SIDE-NOTE: Leviticus is a horror film. Was there anything about working in that genre that surprised you?

Stacy Clausen: It’s interesting. Going into it, because I hadn’t done horror before, I was wondering how much of a toll it might take on me. I was pushing my body in ways I haven’t really done before. But because the environment was so amazing, it made it really easy and really fun to film those horror moments and to be scary.

SN: What helps you get into the headspace for a role?

SC: Music is a massive thing. It’s a big part of my life and kind of a second passion of mine. There’s so much of it, and so many different genres you can use to reach different emotions.

SN: Do you build playlists for characters? If so, what was on the playlist for Leviticus?

SC: Yeah, every character has a Spotify playlist. There was quite a lot that was different between me and the character, so the music and the vibe were pretty important. I listened to a lot of Tame Impala – there’s so much atmospheric stuff that brings a lot of emotion with it. But there was also some Bruce Springsteen, some oldies – more country-town, kind of what that kid would be listening to.

SN: What do you find hardest as an actor – and what comes naturally?

SC: I try to be really positive and happy in my everyday life, take it in my stride and keep moving. So when I’m facing characters that are really different to that – angry a lot, or embarrassed a lot – that can be hard, be – cause I don’t have much to base it off within my own life. What comes naturally is my love for working with people. I love people in general.

SN: What kinds of stories are you drawn to?

SC: I’m drawn to something that challenges me and pushes my abilities – it’s boring if we’re not being challenged. I seek out any script that pushes me beyond what I think I can do. I’m also drawn to morally ambiguous characters – where the audience has to decide, based on their values, whether they like the person or not. People’s opinions going either way is really inter – esting to me.

SN: Was there a job where you thought, “This might change my life”?

SC: You never know how a project is going to perform until it comes out. But Leviticus was one of the best scripts I’ve ever had put in front of me. Meeting Adrian [Chiarella, the film’s writer-director] and the producers behind it, Causeway Films – with The Babadook, Talk to Me and Bring Her Back – everything was coming together. Then Sundance came around and we managed to squeeze into that. As soon as I read the script and was on set working with those people, I thought, “This job could really be some – thing special.”

SN: What’s been your biggest career highlight so far?

SC: There are a couple. I think my favourite things are the experiences I’ve had on specific projects. I did this film – it’s now called Shiver – which is coming out mid-year. That project was really crazy. There was lots of water involved, so filming every day in the water, the whole crew in wetsuits… there were some cool sequences I got to do that were really, really fun. And then Leviticus, which is premiering very soon.

SN: That’s right, because as we’re speaking, you’re about to head to the Sundance Film Festival.

SC: I’m flying in two days. We premiere on Friday in the Midnight section. I haven’t seen the film in its entirety yet, so I’ll see it for the first time at the premiere – and do all the extra stuff that comes with it: promoting and talking about it. We’ll see what people think very soon.