Mckenna Bridger on Becoming Violet Adams in Nightmare
The Californer/10357041

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- For Mckenna Bridger, Nightmare offered the opportunity to take on the kind of character she had hoped to encounter early in her career. Bridger stars as Violet Adams in the film and reflects on finding Violet, working with her castmates and taking on one of her most substantial roles to date.

What did you love most about playing Violet?
BRIDGER: I really do love every part of Violet. What excited me was how much range there was within one character. She can be strong, but she can also be frightened, angry, vulnerable and completely overwhelmed. Then there's this softer side of her that you see through Rosie. There was just so much for me to do as an actor. Getting a character that complex this early in my career is something I'm incredibly grateful for.

What were the attic scenes like to perform?
BRIDGER: They were some of the most demanding scenes physically. Violet is exhausted, frightened, and constantly responding to circumstances she can't fully control. I realized that I was carrying a quite a lot of tension in my body while we were filming. I wouldn't even notice it until Jake called cut. Still, I loved those scenes because they pushed me.

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How was working with Alexander Platt?
BRIDGER: I really enjoyed working with Alexander. He joined very close to filming, so we didn't have time to establish our dynamic. Then suddenly we were opposite each other doing some of the most intense scenes in the film. We found rhythm very quickly. Alex is very present as a scene partner, and I never felt like I had to manufacture a reaction because he was always giving me something real to respond to.

What was it like working with Jake Archer as your director?
BRIDGER: I met Jake on another set before Nightmare happened, so trust already existed before filming, and I think that mattered with a character like Violet. He gave me room to bring my own instincts to her while still making sure I understood what the scene needed. I always felt comfortable asking a question or suggesting things. Violet moves through so many emotional states throughout the film, so having that communication was great. I felt very trusted with Violet, and that made me feel very supported as an actor.

How was working with Angelina Golovnya?
BRIDGER: Angelina is such a sweetheart. She also joined very close to filming, so we didn't time to build our dynamic. What helped was not trying too hard to demonstrate that relationship. Violet and Rosie are sisters and should feel at ease, so I didn't want every interaction to feel forced. We could just play, laugh and be comfortable together. I loved how much lighter I felt physically as Violet when I was working with Angelina.

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What did the Rosie scenes reveal to you about Violet?
BRIDGER: They showed me the person underneath everything else. With Rosie, Violet isn't just surviving. She can smile and take care of her sister. She can be playful and comfortable and exist without constantly bracing herself.

What was it like working with Christy Dodson?
BRIDGER: Christy and I are actually close friends of camera, and we had worked together before Nightmare. I really loved getting to explore the constant shift of Violet and Tessa's relationship with Christy. Christy is such an easy scene partner for me because I know I can trust whatever she gives me and just respond to it. The balance between scene partners and friendship helped a lot, especially because their dynamic shifts depending on what Violet is going through.

Was Violet challenging to play?
BRIDGER: Very, but that made her exciting. Even in scenes where Violet isn't physically doing much, there's a lot happening internally. Then in the more physical and emotional scenes, I had to be conscious of her body language, how much tension she was carrying and what she was trying not to reveal. I never felt like I was playing one emotional note with her. She was always moving somewhere.

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm17154553/