THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR’S AMELIA EVE ON HER SIMILARITIES WITH JAMIE

Rising star AMELIA EVE plays Jamie in Netflix’s THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR, the follow-up series to The Haunting of Hill House and is the second entry in The Haunting anthology series. The audience initially sees Jamie open up to the house’s new au pair, Dani, who is played by Victoria Pedretti.

PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSEPH SINCLAIR, HAIR & MAKEUP: NADIA ALTINBAS

Jamie is a character specifically created for the series (not based on the works of Henry James) so EVE was able to weave a relatable character amidst the spooky and cryptic atmosphere of the show.

In this exclusive interview, AMELIA EVE gives us a peek into her character Jamie, how it was to play the role, the challenges she faced while filming, acting journey so far and her dog walking business with her sister.

With several acting projects on the horizon, Eve is definitely someone to watch out for.

How was Jamie’s evolution throughout the episodes of the show?

Jamie is introduced to the audience as a self-confident skeptic who prefers plants to people. She is an observer in many ways, and tries not to pass judgment on her fellow Bly residents. As the series progresses we realize how caring and compassionate she can be, often choosing to empower those around her. Mostly untouched by the strangeness of Bly, she remains a grounding force throughout the series. 

How different is Bly Manor from Hill House?

The Haunting seasons one and two are similar in many ways and completely different in others. Both focus on an ensemble of characters dealing with very human traumas amidst the horror genre. Children play a huge part in both seasons, and while Hill House plays on the manifestation of childhood fears, Bly Manor heralds the bravery that can be often overlooked.

What’s the best part about playing Jamie?

As Jamie was one of the only characters created specifically for the show - i.e. not based on the works of Henry James - I had the honor of getting to collaborate with Mike Flanagan on her backstory and development. I loved researching the period, working out how she acquired her handyman skills, merging aspects of my mum’s childhood with gut feelings to form this very real and relatable human.

What’s unique about the show?

The way in which Mike has weaved multiple complex storylines, pulling from various sources to create a gothic romance encompassed in the horror genre, is pretty special. I think there will be points where you will almost forget you are watching a horror at all. The human relationships and the personal struggles are so honest and relatable that it serves as a reminder of how human this genre can be.

Do you like scary films/shows? 

I really enjoy scary shows/films that aren’t your typical gory slashers. I like shows with a twist, something that keeps you guessing and highlights the humanity in both good and evil characters. 

What scares you?

In life I tend to try and rationalize most fears, similar to Jamie I guess. When I was at university I used to have to walk through a graveyard to get to my house and it was never really the idea of ghosts or the dead that scared me, it was more the thought of a living person hiding behind a grave. People have the capacity to be scarier than any imaginary monsters.

What are the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming?

Joining The Haunting of Bly Manor as a series lead and shooting in Vancouver was a massive high, right off the bat. Getting to work with and learn from the likes of Rahul, T’nia, Ollie and Victoria was an honor. Every day I set out to become a sponge whilst on set, to observe and absorb as much as I possibly could from my fellow creatives. 

Only getting to read the first couple of episodes and trying to form a character without knowing some of her plot twists was a little challenging at the start, especially as the episodes jump around in time a fair bit. However, Mike gave me a few of the big reveals early on and I was able to make some informed decisions based on these. 

How did you manage to rise above the challenges?

One way I managed to overcome this lack of foresight was to let go a little, which really helped. I usually like to know as much of the full picture as possible, but following my gut proved more fruitful than anything.

Everyone’s process is different and each has their unique approach to things. Can you walk us through your creative process whenever you go and film a scene?

My process changes and develops depending on the project, the character and the scene I’m working on. I don’t have any one clear ritual that I do before a take, but I usually flick back through my notes and pick out where my character’s head is at before they enter the scene. I also find music really helps me get into a certain headspace, so I often create a playlist for the characters I work on - Jamie’s in particular was a real treat!

Out of all the roles that you’ve played, is there any character that resonated the most with you and why?

Most definitely Jamie! She is full of contradictions, just like me. From the moment I read her character description I knew we were going to get along. Described as preferring plants to people, I would have said the same about myself but with dogs instead. The irony of both of us is that we actually love humans, we love the complexities of them, but we love them so much that it's exhausting and that’s why we chose to devote our energies to innocents: dogs and plants. Jamie is tough, confident and pragmatic on the outside, but soft, caring and a little dreamy deep down. Since lockdown I have realized more and more just how similar Jamie and I really are, and how much I absolutely love gardening!

Aside from acting, what else keeps you busy?

Alongside acting, I also run a dog walking business with my sister called The Fairy Dogmothers (@the.fairy.dogmothers). I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built and when I’m not on set filming I cannot wait to be rolling around in the dirt again with my pups.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

I would be one of those Goosebumps books where you get to choose the ending, because it represents the perfect balance of fatalism and autonomy. I firmly believe we are in control of our own destiny, and yet I love not knowing where this life is going to take me.

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The Haunting of Bly Manor is now streaming on NETFLIX