Megan Lawless Gets Real About Obsession, Working With Curry Barker, Horror Movies, and Singing!?

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:00]Jeremiah.

[00:00:02]Megan. Hi, how are you? [laughter] How are you? I'm doing great. How is everything? Good. It's nice to talk to you again. Yes, so nice to talk to you.

[00:00:12]We had met at South by Southwest via mutual friend of ours and we were celebrating not only the Oscars but the end of the well, it was closing it was close to the end of the festival as well. Yeah.

[00:00:23]>> really nice. Yeah.

[00:00:24]>> we sang karaoke. Yes, that was incredible. That was fire. I like take me back, bro. I know. That was such a fun weekend. Ugh. Yeah, absolutely. But let's jump in. Um first of all, I just want to know how are you feeling? It's press day. How is like how are you feeling?

[00:00:40]I feel so good. It's just, you know, I've been waiting for everyone to see this film for so long it feels like, you know. Um and just experience the craziness of it and not being able to talk about what happens. Like it's >> gosh. It's been like hard, you know, I I just really want like audiences to see it. And now finally it's it's really revving up. It feels like a a big moment, you know, and >> Yeah, ever since like me and my film talk friends, we saw it at the world premiere at South by it we had been restraining ourselves from talking about it but I've been loving the marketing roll out. I've been seeing the ads, the merch. I'm like I have to I have to get something. The one with Willow sold out so I was like kind of upset about that.

[00:01:25]I was like, wow. I know. Well, there's merch now you can get so >> Yeah, I know. I'm really excited. But let's jump in. Okay, so my first question for you is what horror movie franchise have you always been obsessed with and like have you ever been into horror prior to this or was it something new for you? Like what's that been?

[00:01:44]Yeah, I do I like horror. Um I'm not like a horror fanatic but I love seeing horror in theaters. I just don't have a ton of friends that love to go with me.

[00:01:53]>> [laughter] >> Yeah.

[00:01:54]That's kind of the problem. But um no, I I do like horror. I love Smile. I've just seen all the Smile films in theaters since the first one came out and >> Yeah, I think Smile was you know, kind of when I realized like, oh, I need to like keep seeing horror movies in theaters. I also love Ready or Not. Oh my gosh, yes. I just watched that for the first time before South by cuz I wanted to get prepped for the sequel and everything. Yeah. Yeah, I I saw that first one on Netflix at some point and then I saw Ready or Not 2 at South by so that Yes. Yes.

[00:02:31]Yeah, no, my favorite aside from Obsession, my favorite horror movie would have to be I'll say right now would be Weapons. Have you seen Weapons?

[00:02:38]Yes, I loved Weapons.

[00:02:39]>> It's so fun.

[00:02:41]>> [laughter] >> Yeah, I I loved it and it's you know, it's getting so many flowers, too, which I I love. Horror is really it Yes, we're getting getting our flowers.

[00:02:51]Yeah. It's a strong genre and I'm glad this is also getting at the theatrical release, especially in like Dolby and a couple different formats and like across the theaters in the US or really in the world, but really my next question for you is, what are you obsessing over right now? Like what's something you're obsessing over? Oh my god. That you that you would say that you're obsessing over. What am I obsessing over? Like hyper [clears throat] fixating on.

[00:03:15]>> I can't believe I didn't even think about this.

[00:03:17]>> [laughter] >> I don't even know.

[00:03:23]Um, like honestly, this all this stuff going on with Obsession has kind of like been my world right now and I I love it, you know. I Every time I drive down a the streets of LA, I see like >> Yeah, the billboards. I've been seeing you guys have been getting so hyped.

[00:03:38]I've been living for you guys' reactions to you like, oh my gosh, my first poster like Curry's uh post and everything.

[00:03:43]It's so cool. I know. Yeah, and just last night I was driving in the car with my friend and he recorded me [clears throat] like seeing one of the billboards, but I I swear every time I drive like I see one. So, that's been really cool. But, what am I obsessed with?

[00:03:57]You know, okay, this [laughter] is so weird.

[00:04:01]There's um I recently a makeup artist recommended this lanolin nipple cream as a chapstick. No, I know this is crazy.

