Exclusive Interview: Pyper Braun Talks ‘Imaginary,’ Channeling the Emotions of Her Character, and More

Pyper Braun emerges as one of the breakout stars of 2024, showcasing talent well beyond her years. Her performance in Imaginary will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on you.

From Blumhouse, the genre-defining masterminds behind Five Nights at Freddy’s and M3GAN, comes an original horror that taps into the innocence of imaginary friends – and begs the question: Are they really figments of childhood imagination or is something more terrifying lying just beneath?

When Jessica (DeWanda Wise) moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun) develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister.

As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Pyper about Imaginary, how she channeled the emotions of her character, and more.

PC: You have a new project out now. Tell us about Imaginary and your character. What was it about this script that resonated with you?
Pyper: Imaginary is about a woman who returns to her childhood home with her stepdaughters. I play Alice, the youngest daughter. I find a creepy stuffed bear in the basement, and we become best friends. He takes me on a scavenger hunt, which is not so much fun. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out the rest. When I got the script, I was so excited and ready to get into character and give people a scare!

PC: You and Taegen [Burns] have such a great dynamic on screen. How did you build that sisterly bond so quickly? How did that connection lend itself to your performance on screen?
Pyper: Taegen and I bonded quickly. We both only have brothers, so having a screen sister was on both of our bucket lists. Off-screen, we enjoyed activities like shopping, listening to music, and getting ice cream together! I believe this natural connection translated to our performance on screen, making it look and feel authentic.

PC: You’ve done a lot of television throughout your career and voice-over work. How different is that filming experience when you’re working on a movie where you know where your character starts and ends?
Pyper: When you can get a full script and see your character grow as a person on the pages, I think it really helps me dive deeper into the character on screen. Being a young actress, sometimes finding the right emotion is difficult when you haven’t lived through it yourself. Our director, Jeff Wadlow, trusted me and allowed me to come up with some of my own backstory and feelings for Alice. It was important to me to show Alice’s growth and bravery throughout the movie.

PC: You get to show off all of your talents in this film, and there’s an emotional scene with Alice and Dr. Soto. How did you prepare for that moment in particular?
Pyper: That scene was very emotional. And what you can’t see is that Veronica Falcon, who plays Dr. Soto, and I had to hold that emotion for hours. Before an emotional scene like this, I turn away from the crew or close my eyes and take deep breaths to think about how my character would be feeling. In between takes, Ms. Veronica and I would talk about how we were feeling to keep the emotion at the surface. She also gave me some great tips to use for next time.

PC: There’s so much that gets added in post-production. What was your reaction when you first saw the final cut of this film?
Pyper: Oh, this is an exciting question. This is definitely a theater movie. Although we had a lot of practical effects, when you add the creepy music, sound effects, and darker lighting, it becomes a totally different film. I jumped out of my seat a few times when I watched it. I’ve now seen it four times, and it still gets my heart pounding!

PC: Outside of Imaginary, what’s next for you?
Pyper: My next dream would be to do a period piece. I’d love to immerse myself into a character from a different time in history. Of course, I always dream of working with another lead who inspires me and whom I can look up to and learn from. Emma Stone, Zendaya, Emily Blunt, Timothée Chalamet… If you’re reading this… I’m here for whatever you’ve got!

To keep up with Pyper, follow her on Instagram. Watch Imaginary wherever you stream movies.

Photo Credit: JSquared Photography