Love Lies Bleeding star Katy O'Brian talks facing her fears and working with Kristen Stewart on gory thriller from Saint Maud's Rose Glass

EntertainmentMoviesThriller MoviesLove Lies BleedingLove Lies Bleeding star Katy O’Brian talks facing her fears and working with Kristen Stewart on gory thriller from Saint Maud’s Rose GlassWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. EntertainmentMoviesThriller MoviesLove Lies BleedingLove Lies Bleeding star Katy O’Brian talks facing her fears and working with Kristen Stewart on gory thriller from Saint Maud’s Rose GlassWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Lionsgate) “In the script even worse things happened to Jackie, so when I finished it, I was just kind of like, ‘Can I even do this?’ I didn’t know if I was a good enough actor,” she recalls, candidly. “I tend to be a really understated person in general and [Rose was] like, ‘This is gonna be a lot. It’s larger than life.’ I didn’t know if I was going to emotionally be able to handle something like this, but I just kind of sat with myself and said, ‘This is the career that I really want to pursue’, and I knew that I wasn’t going to grow unless I took a role like this. Plus, you know, I loved the character and loved the team and I wanted to work on it. So yeah, I just made the decision that if I was so lucky to book it, I’d do it.” BIG SCREEN SPOTLIGHTShining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday BIG SCREEN SPOTLIGHT Shining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday Shining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday “Straight away, it just seemed like it would be a really chill, easy relationship because you just never know, especially with someone that’s been in the business that long. She was super chill. We went in for a chemistry read and just got to play, you know? We got to hang out and kind of just started making the scene up as we went along and adding little jokes and things. I assume it went well because I got the job,” she laughs. “We filmed all of the intimate scenes first. So it was really just an exercise; we had to build that trust right away and dive right into it. After you’ve done all of that, the rest is pretty easy.” Chain reaction (Image credit: A24) As things get messier, and the FBI closes in, Lou and Jackie both make increasingly questionable decisions that force them deeper and deeper down a chaotic, violent, and ultimately surreal rabbit hole. For all the horror and bloodshed, however, the frenetic flick has got its tobacco-stained tongue firmly in its cheek throughout, unlike Glass’s humorless and harrowing psychological thrillerSaint Maud: Dave Franco’s mullet-sporting douchebag JJ tripping up some stairs, as he tells Jackie not to embarrass him in front of his boss; Lou, who’s failing miserably at kicking her smoking habit, umming and ahhing over whether to pinch a corpse’s pack of ciggies;thatending. An affectionate homage to campy, schlocky classics like Bound and Showgirls (the latter of which was one of the films Glass told her leads to watch for research, according to O’Brian), it all feels undeniably retro, beyond its period setting. Like the films from a time before comic book movies dominated cinema screens, and studios believed we were only interested in characters that are black-and-white heroes and villains. Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox “When I sat down with Kristen at the chemistry read, I was curious as to why she was interested in it,” says O’Brian. “The main reason for me, originally, was that it was a queer love story that wasn’t about being queer. She loved that it was a queer story, but we got to bebad. “I loved that, too, because to me it’s more interesting,” she notes. “It’s more human. We mess up, we make mistakes, and I think that’s more relatable. Especially when it comes to our relationship in the film, it’s very toxic. It’s not something that anyone should want to strive for,” she laughs. “Yeah, we both really enjoyed that antihero, neo-noir aspect of it.” BIG SCREEN SPOTLIGHT(Image credit: Lionsgate)Bill Skarsgård’s new bloody action film is a great video game movie - even though it isn’t actually based on one BIG SCREEN SPOTLIGHT (Image credit: Lionsgate)Bill Skarsgård’s new bloody action film is a great video game movie - even though it isn’t actually based on one (Image credit: Lionsgate) Bill Skarsgård’s new bloody action film is a great video game movie - even though it isn’t actually based on one Glass deliberately withholds information on Jackie’s past to shroud her in mystery, teasing just enough to pique our morbid interest.Isshe an ambitious loner? Or something more sinister? “I’ve got horror