JAMIE BERNADETTE Breaking through ‘the wall’ in “The Furnace”
BY ALEX A. KECSKES An icon in the horror genre with films like “I Spit on Your Grave: Déjà Vu” and “4/20 Massacre,” Jamie Bernadette has been in 20 other horror films including “The 6th Friend,” which was released worldwide in 2019. She received two Best Actress awards from the Freakshow Horror Film Festival and RIP Film Festival. Some of her most recent credits include guest star roles on “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Midnight Texas,” and a series regular on “Ember.” In 2017, The Independent Cinema Foundation & Festival Academy recognized Jamie’s stellar work, naming her Best Actress. That same year, The Lucky Strike Film Festival awarded Jamie the Rising Star Award. In “The Furnace,” Jaime is Mary, a runner determined against all odds to compete in The Furnace, a brutal 150-mile run through the largest wild game reserve in Africa. Directed by Oscar-nominated Darrell Roodt, the film is confirmed to release in 90 countries. For her outstanding performance, Jamie has already received two Best Lead Actress Nominations from the Nice International Film Festival and the Madrid International Film Festival. Thank you for taking the time for this interview. “The Furnace” is a far cry from the horror genre we’re used to seeing you in. What attracted you to this film and the role of Mary? Jamie Bernadette: I love survival type films that pit an individual against nature. They’re among my favorite subgenres. So when producer Sam (Frauenstein) sent me the script for consideration, I thought OMG, I’ve always wanted to do something like this. You appear physically fit. Are you a runner? How did you prepare for this demanding role? Jamie: I do run, but I wouldn’t say I’m a runner who runs like seven miles a day. I do a lot of uphill mountain hiking. When I got the role, I started running more. But nothing could have prepared me to run in this film. We shot entirely on location in Africa. It was a ton of running--sometimes 12 hours a day. One time, they were shooting me from a helicopter and it was take after take of me running. There
were days when I just ran all day long. I was sore and I had to keep running. Usually, when I run, it’s 40 minutes, not 12 hours. I just wasn’t prepared for it. On top of that, there were live animals that could attack you. When I was running, it was usually me and the cameraman, who stood off-frame behind a bush. And I thought, if an animal attacked me, I wouldn’t get much help. I love that picture of you with those beautiful cheetahs. Jamie: Those cheetahs were rescued from an owner who gave them a grilled cheese sandwich or turkey sandwich a day. They were underfed and didn’t develop properly. We used them in the scene where the cheetahs threaten me. The animal handlers teach you to be very quiet around them and to slowly walk in so you don’t startle them. I wasn’t too nervous around the animals--some people were, though. I think cheetahs can sense your fear, so it was good that I wasn’t scared. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY• 23
