With projects like ICE CREAM MAN, The Westies, and The Bookie and the Bruiser, Karen Cliche is entering a renewed and high-energy chapter in her artistic journey. In the interview, the actress reflects on reuniting with Eli Roth in the horror world, the intensity of returning to acting in a very different stage of life, and the way motherhood, courage, and vulnerability reshaped her relationship with work and the roles she chooses.
You are going through a very strong moment in your career with projects like ICE CREAM MAN, The Westies, and The Bookie and the Bruiser. How would you describe this stage of your journey?
It is so exciting after such a long break to raise my daughter. And to come back older, more determined, and also more vulnerable, is interesting. I feel like my career had Part 1, and now I am living Part 2. I can’t compare the two, and realize rebuilding momentum takes a while but I am so happy with the projects I have been involved in so far.
In ICE CREAM MAN, you reunite with Eli Roth in a highly anticipated new slasher. What was it like working with him again and stepping into such an intense horror world?
I absolutely love working with Eli. In Thanksgiving he roasted me alive in an oven, and now I play his wife, so I guess this is an upgrade of sorts! Since working with him and meeting fans at conventions, I really have grown to appreciate the genre and love how hard you have to push yourself as an actor in these films. Eli is so passionate about horror and so creative, it is inspiring and addictive!
After already making your mark in titles like Saw VI and Thanksgiving, what draws you most to horror and suspense as an actress?
I love the challenge of selling the terror, because you really want to do the film justice and evoke strong emotions with the audience- that’s what horror fans love, the intensity and escape. It’s nothing you can ‘phone in”, you really have to be present, imagine it, feel it and sell it. No lazy acting here!
In The Westies, you step into a crime drama surrounded by major names like J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver. What excited you most about that project and this new television world?
I wanted this role from the moment I auditioned for it. It was originally much longer than what ended up in the show, but Lina is feisty, tough and scared and I loved putting on a bit of an Italian New York accent. And of course, being directed by Alan Taylor and alongside an incredible cast was such an honor!
Your career spans cult television series, genre films, and now major new productions. How do you feel you have evolved as an actress across those different chapters?
I look back on my career fondly. Having had the opportunity to play such cool, tough, physical roles the I was younger and travelling around the world ( we shot some of Adventure Inc in Bristol UK) and now coming back at such a different phase of life where I am so much more comfortable with vulnerability – I feel very lucky to have such a wide range of opportunities.
You stepped away for a time to embrace motherhood and then returned with great momentum. How did that personal experience transform your relationship with work, time, and the kinds of roles you choose?
What’s funny is I “came back” during covid. Self taping in my basement, not knowing if anyone would even be interested in me anymore. A whole year went by and didn’t book one thing. No one understood why. I was about to give up and accept this wasn’t in the cards, when I made a huge decision to leave my marriage. 2 weeks later I booked 4 projects. The momentum came from being brave and changing my energy. Motherhood broke me open, so I am grateful to have met that version of me and it has helped me in both life, love and career.
Beyond your acting career, you are also committed to important causes, including the fight against sex trafficking and advocacy for women’s issues. How does that personal commitment connect with the woman and artist you are today?
I think because of this passion, I connect deeply with strong female characters who aren’t afraid to use their voice. I remember on Mutant X I asked the writers to rewrite a scene where we were in some sort of sex trafficking club and I wanted my character and the other actress to be discussing the injustices and severity of what was going on in there. It is important to me to advocate in any way that I can. I used to get a lot of fan mail form young girls saying my characters inspired them to be stronger and more confident and I really appreciate that.
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