Ashley Bell in The Last Exorcism Part II
Ashley Bell returns to the big screen this week as she reprises the role of Nell Sweetzer in The Last Exorcism Part II.
We caught up with the actress to chat about the film, the development of the character and making her directorial debut.
- The Last Exorcism Part II is released here in the UK this week so can you tell me a little bit about the movie this time around?
Part two is a continuation of Nell’s story. At the end of part one you don’t really know what has happened to Nell Sweetzer and this one picks up where that left off. She is found in a strange house and she doesn’t know what happened to her or where she came from.
We see this girl brought into New Orleans where there is temptation and sin everywhere; this is a girl who doesn’t even know what an iPod is. Here she is immersed in Sin City and she has to choose between good and evil.
- You are back as Nell so what was it about this character that drew you to the part originally? And what made you want to return?
Growing up I have always marvelled at the exorcism movies and what the actors get to go through when they are playing a character like that. You are playing the devil and so you get to play a huge range of everything where nothing is off limits.
I was really attracted to Nell when I first read the script as this is a girl that is from a backwards town in New Orleans. So it I was left with questions about her such as ‘what hasn’t she seen?’ And ‘what music hasn’t she heard?’ And ‘what dancing has she not been privy to?’ And then you switch to Abalam, the devil that inhabits her, it is the ultimate.
Daniel Stamm was an incredible director for the first film and he just said ‘do you have any ideas?’ And you never get asked that. I showed that back bend and he was like ‘I am going to tweak some things’; I had no idea that it was going to be the poster image.
- So, without giving too much away, can you talk a bit about Nell and how we are going to see her develop further throughout this second movie?
Nell has a really interesting relationship with this devil in this one as the devil very meticulously places temptations in front of her; we don’t know where they are coming from and we don’t know how they are originating.
We see if falls for them or if she is lured by them in almost this dance with the devil.
- Both of the films are horror/exorcism films so did you watch any other movies in this genre to prepare? Or did you choose to stay away from things that have been made before?
Preparing from part one Daniel Stamm told me to watch everything but don’t do that (laughs). It is always so important to do something different and have a different take on this story.
That is what I think is so incredibly about Strike Entertainment, Studio Canal and Eli Roth, who is the producer for both films, as they know the genre so well and because they know it they can break all of the rules and play with it.
This one packs a surprise at the end that I don’t think audiences will see coming; it is another signature of Eli Roth.
- Ed Gass-Donnelly is in the director's chair this time around so how did you find working with him? And what kind of director is he?
Ed was wonderful to work with; he did a film called Small Town Murder Songs that won all sorts of awards. His attention to detail was so exquisite.
Because most of the story takes part in New Orleans he really embraced New Orleans and embraced voodoo exorcisms and that whole culture. So it is a continuation of Nell’s story but there are tons of new elements at play.
- I was reading that you did all of the physical effects yourself so how challenging was that experience? But also how much was it something that you enjoyed - getting in there and working closely with the stunt crew?
Absolutely. It is something that I enjoy - that might be satanic of me (laughs). Because of the creative space that Eli and Daniel created that I did all of my own stunts for the first one.
And it was so important for me to be able to do that again for this one just to… within reason I love living as the character in the confines of the set.
So there is this levitating back bend in part two that I did and I definitely have the stress fracture to prove it (laughs). I got signed off for about five time but we went for eighteen (laughs). It do consider it a war wound - no doubt I will regret that when I am eighty (laughs).
- There is also a completely new cast for the film so how vital has the new injection of energy been for this film?
It has been really incredible. Ed stacked up a beautiful cast to work with including Julia Garner, we play best friends with a little something on the side, and she is a marvellous actor. Spencer Treat Clark is incredible, we had a lot of scenes together and I just loved playing opposite him.
Lois Herthum plays my father returned and he was such a staple of the first film and it really was a pleasure to work with him again.
- Eli Roth is back in a producing role and you have said already that he really does know this genre so how comforting is it to know that you are in such expert hands?
It allows for everyone to really just immerse themselves on set. When you are working under Eli’s gaze of Eli’s umbrella it allows everybody to take the worry out and just be creative and fully throw yourself into the role and into the world and go for it. It is great to be able to have fun scaring people (laughs).
- The Last Exorcism marked you feature film debut back in 2010 so how have you found the transition into feature film?
It was an incredible film to break out in and I went on to nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and an MTV Award. It has been an incredibly opportunity to continue the role of Nell.
It has also been exciting because the role was so physical and required a transformation it has allowed me to transform for other characters and jump genres.
I have had the chance to do a great apocalyptic film called The Day and I will be coming in a romantic comedy called The Bounce Back; that has been so much fun as it has just allowed me to switch gears.
I am also hopping behind the camera for the first time and directing a documentary called Love and Bananas; it is about the plight of the Asian elephants in Cambodia.
- Well that was my next question you are also stepping into the director's chair with a new project Love and Bananas so can you tell me a little bit about that and why this project is so important to you?
Elephants are truly magnificent creatures I got the chance to go to Cambodia in January and watch the release of the first two Asian elephants onto the Cambodian Wildlife Sanctuary. They are so self aware, they are so sensitive and they really do mourn the death of their pack.
To see these creatures and to learn that there are no more wild Asian elephants left in Cambodia and that they could be extinct by 2020 it threw me for a loop; it was horrifying to hear that. Here there is a rescue and it is beautiful but this might be the end of this species.
I thought ‘I have to do something. I want to film a documentary and I want to film a release of elephants and have a message to give straight to the youth’. The world is in their hands and they really can change something before this creature becomes extinct.
- How have the found the directing and producing side of making a movie?
It is very much my first time. Elephants are great as they never forget their lines - sorry, a horrible joke (laughs). I have absolutely loved it as it has just been incredible.
I am working with a great team called Change For Balance - they are a documentary film crew - and we did preliminary filming in January and it was one of the most exciting trips and experiences that I have been a part of. I can’t wait to finish fundraising and finish the film.
- Is moving into the director's chair something that you have always been interested in? Can you see yourself taking on more directing projects?
It is definitely something that I have been fascinated by. This is a very initial step and there is so much more for me to learn about it.
I studied directing briefly at Cambridge University and NYU and I really enjoyed it. It has always fascinated me and I have always been in awe of it. I am excited to have my metal tested.
- Throughout your career so far we have seen you move from TV to shorts as well as feature films and now the director’s chair so how do all of the mediums compare? And how does working in one inform working in another?
They all completely inform everything else. I always say that the work is the life in between jobs and being on set is like vacation for me.
When you are on set you have such wonderful access to directors, cinematographers, lighting, costumes, graphic design and set design and it is such a wonderful environment to be in as there is such intense creativity.
I love being on set and seeing what everyone is up to , being nosey and asking questions (laughs). They all interconnect for sure.
- Finally what is next for you?
Well I am signed on to a couple of films, which I am sworn to secrecy about. But what I can talk about is the documentary Love And Bananas and if you are interested you can check it out at loveandbananas.com - we have a trailer and the story behind the film.
The Last Exorcism Part II is released 7th June.