An accomplished and versatile actress, Sammy Morningstar has made waves in the indie scene on the strength of several acclaimed performances as she gets her career going on a strong note. 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 upcoming films.
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?
Sammy Morningstar: I got into horror when I was a little kid. My grandparents, my Uncle William, and I would always binge-watch horror movies together. They started me off with Child’s Play, Scream, and Halloween.
Fun fact: when I was really little, late at night, my uncle dressed up in a Ghostface mask, grabbed a real knife, and banged on the window. It scared me for life!
My grandma also had a Chucky doll and a Tiffany doll in a glass case above our bed with a blacklight, and they even had real knives in their pockets. I used to go to sleep holding a clothes hanger because I thought that would protect me.
So yeah… horror has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Me: When did you initially discover a passion for acting? What aspect of this industry appeals to you?
SM: I’ve wanted to act ever since I was a preteen. I always dreamed of my grandparents seeing me on TV, acting in their favorite shows or movies.
What appeals to me most about this industry is the opportunity to live different lives through the characters I play and hopefully make an impact on the people watching the story unfold.
Me: Is there any specific type of character you prefer playing? What do you look for in a character to be excited about playing it?
SM: I love playing officer roles, antagonists, dramatic characters, and even victims, so honestly, a little bit of everything!
I would also love to be on a show like The Rookie.
What really excites me about a role is when the character has depth and a story behind them. I love exploring what makes them who they are.
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?
SM: One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how to lean into my real-life experiences and use them to connect with the audience. Those early projects really helped me develop emotional authenticity and taught me how to bring something personal into each role.
Me: Having performed in many features for indie filmmaker Dustin Ferguson, what about his style and approach keeps bringing you around to work with him?
SM: His quality and personality! I admire his perseverance, dedication, and work ethic. He is always grinding and constantly creating.
He’s also incredibly charismatic and makes sets fun and productive at the same time. And of course, it usually includes traveling to California, who wouldn’t love that?
Me: With your work including projects like “Meathook Massacre” and “Kevin Kills,” among others, what has been the most memorable experience that you've had from collaborating together?
SM: That’s a tough one. I would have to say the most memorable part has been meeting people I’ve only ever dreamed of meeting, traveling to places I thought I would only see on TV, and building lasting friendships along the way.
Me: Outside of his films, you've also landed roles in several other indie films, including “The Red Huntress” series, “Night of the Dead Sorority Babes,” and “Lunar Spell.” What have these experiences added to your repertoire as an actress?
SM: Each of those projects helped me grow in different ways. Working with different directors and casts pushes you to adapt quickly and explore new styles of storytelling.
They also allowed me to experiment with different character types and tones within the horror genre. Every set teaches you something new, whether it’s technical skills, emotional range, or simply learning how to collaborate with new creative teams.
Me: With frequent work often bringing opportunities to collaborate with friends and colleagues on multiple projects, does that help make grueling shoots more enjoyable?
SM: Absolutely. Lately, I’ve been getting some pretty dramatic roles, and to really portray those characters, I sometimes have to go to some dark, emotional places. Having friends on set, other actors, and even some directors, really helps bring me back after those scenes. Especially when you go from a traumatic scene to a happy one and then back to something intense again. Having that support system makes a huge difference. Fragmented Mind by Ronald Black and Chris Avellino is a perfect example of this.
Me: Your most recent project, “Blur,” sees you playing Mya. What can you tell us about the film?
SM: Oh my gosh, I love this role! The film is directed by Harley Wallen, who also directed Finding Nicole. I actually did a review of that film, and it’s a real emotional gut punch for domestic violence survivors like myself, but it’s also very empowering.
Blur focuses on the dynamics within an abusive relationship. It really plays with the audience’s perception by blurring the line between consent and force. One moment, you might think someone willingly went along with something, and the next moment, you realize it may actually have been abuse.
That’s exactly what the film aims to do: blur the lines between consent and reality in a relationship.
I play Mya, the best friend of Jenny, in a co-starring role.
Me: What initially attracted you to the role? Was there a role in your past that helped get you into the proper mindset during filming?
SM: I was actually asked to play this character, which was such an honor.
Mya has a very positive energy. She’s the supportive best friend who wants everyone to succeed and genuinely cares about the people in her life. That’s very much who I am in real life as well.
I always want the people around me to succeed and thrive. And honestly, I wish I had a friend like Mya when I was in a toxic and abusive relationship.
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?
SM: Years of being in the military, working as a correctional officer in a medium-maximum prison, and being a mom have helped me develop the ability to “turn my emotions on and off.”
Is it the healthiest coping mechanism? Probably not. But it does help me switch between myself and my characters quickly while filming.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
SM: The set was wonderful. Everyone was vibrant, caring, and full of life.
We all understood that the story involves some very intense scenes, and several actors, especially Kaiti and Damien, had to go to some very dark places emotionally. Because of that, I think everyone became very attentive to each other’s energy.
If you know someone is going through something difficult, you try to lift them up, and it was the same on set. When those intense scenes were finished, we tried to be supportive and uplifting.
I can’t speak for everyone’s personal experience, of course, but we all knew what we were signing up for. At the end of the day, we all wanted to shine a light not only on toxic relationships but also on the fact that people can get out of those situations and rebuild their lives.
Me: Do you recall any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or other cast or crew members?
SM: I didn’t have a lot on this set because I was only there for three days, and most of the time was spent filming, so there wasn’t much downtime.
However, I do want to share something that really stuck with me. Tessa Hawkes made a comment to me that helped with some of my insecurities. I had some cute tops in the movie that showed a little cleavage and stomach, and I asked her, since she was also helping with wardrobe, if I should button up my jacket because, as I joked, I’m “thicker than a Snickers.”
She told me she loved the look with the jacket open and said she wants to promote seeing more women with curves on screen. She reminded me that Hollywood isn’t just for skinny women, and that made me feel really seen.
Me: Beyond these features, what else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
SM: I’m also working on a series called The Devil’s Dancers. I actually received two Best Actress awards for my role in it. The series is directed by Jason Hough.
My human character is Lily, and my demon character is Ardat. The demons in the series are based on real folklore, which I think is incredibly cool.
I also appeared in a mini-series by Sublimation Sinema called The Misfortune Of. My episode is on YouTube and is titled The Misfortune of Sammy Morningstar. I love the concept of this series. Someone opens a fortune cookie, and the “misfortune” written inside is what ends up happening in the episode.
Shout-out to the director and one of my best friends now, Jered (Seth) Adam.
I’m also hoping to get back on Chicago P.D and am in talks for a few projects with K. Cornell Kellum, although I can’t share details yet because they’re not officially set in stone.
Me: Lastly, since this is our Women in Horror Movement, what message do you have for women looking to join the industry in any capacity?
SM: My biggest message is to stay true to yourself.
This industry requires thick skin. There can be a lot of competitiveness and insecurity, especially in the indie scene, but if you believe in yourself and keep pushing forward, you will succeed.
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