Eli Roth’s new horror movie The Green Inferno played the Sitges Film Festival last week. That’s good timing because just last week I had lunch with Green Inferno star Kirby Bliss Blanton. She’s the blonde girl covered in red paint and blood by the natives in the iconic photo that’s circulating and printed in film festival guides. Blanton plays one of a group of Columbia students who go on an activism trip to Chile, and after protesting against militia deforestation, crash into the domain of a cannibal tribe. Open Road picked up distribution rights for the film after TIFF.
I met Blanton online, via Twitter actually. The film’s credits lists every actor’s Twitter handle, and when I posted my review of The Green Inferno she thanked me personally for singling her out. I started asking her questions on Twitter and she suggested we do a full interview.
So we met at Urban Eats, a restaurant in Burbank. She got her usual chicken panini but I had a Tri-tip salad because it was the first thing I saw on the menu, and I always have to get the first item I saw on the menu because if I get something else, I’ll always second guess the choice. It really was like meeting a friend for lunch, since we’d already started getting to know each other online. I love this new way of doing business!
Crave Online: What did you think of Eli’s idea to put the Twitter handles in the credits?
Kirby Bliss Blanton: Love it. I love it. I’m going to get a bunch more followers once this movie comes out. I can’t wait for it to come out.
Isn’t this a great new world where I reviewed the movie and found you on Twitter and here we are doing an interview?
Oh my God. I love it. Just the other day I lost my phone and I thought I lost all my contacts. That’s how I got in touch with most of my friends just to let them know. I messaged them that I lost my phone. I barely e-mailed anyone. I e-mailed my manager because I don’t think she has a Twitter. Other than that, I just let everyone know via that.
I have friends, I’m from Texas originally and they follow me and they keep up with what I’m doing. I’m working on this other interview that I’m doing for Troix magazine, very French, and they asked me a really cool question. I was pondering, pondering, pondering and I asked on Twitter, “If there was a Kirby Bliss Blanton theme song, what would it be?” And I got a lot of really cool feedback. I just feel so fortunate, A, that I’m able to talk to people and B, keep in contact with my real friends. It makes everything very easy.
Since The Green Inferno has only screened in a few places, has anyone besides me found you that way?
Mm-mm, nope. I’m excited once it’s more out there. I like talking about it. It was the craziest experience in my life, literally. What was so cool is that I don’t speak Spanish. I spoke a little Spanglish when I was there so I learned a little bit, especially for this. Literally it was me, Daryl [Sabara], Eli speaks English, everyone speaks English but most of the cast and crew, their native language is Spanish so it was very difficult.
Even just in a normal set I’ll know why we’re waiting so long or what’s going on or what they’re talking about or whatever. In this circumstance I was just like wait, what, huh? Of course my poor actors are just like, “I don’t want to translate for you anymore, Kirby. It’s not about you.” I know because I didn’t hear “Kirby.” I know it’s not about me but I want to know what’s going on.
I learned a little bit of Spanish but what was great about the villagers is that we didn’t need to speak. It was intense because honestly I’d never felt that way before. I really love those people. They’re just so kind. They learned how to be extras. No, they were the starring roles really. They also, you know the jumpsuit I was wearing when I fall down? The guy who was supposed to be dragging me, he’d help me. He’d hold it up also while still trying to whatever. They became extremely, extremely well balanced actors. They were helping me and made sure I didn’t trip and made sure my pants weren’t falling off and stuff.
This is the most amazing thing, because it’s so hot there. I’m from Texas like I said. I’ve been in 110 heat summers, real humidity too. I’ve never felt weather like this, ever. You’re just sitting there and you’re just sweating. I thought there were bugs on me because there’s just drips of sweat moving all over my body. There are bugs on me also. So it’s so hot and I have a bunch of hair, so one of the elder ladies pulled my hair [up] and blew on my neck. No one told her, no one talked to her, I didn’t ask her because I don’t know how to say “blow on my neck” en Espanol. It was incredible and I was just like, “Oh, gracias, gracias.”
Is that a thing? Do a lot of them have long hair so they do that?
Yes, a lot of them do have long hair. I don’t know if it was a thing. I just know that I was really hot and going like this. It was so sweet. They just became very much a part of it. It was wonderful.
I’m surprised you didn’t pick up any Spanish out of necessity.
Oh, I did, I did but trust me, it’s all gone.
Of course, but while you were there.
Yes, while I was there I had to.
My reaction to Amy was I wanted to protect her. Is that a good reaction?
Yes, I think so. I think that’s also what Magda [Apanowicz]’s character does or wants to do too. There’s a part where [Amy]’s holding her legs in the cage. I think it’s right before they come to feed us, and you just want to hold her. Because it’s not cold. She’s holding her legs not because she’s cold, but because she’s uncomfortable and she feels unsafe. Those things were innate to me because I was in an uncomfortable situation also. I’m in a real cage in a place that I didn’t know the language.
It was the first time I’d actually been so far for so long without any of my family members. I never traveled abroad. I have every intention to now. It’s just very interesting. It was such a culture shock for me for so many different things, on top of which is a movie. We made a movie. That would’ve been an experience itself. It was a life experience, and then also we filmed a movie. I think I grew up a lot.
