EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Karen Cliche: Exploring Fear, Emotion, and the Power of Storytelling

Conducted by Guillaume Jean Lefebvre

1. You’re reuniting with Eli Roth for Ice Cream Man. What made you want to be part of this project, and what attracted you to this story?

I was so honoured that he asked me to play his wife! Getting to be directed by him again, as well as being his co-star, was so fun. Eli is so creative and passionate about horror, so I just love being part of the process. And after reading this script, I knew this would be his craziest, most gory film yet. But most of all? I have always thought ice cream trucks were scary. So this idea he had really brought my intrusive thoughts to life!

2. In Ice Cream Man, you play Alison, the wife of Eli Roth’s character. How did you approach developing this character and your on-screen relationship?

The main big scene we are in with our kids was so fun to shoot. We improvised a lot. We wanted the parents to be successful professionals who want their kids to focus on school and their future as lawyers, but also fun, caring parents who indulge in making their kids think they are cringe, haha.

3. The film transforms something as innocent as an ice cream truck into a terrifying experience. What do you think makes this concept so fascinating for horror audiences?

Well, I guess that’s where I am weird—I never saw ice cream trucks as innocent! I always had dark humour and weird adult thoughts, so working with Eli on his projects is never as shocking as it probably should be! Having had the opportunity to do lots of horror conventions after Thanksgiving, I asked fans this same question: why they love horror so much. Many of their answers were that it helped them escape and feel so deeply that it was exhilarating too. I don’t love being scared, but I do love acting in horror movies so that others can be!

4. Many fans still remember you for your role as Amanda’s attorney in Saw VI. Looking back on that experience, what made that film special for you, and what do you think allowed the Saw franchise to remain so influential in the horror genre?

Well, for starters, I was newly pregnant on that film, so you can imagine how being strapped to a spinning carousel, screaming my face off for hours, felt! I think a lot of my facial expressions were pretty genuine, haha. Saw films are deeply psychological and ask us the tough moral and ethical questions. So it isn’t just gratuitous gore—it has another aspect to it that is thought-provoking.

From Saw VI to Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, MGM+’s The Westies, and the upcoming The Bookie and the Bruiser, Karen Cliche reflects on a career defined by fearless performances, emotional transformation, and a lifelong passion for storytelling.

Some actors build their careers by staying within familiar territory. Others constantly seek new challenges, embracing characters that push them emotionally, physically, and creatively. For this accomplished French-Canadian actress, every role has become an opportunity to evolve, revealing new dimensions of both her craft and herself.

Audiences first discovered her through memorable performances in productions such as Adventure Inc. before witnessing her unforgettable appearance in the iconic horror franchise Saw VI. Now, she returns to the genre alongside acclaimed filmmaker Eli Roth in Ice Cream Man, a bold and unsettling project that transforms an everyday symbol of childhood into a chilling nightmare. Yet horror is only one chapter of an increasingly diverse career.

Her upcoming slate reflects an actress unafraid of reinvention. From the psychological intensity of Ice Cream Man to the gritty crime drama The Westies, where she stars alongside J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver, and the highly anticipated The Bookie and the Bruiser with Vince Vaughn, Theo James, and Patrick Schwarzenegger, she continues to move effortlessly between genres while embracing increasingly layered and emotionally rich characters.

Beyond the screen, her journey has also been one of personal transformation. After stepping away from the industry to dedicate herself to motherhood, she has returned with renewed confidence, a deeper emotional perspective, and a desire to explore vulnerability in ways that were once unimaginable. Today, she is not only seeking roles that challenge audiences but also those that challenge herself as an artist.

In this exclusive interview with Éclair Magazine, she reflects on reuniting with Eli Roth, the enduring legacy of Saw VI, working alongside remarkable casts, rediscovering her passion for acting after a long hiatus, and why the most exciting chapter of her career may still be ahead.

INTERVIEW

5. After Saw VI and now Ice Cream Man, you’ve become closely connected with the horror genre. What do you enjoy most about exploring darker stories and complex characters?

I love how you have to completely push yourself to the limit in horror films. You have to sell an emotion that you probably can’t relate to, so you have to really use your vivid imagination to be able to pull it off. You can’t be worried about your looks while screaming or not give it your all—it will ruin the whole effect if you can’t make the audience feel what you are feeling. So I love that challenge.

6. You’re also appearing in MGM+’s crime drama The Westies, alongside J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver. What attracted you to this project and this very different universe?

Ironically, this French-Canadian girl played an Italian mob wife! Although I did grow up in Montreal, and my high school and friends were very Italian. I played pool in Italian bars on weekends and even waitressed in a mafia-owned restaurant for three years, so I had something to draw from. I auditioned for it and really dressed the part and put on a bit of a New York accent. I love when I get to play and try something outside the box for me. When I saw the cast and knew I would be directed by Alan Taylor, I was even more excited.

7. Your upcoming film The Bookie and the Bruiser reunites you with Vince Vaughn, Theo James, and Patrick Schwarzenegger, under the direction of S. Craig Zahler. What excited you most about joining this cast and this story?

I had never worked with any of them, and it turned out to be one of my favourite experiences to date. Vince and I had all our scenes together in very intimate conversations, and Zahler really encouraged us to take our time and let emotions and long beats speak for themselves. Vince and I had a great collaboration and loved our characters' relationship and journey. It was very special, and I can’t wait for you all to see it!

Talent: Karen Cliche — @karencliche
Photographer: Pascale Therien — @pascale_therien_photographie

8. From Adventure Inc. to Saw VI and your recent projects, your career has explored many different genres. How has your approach to choosing roles changed throughout the years?

At the start of my career, I booked a lot of very physical roles, and that was so fun. I think being the daughter of a sergeant who never took a ballet class in her life but instead was encouraged to be “tough” really paid off in my career. I always played strong roles, especially with my dark hair, but now, since becoming a mom 17 years ago and having lived through a lot of different emotions since then, I am more open to vulnerability and have no fear about it anymore. So the type of roles that I get now reflects that softer side. I want to keep exploring that and challenging myself to go to even deeper, more painful places in future roles.

9. Are there any types of characters or genres that you haven’t explored yet but would love to take on in the future?

I haven’t been in a comedy in a long time, and that is my first true love. I was in a small Canadian indie film called RACEWALKERS, out now in select theatres, and I absolutely love that script and had so much fun on it. So I would love to do more projects like that, as well as some beautiful dramatic work.

10. After so many years working as an actress, what continues to inspire you and keep your passion for storytelling alive?

I did work consistently for a while, but when I had my daughter, I left the business for over a decade to raise her. So getting back now is really special to me. It was scary, not knowing if anyone would even want me back. What keeps me going now, older and wiser (I hope), is the drive to show how much better I am as an actress now. I even want to write a script soon, so we’ll see!

11. With Ice Cream Man, The Westies, and The Bookie and the Bruiser marking this exciting new chapter in your career, what would you like audiences to discover about you as an actress today?

I would love to surprise people. To look completely different, gritty, older. I want to show the pieces of me that are broken and sad. When I was a kid/teenager, I would act in my room alone all the time, letting vulnerable sides of me out that I was too afraid to share in real life. It would be full circle to share that with the world now.