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Growing up as the daughter of Hollywood heartthrob Casper Van Dien, Grace Van Dien has always had a deep understanding of the industry. Now, the breakout star who captivated audiences as the unforgettable Chrissy in Stranger Things Season 4 is ready to take full control of her career. Even years after that haunting performance, fans still speak about her, proving the lasting impact she made. While she quickly earned Scream Queen status with films like The Fix and several highly anticipated horror projects on the horizon, Grace is far more than just a horror actress.
In our conversation, it was clear how much passion she brings to every role. Whether she’s showcasing her comedic timing and quirky charm in the road-trip indie Silver Star or expressing her desire to explore romantic comedies as a longtime fan of the genre, Grace radiates genuine love for the craft. Equally impressive is her loyalty as a friend, which has led to one of her most exciting upcoming roles. With the same enthusiasm, she’s now focusing on writing and directing, building the career she truly wants on her own terms.
Congratulations on Silver Star and many, many things. I gotta say, you’re like the busiest person on the planet. A lot going on right now, with multiple projects coming out and others in the works. How do you manage to find the balance?
Grace: Thank you! I guess because I’m young, I’ve accepted that there is no balance yet, and maybe as I get older, I’ll eventually need it, and I will find a way to demand it. But as of right now, I’m just kind of enjoying the work.
This is probably my favorite answer that I’ve got to this question.
My answer is, I don’t. I’m home right now for a week, maybe even less, and my friends are like, “When can we see you?” And I’m like, “Now. Like, right now, right now.”
So, working with Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson on Silver Star, how did you guys build that strong on-screen chemistry?
We got really lucky where we were both pretty chill with each other, so we agreed to live with each other throughout the shoot. So, we moved into a little apartment in LA about a week or two before filming, and then all through filming, we lived together. I had just gotten a puppy, so she was dealing with new puppy antics, but she was great. She loved him. And we just really bonded over that. We would get home from a long day of set and kind of just sit on the kitchen floor and go between laughing and crying. We wouldn’t even say anything. We would just be looking at each other and switching off between laughing and crying.
That’s beautiful. I loved how that turned out and the way that you guys were having so much fun with your characters, especially you with Franny, because she’s too quirky for the situation that she’s in. How do you feel about her? Did you feel there are any similarities between you and her?
I think the biggest similarity between me and Franny is we’re both annoying as hell. The difference between us is I wish I could be calm, cool, mysterious, and Franny just fully accepts who she is. So maybe I need to make that jump but just accept it.
We got to see you both blonde and as a redhead in the movie. So, do you have a favorite look?
Well, the blonde, it was me, and then obviously the auburn was a wig. I like wearing wigs, so I like the freedom to do that. I don’t think I could pick a favorite look. I like to jump around too much.
It kind of reminded me of the look of Chrissy in Stranger Things a little.
Oh, really? Because of the bangs, yeah. And there’s a lot of blue eyeshadows throughout the film too, which matched Chrissy as well. I think my characters will always have different similarities between them as well
I also figured that silver star has a style that I feel was reminiscent of Spring Breakers which is interesting, since you’re in Spring Breakers 2. Did you find that similarity as well?
Oh my gosh! I hadn’t been cast in Spring Breakers 2 when we filmed Silver Star, so I haven’t even thought of that. But you’re so right. There is a similarity also in the spunkiness and the carefreeness of Franny that fits Spring Breakers. Franny should be in Spring Breakers 2.
So, what is it about indie projects that draws you in?
I think it’s more like indie projects are drawn to me. I put myself out there for everything. But I think my acting style and my oddities fit indie filmmaking a little bit more. Maybe I should try to be more commercial.
So that’s not on purpose?
I mean, I guess, because I can definitely choose to act differently, maybe it is a decision. I just do what is interesting to me. And I think my version of acting is aligned with indie filmmaking so maybe it’s subconsciously a choice.
I remember you were speaking in an interview about how there was a kissing scene that got cut. I wonder if you ever get bothered when you do a scene you’re so excited to see and then you find out it’s no longer in the movie.
I trust the edit. I always trust the edit. I believe everything gets added and cut for a reason. So I don’t think that it’s missing necessarily. I know a lot of the people watching it are bummed that there was no kiss. So maybe, maybe we’ll get a deleted scene release at some point. I’ve been trying to do that but I’m not bummed if it never gets put out, you know.
