'Saint Clare' Exclusive Interview: Bella Thorne

Moviefone speaks with Bella Thorne about 'Saint Clare' and working with Rebecca De Mornay. "I love Rebecca. She's just absolutely amazing to work with."

Bella Thorne as “Clare Bleecker” in the mystery thriller 'Saint Clare', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

Opening in theaters, On Demand and on digital beginning July 18th is the new thriller ‘Saint Clare’, which was directed Mitzi Peirone (‘Braid’), and stars Bella Thorne (‘Blended’), Ryan Phillippe (‘The Lincoln Lawyer’), and Rebecca De Mornay (‘Risky Business’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Bella Thorne about her work on ‘Saint Clare’, her approach to her character, working with veteran actress Rebecca De Mornay, and shooting emotionally difficult scenes with Ryan Phillippe.

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Bella Thorne as “Clare Bleecker” in the mystery thriller 'Saint Clare', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your approach to playing this character, how you would describe her in her own words, and her emotional arc in the movie?

Bella Thorne: How would I describe Clare? Kick ass! We love an arc. I think that we had such an interesting time going through that arc emotionally, finding that Clare hides her feelings, which is where the narration comes in in such a great way to let us know where we're at with her. I think I just love that final ending moment, the curtain drawn in full, "You are going for it now." I love that.

(L to R) Joy Rovaris as “Juliana LeBlanc,” Rebecca De Mornay as “Gigi Newberry” and Bella Thorne as “Clare Bleecker” in the mystery thriller 'Saint Clare', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

MF: What was your experience like working with Rebecca De Mornay?

BT: I love Rebecca. She's just amazing to work with, so much fun, and charisma, and truly wants what's best for the scene when she's stepping on set. Even reconnecting again with her through the press and festival process has been amazing. She is just way too hot. She needs to calm down.

Bella Thorne as “Clare Bleecker” in the mystery thriller 'Saint Clare', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

MF: Finally, you have some emotionally challenging scenes opposite Ryan Phillippe. What was it like working with him on those sequences?

BT: Yeah, those scenes were again, more sparring in this movie, the kind of cat and mouse game, and playing with the idea that you are anxious. This is one of the times that we really see things coming back to bite her in that way, the things that she's done. As well as at one point there is a serious shift choice in emotionally, "I know, and I'm ahead of you in this game." I think that that was fun to play with as well.

Editorial Note: Krisily Fernstrom conducted this interview and contributed to this article.

What is the plot of ‘Saint Clare’?

To the world, sixteen-year-old Clare Bleecker (Bella Thorne) appears to be a normal teenager: a Catholic school student, an animal lover and devout vegan living with her grandparents. But like the small town she lives in, Clare is more than she appears to be. Underneath her reserved appearance lives a sociopath with dissociative identity disorder - a serial killer.