[00:04:12]It's the best chapstick to ever exist, and I've bought like >> Not Aquaphor? I use Aquaphor as my chapstick.

[00:04:17]>> no, no, no, no.

[00:04:18]I used to be an Aquaphor girl. No, no, no, no, no. It doesn't need air to this stuff. It's like purple. I wish I had it on me. I keep them everywhere.

[00:04:27]I I keep buying more, so I have one in like every purse, and that's what I've been obsessed with lately. So, there you go.

[00:04:34]I swear, it's for like mothers, you know, breastfeeding mothers, but >> [laughter] >> I was not expecting that.

[00:04:43]I know.

[00:04:44]It's the only thing I can think of right now, but it's genuine.

[00:04:48]Yeah, no, that's that's that's fun. I'm going to I'm going to look that up for sure. When you first read the script though for Obsession, like what was your initial like emotional reaction like after you got done reading that script and you found out this was what the story is and this is the world I'm about to dive into? Yeah, I mean, I was hype.

[00:05:08]I >> [laughter] >> I I really was. I was so jazzed about it.

[00:05:13]I read it I read it, you know, before I I had booked the role. So, >> Wow. Yeah, when I read it, I was still auditioning and I I remember being like, I need to book this. And if I don't, I need to see it because wow. I I was I kept thinking like whoever plays Nikki, like how are they going to do it?

[00:05:36]It's just as an audience member like Obsession gets me going, you know, like even on the page I was like, this is something I'd totally watch as a viewer.

[00:05:47]But, like something I'd so want to be a part of as an actor as well. So I was just really hoping I had that opportunity and it ended up working out.

[00:05:56]>> I mean, you guys' chemistry is so good.

[00:05:59]Like there's essentially like a core four element in the film. Like it's the four of you guys and of course things go a little left.

[00:06:08]I bet that was a fun set. What is a fun memory that you remember from being on set? I guess without giving too much of the plot away or any specific scenes, but What just says the most fun?

[00:06:20]I just and truly I I can't emphasize this enough. I loved this cast and crew and yeah, we all felt like such friends.

[00:06:28]We had so much fun behind the camera.

[00:06:30]Um there was there was this time we were supposed to be coming out of the music store and me Curry or Curry was there obviously behind the camera and we were Indie and Michael were all there. We're supposed to be walking out of the music store and it was an overnight shoot. It was late. It was kind of cold [clears throat] and we were like really serious.

[00:06:53]And we we were in we were supposed to walk out of this building, but Curry was like, "Don't close this door because it locks and then we'll have to call like a guardsman to come and reopen it. Like it locks if you close it fully. So just don't close it fully."

[00:07:10]Well, I don't know who's responsible, but one of us closed it fully and we got stuck inside and we were like walking around in there like passing time while like they unlocked the door and we swore that building was haunted. And we were like If it's the vibe, I mean if it's >> getting haunted on the set of this film, >> [laughter] >> but at least we're together." Exactly.

[00:07:34]Exactly. You guys are all together and if it's the vibe, I mean you're on a horror movie set. I mean I don't mind that. Like honestly, I'm not super opposed to that and you know, it was like hehe haha like kind of funny.

[00:07:45]>> Yeah.

[00:07:46]Just kind of getting that ambiance and getting that vibe. Yeah.

[00:07:49]>> But like what do you hope audiences talk about after seeing this film? Like what do you hope they walk out of saying because all I could say after I watched it for the first time was just obsession. I remember I recorded like my initial reaction to it and I was like, "Guys, obsession." Like Focus Features and they they saw it like right after like immediate out of theater reaction.

[00:08:10]I was like, "Obsession. Obsession.

[00:08:12]Obsession. Obsession." Like the way it ends, I was so shook. Me and my friend Kareem who you also met like we were just sitting there talking like we were just like dude. Like in the line for Hokum, we were just like dude.

[00:08:24]Obsession.

[00:08:26]>> [laughter] >> That's exactly what >> what I hope happens because I know like I love film and it's very few and far between that I think about a film for like a week, a month after I've seen it. And there's some films that just really stick with you. And um you know, I'm super biased, but I feel like Obsession has the potential to do that. And I I hope that happens with audiences. I hope they're thinking about the way that ending like the last 10 pages of the script like Oh my goodness.

