WiHM Special - Arianna Harris

One of the brightest and hardest-working actresses in the scene, Arianna Harris has crafted a rather strong start to her career with several impactful roles to her name and many more coming in the future. Now, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about her early interest in acting, her role in the film "Broken Innocence," and upcoming projects.

Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you get into horror in general? What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?

Arianna Harris: I got into horror ever since I was cast in my first horror movie and we entered production. I realized it was nothing like anything I had done before and I loved it. There are so many features specific to horror that you don’t get in other genres. Specifically, as an actress I love the challenge of creating intense emotions from situations involving fear for one’s life, the desire to survive, traumatic grief/loss, and sometimes rage. These are things that hopefully someone does not encounter in real life so there is a challenge in making these emotions authentic to the scene. There is also an opportunity in those films for everyday situations such as friendship, crushes, etc. that you would see in other genres so I get to display the full range of emotions and intensity. I also admire the talent and creativity involved in special effects makeup. The entire process of a horror movie makes it very fun and creative. Horror is one of my favorite genres to be cast in and I would love to be a scream queen that embodies the women of horror of my generation. As for watching horror movies, I am a big baby. I prefer a horror/comedy mix or something where I can avoid the potential for jump scares and fear. I know that sounds strange to say given I love acting in horror movies, but when you are on set and do the same scenes over and over and see how SFX is done, it is not scary. Watching horror is scary and that’s how you know the film is effective for that genre.

Me: When did you initially discover a passion for acting?

AH: When I was just starting out in acting and early in developing my craft, it was hard to get booked. There were years of putting time into classes and auditions without much success. It was hard to find the passion at that time because the payoff was so few and far between so I focused on modeling and established myself in that industry. Once I understood the acting industry better and improved my craft, I started booking more acting jobs and then really started to enjoy acting because being on set is the best part of acting and is my goal as an actor.

Me: What aspect of this industry appeals to you?

AH: I like to meet new people and make connections. It is a very different type of job because your employer and co-workers are always changing. It is basically contract work and you always have to adjust to the dynamics of a different “boss” and co-workers on each set, but then also sometimes work with the same people across different projects. I can’t think of a similar industry.

Me: Is there any specific type of character you prefer playing?

AH: I don’t prefer a specific type of character but I prefer something that challenges me. Those roles are the most fun to me as an actress. I avoid roles where the character has scenes that seem to function primarily as eye candy and aren’t central to the script. I think for my age those would be detrimental to my long-term goals as an actress, and as a young actress I have to be cautious about that.

Me: What do you look for in a character to be excited and interested in playing it?

AH: I get excited when the character is emotionally complex and the story really emphasizes the character. I like when the characters aren’t one-dimensional as we as people are complex. I get excited when I get offered to play a type of character that I have not played before. Overall, I love a challenge.

Me: What do you do to stay in character while on set?

AH: I try not to stay in character between takes if possible. I think it very important, especially when playing a very emotional role, to remain you between takes. Sometimes when actors get too consumed in their character they become that person or get burnt out. I try to avoid this and I like having fun on set as it is a fun job.

Me: When you're not filming, how do you pass the time between takes?

AH: I’ll do a number of things between takes. If there is a scene I’m not in I’ll talk to the cast or my mom, be on my phone, read a book, get a snack, listen to music, etc. as long as it doesn’t disrupt the set. Most importantly, whenever I have a big role I will study my lines between takes to ensure I know the lines and emotions.

Me: How close are you and your parents to the selection process for the roles you take?

AH: My mom reviews every script before she sends it to me for review. She also takes the time out of her day to help me analyze and practice the script to make my characters perfect. My mom is very invested in my growth as an actress and my safety. I would say she even puts in more work than I do on some projects because in addition to helping with script analysis, self-tapes, and being on set with me she also plans the wardrobe, manages my schedule, and helps with my marketing and business contacts.

Me: Are there any special considerations on-set about exposure to graphic violence and extreme content for you?