I got another question related to Spring Breakers. The first one became a cult classic. Now, do you feel any pressure to match that impact with Salvation Mountain?
I feel like maybe the producing team feels that stress. I’m kind of just happy to be along for the ride. I believe the script is as fun and chaotic as the first one, and I think the cast of girls definitely has that unhinged quality to them. So we might do something good.
Have you started filming yet?
We have not started yet. I’m not supposed to say much.
How about The Swallows? I’ve heard about it for so long now, it’s been announced for a while.
I actually don’t know what I’m allowed to say about that. We’ve finished filming. I’ve heard some news on it.
I believe it’s this year, right?
If that’s what online is saying, then that’s awesome.
Well, that’s what online you’re saying…
[laughs] You know, things always change. You never know.
It would be the filmmakers’ first project since Pet Sematary. I don’t know why it took so long for them to release something after that.
I think it’s because they got put through the commercial machine, and this was the first movie that they got to do since Pet Cemetery that felt them and that they had more creative control over. So, I’m excited for it, because I think it will be more reminiscent of their work on Starry Eyes than on Pet Cemetery, which to me, is cool. I love indie films.
I know you’ve been writing scripts that you’re really excited about. So how close are we to seeing your first film as a writer?
Hopefully soon, hopefully within the next year or two. I’m almost in pre-production for one right now. So that’s very exciting.
That’s amazing. And I know you said that you find your scripts to be too dark for you to act in them, right?
Yeah, I guess this will be a shift from that, because it’s definitely dark, and I am going to act in it. So look at me lying.
Okay, reacting to me lying. So is there a specific actor that you would love to direct in your own movies?
Gosh, thank you so much for asking. I love this question, and I can’t believe no one’s ever asked me this before. I like you. I have this script that I adapted from a book, and it’s very real and very harrowing, and I could never ask myself to act in it, because I just want to direct it so badly, and I don’t think I could bring justice to the character. And the actor I have always, for years now, had in mind for it is Eva Rachel Wood. I think she is brilliant and I’ve just heard amazing things about working with her, and I think her talent is unmatched. So that’s like a dream goal.
I have a name in mind that I’m curious if you would cast in one of your movies.
Okay?
Melissa Barrera!
Oh my god, Melissa, of course, absolutely, of course, I love her so much. I really hope so. I’ve been manifesting that we’ll work together. I’m sure we will. There’s no doubt in my mind.
I felt so emotional when you supported her on the spot following the “Scream” situation. That was beautiful.
Yeah, girls supporting girls… always. And for the right causes and reasons.
Absolutely, that was amazing. Which filmmakers would you consider to have the biggest influence on your directing style?
Oh, wow. Usually, you get asked what director you want to work with, and my answer is always Guillermo del Toro. But as far as influence on my own work, we could not be further apart.
“I feel like my directing style most closely follows Nicholas Winding Refn. It’s very dark, very color based, like a scene will be all red or all blue. I feel like that matches my style the most.”
Is the experience of directing a music video different from directing a movie in a way? Are there certain things you have to do to make a music video work that you wouldn’t necessarily need to do in a film?
From my experience, music videos are so easy to film because you don’t have to worry about sound or the story arc. Really, people just want to sit for around three minutes and watch something pretty. And I directed the music video for my boyfriend, and he’s very pretty to look at, so that was a very simple task for me.
You guys are so cute together.
Thank you.
Is there a real life figure right now you would love to portray in a biopic?
Oh my gosh, geez. Why do you ask great questions?
Thank you so much. This means so much to me.
No, every question. I’ve not been asked this. There’s a singer, and I’m pretty sure they’re already making a biopic of her with another actress. Joni Mitchell. Also, Grace Kelly.
Great choices.
We share the name and I think she’s so elegant and classy, and I would love the challenge to try and be that.
When they announced that Britney biopic, I thought of you.
Did you? Yeah, I think I need to get singing lessons if people keep thinking of me for biopics.
What song is on top of your playlist right now? What is the most played song right now?
Always Aurora. She’s my friend, and she makes incredible music, and I listen to it all the time.
So on the flip side of the biopic question, is there a cartoon character you’d love to bring to life in a live action adaptation?
Yes, Starfire from Teen Titans. I would never actually want to be cast in that role, because I think someone else should do it. But I love that cartoon so much. I love that character so much.
Is there a film that you think deserves a sequel?
