Anna Lore is no stranger to high-stakes storytelling—but in 2025, she’s diving headfirst into the genre that thrills and terrifies in equal measure. With standout roles in two of horror’s most iconic franchises—Final Destination: Bloodlines and Black Phone 2—Lore is cementing herself as one of the most exciting new voices in the world of psychological chills and supernatural suspense.

Audiences may already know Lore from her breakout turn as Stephanie Brown in CW’s Gotham Knights, where she brought depth and edge to the legacy DC character. She also made waves in All American as the troubled yet compelling Carrie, and showcased her range in HBO Max’s Doom Patrol, holding her own alongside screen legend Brendan Fraser. Horror fans will recognize her from the Kevin Bacon-led They/Them, as well as her lead role in Hulu’s Into the Dark: My Valentine—a performance that hinted at her genre potential.

Now, Lore is taking that potential to the next level. With Final Destination: Bloodlines and Black Phone 2 already generating early buzz, she’s stepping into two beloved franchises with devoted fanbases and high expectations. It’s a challenge she welcomes—and one that marks a thrilling next chapter in her fast-rising career.

Originally from the Midwest, Anna brings grounded authenticity to every role, whether it’s a masked slasher flick or an emotionally complex teen drama. She’s eager to share more about her creative process, what draws her to darker material, and what it means to be a part of horror history in the making.

Mundane: You’ve had such a diverse range of roles across both television and film, from *Gotham Knights* to *All American* and *Doom Patrol*. How do you approach each new character and genre, and what’s your process for bringing such varied performances to life?

Anna Lore: I like to do a lot of research. It may not all be applicable to the character, but I like to learn as much as I can. For Gotham Knights, Stephanie Brown was basically a tech prodigy, she was a hacker. My search history was so suspicious: “what kind of attacks do hackers use”. I watched YouTube videos and a lot of Mr. Robot because they show pretty realistic techniques. If it’s a period piece, I watch documentaries and I look up music from that time period. But when I get to the set it’s about letting all that prep take a back seat so I can just listen to my scene partner and be in the moment.

This year, you’re stepping into two major horror franchises – *Final Destination: Bloodlines* and *Black Phone 2*. What drew you to these iconic series, and how does it feel to be a part of such a long-standing genre legacy?

AL: Last year after I got home from shooting Final Destination, I remember telling people what I was away for and every single person I talked to knew about the franchise and remembered at least one iconic death (usually the log truck!). After about ten interactions like that, I thought to myself “I think a lot of people are going to see this movie!” I just feel really grateful to the casting director Rich Delia for bringing me in for the part, also to the producers and directors for giving me the chance to be a part of a franchise like this. I know fans are going to get everything they want from this movie! I can’t say too much about Black Phone 2 yet, but I love Scott Derrickson’s films and I loved working with him so much. He puts so much heart into his horror, it’s not just scares, you really feel for everyone in the film, and that’s exactly the kind of work I like to do.

In *All American*, you played Carrie, a troubled teen with a lot of emotional complexity. What was the most challenging aspect of portraying her, and how did you connect with the character’s journey?**

AL: I have a lot of empathy for Carrie. I think she just wanted to be loved and to belong, but it went too far. The hardest part about playing her was probably that I had no idea where it was going, I was just given the scripts as they came out. So, when I got that last script, I thought “Oh wow, she’s going all the way.”

From *Into the Dark: My Valentine* to *They/Them*, you’ve worked on a few unique genre projects. How do you think horror and thriller genres allow for different types of storytelling compared to more traditional drama or comedy roles?**

AL: Horror allows you to go all the way. All the horrible “what ifs” become reality, everything becomes extreme. In comedy or drama, you’re kind of safe as an audience member. Horror plays on your fight or flight, I think that’s why it’s so popular as a genre. You really feel something when you watch horror, especially in a theater.

You’ve shared the screen with some incredible actors like Brendan Fraser and Kevin Bacon. What have those experiences been like, and what have you learned from working with such established talents?

AL: I learned that no matter how famous you are, you can always treat people well. They are both just such kind, humble, and talented people.

As someone with roots in the Midwest, how do you think your background has influenced your approach to acting, both in terms of your work ethic and how you approach characters?

AL: I don’t know if it’s the Midwest or just my family specifically, but I was raised with a lot of empathy and I think that’s crucial to being an actor. My mom wouldn’t even let us call stuff “weird” when we were growing up, it was really important that we always understood someone else’s perspective.

*Final Destination* and *Black Phone* are both incredibly anticipated films in the horror community. Without giving too much away, what can fans expect from your characters, and how do you fit into these terrifying worlds?

AL: I can say about both movies that fans are going to be very happy. Final Destination fans have been waiting a long time for this movie, and it delivers everything you want and more.

The horror genre has such a passionate fan base. What’s it been like interacting with horror fans, especially as you step into such beloved franchises with *Final Destination* and *Black Phone 2*?

AL: The fans have been so welcoming and excited for both movies. I love watching the edits they make, they crack me up.

How do you balance the intense emotional demands of characters in drama-heavy roles with the more high-stakes, often physical demands of horror and thriller roles? Do you have a favorite genre to work in?

AL: I’m just looking to connect with the role above all else, no matter what genre it’s in. The goal for me is to create a real person who is living in real circumstances. It can be tough with horror because I get the script and I’m like, okay time to sit down and imagine what it’s like to be electrocuted to death! I’m sensitive, so I notice that sometimes I avoid doing the work because I don’t want to sit around and picture my character going through the horrible things they have to go through.

Looking ahead, what kinds of roles or projects are you most excited to take on next? Are there any genres or characters you haven’t explored yet but would love to in the future?

AL: Comedy! I would love to do a role with less screaming and crying. My goal for this year is to do a movie my parents can comfortably watch. I’m going to do a rom-com that a writer friend of mine is developing, and I’m really looking forward to that. I also have a short film that I’ve written and that I’m directing, which I can’t wait to get started on.