Atlanta based actress-model KateLynn E. Newberry has appeared in over 50 films, numerous commercials, industrials, and print work. She can be seen on sets throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Best known for the comedy Notes From Melanie, which earned her a “Best Performance in Fest” award, she has also worked on the comedy-horror Auditorium. She took home two Best Actress awards for the thriller Homecoming Revenge, a Lifetime Movie original, and the sci-fi thriller Dark Iris, now available on Amazon Prime. In addition, KateLynn has modeled for numerous magazines and companies both locally and nationally, as well as fashion designers and photo workshops.
In the thriller Widow’s Point, KateLynn is Rosa, a publicist for a paranormal author investigating the mysterious deaths at a lighthouse. In this one-on-one interview, KateLynn talks about her role and the acting life.
What drew you to the role of Rosa and this film?
KateLynn E. Newberry: I had followed director Greg (Lamberson) on social media for a while and I liked his work and on the comedy-horror Johnny Gruesome. So I was interested in working with him. I liked his style and I love doing horror. I grew up in Buffalo and now live in Atlanta. To be able to work in Buffalo was pretty exciting for me.
Did you read the Widow’s Point novel before immersing yourself in the role of Rosa?
KateLynn: I didn’t but Greg and I had several conversations about the role, about the novel, and how it differed from the film. I can’t remember if Rosa was even a character in the novel.
Do you believe in the paranormal? If so, to what extent?
KateLynn: I absolutely do. I’ve had some experiences with the paranormal. I was really interested in it during my teens and early 20s. I do love the Conjuring movies.
What challenges did you face during the filming?
KateLynn: Rosa and I are very different. Just the way that she carries herself. She’s much more poised than I am and she has way more class than I do. When she walks into a room, she’s the boss. In creating the character, I imagined her coming from money. So it was a challenge for me to channel that kind of energy and to be the kind of person who walks into a room and owns it. But it was fun because I’ve never played a character like Rosa before.
Did you have a favorite scene?
KateLynn: There’s this one-take shot of Craig and I as we walk up to the lighthouse. I like the way it introduces our relationship so quickly. We obviously have this professional relationship, and we’ve been working together for so long that we can have this fun and friendly banter. I cared about him to a point. There’s also a scene where Dominic (Luongo) and I first discover the ghost of Delaney Collins. Greg and Dominic were so much fun to work with.
Was there a movie that truly frightened you?
KateLynn: The film Insidious and the first Conjuring. When I first saw Conjuring, I had to pause it and take a break (laughs).
Was there an actor that influenced you to peruse an acting career?
KateLynn: There are actors that influence me now, but I never had ambitions of becoming an actor. It was kind of an accident. Someone from an LA agency took an interest in me and wanted me to move to LA to pursue acting. But I’d never acted at the time. My career goals were more in music. I wanted to sing but then I fell in love with acting. Now, I’m inspired by Tim Curry. He’s probably one of my favorite actors because I think he can do anything.
Did you audition for the role of Rosa? If so, what was that like?
KateLynn: I did. I lived in Ohio at the time. It was self-taped. The material was great. Greg sent over a lot of material so it was really easy for me to build the character of Rosa. Greg is very thorough and that’s one of the things I like about working with him. I always knew what he was doing and what to expect. And with the sides he’d sent over for the audition, it was the same thing. The material was very well written and it was really easy for me to build something around it.
Your dance card looks really full—this year and next. Can you tell us about some upcoming releases?
KateLynn: Widows Point was one of my favorites, especially working around a lighthouse. I just shot a short film during Covid-19 called Pretty Metal, which will be making the rounds in the festival circuit. It’s about an all-girl pop group who struggle when they lose one of their members and they form a metal band. The wardrobe was really cool and the actors I worked with were incredible. Another project coming up is a dystopian sci-fi film called Electron Blade. My character has tattoos on her face and she’s kind of a ninja, flipping people over.
What were you like in high school?
KateLynn: I didn’t graduate from a regular high school. I went through an alternative education program–kind of where they put the troubled kids (laughs). But I wasn’t a troublemaker; I just had a hard time learning in a normal school environment. I had terrible social anxiety. It wasn’t great but my teachers were all incredible. We’re still friends and they follow my career. I’m grateful that I went to a school like that. With my anxieties, I probably wouldn’t have finished in a regular high school. I had stage fright as well. There were only like 150 students in that school and they were very accommodating to different learning styles.
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" and "The Search for Dr. Noble"—both now available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
