Beth Metcalf

Beth Metcalf is one of the young actresses cast in Steve Hermann’s The Legend of Tinker Hell, which is currently in post production. She plays the lead role of “Ellie,” whom she describes as a “demented and very sassy fairy.” Even though Ellie may be her most prominent film role to date, it’s certainly not Beth’s first. She has a long list of acting credits, which include quite a few short films, in which she’s played a wide variety of characters, done her own stunts, and has also worked behind the scenes as a makeup artist.

CHRIS CHARLES: Thanks so much for doing this Beth. I see you are cast in The Legend of Tinker Hell, along with some other actresses I am familiar with. Please tell me about the character you play in that one.
BETH METCALF: Thank you for having me! I play the leading role of Ellie, the demented and very sassy fairy. Ellie is very mischievous and is always looking to cause trouble. She doesn’t listen to authority and breaks every rule she can. Ellie’s favorite thing to do is to kill people by singing an enchanted song and waving her magic wand! She is bad to the bone and nobody is stopping her from causing chaos.
CHRIS: Had you worked with anyone else in the cast before?
BETH: Yes, I have worked with almost all of the cast members before. The Acrostar film family is very close, and it’s like a big reunion every time we work together! Ash Hefner and I have been working together since day one! SJ has become such a close friend over the years and he means so much to me. It has been a huge honor to get to share the screen with all of these talented people who I get to call my friends.
CHRIS: You have a long list of film credits, that include quite a few shorts, within the last few years. Have there been times you have shot scenes for more than one film in the same day?
BETH: Surprisingly no! But I have had days with multiple gigs such as photo shoots, film shoots, and band gigs. I remember a day where I did a quick film scene, went to a photo shoot, and ended the day singing with my band. I live a very crazy life and sometimes it gets overwhelming, but it’s a huge blessing!
CHRIS: I understand you do your own stunts. Would there be a limit to what you would do?
BETH: The only thing that makes me nervous is fire. I am literally terrified of catching on fire. I think if I had professional training on it, maybe the fear would die down. But until then, I would very much love to have a stunt double on that!

CHRIS: I’ll name some of the short films you’ve appeared in. Please tell me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the titles. Thy Name is Cupid.
BETH: Cupidity is one of my favorite characters and her story is so complex. This one is a heavy hitter for sure, but it’s a great watch. And that snow was COLD!
CHRIS: The Girl.
BETH: One of the first short film’s I had the pleasure to be in! Playing a detective was a lot of fun, and the film’s ending is (*chef’s kiss*).
CHRIS: Nightmare.
BETH: This was the sequel to In The Dark that didn’t quite make it past post production. You see Snappy the Clown in a very unique way! In The Dark is out and it is GOOD! Based on one of SJ’s fantastic books. Snappy was the first character I played for Acrostar films! Near and dear to my heart.
CHRIS: Butterfly Short.
BETH: A very meaningful drama shot with some of the kindest people in the industry. We were so sad when this one wrapped, our bond was strong!
CHRIS: The Emporium.
BETH: A whimsical shoot that explores a little bit of magic turning our world upside down. This was shot for Winterfilm in Ohio and we had a great time creating it!
CHRIS: Trepidity.
BETH: One of my favorites. This one is a lot of fun, and very action packed! It was Acrostar’s first period piece if I am not mistaken. Those girlies were so much fun to work with. We had a great time with the SFX on that one too!
CHRIS: The Ballad of Lily Belle: Part 1.
BETH: I had no idea how much you could do with a greenscreen and this film taught me a lot. A fallout style western, and a unique film overall! Great team to work with!
CHRIS: Would you say horror is your favorite genre?
BETH: I definitely gravitate towards watching and acting in horror films. Lately, I have also been enjoying feel good comedies. Sometimes you need a breath of fresh air after all that screaming and blood! (laughs)

CHRIS: So far, what role has been the biggest stretch for you to play?
BETH: Lady Packer in The Curtain Call Gang! I enjoy playing a villain but her intentions were so messed up that some scenes were tough to do. It’s never fun pointing a gun at a costar who is also your friend. Also keeping that Southern accent sounding normal while yelling at people was hard. It definitely tested my acting chops! Love how it turned out!
CHRIS: If given the choice, would you rather play a character who would behave and react to situations much like you would or would you rather play a character nothing like yourself?
BETH: I would rather play a character who is nothing like myself. It is SO hard when someone tells me to just be myself, I overthink it majorly.
CHRIS: Have you ever been inspired by a certain actress’ performance in a particular role?
BETH: I was very inspired by Mia Goth’s performance in “X.” She played two extremely different roles and shined in both. She is able to fully transform herself and I think she is a dynamic individual. I’m impressed by everything she does.
CHRIS: I see you have appeared in a few episodes of some TV series. If you were offered a role as a regular character in a TV series, that would take your focus away from films, would you consider it?
BETH: I would absolutely consider it. Especially if it were a comedy TV series. I love the art of comedic timing and having a film family. It would be the experience of a lifetime!
CHRIS: If you were offered a good role in a film by a prominent director, but saw in the script that it included a nude scene for your character, would you consider it?
BETH: I’ve never done a nude scene before, and I typically avoid roles that require nudity. That said, if it were tasteful, handled professionally, and genuinely served the story, I wouldn’t completely rule it out. For me, the key is making sure it has a purpose and isn’t included simply for shock value. I also do have a great deal of respect for actors who take on those kinds of roles.

CHRIS: Now that The Legend of Tinker Hell has wrapped, what will be your next film project?
BETH: The next project I have coming up is End of Another Time, by Joseph Cox. It is a story that follows the journey of an indie pop band who is trying to make it big. Very reminiscent of the 90s band scene in Cincinnati, Ohio. We have already filmed scenes and it is coming along nicely!
CHRIS: You also sing in the band “Session Five.” How long have you been with them?
BETH: I have been with them for five years now. How ironic! I sang backup the first two years, and have been the lead singer for the last three years! We play lots of pop/rock/country cover songs, plus three original songs. We have a music video out for our song, “Mixed Signals,” and we have a special announcement coming soon!
CHRIS: Do you have any skills or hobbies only those close to you would know about?
BETH: I am a HUGE weather nerd. Became a certified weather spotter in 2020, and I am absolutely fascinated by tornadoes. A lot of my friends now look to me for weather updates of that nature. Ohio is crazy, and crazy weather happens often here!
CHRIS: With that, I’ll thank you again for doing this, Beth. In closing, any shout-outs to anyone?
BETH: I want to give a special shoutout to Mel Heflin for being the wonderful person she is and for making this connection! Shout out to my family, friends, and the Acrostar fam for being the best folks out there! I am truly so blessed to live the life I live, and creative industry is so special to me. Shoutout to every single creative person, the world NEEDS you. Keep creating! Thank you so much for this opportunity!