An emerging actress, writer, director, and producer, Megan Tremethick has created a fine collection of work in a variety of genres within the British indie scene that's made her one of the biggest names in the genre. Now, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about her early interest in the industry, some of her past projects, and working with the British Horror Studio.
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?
Megan Tremethick: Hi! Thanks so much for having me. I actually got into horror when I was pretty young; my dad’s a huge horror and sci-fi fan, so he introduced me to a lot of those films early on. We used to watch them together quite regularly, especially the Phantasm series (though I couldn’t see all of the scenes back then!). Another movie that really stuck with me was Return to Oz. It’s not strictly horror, but it’s definitely unsettling, and I was obsessed with it as a kid, particularly Jean Marsh’s performance as Princess Mombi!
Me: When did you initially discover a passion for acting? What aspect of this industry appeals to you?
MT: When I was nine, I was completely obsessed with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS. Even though I was cripplingly shy, I worked up the courage to audition for my school’s talent show. I nearly backed out at the last minute, and I still remember the terror, but I’d already put on a cat costume, so there was no turning back. I did the performance, and afterward, I felt on top of the world. Later, I found out I’d made it to the final onstage show, but honestly, the biggest thrill was pushing through my fear and doing it anyway. The collaborative aspect of the creative and acting industry is what appeals to me the most. It’s hard to get far without a strong team, and I love the idea of surrounding myself with people who are more experienced than me so I can continue learning. Plus, I’d be lonely in a job that required constant isolation, so being part of a supportive community really resonates with me.
Me: Is there any specific type of character you prefer playing? What do you look for in a character to be excited and interested in playing it?
MT: I love exploring a wide range of characters, but they need to have one thing in common: they should push me out of my comfort zone and give me a little jolt of fear at the thought of playing them. Queen Ginnarra definitely did that for me. She had a public persona and a private one, and her public side was almost entirely devoid of emotion. As an actor, that can be nerve-wracking because it feels like you’re not doing enough. But I was determined to take on that challenge, and I think it made me a stronger, more nuanced performer. So, I thank Ginnarra for that experience!
Me: Having worked on plenty of short films early in your career, what tools and skills did you acquire working on those that transferred to future film projects?
MT: Honestly, working on short films taught me so much about resourcefulness and collaboration. Since those productions often had smaller teams and tighter budgets, I learned to adapt quickly, solve problems on the fly, and really value every member of the crew. It also gave me a chance to try out different roles, which helped me understand how the whole filmmaking process fits together, from pre-production to post-production. Those early experiences helped me stay flexible, trust my instincts, and appreciate the importance of teamwork, which has made a huge difference in my later film projects.
Me: What do you do to stay in character while on set? When you’re not filming, how do you pass the time between takes?
MT: If it’s a particularly intense or emotional scene, I might stay in character between takes by keeping a bit of distance – basically not getting too caught up in the on-set banter. Most of the time, though, I’m happy to relax and chat, then snap back into focus just before the cameras roll. How I spend my downtime really depends on the project. Every now and then, I’ll help out in makeup (though not usually on days I’m acting), and I’ve also had the chance to direct scenes that I’m performing in. That’s always a challenge, but I love it! Most recently, on Spoiling You, I was both acting and directing, which is a whole new level of multitasking. And, of course, if I’m just acting, I’ll hang out with the cast and crew during breaks – which is always great fun!
Me: Having performed in many shorts and features for filmmaker Lawrie Brewster, what about his style and approaches keeps bringing you around to work with him? Does returning to work with him help to make you more comfortable not just with him but with the rest of his stock group of actors and actresses?
MT: He’s incredibly collaborative, but what really stands out is how he couples that openness with a very strong, specific vision for each film and for every character within it. From the moment you step on set, you know exactly where he wants to take the story, yet he still encourages you to share ideas or interpretations you might have. That balance between clear direction and creative freedom is something I value immensely. It gives me confidence in his leadership and also inspires me to experiment and push my own boundaries as an actor. He’s so good at articulating his ideas that even when they’re highly detailed, you never feel lost or unsure of what to do. And Lawrie is one of the nicest and most genuine guys around! Like all of us at Hex/BHS, he has a super dark and silly sense of humour!
Me: What has been the most memorable experience that you’ve had based on your collaboration together?
MT: Lawrie is easily one of my favourite directors to work with, and I am incredibly grateful that he continues to collaborate with me on his projects. We’ve had so many memorable collaborative experiences, each valuable in its own way. Some experiences pushed all of us to take creative risks, while others were simply a lot of fun. Both types are essential!
