Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is without a doubt one of the most terrifying film depiction of mummies yet, and actress Natalie Grace really sells the fear factor.
Natalie made her feature film debut as Katie in the Blumhouse Productions and Warner Bros picture, which hit theaters on April 17 and has been delighting—and terrorizing—audiences around the world since. At the age of 8, Katie is kidnapped by a mysterious woman in Cairo before resurfacing eight years later, tucked away inside a sarcophagus and wrapped in parchment covered in ancient writing. Soon, she’s reunited with her family, but she’s changed, haunting her loved ones with both her appearance and her actions before the demonic force everything is unveiled.
Of course, this is anything but the typical first role for a rising actress, and the horror film forced Natalie to confront some real-life fears, including claustrophobia, to bring the role to life. We had the pleasure of chatting with Natalie Grace to learn all about filming The Mummy, and its biggest challenges and rewards, in the interview below.
This interview was originally published on April 28, 2026.
Sweety High: When did you discover your passion for acting? Was there a specific “a-ha” moment that made you realize it was the path for you?
Natalie Grace: I did my first musical at the age of 4. I played Molly in Annie. Even though I was really sick with the flu, I was adamant about going on. A 102-degree fever couldn’t stop me, as long as I had my Pillow Pet with me. Since then, I’ve done every play I could, and it eventually turned into a passion for film around the age of 10. I remember watching Dirty Dancing, and for some reason it just sparked something in me. Maybe because it combined all my favorite things in a way I hadn’t really thought about yet—music, dance and acting.
(Photo credit: Alexandra Zak-Johnson)
SH: Are you a horror movie fan at all? What was it like to step directly into the horror and face your fears to bring this role to life?
NG: I definitely wasn’t before this, but now it’s kind of unlocked a new obsession. I watch a lot of horror now, and whenever my friends and I hang out and don’t know what to do, I’m always the one suggesting a scary movie. It honestly felt like exposure therapy. In the beginning, they listed off a bunch of common fears and things that make people uncomfortable and asked if any of them applied to me… and most of them did. So now I feel like I’m not really scared of anything!
SH: What were some of the scariest aspects of the shoot? How did you overcome what scared you to get the job done?
NG: I was really nervous about the prosthetics, the stunt work and just the overall physicality of the role. The whole process honestly terrified me at first, but within a couple of weeks it all became instinct. The prosthetics actually became a comfort, and the stunts came really naturally. I even found a new passion for that. I have a pretty intense mindset, so I just pushed through it, because in my mind that’s the best way to learn and get the job done.
(Photo credit: Patrick Redmond)
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SH: Tell us about your character, Katie. Where does she fit into the wider story of Lee Cronin’s The Mummy?
NG: Katie is the oldest daughter of the Cannon family. She’s been missing for eight years after being kidnapped at age 8, and she’s found almost a decade later. But she’s completely changed, and the family doesn’t really know how she fits into their lives anymore, even if no one says it out loud. Her mother wants to heal her, and her father wants answers about what happened. She quickly becomes a source of chaos and dread in the household, which was really fun to play. I loved getting to explore both Katie herself and the more demonic aspects of her character. I found empathy for both sides.
SH: Can you tell us about the prosthetics you wore during the film? How long did they take, and what was the most challenging and rewarding part?
NG: At one point we counted, and there were over 12 pieces just on my face. The shortest application time was about six hours, but it was usually closer to eight. One time it even took 10. The most challenging part was definitely the mental strain of sitting there for that long. It honestly felt like boot camp sometimes. But it also gave me time to read and listen to audiobooks.
It was always rewarding to get through a full week of filming and then have a break where I didn’t have to wear them—but weirdly, I’d miss them. I got so used to them that they became a comfort. And during those hours in the chair, I could actually feel myself transforming into the character, which added something new to my process that I’d never experienced before.
(Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
SH: What does it mean to you for a film like this to be your big movie debut?
NG: Everything. I don’t even care how cheesy that sounds. This film gave me a life I could have only dreamed of before auditioning. Lee giving me this opportunity has opened so many doors for me, and I’ll always be grateful that he saw something in me.
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SH: What was your most memorable moment on set? Any favorite interactions with the cast?
NG: I have so many memories, but one of the biggest was when they revealed the prosthetics to the rest of the cast. That was such an exciting moment. I had been there about a month before everyone else and was a little isolated to help build the dynamic for the film, so it felt like everything was finally coming together.
And Jack [Reynor] was great at keeping things light between takes—he even got me chicken wings once, so he’s definitely a favorite for that. Honestly though, everyone was amazing to work with. We were really lucky to have a genuine, family-like connection off-screen too.
SH: What’s been your favorite fan reaction so far?
NG: People being scared to use nail clippers now is hilarious to me—I love seeing all the videos! Also, a lot of people are surprised that I’m not actually a kid when they see me out of the prosthetics, which is always funny.
(Photo credit: Alexandra Zak-Johnson)
SH: Is there anything else we should know about you or the film right now?
NG: Fun fact: I read around 40 books while filming, and that was in about four months. I’m pretty proud of that.
For even more, directly from the stars of our favorite media, click HERE to read our interview with Jona Xiao, who appeared in Season 2 of The Pitt.
