On the topic of what influenced Arielle Carver-O’Neill to pursue an acting career, she said “I’ve actually just always wanted to do it. You know, sometimes I wish I had this amazing moment where I consciously decided ‘I have to be an actor!’ But it’s just always been there. I remember doing one-person shows in my lounge room at age 6. I’d re-enact The NeverEnding Story from start to finish on my own, and I never really dragged my family in to watch, I always just did it for me. I’ve always loved it! Then at 12, I was googling agents and acting schools in Melbourne!”
While she hasn’t attended any specialised formal acting training, she states that she “always sought out great teachers. Before the pandemic, I was studying with Lisa Robertson in LA, and it was such a challenging and rewarding experience.”
Arielle acted in local productions early in her career (Neighbours, House Husbands), but everything changed when she landed Ash vs Evil Dead, shot in New Zealand. “I filmed my audition in my lounge room with a friend, sent it off and then a while later I got a call to go to New Zealand for a screen test! I was so grateful just to get that far, it was so daunting and exciting! There I was sitting in a production office meeting Rob Tapert, Rick Jacobson and Moira Grant and then I got taken on a tour of the studio. Moira was showing me the sets that were being built and introducing me to the production team, costume, the art department…I had the thought that this would be super awkward if I didn’t get it after meeting everyone! But after that, I did the screen test and when I landed back in Sydney the next morning, I got the call – and that’s how I got into the Ash Vs Evil Dead family. I’m so grateful for that series, it’s allowed me the opportunity to do amazing things and the fans are so supportive and wonderful, plus I got to work with legends like Lucy Lawless and Bruce Campbell who are both so incredibly skilled, amazing humans.”
The series led to Arielle moving to the US. “It’s a lot faster paced overseas, LA is such a huge industry so there’s always things happening or things to do. There’s so many classes and teachers and you don’t have much time to dwell on auditions because soon the next one will come and you have to focus on that or you have a scene to work on for class so you dive into that. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming, but I prefer it that way, it created this habit of letting go once you’ve done something, so you can move straight onto the next thing. I did feel a bit homesick when away though, it’s the food that got me! I missed our fresh produce, bread and cheese! The bread over in the US is so sweet it’s like cake…a grilled cheese there just isn’t the same as a cheese toastie at home.”
Ash vs Evil Dead fans have voiced their desire for Arielle to do more horror. “I used to think watching horror just wasn’t for me, so I didn’t really give it a chance,” she tells us. “It’s mostly because when I was thirteen, I saw Scary Movie and got nightmares for a week, so I thought ‘well, guess I’m just a chicken.’ That’s a comedy and I was terrified! It wasn’t till I got Ash that I watched it and found my way to being a horror fan. I mean, I still cover my eyes and get nauseous at the gore but I still have fun. I would love to do more horror! It’s so much fun because the stakes are never higher, it’s life or death! What a fun place to play in.”
Moving on to her more recent work, she has just finished filming It Only Takes a Night, written and directed by Callan Durlik (The Naked Wanderer). “It’s a very sweet rom-com about how one evening can change the course of everything in your life. It follows a group of four best friends played by some of the most amazing women I’ve ever met (‘Ana Ika, Eliza Taylor and Sana’a Shaik) on the first night out together after Ruby’s [Eliza Taylor] recent break up. It was so much fun to film, every single person on set felt like a friend instantly. We all cried at the wrap party. I think this was just one of those really special jobs like Ash, that will stick with you forever. I haven’t been told a release date yet but keep an eye out!”
After returning to Australia for It Only Takes a Night, Arielle would welcome more local work in a heartbeat. “It was so special getting to film in Perth for It Only Takes A Night because my dad has been there since just before the pandemic and before that I was in America so like a lot of people with their families I hadn’t seen him in over two years. It was a very special reunion. I got to bring him on set one day too, we’re both nerds for filmmaking and he works in the film industry as a visual effects artist, so it was extremely cool to get to share that with him.”
Not only is Arielle a talented actor but she is also a fine artist. She has been drawing for a while but only recently decided to share that side with us. What inspires and influences her art? “Drawing was always something I did for me, like re-enacting The NeverEnding Story in the lounge room, so of course I started doing it a lot more when the pandemic started. So much so that during lockdown I started drawing friends and family as gifts and it just grew from there when friends of friends started reaching out to get drawings done, then strangers. I find inspiration in people. Characters in film and tv, people I know and people I don’t know who I look up to. Actually, the name I gave my illustrations page is after my Great Grandmother, Lelia, whose story is a profound source of inspiration and pride for me and my family. My logo is from an image of her as well.”
What will the future bring for Arielle? “Oh, this could be a very, very long list so I’ll try and be selective…I would love to do some theatre! I haven’t done a play since I was a teenager and I find the idea quite scary. So, naturally, it’s a goal of mine. I do think a dramatic role as well would be a great challenge because I’ve mostly done comedies, so it could be a great chance to learn more and grow a bit. Of course, I’d also like to go back to LA again as well and spend some time there. Oh, and a period piece! Something with corsets and something in the ‘60s or ‘70s would be fun! Honestly, the list could go on!”