But one that stands out was on one of the first projects I worked on with Lawrie, Ghost Crew. The film dealt with some heavy themes, particularly violence against women. I played Sandy, a young woman who had been through traumatic experiences. There is a scene in the film where Sandy opens up to Tom Hughes, played by the incredibly talented Tom Staunton, who is also the production manager at British Horror Studio. Sandy shares some of the difficult events from her past with Tom’s character. What made that scene so powerful was the decision we all made together. We agreed that while Tom’s questions and dialogue should be scripted, my responses would be improvised to capture the raw, unfiltered emotion we wanted to convey. That improvisation lasted for almost 20 minutes, although only about three minutes made it into the final cut. But those three minutes? I am so proud of them, as they felt incredibly truthful to me and to Sandy. It was a unique experience, one no other director had done with me before, and it really helped me connect deeply with Sandy’s character. I am so proud of the love and care the whole team put into the film, especially Tom Staunton, who not only wrote the script for Ghost Crew but also gave an amazing performance as the lead!
Me: Outside of his films, you’ve also landed roles in several other indie and non-genre films, including “The Lockdown Hauntings,” among others. What have these experiences added to your repertoire as an actress?
MT: The Lockdown Hauntings was such a unique experience! It was filmed during the COVID pandemic, when very few people were able to work on anything at all. The director, Howard Ford, had a brilliant idea to write a horror film set during and centered around COVID, capturing what it was like to live through lockdown. He ended up being a one-man team – directing, operating the camera, and handling sound all by himself!
At the time, I was living in Bristol, and we shot my scenes in my flat. One of the things I loved most about working with Howard was how collaborative he was. He gave me the privilege of suggesting the concept for my character, which he liked and wanted to go with, and I also had the opportunity to write a large portion of my small segment within the film. I am incredibly grateful to Howard for giving me this opportunity. It was one of the first times I was able to be creatively involved not just in front of the camera but behind it as well. In fact, I think it was this film that sparked my desire to pursue more creative control in my projects, which I have done ever since!
Me: With your upcoming roles including “Black Chariot,” “The Reign of Queen Ginnarra” and “Spoiling You” among others, what are you most looking forward to getting to work with familiar names and those you haven’t worked with before?
MT: Both Black Chariot and The Reign of Queen Ginnarra have been fully shot. In fact, The Reign of Queen Ginnarra has already been completed and just had its world premiere at the Romford Horror Film Festival! The highlight of working on these two films was definitely being back on set with an amazing team of actors and filmmakers. Novarro Ramon, Dorian Ashbourne, and Sam Barclay, all of whom played leading roles in both Black Chariot and The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, are brilliant young actors. Not only are they lovely to work with, but it was also so much fun seeing them morph from one character in one film to the next. For example, Sam Barclay went from being a streetwise Teddy Boy in the 1950s for Black Chariot to a shy and complex monk for The Reign of Queen Ginnarra!
It was also an absolute joy to work with the legendary Laurence R. Harvey on Black Chariot, where he played a corrupt banker who had fallen in with mysterious gangsters. He has a pitch-black sense of humour, a wealth of interesting stories, and, of course, is immensely talented. I really learned a lot from him! I was also lucky enough to bring him back to play an unforgettable and wild role in Spoiling You, which is currently three-quarters of the way through shooting. Laurence shares my love for Japanese cinema and J-Horror. He has an extensive knowledge of it, so I’ve been able to get some great recommendations from him to add to my watch list as well!
Me: You’re also involved in directing the upcoming film “Spoiling You.” Where did the inspiration for the film come from? Were there any unique stories about its conception?
MT: I’ve been a fan of ASMR for a while – I discovered it through YouTube videos several years ago. At first, I was a bit confused by them, but soon realized how incredibly relaxing they were. A few years later, I thought it would be really interesting to explore the relaxing yet, at times, uncanny side of ASMR in a horror film. I believe that people have various strong reasons for wanting to watch ASMR videos. Some struggle with sleep and relaxation, others appreciate the immense creativity and effort that goes into creating ASMR content, and some are simply craving a sense of human connection. All of these reasons fascinate me, and they’ve directly influenced what I aim to explore in the film, as well as many of the characters within it. Since no one had made a feature film about ASMR, I decided to create one that I, myself, would be intrigued to see. I’m also deeply inspired by J-Horror films, particularly the works of directors like Takashi Miike and Kiyoshi Kurosawa. This influence led me to create Spoiling You as a love letter to J-Horror. As for Miss Mutter, the ASMRtist in the film who dresses in cosplay – that part comes from my own personal love of cosplay. When I was younger, I loved cosplaying myself, and I wanted to infuse that passion into the character of Miss Mutter.
