Beverley Mitchell: Far from "Heaven"

You might have followed her for years as she plays Lucy, the minister's daughter in the long-running TV show "Seventh Heaven". But, petite and perky Beverley Mitchell was ready to step out of the pulpit and into a scummy crack house for her big screen debut in the scary movie Saw 2.

Beverley admits that horror films frighten her to death but she enjoys a good acting challenge and was thrilled to get the part of one of the intended victims of the creepy Jigsaw killer in the new movie. The actress looked very trim and hot in sexy brown jacket over low-cut gold beaded camisole with jeans and heels when we cornered her at L.A.'s Four Season's hotel this week. Her outfit was a big contrast to both her conservative "Lucy" duds worn on "Heaven" and her bedraggled character in Saw 2 who looks pretty trashed, ill and raggedy through most of the film. We learned that Beverley listens to country music on set, plans to direct on "Seventh Heaven" and had a great time on her first horror film. Check it out...

TeenHollywood: Well, this is sure different from your lady minister part on "Seventh Heaven".

Beverley: It was a jump. I finished "Seventh Heaven" and ran right up to Toronto and started on Saw 2 so it was a mind-changeover.

TeenHollywood: Did you have to build up your own back story for your character? We know she had been in jail and that's really it.

Beverley: We [decided] she was a clepto. I was hoping for something way more exciting but nobody else agreed with me so clepto was all we got. She's a clepto who really didn't have a very good relationship with her parents. I should have been more like Tobin [who plays the killer Jigsaw in the film] and come up with my own back story that was more exciting. I was like 'can I have more stuff? I want to be something crazy'. Darren, the director was like 'no. You're a good girl'. I'm the good girl always.

TeenHollywood: What was it like having to be falling apart and dying by inches every day on set? It must have been pretty intense.

Beverley: It was fun. Surprisingly fun. At first you're like [in cutesy voice] 'Okay. This is my big screen debut. Let's be pretty!' Then you get there and it's like 'no'. Usually you wake up and walk into make-up and say 'I'm so sorry but I've got bags under my eyes. I'm tired'. They're like 'stay up later cuz the bags are working for us. We can't even make those bags. Those are good!' [we laugh] Finally you just dive into it with the red eyeliner inside the eye, anything to make me look worse. You're paleing yourself out. It was gloomy up in Canada so I sure wasn't getting a tan of any sort so it worked out well. There's one scene where I look decent so I'm happy about that.

TeenHollywood: You seemed to get sick first and look the worst longest.

Beverley: Yeah. I look like utter crap from scene one and a half through the rest of the film. She's always the one where you can really see she's falling apart at the seams and is an absolute and total wreck. But, the fun thing was [comparing with other actors] like Emmanuelle [Vaugier, who plays another victim of the killer] had like a drop of blood and she's like 'eww, it's sticky'. I'm like 'hello [look at me]'. It's funny because I'm absolutely covered from head to toe [with gunk]. My wardrobe was hard. You have to stay in the same clothes for fourteen days and they stand on their own.

TeenHollywood: Why chose this film for your breakaway role?

Beverley: The great thing about Saw 2 is that it was a challenge. It was something that was terrifying to me. Not just because of the story but more so for what I had to do as a character and the places I had to take myself because I had never done that. To be honest, I went into this movie not knowing if I had to scream and she's the one that screams the most and lets it all go. I didn't know if I could do that. It's not like I ran around my house screaming. I didn't want my neighbors to think I was dying. Noise does travel. So, I went up to Toronto and they said 'action' and Darren [the writer/director] said 'scream' and I just prayed it was a good one. I know I can sneeze loud so I imagined I could scream.

TeenHollywood: Are you trying to shift from television to film?

Beverley: I just want to work. I'm so blessed to be a working actress in Hollywood because there are so many that aren't. Honestly, as long as I'm acting, I'm happy. As long as I get to do roles that are challenging, things that push me further and further, it's an amazing gift. I was so lucky to have been given this opportunity for this part in Saw 2. I saw blogs on the internet, 'hey this 'Seventh Heaven' girl doesn't know what she's getting into'.

TeenHollywood: Why do you think they picked you?

Beverley: Evidently, I was the wild card that they threw in just to see, 'well, what does she bring?' Well, apparently I brought it, I guess. It was fun to go in and nobody really had high expectations for me. I had high expectations for myself. I was proud of it and think I came out on the better end and a lot of people were surprised. 'oh, crap, the girl can scream, the girl can cry'. I'm like 'uh huh'. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. I did the best I could because I've got nothing left. I don't think I cried for months after that because I had no tears left.

TeenHollywood: What crazy things happened on set?

Beverley: So much of what I think was crazy was just the filming of things. We were in some scenes when people really let loose. We rehearsed for like a week and you get in there and it's 'alright, I can totally do this. I'm so good'. You walk in and everybody brings their "A" game and it's not what we rehearsed and everybody is ten times bigger, ten times scarier and all of a sudden you're like 'this is scary. This is absolutely frightening'. When he yelled action, everything changed. We were all happy go lucky, goofy, had a great time, went Karaoke-ing, went fighting over food and had a great time together but you yell 'action' and all hell broke loose. I'm just not used to that. I'm used to 'action' and then happy world where I've got babies, husband and dogs. So that was crazy for me.

TeenHollywood: What did you like about the first film?

