Not long ago, I had the chance to talk to Elisabeth Rosen, the actress playing Madeleine in "Cult of Chucky", the patient at the Harrogate Psychiatric Hospital that views the doll as her baby.
She was kind enough to answer my questions for the site and especially for the French fans of Chucky, a country she particularly loves.
Meeting with a talented and sympathetic actress who reveals more about her career and the realization of the seventh film of the Chucky series.
How have you been selected for Madeleine's role?
I was selected to play Madeline by the creator of the Chucky series Don Mancini. Fantastic human being and a wonderful director.
I called my very hard working agent and said I really wanted a unique script and she suggested cult.
Originally they asked me to look at Claire, the character who ends up being played so well by Grace Lynn Kung.
Her character set fire to her husbands home after she was cheated on in the script.
Was playing Madeleine a difficult role?
I saw Madeline though and I somehow knew it was my role. Madeline was so wonderful, sweet and haunted. Unusual for a character in horror, plus she loved children so much. I felt like she was a character out of a fairytale trapped in time. Madeline adores Chucky so much. The only character in the franchise to spend time with Chucky and care for him. Even Jennifer Tilly's character Tiffany is his romantic partner. Madeline loves Chucky more than even Andy did in the original. I wanted to create a character that every fan Would love that loved Chucky.
Don Mancini is a wonderful Director and I loved the script. We spoke on the phone and were immediately on the same page with his vision.
Was there a good atmosphere on the set?
We filmed in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada in January and into February in minus 40 weather. Thankfully most of our filming was inside. We had a fantastic atmosphere. Our costume designer Patty Henderson was a dream. The hair and make up people were amazing. I wish I could Name everyone Involved.
I knew no one in Winnipeg so my hair artists Stacey and Travis took me in like family. The cast were all so talented. We all got along, only good energy with everyone. Because of my character, most of every scene was with Chucky so I became more Connected with the amazing person who created the Chuckys ( Tony Gardner) and his team of puppeteers. They sat in every set hidden from the camera, so they were camped out with me most of the time I was on set.
On the set, you probably saw how Chucky was animated, is it fascinating to see how the dol lis brought to life? Doesn’t it « ruin » the « magic » for you?
Seeing the many chuckys come to life only enhances Chucky's magic. It takes more than you can imagine to bring him to life. Chucky is the star of the film, of the franchise. I still feel blessed I got to spend so much time with Chucky, most people never even get to touch him.
I got to have such an experience with this project.
Working with Chucky was actually one of the best experiences I have had.
The team involved in creating him are so intelligent and talented. It takes a lot of patience and focus.
Is it difficult to play in front of a doll animated by a whole crew?
To work with Chucky, I just knew to be as zen as possible.
I do a lot of meditation in my life so I just remembered to relax.
He is the star.
How many dolls were required in total to « play » yours ?
I worked with at least five different Chuckys in the film.
During your career, you played tens of different roles, which ones marked you the most? do you have any particular attachment for horror movies?
Each was unique. I have been blessed with always having unusual things in almost every role.
I have some how ended up in a few horror films because the directors are so imaginative.
I seek out directors who are very smart, supportive and talented. Horror is such a unique way for people to explore their shadow. These directors are very compassionate people.
So blessed to have the experience of working with Chris Carter from x files and many other Syfy projects.
Syfy and horror require a certain type of performer because often it’s about seeing within what they add later in special effects. Fear is a powerful telling tool.
For me I am more a fan of Hitchcock suspense than gory horror. Still, the Chucky experience was amazing.
My death scene was such an unexpected experience.
We didn’t plan that the whole arm would go down my throat.
I am lucky I have no gag reflex. 😊
In Cult of Chucky, your character is drawing sketches of Chucky, is it you who really made them?
I wish I could say the drawings were made by me... Alas no. We had a great art department and they crafted every piece of the art etc.
About Madeleine's death, do you think Chucky killed her because he had compassion towards her or because he wanted to get revenge from being "killed" and buried?
When we filmed it, what we felt was that the by leaving it open the fans can decide. Both endings are possible. Don the director was very vague, for all we know the child Madeline lost may not have even been real. The original script had the nurses as more evil characters so it’s possible that Madeline like Nica was manipulated into believing she had lost a child so the psychiatrist could make her unable to cope with Chucky came, so Dr. Foley could drug and use her. I felt that because Madeline felt such guilt over hurting Chucky and could not kill her self because she was afraid of going to hell, she was praying and made herself a sacrifice to Chucky as an offering to make up for not being a perfect mother. Major guilt as all mothers must feel over not being the ideal mother. On a human level every mother at some point would feel unable to meet the emotional needs of her child especially if it was her first born child and the guilt that goes with it. All horror is about the extreme exploration of the shadow and wounding.
Do you have your own Chucky with you?
I do not as of yet have “my own Chucky”, which is good because I leave the character behind when the film is over. Madeline belongs to Don Mancini and to the fans.
I learned about your passion for chocolate, what do you like about it?
I did make this incredible chocolate that I brought on the plane for Don, the costume designers, hair and make up etc.
The chocolate helped create bliss and euphoria when people were on set. Winter in such cold weather can be exhausting.
What would you like to say to yours and Chucky’s French fans?
Every fan of the Chucky series is special. We are all so grateful. The whole time we filmed I thought of what would resonate for the fan base. Because it has been around so long and is so specific as a series. I want every fan to know how much we think of them when we film.
It seems you have a particular attachment to France, could you let us know why?
Many of the projects I have worked on have a massive French fan base. I am of French descent so I am very happy about this. In the future I want to work with more French directors and in French as well. I adore French cinema because of how it explores human emotions at such a complex level. One of my favorite actresses is Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Hubert, Juliette Binoche, and Alain Delon, Gerard Depardieu. My favorite directors are Jean Pierre Melville, Louis Malle, Truffaut, Luc Besson and jean Luc Goddard and Claire Dennis So many incredible talents from France Always in awe.
I remember being in Cannes one year for the festival and being welcomed so warmly by the French. Taken to parties where all the famous French actresses were all beautifully dressed and so supportive of each other. All the men worshipping their beauty and intelligence regardless of their age. I saw Fanny Ardent dressed in this incredible dress and of course as a young actress I was under dressed, every French actress was so sweet. No Arrogance at all.
A big thank you to Elisabeth Rosen for her kindness, and for the time she kindly granted myself and all of her fans by answering these questions.
Check out Cult of Chucky trailer and buy the movie on Amazon :
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