CraveOnline: Did you know when you did Saw III that this would become a leading character in Saw IV?
Betsy Russell: No. It’s kind of a cute story. What happened was the producers were fans of mine and they said, “We want to give you a small part. You can either play a nurse or you can play Jigsaw’s wife.” I said, “Gee, that’s a tough one. Okay, I’ll play his wife.” So they gave me the part and for this one they said, “We’re having three teams of writers write Saw IV and you have a one in three chance of having a great role because one team really has your character having a really meaty role.” So I was keeping my fingers crossed and one by one they got rid of the other two and picked the right script.CraveOnline: What is your relationship with Jigsaw?
Betsy Russell: I’m his love interest. I can say that. I’m his love interest. Our story does explain a lot of his story. He’s a complicated character and you learn a lot about him through me.CraveOnline: Could we see more of you in Saw V?
Betsy Russell: More of me? You could, you never know.CraveOnline: What has this film done for getting you back into acting?
Betsy Russell: Well, it’s given me a passion to do it again, I’ll tell you that much. The role I just played was the best role I’ve ever had. It was incredible. I loved it. It was the best set I’ve ever worked on. I really have a passion now to get back into it. It’s great working with these guys. Maybe they spoiled me but I had a lot of fun.CraveOnline: You’re talking about Saw IV now or something else you’ve shot?
Betsy Russell: I’m talking about these two projects, Saw III and IV. I had a great time and hopefully I’ll stay back in it. But I’m not just talking about doing more of these movies. I’m talking about in general. So it’s really got me back in.CraveOnline: How do you look back on your ‘80s horror movies?
Betsy Russell: They were a lot more peachy. They were just sort of cheesy and fun. This is a whole different game.CraveOnline: But they have fans.
Betsy Russell: They do, I’m shocked. I’m shocked to hear that I think Cheerleader Camp was playing in some state on a building. Somebody e-mailed my sister and said, “Your sister’s on the side of a building in Cheerleader Camp.’ I was like whoa. In fact, Darren Bousman was carrying around that movie when I first met him and he asked me to sign it. There was something else I’ve done calledCraveOnline: How has the genre changed as you see it since then?
Betsy Russell: People really want the ante to be put up a little bit higher now. It takes more, with all the video games are so gory and intense, I think so many kids and adults are so desensitized. They need more to get ‘em going.CraveOnline: Do you worry about that as a parent?
Betsy Russell: I don’t let him play those video games, those really gory ones. You just kind of teach them right from wrong and you say, “This is not real.” You keep him away from as much as you possibly can, but the more they can’t have it, the more they want it. It’s like sugar. You’ve got to have a little bit in the house. You don’t want to say, “No, you can’t have it.” Because then they obsess over wanting it. Balance, it’s all about balance.CraveOnline: Have his friends discovered Cheerleader Camp yet?
