Check out our interview with talented actress Caylee Cowan who recently wrapped the female lead as Penelope in the indie horror/thriller Frank and Penelope.
The feature is being compared to classics such as True Romance and Wild At Heart, and is directed by actor Sean Patrick Flanery. A horrifying thriller about Frank (Billy Budinich) and his stripper girlfriend, Penelope (Caylee), who find themselves miles from civilization while traveling along a deserted stretch of dirt road. As darkness falls, they come upon a small motel and diner and decide to rest for the night. The next day, after robbing the diner, they suddenly become immersed in a hellish nightmare, when the proprietor of the motel and diner, “Chisos,” (Johnathon Schaech) a psychotic, cannibalistic Bible thumper along with his sadistic family, take Frank and Penelope on a life and death journey, where escape is just a heart-pounding breath away. The film also stars Kevin Dillion.
Follow Caylee @cayleecowan
Hi Caylee, please tell us a little about you?
My name is Catherine Caylee Cowan, but I go by Caylee. I was born. I will die.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
I am here.
How did you get started into acting?
I started acting by doing community theater. Some of most well-known performances there were Spear Carrier 3, Chorus Member, Attendant to Artemis, and my small but strangely beloved performance as a tree in A Midsummers Night Dream.
How has this changed your life?
It kind of IS my life.
What is the best and worst part of being an actress?
The best part about being an actress is stepping into someone else’s shoes and deconstructing the psychology of a character in order to understanding where they came from and why they are the way that they are. The worst part about being an actress is talking about myself.
How do you prepare for a role?
I read the script. If it’s based on a book, I buy the book and read that too. If it’s strue story then I do my research. I take what I learn and fill in the blanks to make their backstory. I also make them a playlist and listen to that while I’m working.
Tell us about your lead work on indie feature “Frank and Penelope?”
We made a movie called “Frank and Penelope” in Texas in the summer of 2021. I played the character Penelope. She’s down on her luck. Everything changes the day she meets Frank.
What other projects you have been part of?
I’ve been in a handful of movies. My first movie was set in the 1950’s called “Sunrise in Heaven.” And I played Kathy in “Willy’s Wonderland”
What kind of roles do you like or would like to play and why?
I love anything that is based on a book or a play. I love characters that have been thought about a great deal by the person who has written it. I am also interested in playing living people.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part of my work is when someone says enjoys watching it.
What’s your advice for the newer actors?
Work smart. Work hard. Be kind. Don’t give up.
What would say are the greatest lessons you learned so far in this business?
Be okay with the “hurry up and wait,” but don’t hesitate when you should act. Be confident and courageous. Stand up for what is right, and speak up when it is not.
How would your best friend describe you?
“When I first met her, she did something embarrassing, and now we are best friends”
If you are a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
Untitled Screenplay
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
Don’t let them tell you it’s impossible.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
What’s next for Caylee Cowan in 2022?
You’ll have to wait and see…
What is your favorite healthy food?
I love almost all fruit; Watermelon, Strawberries, bananas, plums, pears, apples, cherries etc.
And your favorite cheat food?
Vegan strawberry ice cream
What is your own definition of happiness?
A rainy day and a warm place to stay. Preferably with a book and a fire.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I’d like to meet Meryl Streep while she’s living, and if I could wake the dead, I’d pick Mary Oliver or Sam Shepard. but Sam would be mad that someone woke him from his eternal nap.
Best advice ever given?
Be true to you.
Do you support any charity?
I like to plant trees with tree people.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I see myself making more movies.
Favorite song? Why?
Big Black Car by Gregory Alan Isakov
I just like it a lot …
What do you think of Social Media?
Let’s get rid of it. Then, we won’t have to think of social media at all.
Where we can follow you?
To the end of the rainbow.
Book: The Courage to Create by Rollo May
Quote: I’ve never met a strong person with an easy past.
Movie: Full Metal Jacket by Stanley Kubrick
Tv Series: Planet Earth
Favorite Food: White Rice
Travel Destination: Home
Sports Team: Life
Photo Credit: Sarah Krick
