Pop-Culturalist.com

Leven Rambin became an artist to tell stories that could change the world. She believes art has the ability to heal society and has dedicated her life to honing her craft. She’s always on the lookout for projects that she connects with deeply and will push her outside of her comfort zone. When she read the script for her latest film, Lost Child, she instantly fell in love with the story and decided she was going to be a part of the film whether they liked it or not.

PC: Tell us about Lost Child and your character in the film.
Leven: Lost Child is a story about Fern, played by myself. She’s a veteran suffering from PTSD who returns home to the Ozarks looking for her estranged brother. During her search, she finds an abandoned boy alone in the woods, and things begin to go awry. She starts to become ill, her hair begins to turn gray, and she begins to believe the folklore that the boy is a demon.

PC: We learned that once you read the script, you immediately fell in love with the project and wanted to be involved. What was it about Lost Child that resonated with you?
Leven: I felt compelled by the lead female character. It’s not often you see a 25-year-old woman with this much complexity. I was impressed with all of her layers and I knew I was going to do this project whether they wanted me to do it or not. [laughs] I was willing to do anything to be a part of it.


PC: Your character goes through both a physical and emotional transformation throughout the course of the film. How did you prepare for that journey? Which was the more challenging to explore?
Leven: You’re right; my character goes through an intense journey—both mentally and emotionally. At first, she’s guarded, wounded, closed-off, and in pain, which is the complete opposite of me. She numbs herself with alcohol and then begins to mentally unravel to the point that she believes that this little boy is a demon. It was my responsibility to make that believable. When we weren’t filming, Landon Edwards, who plays the young boy, and I, were having donuts, drinking chocolate milk, and having a blast, but when we were on-set, I had to believe he was the devil and portray my character’s fear.


PC: How did you prepare for this role?
Leven: I did a lot of research especially in terms of my character’s PTSD. It’s not only from the war, but also from her childhood. She grew up in foster care, her parents were junkies, and she was abandoned. I did a lot of research on that and what it was like to grow up in foster care and feel unsafe as a woman in that system. It’s interesting that she chooses to go to the military to claim her power in the world, but it doesn’t really work out, emotionally or physically.

PC: What do you hope audiences take away from seeing the film?
Leven: I hope they take the triumph of the story. I tend to play characters who have gone through hell. If they can find beauty and light in life and move forward with a full heart, we all can. This movie is really about how afraid we are of people and things that are unfamiliar to us. I hope people question their own stereotypes and fears.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Leven: Magic for Humans on Netflix

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Leven: Legally Blonde

PC: Favorite book?
Leven: Sophie’s Choice

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Leven: Golden Boy

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Leven: Bass Drum of Death

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Leven: Girls

PC: Hidden talent?
Leven: I can do accents and impressions.

Make sure to follow Leven on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Lost Child in theaters and on VOD today.