Evie Templeton

The gaze that won over Guillermo del Toro

Evie Templeton made her film debut with a voice that wasn't her own but convinced one of the most demanding directors in the world. In 2022, she took part in the version of Pinocchio directed by Guillermo del Toro. That role put her name on the British industry's radar before she turned twelve.

In the television adaptation of The Midwich Cuckoos from 2022, she had to handle the weight of a complex supernatural plot. Her character was part of a group of children with telepathic powers who terrorized an English village. The role demanded a cold physical stillness unusual for her age at the time.

And she did it without blinking.

But her true baptism by fire came with pure physical horror. In 2023, she starred in Lord of Misrule alongside actress Tuppence Middleton. She played the daughter of a vicar who disappears during a pagan festival in a rural area of England.

Gender critics noted that her on-screen presence was unsettling because of how natural it felt. She didn't need to rely on cheap screams to convey a sense of constant danger. Filming took place on real locations in Hertfordshire over several weeks of harsh weather.

The leap into the video game universe

Director Christophe Gans was looking for something very specific for the return of one of the most famous franchises in psychological horror. In 2024, Templeton joined the cast of Return to Silent Hill. This film marked her definitive entry into big-budget productions.

Filmed on location in Germany and various parts of Eastern Europe for much of that year. Her role was dual (playing Laura and a much darker entity), which required her to double her working hours on set. The physical demands were greater than any previous project in her career.

Templeton spent hours in prosthetic makeup sessions for the final scenes.

The production had a budget of several million euros to recreate the atmosphere of the original 2001 video game. Templeton had to shoot most of her scenes in front of green screens or with actors wearing motion-capture suits. Her ability to imagine what wasn't there was key to keeping the film's tone.

Before filming, she always reads the script with her father to understand the historical context of each project. Her education is split between film sets and private tutors who travel with her on international trips. Her contract for the horror franchise included strict confidentiality clauses that prevented any script details from leaking before the release.