Into the Dark: Britt Baron spills on what it was like playing a pop star for the upcoming Valentine episode

1428 Elm: You also have a lot of great scenes with Anna Lorre. You guys were fun to watch together, especially since you’re both going through the same situation but with totally different perspectives. 

BB: She was amazing as Trezzure. I would laugh with her on set because there were scenes where she played it so perfectly they would yell cut, and we’d be like, “oh my god, I hate her like I hate Trezzure, I hate you, you’re so irritating!”

Some of the scenes, I think one scene in particular when Valentine is trying to convince her that they’re on the same team, that we are not each other’s enemies — which I’m also really happy Maggie included that moment because I think sometimes women, especially in the music industry and in the entertainment industry, as actresses we’re pinned against one another, and we’re constantly compared.

I love that there is a moment that Valentine realizes they’re both victims, and they’re on the same team, and they can work to get out of this situation together although Trezzure has stolen her entire identity and music, she’s willing to look past that. I love that moment even though it doesn’t pan out, and Trezzure refuses to see the light.

I loved playing opposite her. I think she did such an awesome job. I love the yin-yang where we look similar, but I’m kind of this alto, grounded character and Anna’s playing this eccentric, soprano, talking in a baby voice, Ariana Grande-version of Valentine.

1428 Elm: Right, and a lot of the moments between them were hilarious and offered a lot of comedic relief. Even though it’s horror, there is a lot of comedy throughout. The Trezzure groupies had a lot of great moments, too.

BB: Yeah, and that’s one of the parts I loved about the script because it’s not all just horror there’s dark comedy, especially Trezzure, Trezzure’s reaction to things, and the Trezzies.

1428 Elm: And you guys filmed in one location for the most part. What was that like? Did you guys feel like it added to the overall intensity?

BB: I liked it just because, yes, it added to the intensity of the story because they’re locked in this one space. As an actor, I enjoyed it because it’s like you feel familiar, it’s a place you get to know, and you have a routine, you park in the same place, the trailers are in the same place, you know the room, and you know the space.

By the last week, we were on a new location doing all the flashback stuff, and that suddenly felt a little like, “oh gosh, I don’t know where I’m going, I don’t know what anything’s going to look like.” So, it’s kind of like when you’re shooting a television show, it’s nice to go back to the same set a lot of days because it feels comfortable and you know what to expect, and I do think it added to the sense of feeling, almost claustrophobic.

1428 Elm: I know you said you didn’t see the episode yet, but were you aware of how stylistic it would be?

BB: I guess so, but I haven’t seen all of the effects now in place, but I think Maggie had a cool vision. She has such a clear aesthetic, which I thought was exciting to be a part of, especially since this is such a music-centric story. I feel like shooting it in a music video-style way with super close-up shots — like they would do shots of just my eyes, and I know at one point I’m running down a hall and Benedict is chasing me and we had a camera on a pole that did a complete 360 while I’m running down this hallway.

There are a lot of really creative fun shots that made the experience unique. When I shoot other stuff that isn’t as stylized, it’s not as unique. This was fun, and there were such specific shots where they were like, “your head has to hit exactly here because we’re so close, and if you’re even half an inch off, you’ll be out of focus.” So it was a fun experience as an actor.

1428 Elm: I thought it had a distinctive, unique vision, I can’t think of anything else that looked exactly that in recent memory.

BB: Yeah, exactly, and the lighting and even the costumes — Maggie knew she wanted the long blue hair from the beginning, and all of this adds to this vibe and aesthetic and feeling that I think, especially in an anthology series like Into the Dark, I was excited to be part of this one because I hope maybe that will help it stand out since there are so many. I thought it was exciting and cool that she decided to have such a clear look and feel to this one.

1428 Elm: I think people are going to really

BB: Yes, and it’s bold, and it’s taking a chance. I was excited to get to do so many cool shots and angles. Maggie did this cool thing throughout the movie where, in the beginning, they shot Benedict from the bottom to make him look super big and intimidating, and they were shooting Valentine from this downward angle to make her look small and meek.

Then it shifted by the end of the film when Valentine reclaims her confidence and identity. Sometime around her ending monologue is when they start shooting Valentine from below to make her look big. There were all these subliminal things they did.

1428 Elm: Well your performance was awesome, and I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to it, thank you so much for chatting with me, I hope you have a great day!

BB: Thank you, I hope so too!

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Into the Dark: My Valentine will officially premiere this Friday, Feb. 5, on Hulu.