Beverley: When I finally saw the first film I did like it but it took me like five times to see it because the first four times I turned it off. It scared me and I don't like being scared or gross things or disgusting images and it was giving me nightmares. It was dark and there were scary things outside. When I finally watched it, it was during the day, in the morning so I could watch The Notebook after so that calmed me down. I realized it was definitely going to be a challenge and it would be a great experience and something I've never done before so I was game.

TeenHollywood: Do you have a favorite horror film?

Beverley: I don't have a favorite but I'll tell you the one that scared the crap out of me and has still left an image. I own it and I'll never watch it. Seven, I'm done! That and The Exorcist. I'd have like five people over at my house and everybody is excited about Saw 2 and I'm showing them pictures from it and they're like 'Let's watch a scary movie' and I'm saying 'Dodgeball, let's go!' Come one! They're like 'no'. I suggested The Notebook and Billy Madison was a no go. Finally they found one of the Exorcists on TV and I watched it with a blanket over my head and a sleep mask on.

TeenHollywood: How did you get in the mindset to scream then? Have you ever been that scared and screamed like that?

Beverley: No and I've been in a horrific, horrific car accident and not one peep came out of me. I didn't do anything so that didn't work. I just had to put myself in that place and just go there. The most difficult and scariest thing about it is when we shot that scene where Laura [her character] really freaks out and loses it, it was such an important shot. We had the special effects of the gun and this whole fake spewage thing going on, there were so many elements going on that it was scary. If I screw this up I'm in big trouble because it would be a huge re-set; re-set the blood, re-dress the actor, get stuff out of his hair, all that. So, not only do you have the pressure to perform on your own, you have the pressure to do it with all the other elements and pray that it's right. Then, it was a big joke because the blood started just going and we had to re-shoot it because the pump kept going. He was just standing there and the blood started. My job.. people are like dog groomers and I'm doing this.

TeenHollywood: As a viewer, what scenes from Saw and then from Saw 2 stand out as the freakiest for you?

Beverley: Uh Saw, Shawnee [Smith's] Amanda scene with her big head trap thing and killing the guy to get the key. I don't like that. Then for Saw 2, there are two that disturb me but the needle thing... I can't take that and I was part of that but I literally walked around like this [hands covering part of her face] 'Hi Shawnee. How are you?' But I couldn't look at her. She's bomping around, no problem with these [prop] needles sticking out of her. I'm sorry this isn't working for me. She was freaking me out. Then another scene with Franky G [which involves a knife cutting skin], that's just too much for me.

TeenHollywood: After they've been on a TV series a while, a lot of actors get to direct one. Have you done that on "Seventh Heaven" yet?

Beverley: I'm waiting to. I absolutely will. Directing has always been a passion of mine. I definitely want to.

TeenHollywood: Would you want to write it too?

Beverley: No. I'm not that creative. Nah, I'll leave the writing to the real writers. I'm really good at telling people what to do so directing would work out well. I'm an only child and a bossy little girl.

TeenHollywood: What is going on this season?

Beverley: A lot. Lucy's into her ministry and becoming a woman and taking her place in the world and has also got her family and her daughter and husband and soon, dogs.

TeenHollywood: So, Laura and Lucy..any similarities at all?

Beverley: The only thing I can come up with is I think they both cry a lot.

TeenHollywood: And they both have blonde hair.

Beverley: Yes, except for Laura had this cool hair which now I have on Lucy because I love it. I think Lucy is a little more attractive than Laura who isn't looking so cute.

TeenHollywood: Do you think the "Seventh Heaven" fans will recognize you?

Beverley: It was cool to do a movie where some people would recognize me and others who are familiar with the show just might not recognize me in this film. Some people that I had look at it are like, 'I don't see you'. 'I'm in there, just keep lookin'. They're like 'Is it your back?' 'Nope, my face is in there'. They can't believe it. I'm really nervous because my mom gets to see it tonight.

TeenHollywood: Do you have anything lined up for the next hiatus from the show?

Beverley: Usually you can't do it that early. Our next hiatus is in April. The only thing I try to line up is vacations. After Saw 2 I deserved a good one! My last day of seizing [on the floor] I had welts and bruises that I never thought would happen so I lined up a trip to Greece and was like 'I'm out!' I was in Canada thinking 'I deserve a vacation. Where do I want to go'?

TeenHollywood: What kind of music are you into?

Beverley: Ooooo country music. I love it. I'm a big fan of Rascal Flats, Garth Brooks. I could not live without my i-Pod on Saw 2. I constantly had my headphones on with my music and that's what I used to upset me and get me to that emotional state where I could let go. Music is so much a part of who I am so it was really important.

TeenHollywood: What was the big mood setter for you on set?

Beverley: People are laughing at me but the token song was Kelly Clarkson's "Behind These Hazel Eyes". I was embarrassed. I didn't want anyone on set to know. They'd be like 'Kelly Clarkson is making you cry?' But break-up is just so sad. It kills me. Everybody else is listening to bad-ass rock music.

TeenHollywood: One of your co-stars Donnie was in New Kids on the Block. Were you a fan back in the day?

Beverley: Yes. I had the pillowcase. I was into the whole group. I pretty much thought they were all going to be my boyfriend. But, I didn't get to really work with Donnie. I just met him last Thursday in New York. We were doing a press junket there and I'm like [really shy voice] 'Hi. How are you? You're great' He scared the crud out of me because he comes up and says 'I need to talk to you'. I'm thinking 'he hated what I did. Oh crap'! But, I then found out that he went on the New York news affiliate for the WB and made fun of me and he was warning me. He was making fun imitating one of my freak-out scenes. He got down on the ground and started flopping around like a fish.

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.