stories, Lou,” she tells her new paramour during a fight scene, while another sequence sees her ring home, only to be called “a monster” and to “never call again.” According to O’Brian, a lot of Jackie’s backstory got cut due to pacing reasons, including a two-page monologue lifted from the start of the film. “One thing that Rose wanted to emphasize was that Jackie wasn’t kicked out of [her] family because of [her] sexuality. It was because [she] decided to start getting big, you know?” she clarifies. “Putting on muscle in the Midwest in the ’80s or even now really is… weird. People call you a freak. Even me, I think I look a lot bigger on the screen than I do in real life – there are certain camera angles, being in the right shape at the right time, your muscles pop in a different way. But people will come up and touch me in the street. You know, it’s a very weird world and people have a weird reaction to bodies. But yeah, in the end the backstory wasn’t really relevant to the movie. I just used everything else to feel the emotions.” O’Brian, who convinced her agents she was perfect for the gig with a presumably persuasive Powerpoint presentation, was so keen on being a part of Love Lies Bleeding largely because it’s notaboutbeing queer. Shit hits the fan in major ways for Lou and Jackie (sweat, egg yolk, and gasoline, too), but none of it has anything to do with homophobia or inner-angst over their respective sexualities. “Just this last year we had Bottoms,Drive-Away Dolls, and this – I didn’t get to see Drive-Away Dolls yet but at least with Bottoms, again, the story wasn’t about alienating gay people,” she explains. “For me growing up, I was able to, like, sneak some episodes of Queer as Folk, but that’s gay men usually, you know? Then I found The L Word – talk about people not behaving well! And it definitely didn’t offer up a realistic expectation for what a relationship should look like. It lacked a lot of representation, too, within the community, even. “The majority of queer cinema that I had seen was always ‘some girl is currently engaged to or is dating a guy, and then… enter lesbian.’ She has an awakening, then leaves the guy and it was just the same storyline over and over,” continues O’Brian. “But there were a few exceptions, and those exceptions were the ones that stuck with me and the ones that were interesting. So I’m glad that it’s becoming more prevalent, and I’m glad that people can just… go to the theatre and enjoy a movie.” Tainted love (Image credit: Lionsgate) Jackie and Lou’s feelings towards one another aren’t just toxic, they’re intoxicating – in more ways than one, too. Not only do their affections lead them to do crazy things, there’s also an important chemical at the center of the film that both Glass and O’Brian were keen to explore: steroids. The pair’s first encounter is more meet-shoot than meet-cute, with Lou offering Jackie a dose of the muscle-boosting juice mere minutes into their conversation. “There’s this symbolism, right, of love being the drug. Lou shoots [Jackie] up with it, [Jackie] takes it in fully and gets stronger from it, all of that,” says O’Brian, with a wry smile. “Then obviously, you get the butt shots and that’s important. It’s not my butt, though, we had a silicone butt and they used a butt double in one or two scenes. I was like, ‘I’m right here.'” Given the reaction to the film Stateside, where it’s been out since early March, it only takes a quick Twitter search to see just how much cinemagoers have been enjoying Love Lies Bleeding. There’s so much hype surrounding O’Brian’s performance, in particular, as viewers claim she’s about to “blow up” or that the film is guaranteed to make her a star. While she finds the praise flattering, it’s not something the actor pays much mind to. “I honestly don’t really read a lot of that. It’s just silly because, especially with this business, you’re forgotten about so quickly,” she says. “First of all, it’s ridiculous to hold yourself to that expectation, especially when it comes to being ‘a star’. Is that even my goal? What does that mean? This is a crazy business where you can have this amazing hit movie and then never work again. I am fortunate to have a movie coming out and a job lined up, but who knows? That might be the last. Love Lies Bleeding is in select cinemas now, before opening wide across the UK on May 10. For more on what else you should be watching at the cinema, be sure to check out the rest of ourBig Screen Spotlight series. 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no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the 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heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”