Maybe she should learn to protect herself, but I was sympathetic.
You’re right. Also I think she and Daryl bring a little bit of light to it. There’s lots of fun parts actually but I just think they needed to be real people. That’s how real people would act in that situation.
When you read an Eli Roth script, are you hoping you get a cool death or that you live to the end?
That’s a good question. I mean, when you read an Eli Roth script, A, just make sure that you’re sitting down and B, I was not even just terrified. I think the second or third time I read it, I read it in the context of me being involved and me being this character, and we changed the character and the script evolved obviously. There’s always the script that you write at the beginning. There’s the movie that you make while you’re there and then there’s the edited version. There’s usually three, you know what I mean? Everything evolves.
Was it an exhausting movie?
Oh yeah. We worked long hours and we were in the jungle, except when we were in Santiago which is a very nice city so it’s completely different, but yeah, it was exhausting. It was definitely exhausting, especially my character in almost every single scene it says, “Amy cries. Amy screams. Amy cries. Amy screams. Amy shakes.” I lost my voice there for a little bit at the very beginning. I had to drink tea and everything, then I think my voice just kind of tapped out so I can’t go to a certain octave anymore, which is okay. It’s funny because I screamed and cried so much, it was crazy.
What was the process of getting you bloodied up and maintaining it every day, like on that awesome still that’s in the festival programs?
That was the worst part. Oh my God, that was the worst part, Fred, because every single day, we had lots of those suits that we put on, the coveralls, but we had to dirty them up every day. Most of them were already dirty, but we’d put mud first. Then they had pictures to see where the blood is, put blood in there. For me, any time we were filming scenes after we first get to the village, my hair is covered in red paint because they were pulling on my hair and touching my hair. Literally my hair was pink for the whole movie.
Their red paint rubbed off on your hair?
Which is why that picture is really scary but it’s not blood. Most people think it’s blood all over my face and hair but it’s the paint. It doesn’t matter because it’s still brutal regardless.
Do you generally like horror?
Oh yeah. I was such a big fan of all the Saw movies and all of Eli’s movies. I remember meeting him in the audition and totally geeking out. I think I even said that. I was like, “I’m sorry, I’ve got to geek out.” I even love him in Quentin’s films. I always loved him as an actor too. I definitely like horror movies. Even the really, really old ones or the really, really bad ones on Netflix are still fun. They’re fun to watch.
Did Eli give you a list of horror movies to watch for The Green Inferno?
Daryl and I watched Cannibal Holocaust before but no, he didn’t specifically give me a bunch of things to watch. I definitely was shocked by Cannibal Holocaust enough to not want to see any more cannibal movies. I’m so glad that our movie doesn’t have the animal killing. I hate it. I’m so glad. I hate it. I can’t watch it. It makes me sick. Yeah, that movie definitely has all of that in there.
Is there a story behind your middle name Bliss?
There is. It’s my mom’s maiden name and she passed it down to me as a middle name. My grandfather, who was her dad, passed away and that was Granddaddy Bliss. It’s a big family name. It’s been around, like we had Granny Bliss also. She passed away so I’m going to keep it going too. I’m going to send it on too. I love it. I have a tattoo of it.
When you did Project X, was it important that you be unknown for that?
Yeah. It was really important. I was by far the most, at that point I had done a couple of things. I did “Entourage” and “Hannah Montana” and stuff like that but [producer] Todd [Phillips] really wanted to get a bunch of kids that nobody knew. At first they were going to even try and make it seem like it was real, like these kids really did throw this party. They didn’t want anyone to know that they were actors, but then that kind of blew up in our faces because it was publicized so much. At the end of the day, everyone knew we were actors.
You went on talk shows, right?
Yeah, I did “Conan” after. Best day of my life, but they had planned on us doing talk shows like, “Oh my God, the party was crazy.” That I think was the plan and then that didn’t go that well.
What was your experience on “Conan?”
Oh gosh, it was so much fun. The producer and I chatted for a long time and talked about my bit and what we were going to do. I made a joke which I thought was funny and Conan didn’t get it which was okay. It was kind of provocative which was fine. I was so nervous and then once I got out there and Richter’s next to me, it was fun. It was lots of fun. You just kind of get an adrenaline rush and just do it and it was so much fun, and then it was over and I was just like, “What?” Conan shook my hand and was like, “This is your first talk show ever?” I said yeah and he said, “That was great.”
Which “Entourage” were you on?
It was a pretty small part, the two hot high school girls. The episode was great. It was called “One Day in the Valley” and it’s where they had the rolling blackouts for the screening and they go to some high school kid’s party and he has his Almost Famous moment on top of the roof. So me and this other girl, we were both minors at the time, and it was supposed to be the hottest day in the valley for the show, and it was the coldest and rainiest day in the valley ever.
