*Kyla Pratt is best known for her vibrant comedic roles, but Lifetime’s new thriller “Girl in the Cellar” allowed her to explore something entirely different. The actress portrays Rebecca, a mother whose desperate attempt to control her daughter spirals into a harrowing nightmare.
“When this film came about, I literally could not put the script down,” Pratt shared. “I was reading it and I was like, this lady is crazy. And I was like, wait, I can play crazy.”
This project marked her first non-holiday film with Lifetime, and for Pratt, it was a chance to prove her versatility. “I just thought that it would be a challenge. But I also thought that it would be great for people to see me in a different light, just to show that I can do anything that comes my way.”
Preparing for Rebecca’s Pain and Complexity
Rebecca’s story is rooted in deep trauma, and Pratt approached the role with empathy and awareness. “I am such an advocate for mental health,” she said. “I believe that a lot of people go through things based off of the lack of healing from their parents first. And that’s why I’m constantly trying to work on myself… because the last thing that I want to do is pass anything onto my kids that is not theirs to carry.”
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She hopes the film will spark dialogue about the cycles of pain that can shape families. “For me to be a part of a project like this, that is going to bring some type of awareness to how parents struggle mentally, and then they can put that on their children and alter their lives… for me, it’s a conversation starter.”
Building the Mother-Daughter Dynamic
Central to the film is the tense relationship between Rebecca and her daughter Lory, played by Kelcey Mawema. Pratt praised her co-star: “We worked very well together. Kelsey is amazingly talented. And just the way that she spoke and even looking at me, it made me be able to be meaner because I was like, she’s so sweet.”
That contrast, Pratt says, will resonate with audiences: “To see the contrast, I think the audience would love seeing how innocent and loving she is and what she wanted from my character. And for me to not give it to her was just going to be heartbreaking.”
The Hardest Scene to Film
One pivotal moment tested Pratt emotionally: “I think the most challenging and rewarding was when Kelsey was sneaking out and when she came in and I caught her,” she revealed. “I knew I was going to have to experience so many different emotions in such a short amount of time… there was so much guilt that I was putting onto her for wanting to live her life.”
A Reminder for Parents
Though the story is extreme, Pratt hopes it serves as a cautionary tale. “I hope that anybody watching this movie understands that healing is a journey and it’s okay to need to heal,” she said. “Sometimes the best for [our kids] is being able to take care of ourselves first… I’d rather go through the hardest things in my life than to traumatize the people who I brought here who I love the most.”
Continuing the Girl In Legacy
As part of Lifetime’s popular “Girl In” franchise, “Girl in the Cellar” continues the tradition of intense, conversation-starting drama. “I think that the Girl In franchise is so popular because people can relate to it to a certain extent,” Pratt explained. “It just sparks conversations and it makes us want to talk about things… and that’s the type of projects that I love to be a part of.”
Watch our full conversion with Kyla via the clip below.
“Girl in the Cellar” premieres Saturday, August 23, at 8/7c on Lifetime. You can also stream it on the Lifetime app.
*The interview above has been edited for length and clarity.
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