LOS ANGELES (AP) — In the Neon horror film “Longlegs,” Maika Monroe plays Lee Harker, an analytical FBI agent who awkwardly interacts with her co-worker’s young daughter. This moment provides a rare bit of levity in the movie about a Satanist serial killer. Monroe’s character, uncomfortable around children, struggles comically with the child’s requests to see her bedroom or attend her birthday party.
Critics have praised Monroe’s performance in “Longlegs,” especially since she shares the screen with Nicolas Cage. Her character’s calculated, offbeat nature contrasts sharply with Monroe’s real-life affable and whimsical personality.
“She has a childlike quality that is extremely compelling, graceful, and charming,” said Cage about his co-star.
Monroe’s approachable nature might be due to her balanced relationship with Hollywood. “I don’t like being fully consumed in this world,” Monroe said in a recent interview.
Raised by parents outside the entertainment industry, Monroe began auditioning in Los Angeles reluctantly, while balancing school and her kiteboarding hobby. Instead of obsessing over acting, she took a break at 17 to become a professional kiteboarder in the Dominican Republic.
“I thought acting wasn’t for me,” Monroe recalled. “I went to classes, worked hard on auditions, but nothing clicked. It was frustrating and didn’t feel good anymore.”
However, she didn’t quit entirely. Although she let go of her agent, she kept her manager, who occasionally encouraged her to send in audition tapes. In nearly a year, she sent in only a few. Then, she finally got a callback.
Monroe enjoyed her time as a professional athlete, which gave her a healthy perspective on her career. But when she was cast in “At Any Price” with Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid, she returned to acting. Her big break came with the 2014 indie horror film “It Follows” by David Robert Mitchell.
“There have been many ups and downs, and times where I questioned my career,” she admitted. “This industry is tough mentally. I’ve considered quitting, but I keep getting pulled back. I feel this is what I’m meant to do and what I’m good at.”
Monroe views her time kiteboarding not as a detour, but as formative. Competing in a male-dominated sport made her feel powerful and strong. “It was a very important experience for me,” she said.
Though she is cautious about saying it outright, Monroe feels her career is at a turning point. She will reprise her role as Jay Height in Mitchell’s upcoming “They Follow,” set to start production early next year. Initially, she worried a sequel might be a cash grab, but she trusted Mitchell’s vision. “I read the script and thought, ‘This is how you do it.’ So, I have high hopes.”
Despite her success in horror, Monroe longs for different roles. “I want a rom-com. What am I doing?” she joked, acknowledging her reputation as a scream queen. Still, she finds creative fulfillment in horror. “The most interesting roles and stories I’ve been sent are in this genre. They end up being the films I’m most proud of, and where I feel the most growth as an actor.”
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