My part was literally tiny. I had one or two lines, but it was with Adrian [Grenier] so that was fun. It should’ve been a one day thing and because of the rain and the cold, it turned into a three and a half day thing. I know all of them still. Jerry Ferrara still knows who I am because we have a mutual friend and goes, “I know that girl. She was on our show.” I was like, “No way he remembers me.” I remember Kevin Connolly trying to help me with my homework and my set teacher was like, “Don’t help her!” I was like, come on, it’s Kevin Connolly. Leave me alone. It was great. At that point I had a Sidekick and he gave me his AIM thing so it was like KevCon88 or something, I don’t know. I was a kid and it was so cool for them to be so nice. It was a great experience.
Have you done anything since Green Inferno?
No. I need to. A couple things are in the works. I don’t know any of it for sure, otherwise I would spill my guts and tell you all of it. I’ve done a couple of music videos and some photo shoots and stuff. It is up and down, up and down, fluctuates. I still get checks from Project X, thank God. WB, yes! I’m hanging in there. I can still pay my rent.
It plays on FX or TNT now.
Really? Oh, that would be great. I need another check. [Laughs] I’m doing a sketch comedy show too this month.
Where?
At Second City.
Do you have a sketch troupe?
I don’t. I’m just hosting this one. They offered me to host so I’m excited. I’m going to be a part of it obviously. It’s really fun. The show is called “TMI.” It’s a spoof on TMZ but it’s really fun. A friend of mine did it and then I was like, “Oh my God, I want to do it.” And they were like, “Do it.” I was like oh, okay, that was easy.
Do you do a lot of sketch and theater?
No, I don’t. I just got into that. A couple of my friends from the acting class that I was in were really big into improv so I started going to the improv shows. No, I don’t usually do that and I love sketch comedy. I love “SNL” and all of that stuff, so I want to get more involved in it. Improv is the scariest thing ever though. I get anxiety, even just watching my friends I got anxiety. “Don’t, don’t, oh God. Oh, that wasn’t funny. Nobody thought that was funny, oh God.”
But the rule is you can never say no, right?
Of course. Exactly. That’s difficult. Someone has an idea, you just go with it and you’ve got to trust the people that you’re with. Anxiety, I would throw up.
[She catches me looking at a bruise on her left arm.]
I know I have a crazy bruise.
What’s that from?
Sparring.
What martial art do you do?
Boxing, just straight boxing. I wish I did kickboxing or something else because people who do kickboxing know how to kick and stuff and I don’t. I’m just like right here, right here, right here and they’re using their legs. I’m using my legs to move around but oh gosh. So it’s not fun to spar with someone who knows how to kickbox.
Do you want to do an action hero role one day?
Yes! Did I answer that fast enough? I want to do it so bad and two weeks ago, there were like three or four assassin parts I went in for.
When all the Twilights, Hunger Games, Mortal Instruments and all the teen lit franchises were gearing up, did you go out for any of them?
Yeah. Mortal Instruments I went in a couple of times. The girl was supposed to be British though and I have the worst British accent. I’m so southern. I can do a twang obviously, but I really tried hard on that one too. I got the tapes, I did the whole thing and it was just bad.
I just imagine those franchises must go around to all the actors of a certain age bracket.
Oh totally. You read them all. Then you go and see that every single person went in on it. Leven Rambin, Leven Rambin. Her and I. She’s good. She takes all my parts though so she needs to get a television show again so I can get back on my game.
Which other parts did you both go out for?
So many. Oh gosh. That surfer movie that she did, Chasing Mavericks. There’s a long list. Percy Jackson. I could go on.
It seems like every actor has their doppelganger that they’re always up against.
I don’t even think we look that much alike, like at all. We just have blonde hair. It’s interesting.
Did you ever get a part that she was up for?
I’m sure of it, but I wouldn’t know.
You’re entering the stage where instead of high school girls, you’re playing college girls. What are the roles you look forward to playing as graduates and adults?
It’s definitely more fun now to do the relationship stuff in movies because that’s what’s going on in my real life obviously. Dating sucks and here it sucks even more, and being an actor it’s hard. It’s fun for me to be able to pretend like I have a nice relationship. I’m looking forward to being in a pretend relationship on screen. That’s so sad! That is so sad.
Like you said, I want to kick ass really bad and I don’t think me being a high school looking girl [will work], although they do do those. I want to be taken seriously and I also want to do something really, really dramatic and crazy like a Girl, Interrupted kind of thing. I’m just looking forward to evolving. I don’t want to pin myself down. I want to do it all.
I like comedy a lot. I love comedy. It’s so much fun, but it’s hard too. Timing is everything. I hear that I’m funny and I think I’m funny, but I go in all the time for multicam and they say that I’m not big enough or I’m too big. I’m so confused. Okay, well, I’m funny in real life. How can I be funny?
Are there any young roles you want to make sure you still play before you outgrow them?
No. I’ve been a kid actor for way too long. I’m good. I’ll probably get another high school thing. I don’t care. I’ll do it until they tell me I can’t anymore.
Fred Topel is a staff writer at CraveOnline and the man behind Best Episode Ever and Shelf Space Weekly. Follow him on Twitter at @FredTopel.
