Actress Lacey Katena Talks Tackling a Challenging and Harrowing New Kind of Role in Sugarcane

Teen actress Lacey Katena is a rising star who brings a deep sense of passion and care to every role, and that's never been more evident than with the release of her new indie psychological thriller film Sugarcane.

Already having dozens of acting credits to her name, Lacey moved to Los Angeles full-time in 2024 to focus on her acting career. Her latest, Sugarcane,  released on Amazon Prime and Fandango at Home on June 13, and with its harrowing suspense and many dark twists and turns, it's leaving a big impression on audiences everywhere. Lacey plays Phoebe Foster, a missing girl who becomes the victim of human trafficking, and she took great pains to do the character justice in one of her most challenging roles yet. We got the chance to speak with Lacey and find out more about her acting history and why playing Phoebe was so meaningful to her in the interview below.

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?

Lacey Katena: I have always enjoyed acting—both on stage and in film—but when I moved to L.A. last year, I became truly fascinated with the craft. I audited an acting class where truly dedicated actors were putting in the work and the energy in that class was electric. I realized I had a long way to go with my ability but I set my goals high and now I am determined to learn everything I can about the craft.

(Photo credit: Chris Jon Photography)

 

SH: Can you tell us a little bit about Sugarcane? What is the film about, and is there anything you can tell us about your character in the film?

LK: Sugarcane focuses on a trafficking survivor, Mari, who searches for another trafficking victim—my character of Phoebe—and the mission to save her. Phoebe is abducted by The Bunny Man who has his own personal challenges and the story to save Phoebe has many twists and turns.

(Sugarcane via Postmortem Films)

 

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SH: What can you tell us about your character, Phoebe Foster?

LK: Playing the role of Phoebe was challenging as I try to pull from personal experiences and bring those to life in the characters I portray. Thankfully, I haven't experienced any type of kidnapping or human trafficking, but wanted to be very respectful to victims of these circumstances. Phoebe has an incredible level of resilience and that resilience definitely helps her in the end.

 

SH: This is a pretty intense and harrowing role. How did you get into the right mindset to bring those emotions and that kind of performance to life?

LK: When working through how to portray Phoebe, I wanted to be very respectful to the emotional toll that human trafficking takes on its victims while also not losing Phoebe's desire to live. As I said before, my preparation could not truly be pulled from personal experience but I wanted her to stay determined and angry, as she was experiencing truly horrific circumstances. The set itself helped me get into her mindset as we filmed in an actual dark, cold basement—so it was not too hard to be a little scared.

(Photo credit: Chris Jon Photography)

 

SH: What's the most challenging thing about this kind of role? What's the most rewarding thing?

LK: The most challenging thing about playing a character like Phoebe is the subject matter. While we don't have any actual confirmation that a website like Sugarcane exists, we do know that human trafficking is real and we don't have any solutions for its existence. I wouldn't say that I find this rewarding, necessarily, but I hope that this film helps mature audiences focus more online safety and how to fight all forms of trafficking.

 

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SH: Where else can we see your work right now?

LK: I have been really hustling in L.A. I have worked on a few music videos and was just in a Vigloo vertical that is coming out later this summer. I've also filmed a few ReelShort projects. I have a couple of projects on the books that I can't talk about yet, but am excited to announce those later this year. I keep my website updated with information, so please check out www.laceykatena.com

(Photo credit: Chris Jon Photography)

 

SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

LK: I mentioned this in a previous interview, but I would not recommend this movie for young viewers due to the subject matter. We also need to be aware that as these new forms of media and exploitation begin to arise so do the dangers. It is so important to me that audiences recognize how much power there is in being a survivor. These corrupt forces only hold power when you give up and we cannot give up.

 

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