Actress Courtney Akbar in Horror Film, “Morbid Stories”

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FWM: Share your upbringing.

I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts along the border of Connecticut and Rhode Island. I was very fortunate to spend my entire childhood in the same house with both of my parents and siblings, I’m the youngest of 3. 

FWM: Have you always been intrigued by the Arts?

Always! I started making home videos and making up stories with friends from a very young age and made sure to participate in school plays from middle school onward. I always enjoyed playing the flute and being a part of the school band and in the choir as well. I always knew I wanted to be an actress and made sure that everyone else knew as well.

FWM: Who inspired you to pursue acting?

I got my first inspiration from the movie, “Superstar” directed by Bruce McCulloch. Watching this movie at 5-years old sparked a fierce passion and realization that I could grow up to be an Actress like the character Mary in the movie. This movie inspired me in such a way that I never gave up believing that I, a girl from a small town in the middle of the woods, could move to Los Angeles and become a real actress.

FWM: You are known for the sci-fi thriller “Astro”, and the hit TV show “NCIS.” Can you tell us about your roles and what intrigued you about them? 

For my role as Christine in the episode “Cadence” on NCIS, DiNozzo is investigating a murder that happened at the military academy he attended as a teenager. The murdered student was clutching a photo of my character sending them on a deeper investigation. I’ve always loved the show NCIS so when I got the opportunity to work with them I was so excited! In the movie Astro my character Laura-Lee is the daughter of a special forces veteran who gets kidnapped by a billionaire because he has DNA matching with an extraterrestrial. Astro was a very ambitious project that had a unique twist to the story, along with being shot on location in Roswell, New Mexico I wanted to be a part of it. I appreciate a good mystery and the sci-fi genre with how it can open your mind to things you’ve never thought of before.

FWM: How does one switch gears from NCIS to a horror film “Clown Fear?” 

“A runaway bride and her bridesmaids are stranded in a city run by clowns. Everything seemed normal at first but this clown cult has their own set of rules. It’s a carnival ride as our girls tries to stay alive to escape Clown City.” Going from a character who was murdered in NCIS, to a daughter of a crazy, murdering cult in Clown Fear was quite a 180. 

FWM: You are in the new horror movie, “Morbid Stories.” What should fans expect from your role? 

“When death is just the beginning, how important will it be to survive the end of times? Featuring 5 horrific tales from 5 up-and-coming Indie Filmmakers, Morbid Stories will become the latest horror anthology to die for.” My role in this film is fairly unique in the fact that my segment connects all of the other segments. My character, Candy, is finishing packing up to move out of her house after a breakup with her boyfriend as the end of the world begins. Cell phone service and gas lines fail, leaving only the radio in the car as a connection to the rest of the world as I try to figure out what is going on.

FWM: What intrigues you about horror? 

I love the rush of adrenaline I get from watching Horror movies! It’s thrilling to explore the feelings of fear through films, since you wouldn’t want to experience any of those things in real life. A good horror movie takes you in as though you are living in a nightmare yourself.

FWM: Can you share a monumental moment on set? 

I’m somewhat of a shy person until I get to know you. While shooting on set of Clown Fear, I believe it was only my second day on-set, I had to perform one of my heaviest scenes in the movie and it was a very crucial moment in the story. I remember after wrapping the scene in this tiny room, when I walked out everyone was quiet and then applauded my performance in awe. 

FWM: Are there any directors you would like to work with?

I’ve always liked Tim Burton’s films and his style of storytelling. I would love to work with Tim Burton if the opportunity was to ever come up in the future. 

FWM: What is next for you?

I’m always on the look out for intriguing roles that I can feel comfortable doing as I continue to mature my craft in this business. 

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