Amelia Eve on Netflix’s The Haunting Of Bly Manor
AMELIA EVE can currently be seen in The Haunting Of Bly Manor on Netflix.
The story tells of a young governess hired by a man to look after his niece and nephew at the family country house after they fall into his care. Arriving at the Bly estate, she begins to see apparitions that proceed to haunt the premises.
We caught up with Amelia Eve to find out more about the Netflix horror series.
Photography by Joseph Sinclair
AC: What can audiences expect from The Haunting Of Bly Manor?
AMELIA EVE – For it to challenge everything you thought you knew about the horror genre. Flanagan masterfully gives horror a whole new face, so to speak.
AC: How does your character fit into the story?
AMELIA EVE – Jamie is the groundskeeper at Bly. She may seem a little frosty at first, but give her time, she’s a good egg really.
AC: What do you think is your character’s ultimate goal?
AMELIA EVE – To love without fear.
AC: Can you recall any funny moments from on-set filming?
AMELIA EVE – Having a dance-off with Amelie [Flora], Ben [Miles] and T’Nia [Hannah] in the dining room between set-ups.
AC: As an actor, what are you still trying to learn?
AMELIA EVE – Why humans do what they do. The answer is infinite. Every person, experience, success or failure we encounter has the capacity to teach us something new.
AC: How can you tell when you’re reading a great script?
AMELIA EVE – When I’ve made a cup of tea and let it go cold because I can’t put the script down.
AC: When did you begin to see acting as a potential career avenue?
AMELIA EVE – Three years ago, when I realised I would rather risk failure than stay in the unfulfilling safety net I had created for myself.
AC: What do you want the world to look like in 10 years?
AMELIA EVE – Healthy, inclusive, fruitful and loving.
AC: How important is social media to you right now?
AMELIA EVE – It’s been one of the only ways we’ve gotten to see the impact our work has had on people, so for that, I am very grateful. But ultimately, I try to keep my social media usage to a minimum. Life is too short to lose a day on your phone.
AC: What’s the biggest realisation you’ve had this past year?
AMELIA EVE – That the best thing about having an enormous bunch of flowers is getting to share them.
After shooting Jamie’s final scene in The Haunting, there were a load of flower arrangements leftover from set design. As one of the cast, I got to take a bunch home with me. The bouquet was enormous! Everyone I passed on my way back to the trailer (security, ADs, extras, drivers) fell in love with these flowers, so I encouraged them to take out a few for themselves. By the time I got home, my bouquet was maybe half the size, but it meant so much more knowing that so many others had gotten to share their beauty. This realisation has taken on a much greater meaning for me and my future goals.
AC: Everyone seems to have an app idea at the moment, what’s yours?
AMELIA EVE – Okay, going rogue here. An app that identifies when you’re being subconsciously manipulated, whether that’s by the news, an advert, a piece of art or another person. It couldn’t exactly undo all social conditioning from the last 400 years, but it could shed some light on the current state of society and potentially hinder further damage.
AC: What makes you feel nostalgic?
AMELIA EVE – Egg, chips and beans. Anytime of day, anytime of year.
AC: Aside from your upcoming projects, what are you excited about for the future?
AMELIA EVE – Seeing how the positive changes being made in the film industry today are going to inspire future generations to love themselves for who they are.