AH: I don’t really get special consideration on set. I am treated like everyone else. I am aware everything is fake and I like to be involved in the creative process. I think people might not realize how long it takes to do a 1-2 minute scene in a film or how long it takes to get the special effects ready. There is no actual graphic violence on set because none of it is real so being on the set of a horror movie, even if it is a slasher, does not actually expose me to graphic violence. The only special consideration I have is I am not on set if there are any scenes with implied sexual content due to my age.

Me: Once the shot is over, how do you handle being around the other actors and actresses involved?

AH: If someone did a really good job on a take I will congratulate them and tell them they did well. In between takes, we all talk among ourselves so when the shot is over it's not very awkward. 

Me: Having worked on several short films and features early in your career, what tools and skills did you acquire working on those that transferred to future film projects?

AH: The earlier projects helped me grasp all the aspects of film and how to behave appropriately. It also helped me make connections which are very important and a lot of the people I have worked with again on other projects.

Me: With your largest role to date being Lilly McNeil in the film “Broken Innocence,” what initially attracted you to the project?

AH: I liked this project because it was nothing like I have ever seen before. The story was so well thought out and all the details in the story and script are very symbolic. Lilly is an incredibly complex character, and she is a morally gray character, not necessarily good or bad. It was just an excellent story and I was so thrilled to be a part of it!

Me: With the extreme nature of the role and what was intended for the character, what was your mindset like getting into the more difficult parts of the story?

AH: My mindset for Lilly, when she was in her prime so to speak, was to say to myself “I’m a bad bitch” to get that tough girl swagger and mentality during some of her scenes. I guess you could say my inner dialogue functioned as a hype girl for Lilly. For the scenes that were more of Lilly as a victim, I used fear, sadness, and/or anxiety as the emotions in those scenes.

Me: Was it easy to switch that off against playing more normal and laid-back sequences?

AH: It was hard but actually switching makeup was more of the challenge. I had to keep redoing my makeup because the scenes were out of order and I would go from crying to normal to crying. Each switch required me to change my makeup and wardrobe, along with changing the emotions of the scene.

Me: What was the set like while shooting the film?

AH: The set was very intense. It was not a lighthearted set as many actors don’t have the same process as me, and they might have different techniques to get into character. Some of the characters were mad or angry in the film so I tried my best to let people get into character without disruption.

Me: How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?

AH: Everyone was very excited during the pre-production because the roles and story were very unique. The script had excellent storytelling.

Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?

AH: I remember Herb being so scared of me because everyone thought I was terrifying as Lilly. I was a 15-year-old girl at the time and he was this really muscular young adult so it was funny.

Me: As you’re also involved in upcoming films like “The Slasher Nurse” and “Blood on the Bleachers” among other films, what tips and tricks have you learned as an actress from working on these films?

AH: Stay very professional but make sure to have fun. I learned how time-consuming it is to film with several people in a scene because of the multiple shots required, so make sure to eat and stay hydrated. If it is late and most of the crafty is gone, have backup snacks and have your own water bottle.

Me: What do you do to keep your creative energy flowing?

AH: I’m a very creative person in general. I will read a book or paint a picture. I will go through different scripts for scene and character analysis. I take acting classes. I will get tips and tricks from TikTok. I’m creative every day at school. Exercising my mind makes me creative.

Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?

AH: I have several films coming up this summer and I can’t say much about them but they are going to be exciting and nothing like any of the characters I have played before.

Me: Lastly, being that this is our Women in Horror Movement, what special message do you have for any women out there looking to join in the industry in any capacity as you are one yourself? Thank you again for your time!

AH: As long as you work hard you can achieve success. Apply for roles that you want even if it’s male-specific because you might be so special they will change the role for you. Don’t give up hope. You will get a thousand No’s before you get a Yes. Lastly, never let anyone tell you that you are not good enough.

This interview ran as part of our 2025 Women in Horror Movement series. Click the banner below to check out all the featured interviews in this series: