinction to warp and bend as well.
As the film progresses and we begin to register the commonalities between Lyvia & Tara, I wanted the viewer to pick up on that interchangeable, variable-like element shared between the two women. In many ways this is meant to reflect the way women are viewed/treated in society, the irony of accepting tragedy as commonplace in the modern world, and the realization of how easy it is to slip through the cracks right in front of everyone's faces.
THR: What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects you’re excited to talk about?
TNC: I’ve got a couple prospective opportunities in the works, but nothing I’m allowed to share at the moment. Hopefully I’ll get the green light soon because I can’t wait to share what’s coming!
THR: Finally, have you ever eaten ice cream with your bare hands?
TNC: You know, I never have… but I think now I’ll have to try it, haha! Thank you so much forthe awesome interview!