I feel like any film that I see is so perfect, I would be so scared to give it a sequel. Can we make the disclaimer that the sequel is going to be as amazing as the first one? Because if that’s the case, then my answer would be different.
I don’t know how many times that happened. I like Scream 2 and The Godfather 2.
The Before Sunrise trilogy holds up. And the Lion King movies, I like all of them.
How about a horror remake?
If I could remake any movie and like, with a new cast, I need to pick a movie that I don’t like that much, so I’d be okay with it being remade.
I’ve figured that one thing I don’t have in common with the rest of horror fans is, If I like an old movie, I don’t mind a remake because I’d like to experience all of this again but with a new cast.
But why don’t they just make a new idea?
Well, I welcome both of course.
Did you hear they’re remaking 13 going on 30?
Yes!
The cast looks really good for it. I think they’re both talented so I’m excited to see that, but I’m also on the fence on how I feel about complete remakes.
It’s just so interesting to see how things that happened in the past would work in a modern age.
I see what you’re saying.
You know what I mean? Like, I’m curious as to how this would look like if it happened today.
So Brokeback Mountain plus iPhones.
[laughs] Have you seen the fifth season of Stranger Things?
Of course.
Did you like it?
I love that they created an ending where there’s no ultimate sadness. I know that a lot of people were hoping there would be a Game of Thrones reaction, where there’s multiple deaths of people you really care about. But that’s never been what that show is like. If you watch it from the beginning, it’s never been that. And Game of Thrones was always that. So I like that they stuck to the blueprint of the work and I like the ending for Eleven as well.
What is your favorite horror sub genre?
I love a thriller. Also, I hate that I like watching gore. I love Terrifier. I think a lot of people can relate. It’s something that I wish I hated watching. But I find myself clicking on it a lot when I’m scrolling to find what to watch. But to be honest, it’s not the main thing I watch. I love rom coms.
Me too.
“I watch an insane amount of rom-coms, and I get so depressed that I keep getting cast in horrors, and no one wants me in their rom-coms.”
I actually find this to be really weird, given how people were so drawn to you and Joseph Quinn’s character. I mean, I get you were really good as a scream queen in that show but…
But it was really the forest moment that people connected with. Yeah, I agree. So, I should have been cast in rom-coms after that.
You gotta, like, tell your agents to go after those.
Trust me, I’ve told them. It’s the horror genre that just keeps booking me.
What is your favorite rom-com of all time?
I’m torn between three. I’ll put in third place 10 Things I Hate About You. In second place, I’ll put How to Lose a Guy in 10 days. And then in first place, I’ll put When Harry Met Sally.
I have never seen it, but it always comes up in these conversations.
You have to watch it. Watch it as you go to sleep tonight. It’s perfect.
Okay, I’ll do that.
Yay. Let me know if you like it. Oh, you’re in for such a treat. I’m so jealous. I wish I could watch it for the first time again. I watch it like five times a year.
What is your favorite TV show right now?
I just got back from India two days ago, and I finished watching all of my shows before I left. So I was watching Pluribus. I love Severance. I love the Game of Thrones spin-offs. I don’t know. I watch everything.
I recently started watching Bait.
Bait?
Yeah, the Amazon Prime show starring Riz Ahmed. He plays this struggling actor who gets to audition as James Bond for the next James Bond movie. And so, it gets leaked when people photograph him coming out of the auditions, so they start writing about him in the tabloids, like, “Is this the new James Bond?” And so, before he even gets cast, it’s all over the social media. And so, he goes through a Rachel Zegler as Snow White kind of situation, right?
Gosh, I’ll watch it tonight.
Halloween Store. We haven’t spoken about it yet. What’s up with Halloween Store?
My friend Natalie Alyn Lind is the sweetest. Someone that beautiful could definitely get away with being a bitch, but she’s not. She’s just the nicest person on earth. She produced this film and starred in it, and she just called me up one day and asked me if I would come out and film for a little bit for it. And I could never say no to a beautiful lady.
I’ve known her for over a decade. So yeah, I’d do anything for my friends.
I remember when Halloween Store was announced, the cast was stacked.
I’m pretty sure Natalie just called up all her friends. I’m pretty sure that’s how it happened.
How did you guys become friends?
We met through a mutual friend, and then we just stayed in touch. It’s been over 10 years.
I love that. Can’t wait to see it.
