Alisha Weir on the Ballerina and the Beast Inside Abigail

We were recently joined by Alisha Weir, who jumped at the rare chance to play a ballerina vampire in horror film, Abigail. In early rehearsals with the film’s choreographer, ballet became more and more of the bloodthirsty Abigail’s personality and movement style.  Though Alisha came to the role with years of training in various dance styles, she had never gone on pointe before, so she spent months leading up to filming strengthening her feet in order to confidently don pointe shoes in the film’s opening scene. Dance wasn’t the only technical aspect to master for the role: Alisha also worked with a dialect coach to hone an American accent, and practiced speaking while wearing custom-made prosthetic vampire teeth.  

Alisha delighted in playing the transformation from victim to villain, and was excited to play a character that shows such a full spectrum of emotion.  She worked closely with Abigail directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett to bring elements of playfulness and vulnerability to the character, all while nailing her complicated stunts.  Though she was sometimes nervous on set for her first film as the only young actor amongst adults, she felt supported by her cast at all times and learned so much from watching them work.

Watch the full conversation below.

After a group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they're locked inside with no normal little girl.