Interview by Carol Wright | Photo credit: Heather the Collective
We got to chat with actress Marcelle LeBlanc about her role in Fear Street: 1978 and her advice for aspiring actors.
What initially sparked your interest in acting?
I started in community theatre when I was 11 and absolutely fell in love with it. The first production I ever did was Annie, and I was beyond shocked when I found out I had been cast as the title role!! I had never tried it before, and found an acting coach that could help prepare me for the role! She introduced me to film and television, and the rest…. Well, I think you know haha!
You play Becky in Fear Street: 1978. What did you do to step into Becky’s shoes?
I absolutely loved getting to play Becky!! I had never played a bully before, so it was really fun to create this character! I watched a lot of mean girls to prepare, and based Becky on a mixture of that, and mean girls I encountered in High School.
In Fear Street: 1978 everyone is attending Camp Nightwing for the summer. What was the environment like on set? Did it truly feel like summer camp? (outside of the murders of course)
It really did feel like a summer camp!! We filmed it in the middle of summer, so the heat was definitely real haha!! We really were having a blast every day, and I made some of the best friendships on set. I couldn’t wait to go to set every day!
This was your first time working in the horror genre. What did you learn while working on Fear Street: 1978?
I learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes in horror, which I loved!! It was really interesting to see how they do all of the murders behind the scenes!! I don’t want to say too much to ruin the movie magic, but I will say that the fake blood was so cool!!
Tell our readers about your nonprofit S.T.A.R.S. How can they get involved?
My parents have always instilled in me “to whom much is given, much is expected.” The arts have given me so much, and I was desperate to find a way to give back. That’s why I founded S.T.A.R.S., which stands for Supporting The Arts through Resource and Scholarship. This is an organization that provides the necessary funds for students aged 5-18 to get involved in after-school arts programs. I know just how much the arts impact students’ lives, and I don’t want anyone to have to miss out on it because of a lack of funds or resources. I have made it my mission to ensure that no kid has to miss out on the life-changing power of arts education.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
The best advice I have for aspiring actors is to be in it for the long haul. This is not a career that happens overnight, so you have to genuinely love your craft, and be willing to stick it out because I promise it’ll be worth it.