In Conversation with actress Lou Lou Safran

Lou Lou Safran is a native Angeleno who has always had a desire to entertain others. Growing up in a creative household surrounded by music and film, Lou Lou made her cinematic debut in the 2016 Nicholas Sparks drama, The Choice. This summer, she takes on a completely different role in Annabelle: Creation, the sequel to the popular horror film, Annabelle. The sequel will be released later this month on August 11. In addition, Lou Lou starred in a short horror film a friend and I made last month for the #MyAnnabelleCreation contest. She is an incredible actress, and Lou Lou’s unstoppable combination of talent, brains, and beauty will be sure to captivate people around the globe.

I am so excited for moviegoers to experience Lou Lou Safran and the light and joy she brings to all that she does. Lou Lou is an amazing human being and friend, and it is an honor to feature her on The Zeitgeist this month. Be sure to be on the lookout for Lou Lou Safran– she will take on the world by storm!

When did you realize you wanted to pursue acting?
I think I knew I wanted to be an actress when I was 5 and had a little part in my mom’s music video, Big Wave. We were shooting in the Mojave Desert, and I was fascinated by the whole process. But I’ve been around movie sets, theaters, and filmmaking my whole life, since my parents work in the music and film industries. Movie making is pure magic, and acting is my favorite part of it.

I, along with fans around the world, am so excited for Annabelle: Creation to be released later this month! Can you tell Zeitgeist readers a bit more about your role as Tierney?
Tierney is a feisty and bubbly 11 year old. She’s an orphan, so she has obviously already gone through serious adversity in life– but that has made her an even more loyal friend. She loves to play with the girls and have as much fun as possible, but she also quickly realizes that things are not well in their new home, and she tries to face the situation as bravely as possible.

What is your favorite memory from filming Annabelle: Creation?
I absolutely loved stepping onto the set every day and being transported back to the 1950s. Jennifer Spence designed the most incredible creepy old farmhouse from scratch, right in the middle of a Warner Brothers stage. All the furniture and decorations were so authentic that it made being Tierney that much easier. We also had these great clothes made out of vintage fabrics by our costume designer, Leah Butler. I remember sitting in “our bedroom” one day filming a scene where we chatter about the strange things going on in the house and totally forgetting we were on camera. It was always so fun being with my costars on the set– much of the time, we didn’t even have to act much. I also really loved having lunch with our girlie orphan group every day in my room. I remember when you joined us on the set, Alexandra, and we had the best time– so much fun chatting, giggling and plotting every lunch break.

Compared to your role in The Choice, was portraying Tierney very different for you, or did you experience some overlapping similarities between the two characters?
The Choice is a romantic drama and Annabelle: Creation is a supernatural thriller, so the two movies are completely different in style and atmosphere. But Katie and Tierney have more in common than you would think. They both had tragedy strike in their childhood and are faced with dramatic circumstances. They can both sense that things are not right, but they can’t really control how they turn out. It’s a thrill to play characters in difficult situations. There is so much tension and suspense going on!

How do you prepare for a character each time you take on a new role? I always spend a lot of time on my character’s past. Sometimes it’s written into the script, and sometimes there are only bits and pieces known, and you create a story based on  what you have. Nothing was said about Tierney’s past, before her arrival at the orphanage, so I had to make it all up for myself. I love imagining things, so this is my favorite part. When you’re building the story of your character’s past experiences, home life, and all that, you have a good understanding of who they really are and what makes them tick. Then, portraying that person becomes all instinct, and you don’t have to pretend.

I know you are also very well-versed in music. Which artists are you listening to right now?
I am still obsessed with the Arctic Monkeys, The Last Shadow Puppets and anything by Alex Turner and Miles Kane. But I am always listening to a lot of other artists. I’m trying to learn Eddie Vedder’s songs on my new ukulele and ELO’s Mr. Blue Sky. And I’ve been playing Radiohead’s latest album “A Moon Shaped Pool” a lot, too. My uncle Mick has a great band, Burn This Song, and I am nuts about their last single, a hard rock cover of “Black Betty.”

What is something that someone would be surprised to learn about you?
I love being on set so much that I never want to leave, even after a long day of shooting, when I’m falling on my face. And also, I can never keep my room clean. My mom says I’m a messy disaster.

Who are some of your professional role models?
I am totally in love with classic Hollywood and have been watching all the oldies with my family this summer. Gary Cooper is my absolute favorite– everyone needs to see Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. I also love Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, and of course, Audrey Hepburn. They were all such amazing talents– charming, funny, and sweet. They made it all look light and effortless. Many of them could not only act but also sing and dance incredibly well. It must have been so much work. Your jaw just drops!

What’s next for you?
The Annabelle: Creation premiere on August 7! I can’t wait to see all my costars on the black carpet.