Jessica Lucas: The "Hot Complex" Interview, Photo Gallery, and Video

The Evil Dead star talks her fondness for horror and her growing comfort with showing skin.

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Image via Complex Original
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The Evil Dead star talks her fondness for horror and her growing comfort with showing skin.

This feature appears in Complex's April/May 2013 issue.

Jessica Lucas isn’t squeamish about scary movies. The 27-year-old Vancouver native, best known for her roles in Cloverfield, Melrose Place, and Cult, reveled in the insane gore of Evil Dead, a remake of Sam Raimi’s 1981 cult classic about five people in a cabin overtaken by demonic forces. For the self-proclaimed introvert, adjusting to life in the limelight and getting sexy for flashing cameras is far more unnerving than a demon vomiting blood in her mouth. For the sake of humanity, she faced her fears here.

Did the gory, disgusting violence in Evil Dead make you think twice about taking the job?
It was actually a turn-on. At one point, I was auditioning for both Olivia and Natalie, debating which character had the better demonic possession scenes. [Laughs.] For me, the more gruesome, the better. If you’re going to be a zombie in a movie, you go big or go home.

Is Evil Dead an appropriate date-night movie?
Of course it is! It’s the best kind of date movie. You want your date to be cowering and hiding behind you the whole time. You can make her feel safe. It’s romantic.

What if a guy takes you back to his apartment afterward, and his DVD collection consists of nothing but gory, sadistic horror flicks? Red flag?
I don’t look at things that way. Maybe if he’s specifically into the blood and gore and enjoys watching people get mutilated, then I’d be concerned. But I think we all want to be scared on some level.

You haven’t done many photo shoots like this. Is that by design?
As I get older I’m more comfortable in my skin. I’m not comfortable doing anything that’s overtly sexual, but there’s nothing wrong with being in tune with your sexual side. I just filmed my first sex scene for the romantic comedy Are We Officially Dating? I still haven’t had the nudity conversation with a director or producer, though. I’ll see what happens when I get there. I don’t like gratuitous nudity.

Do you prefer guys who are similarly restrained?
Not necessarily. I’m not going to date a crazy party animal; I’m more into culture. I’d rather go to a museum, travel somewhere, or go to a play. That’s more interesting to me than partying at the hottest club.

Is it difficult to meet men who prefer Broadway and Mozart to tequila shots?
It can be. I’m fortunate to work in an industry where men tend to share my interests, probably more than they do outside of it. Those guys are out there, though. That’s what I have to keep telling myself. [Laughs.]

What’s your ideal date?
We’d go out for a nice dinner and then see a play or a show. I love doing things where we can have a discussion afterward about something intellectual.

Followed by two tickets to Evil Dead to watch a girl slice her own tongue in half, right?[Laughs.] Totally! Major points for that.

WATCH JESSICA LUCAS'S EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW:

 

 

Related: WHO'S THAT GIRL? MEET MELROSE PLACE ACTRESS JESSICA LUCAS.

(STYLING) JAK. (hair) luke chamberlain. (MAKEUP) mylah morales. (CLOTHING, THIS PAGE) Dress by Robert Rodriguez / shoes by blonde ambition / bangle by ariel gordon / nail cuff by cc skye / gold bracelets by elizabeth knight jewelry / silver cuff by toujours toi-circe (NEXT page) left: leather jacket by commune / leopard-print bra by fortnight / shorts by citizens of humanity / necklaces by ariel gordon / nail cuff by cc skye. right: overalls by Citizens of Humanity / bra by Mimi Holiday / Necklace, bracelets, and ring by Ariel Gordon / nail cuff by cc skye

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