Damian McCarthy’s supernatural horror film Hokum hits theaters earlier this year on, May 1, with reviews quickly citing it as one of the scariest films of 2026.
The film stars Emmy-nominated actor Adam Scott as Ohm Bauman, a writer who travels to a remote village in Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes around the inn where they were married. However, the spot isn’t quite what it seems, with stories of it being haunted by a witch, forcing him to tussle with otherworldly forces as he confronts parts of his past he’d prefer to remain hidden.
Irish actress, director and producer Florence Ordesh also appears in the film opposite Adam Scott as Fiona, a worker at the hotel who becomes pivotal to the film’s events as the ghostly occurrences grow more and more inexplicable. With so much buzz surrounding the film after its festival premiere at SXSW, we just had to chat with Florence to learn more about her work as an actor, the film and what it’s like to bring a tale of horror to live. Read our full interview with her below.
This interview was originally published on May 1, 2026.
Sweety High: When did you discover your passion for acting? Was there any specific a-ha moment that made you realize it was the path for you?
Florence Ordesh: I was so young that I can barely even remember that moment. My mum sent my brother and I to a local community drama class once a week after school, when I was about 8 or 9. I think she thought it would be good for our grammar and vocabulary. My brother did one year and refused to go back. But I loved it. We performed a theatre play once a year, with my class, for our parents, and we also performed monologues and poetry at drama festivals. I remember, from the moment I started drama class I would tell people (when asked) that I want to be an actor.
(Image courtesy of Florence Ordesh)
SH: Tell us about Hokum. What’s the film about, and what can you share about your character, Fiona, and her place in the wider story?
FO: Hokum is a psychological horror about an American tourist, Ohm, played by Adam Scott, who travels to Ireland to stay in a remote hotel where his parents were married, intending to scatter their ashes. Once he arrives, he begins to hear stories about the hotel being haunted by a witch.
My character, Fiona works at the hotel where everything takes place, and she becomes quite central to the story. She’s very observant and grounded, and she’s one of the first people to start noticing that things are off.
(Hokum via Neon)
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SH: Are you a big horror fan? What’s it like to bring a haunting narrative like this to life?
FO: I love psychological horror. Even reading the script, I devoured it in an hour and a half, I don’t even think I took a sip of my tea while reading it! I was so drawn in, the tension just kept me turning the page. The film itself takes that feeling and amplifies it 100-fold. Damian McCarthy has this incredible ability to build slow burn dread, and is brilliant at expressing his vision, he’s just so easy to work with, and so collaborative. The whole cast and crew were fantastic too, and it was one of those projects where you could feel we were making something special.
SH: What was it like working with Adam Scott?
FO: He’s incredible. Not just as an actor, but as a scene partner. He is completely present, which makes everything feel very alive. And he’s just a really lovely person to be around. Between takes we’d chat and reset, and he has such an easy, relaxed energy.
SH: What was your most memorable moment on the set? Did you have any favorite interactions with the cast?
FO: One of the most memorable moments was actually my birthday on set. One of my castmates had secretly told the AD, Carmen, but I had no idea.
We’d been filming all afternoon and had just finished my last scene. They said they needed to reset for another shot and asked me to head back to the greenroom for a few minutes. Then I got called back down to set, and I walked into everyone standing, staring at me, with Carmen holding flowers and there was a birthday cake, and they all started singing. It was so incredibly sweet… and very cringe for me, I won’t lie, but also really, really appreciated.
What made it even worse (or better, depending how you look at it!), I was up on a mezzanine looking down at everyone as they sang. Then I had to do this long walk down the stairs to blow out the candles. A birthday I won’t be forgetting.
Also, because we were shooting in Skibbereen in Cork, it was a trek from Dublin, about a 2 and a half-hour train and then another couple of hours driving. I ended up doing that journey with almost every cast member at some point, so you get these unexpectedly intense bonding sessions where you really get to know people.
There was always such a great atmosphere on set, and by the time we wrapped, I was a little sad it was over.
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SH: Is there any part of the film you’re most excited for fans to see?
FO: Honestly, the whole film. It’s such a unique experience from start to finish.
But there is a moment about halfway through where things shift, and the tone changes quite dramatically. I won’t say too much, but it’s a point where the story opens up in a surprising way, and I’m really excited to see how audiences react to that.
SH: Where else can we see your work right now?
FO: I play Rose Tate in Season 2 of Departure and Mel Royce in Dublin Murders. I also played the lawyer Ciara Purcell in the season finale of Hidden Assets.
Alongside acting, I’ve been developing my own material and have recently completed a screenplay, which I’m now working with a U.S.-based production company to bring to life.
(Image courtesy of Florence Ordesh)
SH: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
FO: Just that I’m really excited for people to see Hokum. It was such a special project to be part of, and I can’t wait to hear how audiences respond to it.
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