Arabella Olivia Clark is proving that her talent for horror on screen is matched only by her boldness off it. The 10-year-old actress recently sat down with Variety to discuss her breakthrough leading role in the thriller “Other Mommy,” released on Friday, and the mentors who have supported her early career.
Clark stars as Bela, the daughter played by Jessica Chastain and Jay Duplass, in Rob Savage’s film about a young girl terrorized by a sinister doppelgänger known as the Other Mommy. The movie opened at number one at the domestic box office, earning $12.6 million on its debut. For Clark, whose previous credits include a younger version of Amanda Seyfried’s character in 2025’s “The Housemaid,” this marks her first time carrying a feature film.
Despite playing a child plagued by a terrifying figure, Clark insists she is not easily scared herself. “I love spiders. I love snakes. I like all the creepy stuff,” she told Variety. “I love the dark, so I don’t really know what I would be afraid of.” Her mother, Rachel Clark, noted that her daughter’s adventurous spirit is consistent in real life: “She’s always willing to try everything. Even if she can’t do something, she’s like, ‘Yeah, I’ll try that.'”
Beyond acting, Clark enjoys sailing and swimming—skills that proved useful during the filming of “Other Mommy,” which involved water tanks. A dedicated reader, she consumed Josh Malerman’s 2024 novel “Incidents Around the House” in just three days before her audition. Although the story gave her chills, Clark’s love for the macabre extends to her favorite book, “Bunnicula,” and her current read, Jeff Kinney’s “Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories.”
While she has embraced the horror genre, Clark is looking toward science fiction next, citing a dream of working with Steven Spielberg on a potential sequel to “E.T.” She also joked about a possible crossover between Elliott’s alien friend and Rocky from “Project Hail Mary,” noting, “Maybe Rocky and E.T. could be friends, because they’re both aliens, right?”
On set, Clark credited director Rob Savage for ensuring she felt safe during frightening scenes. She described Chastain as an inspiring figure, recalling moments spent hiking with the actress’s children and observing her study for Harvard while filming. “I learned a lot from her,” Clark said.
The interview also touched upon Clark’s professional relationship with Mckenna Grace, whose mentorship helped guide Clark through her first major lead. As Clark continues to build her resume, her openness to new challenges—from scaring audiences to exploring space-themed roles—suggests a promising trajectory ahead.
Leave a Reply