Scout Taylor-Compton in 'The Best Man.' Photo Courtesy of Saban Films
Acclaimed actress Scout Taylor-Compton (“Halloween” and “The Runaways”) chatted about her new film “The Best Man,” and the digital age.
‘The Best Man’
Aside from Taylor-Compton, the film stars Brendan Fehr, Nicky Whelan, Scott Martin, Dolph Lundgren, and Luke Wilson. “This movie was so much fun, just from the script, in general, it was so captivating. I knew that it was going to be fun,” she admitted.
“The cast members were amazing and so was the director. I was floored. I knew it was going to be a cool adventure,” she said. “I absolutely loved working with Brendan Fehr, he is one of my favorite actors I’ve ever worked with. Brendan and I are very similar in the way we approach acting and in our humor. I got really lucky to be able to work with him, we had a blast,” she added.
Playing Hailey
“The Best Man” will be released in theaters, on demand and digital April 21, 2023, via Saban Films. Taylor-Compton plays the role of Hailey. “Normally, I play strong, hard girls and Hailey is quite the opposite. She is strong but she is a daddy’s girl, who gets her own way, and she is very flirtatious,” she said.
“When things get real, she comes across as a scared kitten, so that was really cool to play,” she added.
“I hope the fans buckle up and get ready for one wild ride,” she said. “If you like action and love, this film is for you.”
The digital age
On being an actress in the digital age, Taylor-Compton said, “I am trying to get used to it. I feel I am a grandma stuck in the old days trying to work out technology but I love it. I think it’s really great, especially for independent filmmaking, it’s an amazing outlet.”
“Danielle Harris and I are trying to make some movies made, and I want to direct, and the digital age is a great platform to be able to do those things,” she added.
‘Halloween’ and ‘Halloween II’
Taylor-Compton opened up about being a part of “Halloween” and “Halloween II,” where she played the iconic role of Laurie Strode. “It was a blast and definitely a memory that I will cherish forever and pass to my children. That franchise has been one of my favorites. I’m a fan of Rob Zombie so it was great to work with him. Being in this horror genre, the love and support is overwhelming. I really value and love the horror genre and the fans, they are so special,” she said.
She described “Halloween” as a career-defining moment. “I was 17 at the time that I did it and I didn’t realize how massive the fan-base was and that movie was until it hit the media and people started comparing me to Jamie Lee Curtis.”
“There are so many pivotal moments that will guide you to another path, and then, you will be coasting on that path for a while until something else hits. This industry is great but really funny because there are so many paths to follow,” she said.
‘The Runaways’
Taylor-Compton also spoke about playing Lita Ford in “The Runaways.” “That was so much fun and a total blast,” she said. “It was originally, I originally auditioned for Joan Jett and I didn’t get it, and they offered it to Kristen Stewart, who was phenomenal. Then, I wrote a letter to the directors and the producers telling them how much I needed to be a part of this project, so they finally offered me the bass player.”
Landing the part of Lita Ford
“We were doing band rehearsal and Joan Jett was there every day, and they were having a hard time finding their Lita Ford. One day in practice, Joan told me that I play like Lita Ford and asked me if I wanted to be her, and I told her ‘sure.’ I didn’t know anything about guitar so I had to go rehearse for hours to learn Lita’s stuff. It was quite the experience and something I will never forget,” she elaborated.
Advice for young actors: don’t give up!
For young and aspiring actors, she encouraged them to “persevere.” “Don’t give up, as many doors close, I promise you that many doors or more will open. Create your own material, don’t just sit around and wait. Direct, write and produce your own content, especially with all the platforms that we have these days,” she said.
Dream acting partners
On her dream acting partners, she said, “I would have loved to have worked with Patrick Swayze before he passed, I wanted that really bad. Meryl Streep would be really cool to work with, and I love Jenna Ortega, she is fabulous. Also, Quentin Tarantino would be a great director for me to work with.”
Stage on her life
Regarding the title of the current chapter of her life, Taylor-Compton said with a sweet laugh, “Wedding Hell.” “I’m planning my wedding, so I’m in Bridezilla mode. I’m a chill person and I’m trying to get everything done in advance so that I can chill,” she said.
Superpower of choice
If she were to have any superpower, it would be “flight.” “I would love to be able to fly, especially since I am on a plane all the time,” she said. “I would love to fly, or teleportation would be faster.”
Success
On her definition of the word success, she said, “Success means all the friendships that I created in this industry. The family, the bubble of friendships and continuously working together in this industry is a success.”
To learn more about Scout Taylor-Compton, follow her on Instagram.