Irish teen’s family ‘freaked out’ after seeing her as evil villain in new Hollywood horror

Stephen Porzio

The 14-year-old, who is earning rave reviews for her terrifying performance in the Ireland-shot movie, admits that her sister was shocked by the levels of fake blood during a set visit.

14-year-old Irish actress Alisha Weir is taking Hollywood by storm, having already played at her young age the title character in two massive movies.

The first was 2022’s beloved Matilda the Musical but this week she will return to screens in a very different type of film and role, playing the chief antagonist in the extremely fun horror flick Abigail.

The film, which also stars the likes of Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera and the late Angus Cloud, centres around a group of criminals hired to kidnap the ballerina daughter (Weir) of a wealthy man and take her to a secluded mansion to lay low while they wait for the ransom.

The criminals soon find themselves trapped in the manor, however, as it’s revealed that the seemingly sweet little Abigail is actually a bloodthirsty vampire.

Anyone who goes to see the horror – which was co-written by Irish man Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground), was filmed in Ireland and was directed by the team behind the last two Scream sequels – will be blown away by Weir’s performance as she effortlessly switches persona from helpless little girl to pure evil creature.

JOE had the opportunity to speak to the cast of Abigail ahead of its release and so, we asked its young Irish star – who sat with Melissa Barrera – if it was fun to play such a scary villain after her kind character in Matilda was treated so poorly.

“I’ve actually never thought of it like that. It makes a lot of sense that she’s getting payback almost. Matilda’s definitely changed a lot,” Weir jokes.

“She’s getting payback on people that have treated her like that.”

On the experience of shooting Abigail in her home country, she added: “It was amazing to get to film it in Ireland. I filmed Matilda in England but getting to film it like down the road from where I live, it was amazing because my family got to come on set.

“My dad got to come on set, my mom and my sisters got to see what it’s like behind the scenes because it’s very new to me, it’s very new to my whole family all this and they are just so excited, as I am.

“So for them to get to come on set with me was really special.”

We then had to ask the obvious next question given the goriness of Abigail – were Weir’s family alarmed by the levels of fake blood on set?

“I think sometimes,” Weir says. “Say if my mom was on set with me and my dad was at home, I’d go home and I’d tell him: ‘I was covered in blood. I had contacts and teeth in and I was flying.’

“When I told him that, I don’t think he believed me. I think he was looking at me like: ‘Yeah, sure.’

“Then he came on set and he saw the amount of blood there was, and my sisters as well. One of my sisters is like not good with that and she was so freaked out, especially watching the movie as well. They were definitely not used to it.”

Weir is earning rave reviews for her villainous turn and her cast mates are full of praise for her.

Speaking about the 14-year-old, Dan Stevens said: “It’s very exciting for everyone but especially Ireland to have such an exciting up-and-coming actress in your midst.

“Alisha – fantastically exciting, such a pro, incredible dancer, did a lot of her own stunts, very funny, charming, very sweet, down to earth and a lovely family.

“We we’re very lucky to get to work with her and to have her as our Abigail.”

Also speaking about Alisha’s acting abilities, Kathryn Newton added: “She’s just better than us… What’s up with Ireland? You guys got all the good ones.”