[00:08:59]>> are so insane.

[00:09:00]>> roller coaster. It's a roller coaster.

[00:09:03]>> people come out of the theaters with all their friends and all they can talk about on the drive home is like dissecting exactly what happened. Yeah.

[00:09:10]Yeah.

[00:09:12]Yeah.

[00:09:12]>> It Like I I still it's just some scenes I'm still like I'm saying I'm not going to give it anything away, but I'm still thinking about certain scenes especially a specific car scene in mind. Yes.

[00:09:23]>> My goodness. I was thinking about that the other day and I was like, "Oh man, my friends are not ready." We literally got our tickets for opening day. Uh and me and a couple of my buddies are going and I'm like, "Ooh, I can't wait to see their reaction.

[00:09:38]That's going to be dope."

[00:09:38]>> Yeah. I know. I'm I invited my parents to the premiere and like told them what happens because like I report back to them about all events in my life. So, I've already spoiled it for them a little, but I don't think it's actually spoiled because I still think it's so crazy.

[00:09:57]Unpredictable.

[00:09:58]>> Unpredictable and I just like can't wait to like experience it right next to me.

[00:10:03]Yeah. What's like a dream like like like how long have you been acting for and like what's like a dream franchise like you'd like to be a part of?

[00:10:13]I've been acting since I was 13. Okay.

[00:10:16]>> So, that is, you know, over 10 years for me. Yeah.

[00:10:21]A dream franchise. I do love horror.

[00:10:24]Like I would love I would love to be in a Ready or Not film. I do love If they made a third one, I mean >> If they made a third one and I somehow fit in, would love that.

[00:10:36]But yeah, I also love things outside of horror. I would love to be in something like Pitch Perfect cuz I do sing. And yeah. I love comedy and you know, that's a total 180 from Obsessed. [laughter] But I would love to be in a franchise like that.

[00:10:54]>> [laughter] >> Which is so funny.

[00:10:56]It's a complete 360 vibe like going from like two different types of genres. But I think you would fit into that pretty well. Thank you. And I mean, you know, as an actor, I want to like do a little bit of everything. You know what I mean?

[00:11:09]>> Yeah. So.

[00:11:10]>> Why not? That would be >> Yeah. You like got to have a ver- like versatility, of course. Yeah. Yeah, I want to try everything, you know.

[00:11:17]Yeah, did this movie change your perception kind of like about how you would approach like romance and what it means to like be codependent? Like does it change like your perception or view on that because these types of situations that happen in this movie like of course there is the one which will win things of that nature but there are genuinely people out there who I mean God forbid you meet someone like that but like who might be like Nikki in a way or like codependent in a way. Like did that change your perception on it at all or how you view it? I mean I think even before this film I I knew that but you know I think that's something that's so relatable about this film cuz I think we can all see a little bit of ourselves in Bear and like how he has like tunnel vision for some girl he likes and just wants to do whatever he can to make it happen and I think that's really relatable, you know, as I've gotten older I've gotten way better at I I if I ever start feeling like I'm losing myself in a relationship or a dynamic it's like immediately a red flag to me and I'm like I need to reassess like my priorities. 1000% No no of course.

[00:12:27]>> to do that, you know, and it's very relatable. It's so poignant to like young you know young people that are out in the dating landscape but yeah I mean like the theme is just so important and and and relevant I think to all of us and that's just like you know you can't lose yourself in these relationships like you yeah and like you can't force something you you know it's not worth it for your own well being and the other person so Agreed. Yeah. 1000% 1000% Have you seen all the posters?

[00:13:04]I think they're not. Yeah I I did. Yes yes. Which one was your which one was your favorite? I just did a I told you I was doing a ranking I just posted my ranking on Instagram and Tik Tok. I literally My favorite one is the one with the heart eye inside of it.

[00:13:18]>> Yeah. Yo that's my favorite too with her glassy Indie's glassy like I yeah yeah yeah. That's my favorite too.

