I had the chance to sit down with rising star Chloe East to discuss her role in the much-anticipated horror film “Heretic.” The 23-year-old actress holds her own opposite seasoned veteran Hugh Grant in the chilling new thriller.
Chloe East brings nuance to her Mormon missionary role. Before reading the script for “Heretic,” Chloe East was worried the film would be “just another hate fest toward Mormonism.” But she was pleasantly surprised to find that the story was more complex, using the religious premise as a setup for a tense character study.
“I went through the script and was like, Oh, this is actually not about Mormonism. This is just a fantastic setup for this terrible circumstance and character dynamics,” says East.
As one of the two Mormon missionaries at the center of the film, East was determined to portray her character, Sister Paxton, with authenticity and respect. Having personal connections to the Mormon faith, East felt a responsibility to get the details right.
“I am familiar with these characters; I understand [my character] Sister Paxton extremely well—you don’t even need to explain it to me.” That’s deeply ingrained in my being; I have a wealth of resources at my disposal,” East clarifies. “I really wanted to respect my missionary friends and [reflect] a true representation of Mormon missionaries.”
Hugh Grant Embraces His Sinister Side While East and her co-star Sophie Thatcher had a chance to get to know each other during the casting process, the two young actresses didn’t meet their more experienced counterpart, Hugh Grant, until they were on set in Vancouver.
“I just felt this feeling of, ‘I can’t relate to this guy at all,'” I said, referring to Hugh, who was the most British Brit I had ever encountered. What am I even going to talk to him about?” East recalls.
However, East quickly dispelled any initial apprehension by praising Grant’s performance in the film “The Gentleman.” From that first encounter, East says the trio worked together seamlessly, united in their mission to bring the unsettling story to life.
“There’s no superiority; he’s here because he wants to make a fantastic movie. It was also comforting to know that he shared the same feelings as Sophie and I: “How are we going to accomplish this?”
Critics have praised Grant’s unexpected turn as the film’s antagonist, a seemingly friendly neighbor who reveals a more sinister agenda. Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods say they knew from the start that Grant was the perfect fit for the complex role. “As soon as we thought about him, we were like, ‘This has to be Hugh Grant,'” says Beck. “We could only envision Hugh Grant in this role, as he fulfilled all the necessary requirements.”
A Multi-Talented Year for Chloe East The premiere of “Heretic” at the Toronto International Film Festival is just the latest milestone in a breakout year for Chloe East. The actress has several other high-profile projects in the works, including a role in the upcoming Netflix drama “No Good Deed” and a part in the Kogonada-directed film “Big Bold Beautiful Journey” alongside Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell.
“Everyone says everything happens for a reason and everything’s meant to be, but this is kind of the year of really feeling that,” says East. “Everything I’ve been working toward and on has led up to this moment.”
East’s journey to acting was not a straightforward one. She originally wanted to be a ballerina, booking dance projects and commercials before an agent convinced her to focus on acting. Her first major role came at age 11, when she landed a part in the HBO series “True Blood.”
“When I arrived on set, I had an epiphany. This craft service is so nice. I have my own trailer. They treat me so nice. “I aspire to pursue this endeavor further,” East remembers. Indeed, it was the craft service and the seaweed snacks that initially drew me into acting.
Now, with the release of “Heretic” and several other high-profile films on the horizon, East is poised for an even bigger breakout in the years to come. Viewers should closely monitor this emerging talent.