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With her absorbing performance in one of this year’s most thought-provoking horror films, Elma Begovic is rapidly garnering an affluence of buzz-worthy adulation. In “Bite”, she stars as Casey who after an insect bite at her bachelorette party becomes something that’s very much inhuman. Her transformation from giddy bride-to-be to a misshapen creature is terrifying yet mesmerising at the same time as Elma shines in the persona of a woman struggling with an affliction that tears her apart from the inside. She exhibited unparalleled dedication for the role of Casey in bug form, covered in body paint and tons of effects material. It speaks volumes of her commitment to her craft which will no doubt give rise to her remarkable emergence as an actress to covet. Having already interviewed her fellow cast-mates Denise Yuen and Annette Wozniak, I’m blessed to complete the trifecta of leading ladies from “BITE” with the stunning as well as über-talented Elma Begovic.
Read on to find out what Elma has to say about her character Casey and her views of women in modern cinema:
1. 1. We already know that you’re going to put the ultimate fear in people as Casey, the leading lady of “Bite” but what is the one thing that truly scares you in the world today and why?
I genuinely do not have any big fears. That being said, I am one of those people who wakes up in the middle of the night hearing a noise, and automatically I assume an intruder is in my home. And every single time, it’s just the wind or my neighbour’s dog. But still, for a millisecond, I experience genuine fear.
2. Just like “The Human Centipede”, your film “Bite” is set to be a cult classic and you are garnering plenty of buzz for being genuinely riveting. How did you prepare for those intensely uncomfortable scenes?
Preparation for some of the visually disturbing scenes in Bite came from chatting with my director, Chad Archibald. He guided me through some of the physical aspects of Casey’s journey. And the rest, I kind of used my imagination and allowed myself to just give in to the story and what it called for. Plus, being in that make up definitely helped get into character.
3. Your character did eventually transform into a monster but in your opinion, is she really evil or a victim of circumstance i.e. sometimes bad things happen to good people. Can the audience empathise with what Casey is going through and what would you like them to take away from this complex role.
I think that Casey struggles for majority of the film between maintaining her human attributes and succumbing to the insect instincts, which result from her vacation bite. And even though this is a horror, I think there is something very tragic about this girl losing her ability to remain human, and eventually causing harm to herself and the people she loves. I hope that audiences can find some depth in Casey’s character, even though she is quite repulsive by the end of the film.
4. You are also slated to star in “Save Yourself” which has an immaculate cast of notable actresses of the horror genre. Can you give us a tease of your role and what were your most memorable moments working on the film?
In “Save Yourself”, I play an outright villain, with only bad intentions. I am excited for audiences to see me speak in a different language, as most of my dialogue in “Save Yourself” is not in English.
5. Irrespective of genre, the representation of women on film has seen positive advancement. What would you like to see more of when it comes to the portrayal of women on screen and how do you see this evolving?
The dialogue about women in film has been a real focus in Hollywood and in the independent film scene. As a woman, I support conversations that will further us in this industry, therefore I encourage equal pay and strong female characters on screens. I think audiences are no longer stimulated by looking at pretty women who have little to offer on screen. I admire women like Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jennifer Lawrence for making conversations about women in the film industry a staple piece of their interviews.
Actress Obsession 