At just seventeen, London-born actor Billy Barratt is swapping trophies for terrors. The International Emmy-winning prodigy, who first stunned audiences in Responsible Child, now headlines A24’s unnerving new feature Bring Her Back from Talk to Me directors Danny and Michael Philippou. In an exclusive conversation, Barratt unpacks the punk-energy set, his on-screen bond with co-star Sora Wong, and what it really takes to shoulder a horror film that twists sibling love into nightmare fuel.
Billy Barratt x Lewis Magazine
You’re leading an A24 horror film at just 17 — that’s no small feat. What drew you to the script of Bring Her Back, and what was it like stepping into such a dark, atmospheric world under the direction of the Philippou brothers?
I’ve done quite a lot of heavy dark atmospheric stuff before, definitely emotionally challenging roles. Playing Andy was definitely new because he’s an older character – all of the dark, emotionally challenging roles that I’ve done before were quite young characters. But now this character is similar to my age, so I felt like we could actually connect.
For me it was more just about finding the relationship between Andy and Piper, the brother and sister, and making that really authentic. We did a lot of stuff at the beginning, like karaoke and going for dinners and just hanging out as much as possible.
Sora would put this blindfold on, and I’d walk her around describing what I could see, because that’s what Andy does as well, and that was really helpful. Without Danny and Michael, we wouldn’t have done that. I reckon we would have just turned up and been like, ‘hey, let’s act’.
It was really true and authentic, and they think so deeply about not only what the characters need, but what could help them. All the actors understand what they need as characters, that’s the best I can explain it. They’re geniuses and I’ve loved their work from YouTube days, so yeah, it actually was an honour to be able to shoot their second film with them. I love their work and what they do, and they’re genuinely geniuses.
Your character is caught in a terrifying ritual at the hands of a new foster mother. Without giving too much away, what was the most challenging scene to shoot — emotionally or physically — and how did you prepare for it?
I don’t know how much I’m allowed to give away, but it would probably be the last scene without including spoilers. There was quite a lot of challenging scenes, just even seeing what Laura is doing to both Andy and Piper, physically and mentally, that was challenging in itself. Especially shooting it in chronological order, that helped, but then also there were definitely tough days where everyone was a bit like, ‘wow, you know, this is dark, this is heavy.’ And I think we all felt that, but the fact that we felt that together as a team just helped us deal with it so much better and also prepare for it. I think the most you could do for these things is prepare as much as your character is prepared, to a certain extent. Obviously not lines and stuff like that, but you don’t know what it’s going to feel like to go through something like that, so just go through it. It sounds so simple, but in a way that is what you have to do, or at least what I did. I just made sure that I knew what Andy’s reactions were gonna be. That was kind of the only preparation I needed.
The Philippou brothers made a huge impact with Talk to Me, and now you’re their leading man. How would you describe their directing style on set, and what surprised you most about working with them?
For such a dark, and heavy film, there was so much fun on set with those boys and the crew, just everyone. It was very much teamwork and they all want to just keep filming. It just made everyone feel that our hearts are all in this, let’s do it together. And they create such a great teamwork vibe on set and not just team, but also everyone is a friend on that set. I just love the fact that they do that.
And what surprised me most was how punk they were, I don’t know if they wanna be described as that, but they are quite punk. It’s sort of like, don’t take everything so seriously, in between takes you can have fun. I think that’s really important to remember that being professional isn’t just about being serious all the time – being professional is getting the job done the best you can get it done, and who says you can’t have fun while you’re doing that?
So we did do this one thing where we played Ding Dong Ditch or Knock Down Ginger, or Ring and Run. That was great, no directors do that. Like no one. I’m pretty sure that might be illegal, but me, Sally, Danny and Michael, we played Ding Dong Ditch. That was the initial, like, oh s***, this is going to be a really fun set to film on.
You share the screen with the brilliant Sally Hawkins in this film. What was it like working opposite someone so experienced, and did she offer any advice that stuck with you?
Just how kind she was. She’s so kind, and she’s so generous. Just watching her was enough to sort of understand the wisdom she has.
She likes to stay sort of with that character throughout shooting – I’m not calling it method. I’m just saying, even after the day’s done, I think similar clothes are worn. I mean clothing for me, as an actor as well, helps you just understand who this person is. She would wear similar clothes, even offset, as Laura, and that was great to watch.
And again just how generous and kind she was. I said that already, but she genuinely, if you’re nervous about anything, she just makes you feel better. Like 100%. She makes you feel safe and when you feel better, it gives you a lot more courage and with courage you make bigger, better choices or worse choices. But that doesn’t matter, you can just do it again.
You made history with Responsible Child, becoming the youngest actor ever to win an International Emmy. How do you carry that early recognition with you now, and has it changed the way you approach your roles?
Ohh, thank you very much. I try not to let it affect the way I approach my roles because I genuinely just want to be a good actor. I wanna be able to find a character and then portray that character and what they’re going through as well as I can, Emmy or not.
I appreciate it, but that’s not my aim to get awards, it’s more just I want people to feel and understand what my character is going through. Because that’s all it really is, isn’t it? That’s the important thing. I’m still learning, I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning. I don’t think anyone does, but I appreciate it. And I love the fact that our work, our hard work, our Responsible Child, was recognised. But it doesn’t affect the way that I approach my roles, I just wanna do the best that I can either way.
You’ve worked in drama, sci-fi, and now horror. Is there a particular genre you’re drawn to, or do you enjoy jumping into different emotional territories each time?
I love all genres, some obviously more than others, but I wanna try everything. I like a challenge, I like a complex character. I like a character that has a story to himself. I think anyone does, that’s what makes it interesting. Having a complex character is something I’ve really enjoyed playing, but the different genres, the things I’m saying about the character, that can fall under any genre as long as it’s written right. So instead of picking a genre, it’s more about picking the character’s story. So far I’ve loved most of the work that I’ve done in the past.
Horror was definitely a very fun one, I love that one for sure. I’d definitely do it again.
With Bring Her Back set to premiere this May, and so much buzz already building, what do you hope audiences take away from the film — and from your performance?
I hope that it’s not just my performance that people take away, I hope it’s the whole film because everyone works so hard in this film and put so much love into it.
I’d actually be more interested in hearing what people like the audience have taken away, because I know I took away a new understanding of what being a brother really is. I have a little brother myself and all I could think about during that film was him.
And I think parents as well, will really feel for Laura’s character as much as you hate her as well. That’s what I’d be interested to hear, what the audience has to say about the film, how it affected them in that way and if it was similar to what I felt as well.
Photographer: David Reiss
Styling: Steven Huang
Grooming: Ben Talbott