[00:13:24]Um I also love the one they have for Alamo. It's like red >> heart >> heart. Yeah. With the heart and bear is like at the top. Yes. Yeah. It's so cool. I love the Alamo Drafthouse one. I said my second favorite one was the was the original was the very first one that came out where bear was in focus and Nikki's like silhouette is in the back. Yeah.

[00:13:48]>> That gives me chills every single time.

[00:13:50]I said I don't even think I could have that in my room because like that whole it's just so twisted. I mean, yeah, in the best way. We love it. It's right up.

[00:14:02]Yeah, they nailed it with the posters. I was so excited when those came came out.

[00:14:05]I didn't know about them and then I was like, "Whoa!" We just got >> [laughter] >> It's Christmas today. We have so many extra posters. Love it.

[00:14:13]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's amazing. What would you tell little Megan right now?

[00:14:17]Like you could like you were looking at little Megan like what would you tell her like if she saw you right now?

[00:14:22]I love this question. That is so sweet.

[00:14:25]I mean, [laughter] yeah, I would tell her I would tell her that everything works out eventually.

[00:14:31]>> Yeah. You just, you know, if you have patience for it and you, you know, love this profession, you love film like wait it out and you don't even know what's about to come to you because >> Exactly. this was such a surprise and um, you know, the success of this film, I mean, I always believed in it but also the reception it's had is has been quite a surprise and um, it's been like the coolest experience of my whole life and >> Yeah.

[00:14:56]Yeah, little girl, you don't even know what's coming.

[00:14:59]>> [laughter] >> Keep to the course and Yeah. you'll be rewarded. Yeah. Yeah, the future is bright for you, Megan. You are incredible in this film along with the rest of the cast. I mean, I could tell everybody really worked hard on this especially because it is an indie movie and I'm glad it did get picked up by Blumhouse and it also got picked up by Focus Features as well. So that's like really great cuz a lot of films nowadays are trying to get like off the ground and the indie scene is becoming more and more popular with companies like Neon as well. So, I'm glad to see like that this film is getting such positive reception, especially from like us at the film festival and everything and even at other film festivals. Like it's been great. I've been loving the reviews like >> I know.

[00:15:38]>> It's been awesome. It's surreal and it's such a success story and I'm just so happy for all of us because we really gave this our all. There were no big egos on set. It was like we are all, you know, mutually working towards something and we had to like show up every day. Um Yeah, like you know, cuz it was an indie film and and yeah, now for everyone to be appreciating it at this level is just so rewarding and we deserve it. Like all of us, Curry deserves it so much, India Michael and Cooper, everyone just I love it. Yeah.

[00:16:12]It's incredible. Well, as we wrap up, I'm I'm getting close to time, but as we wrap up, what is some advice you would give to aspiring actors or upcoming actors and actresses? Oh. Let's do a cliche one. We'll do a little, you know, pull it out.

[00:16:25]>> love it. Yeah, you know, I if you really if you love being an actor and this is what you see yourself doing, you can't do anything else.

[00:16:33]Yeah. There's there's a lot of trials and tribulations of being an actor and it takes a lot of patience, but >> Yeah. keep to the course, find your community, um take your work seriously, keep trying to be curious and learn and grow, Yeah.

[00:16:47]just trust that things will come in the timing that they're meant to come in and like >> Um cuz it's easy to like kind of get caught up in the rejection of it, but um you know, also if your life is very full in so many other ways, all of that helps your craft and helps you fuel your work, but also, you know, allows you to have more of a well-rounded life and >> Yeah.

[00:17:11]you take those rejections easier and kind of just allow life to pan out the way it's supposed to and it works out in time if if, you know, you're putting in the work on your end. Absolutely. I love that, Megan. Well, I don't know if it's 2:25 on my end. I didn't know if they're going to they're going to end it in a minute. I haven't gotten a warning or anything, but >> [snorts] >> Well, Megan, you can keep going for one one or so more questions if you have more.

[00:17:38]One or so more? I mean, that was all the questions I had, honestly. If I'm being honest, I mean, Megan wrapped it up nicely. Honestly, that was that was a great way to end it.

[00:17:47][laughter] That was good. I liked that. I liked that.

[00:17:50]>> Yeah, no, absolutely. You gave such great answers to my questions. Thank you so much.