Me: With a cast of experienced and talented indie actors, how’d you settle on the cast getting involved in the film? What characteristics did you look for with each performer that they brought to the table that helped bring the production to light?
MT: The idea for Spoiling You had been living in my head for a few years before I approached the cast, and one of the first people I reached out to was the incredibly talented Stephen Kerr to play Drew. Stephen has an amazing ability to convey deep emotion and pathos, which I felt would be perfect for the role. He is now a regular collaborator with British Horror Studio, so it was a real pleasure to work with him again on Spoiling You. Similarly, another talented BHS regular, Nick Ford, plays Brooks in the film – a broken man working as a detective, determined to piece together the mystery unfolding before him. Nick has this effortless charisma that really shone through in his portrayal of Brooks, and he brought so much depth to the role. And, of course, there is Laurence R. Harvey! I had been fortunate enough to work with him previously on my Lovecraftian fishman war short, Revenge of Innsmouth. Laurence delivered an utterly memorable and masterful performance in that film, so I was absolutely delighted to have him return to collaborate with me again on Spoiling You.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
MT: All of the cast and crew have been great sports while working on the film! There are some pretty intense scenes, accompanied by some wild visuals, but everyone has embraced the strange film I wanted to create, and *touch wood* they all seemed to have had fun with it! During each new block of filming, I think there was always a bit of "Okay... what crazy thing is Meg gonna make us do now...?" Haha. But I feel very honoured that I have their trust, and that goes for the crew as well. In particular, my amazing production manager, Tom Staunton; director of photography, Michael Brewster; and 1st AD and props master, Caz Paul. They all gave me so much support, and I am incredibly grateful to them!
Me: Do you recall having any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew members?
MT: Laurence R. Harvey's costume for Spoiling You involves wearing… fluffy cat paws on his feet. We didn’t know this until the first day of filming his scenes, but it turns out they squeak when you walk! And, oh my gosh, did he make the most of it! Every time he walked around the building, all you could hear was 'squeak, squeak,' and we all died laughing every time we heard it! I was struggling not to crack up during takes!
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Me: What do you do to keep your creative energy flowing?
MT: This is a really great question, and I think one of my biggest priorities at the moment is shielding myself from potential negativity. I’m not afraid to admit that I can be a sensitive person, particularly when it comes to negative energy in all forms. If I encounter something unpleasant, whether it’s directed at me, my loved ones, or even just general excessive negativity on social media, I can find my day spiraling. It becomes hard to focus and get my creative work done. Given that I often have deadlines for various projects, I simply can’t afford for something arbitrary and outside my control to hijack my day. So, sometimes, I have to create my own little creative focus bubble where I’m a little harder to reach, protecting myself from these distractions, at least during working hours. It’s incredibly liberating, and I would recommend all creatives try this, at least occasionally.
Me: What else are you working on that you’d like to share with our readers?
MT: Aside from Spoiling You, Black Chariot, and The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, I’m also continuing to collaborate with British Horror Studio and Hex Studios, which has been an incredible journey. I’m also particularly excited that The Book of Beastly Creatures Vol. 2 will be coming out soon. This is the second collection of horror short stories from Hex Arcana, the publishing arm of British Horror Studio. I was fortunate enough to contribute four short stories to the book, and I’m thrilled to see it come to life!
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?
MT: One thing I’d say is: don’t wait until you feel 'ready' or for someone to give you permission. Just start creating, even on a small scale. That’s how you learn, how you grow, and how you begin to find your voice. It could be something as simple as writing a one-page short script, filming a scene on your phone, or getting together with friends to make something fun and a bit messy. Those small steps are what build your confidence, your skills, and your network. Some of the most rewarding opportunities I’ve had came from projects that started out tiny but were full of heart. The more you make, the more you learn what kind of stories you want to tell, and the more you attract collaborators who share your vision. You don’t need a huge budget or a perfect plan to begin!
Me: Thank you again for your time!
MT: Aww, it’s been a pleasure! Thank you so much for having me! :)
BHS Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/britishhorrorstudio/home
Megan Tremethick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megantremethick/
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:
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