Maika Monroe is opening up about her experience as an actress and the challenges she faced that almost made her reconsider her career.
The Longlegs star, 31, shared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on Tuesday, July 9, that she considered leaving acting after encountering a series of negative experiences. She expressed feeling “overworked” during the early stages of her career.
“I was in a phase where I wanted to take every job, and it felt like that was what I had to do,” Monroe shared. “I worked on a series of films consecutively, and unfortunately, not all of them were positive experiences.” There are both positive and negative aspects.
The actress expressed her growing disillusionment with her chosen career path.
“It’s an unconventional profession and operates within a unique industry, often accompanied by a certain level of obscurity.” So I was in a mental state where I felt that things were no longer going well for me. “And so I just needed to take a moment to disconnect,” she said.
Monroe discovered a renewed love for acting through her role in the 2018 comedy horror film Villains, helmed by the talented duo of Dan Berk and Robert Olsen. The actress reunited with the filmmakers once more for the 2022 horror movie Significant Other, starring alongside Jake Lacy.
“This industry and this job can be quite challenging, mentally, and I simply needed to take a break and then reenter.” I’m currently having amazing experiences working on movies that resonate with people. As a result, I’ve learned the importance of taking my time, being patient, and being selective in the projects I choose. This approach has been crucial for me,” she explained.
During the interview, Monroe shared her experience of meeting with director-writer Osgood “Oz” Perkins regarding a potential role in the upcoming horror movie Longlegs, set to release in 2024.
The actress remembered leaving the meeting with Perkins feeling optimistic, only to later be informed by her team that the director had doubts about her suitability for the role.
“And I insisted, ‘No! I must portray this character.’ Occasionally, you may be given a script. She expressed a strong belief in its necessity.
“I discussed it with my team.” I was thinking, ‘What options do I have?’ I will submit a recording. I am willing to do whatever is necessary. “So I ended up selecting a couple of scenes from the script and submitted a tape,” she continued, “and that’s how I landed the job.”
Now, she takes on the role of FBI agent Lee Harker in the movie, starring alongside Nicolas Cage as the notorious serial killer. According to the official synopsis, in the movie, Lee discovers a series of occult clues that she must solve in order to put an end to his horrifying killing spree.
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Monroe has gained recognition in the horror movie genre, thanks to her role in the 2014 cult classic It Follows. It is anticipated that she will return to her role in the upcoming sequel.
In 2015, Monroe had a conversation with PEOPLE about her role in her debut horror film.
“It presented significant challenges.” I didn’t anticipate the challenges that come with creating a horror film, particularly this specific movie. Every day was filled with a whirlwind of emotions: intense outbursts, frantic movements, and tears, just to name a few. She described the experience as emotionally and physically draining, but emphasized the uniqueness of the individuals involved.
The highly anticipated film Longlegs is scheduled to hit theaters on July 12, 2024.