Initially beginning her career at a young age as a model, Natasha Henstridge had only hoped that her true dream would come true: acting. Working hard and making her way, in 1995, Henstridge received her big break with a starring role in the Sci-Fi Horror film Species. One of the biggest films of that year, thirty years later, Henstridge has continued along a path of interesting twists and turns.
Starring in over forty films at this stage, Henstridge has diversified in her resume with parts in various genres. This includes roles in big movies like the 2000 Comedy The Whole Nine Yards, 2001’s Action-Horror film Ghost of Mars, as well as television series such as 2008’s Drama mini-series Would Be Kings (which won her a Gemini Award for best actress).
Truly a special journey in cinema that Henstridge does not take for granted, in 2025 is back at it again with a stunning role in the new Horror Thriller House of Abraham. A film set to hit select theaters on Friday the 13th of June 2025, House of Abraham is a unique type of film that will startle you, all while keeping you glued to the screen. A project that Natasha Henstridge is very proud of, she recently took some time to talk about her role as Dee in House of Abraham, reflect on her work in film and television, and offer insight into what may come next.
Cryptic Rock – You have been involved in acting for some time now, and you have had a long, successful career. Involved in many interesting films in a variety of genres, how would you describe your career to this point?
Natasha Henstridge – It’s all over the place, to be honest with you. I feel grateful that I haven’t been totally pigeonholed. It’s a yo-yo of both really cool, interesting projects and not-so-great ones to pay the bills. It’s been a dream come true. It was my dream career, and although I don’t love every project, and although I’ve been in and out of love with acting at various points in my career, I feel like I’m having a resurgence of excitement about it.
It’s a journey, like life. That’s a great question, by the way. I feel like I’ve been doing a lot of reflection on everything in my career and my life since I turned fifty last year. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I feel completely blessed to do the thing that I love that challenges me, surprises me, and keeps me on my toes. I get to work with different people, play different characters, and I’m really lucky that I didn’t get completely pigeonholed, that I got to dip my toe in a lot of different areas in this world. It’s been fun.
Cryptic Rock – Those are all good things. Being pigeonholed as an actor/actress could often happen, especially when your first big film is a huge Sci-Fi film like 1995’s Species. Amazing, Species is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary in 2025.
Natasha Henstridge – Yeah, it’s crazy. I was at Trader Joe’s the other day, and a man came up to me and he goes, “Oh, my God! I know you! I love you. I loved your film,” as if it was literally the only one that he could be talking about. Of course, out of curiosity, I went, “Which one?” He goes, “Species!” I’m like, “You know I’ve done about forty-five or fifty other films, but thank you.” He goes, “That was just so great.”
So, thirty years on, it’s just incredible that it had such an impact on people still. People are still talking about doing a resurgence and doing the film again, or doing a TV show version of it. It’s amazing, the impact it had on my life, obviously, but also on audiences. It’s pretty cool.
Cryptic Rock – It is rather interesting to see that long-lasting impact. It had a significant effect on many people. From there, as you said, you did not get pigeonholed completely. You worked in Comedy, Drama, and various other genres. Do you enjoy those challenges and diversity?
Natasha Henstridge – Oh, so much! That is what makes it interesting. It’s nice to follow up a very intense Psychological Drama with something Family-Oriented. Going from Damsels in De-Stress (2003) to the king of the boardroom, or really getting to delve into different parts of your own personality and things, is super cool. Going from a video game TV show to a Sci-Fi, to a slice of life Drama, to those kinds of things. I really enjoy it.
Cryptic Rock – Yes, and as you said, it keeps everything interesting.
Natasha Henstridge – Yeah, absolutely.
Cryptic Rock – Your latest film, House of Abraham, we would call a Horror movie. It is very dark. It really gets deep under your skin. How did this project come about for you?
Natasha Henstridge – Well, I’ve been friends with Lukas Hassel, the writer, for many years. He always likes to send something my way and have me read it, and “What are your thoughts, and do you like it?” By no means am I a writer. Being friends, people are always curious about what someone thinks. They greenlit this project already. I knew it was a low-budget project and that it was obviously friends asking friends for a favor. I’m the worst about that, because this is what I do for a living. I’m not showing up on everyone’s film for free. I’ve got bills to pay, a life to live (Laughs). I’m so bad about that. I’m not that friend. (Laughs)
Anyway, I said to Lucas, “Of course I’ll read it.” He said, “If you’re interested, we are greenlit. It’s very low budget.” He then goes, “It’s shooting soon.” It was one of those kinds of things. I said, “Send it my way. Let me have a look at it.”
I got in the bathtub, started reading it, and I was mesmerized, and that is the truth. I know they’re promoting this film where they tell you what it’s about. I had no idea, for forty or fifty pages, where it was going. I was obsessed with this role, and reading it from the perspective of the character Dee, and wondering what was happening. Where is this going? It was a real page-turner for me in that way. I got out of the bathtub, and I said, “You got me, dude. I’d love to play this.”
Obviously, it’s always fun to work with people who you think are talented. Lukas, for me, is such a talent. I didn’t know Lisa (Belcher), but he and Lisa had worked together in the past. I think there were talks at one point about Lisa playing the character. I was like, “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. This could be awkward. Maybe it’s gonna be weird and she’s gonna say it should be played this way, or done that way.” I’m gonna have my own take on it, obviously. I said, “So how is that going to be?” We had a little conversation about it. A few days later, I was on a plane, in Austin, where we shot, and I just loved it.
They had it really ironed out. They had great people involved. Sometimes, with small budget films, you don’t know what you’re going to get. It could come out looking like a home video, a bad one. They had such a good crew put together. I was pleasantly surprised by everyone involved, and I was extremely excited to work on the film.
Cryptic Rock – It came out well, too. It captivates you, as you said. As a viewer, you are immediately engrossed in it, even going into it with no notion of what the film is. That is often the best way to approach a movie.
You can really feel the emotions of your character, Dee. Returning to the aspect that this is a very dark subject, it addresses topics that people often find uncomfortable to discuss and think about. When you are watching it, you think about these things, and it takes you to a dark place yourself. How did you feel?
Natasha Henstridge – Yeah, my character was playing things in a double way. Having to pretend that she’s going there for one reason, and really is going for another reason, which made it interesting, layered in that way. The subject matter in and of itself, you don’t see a lot of studio films being made about the subject matter, having the right to die, and how you go about that. Going to a place for that purpose is a very intense subject matter, for sure. The interesting thing about this one is the twist, my character, and the double reasons for her showing up.
This is a subject matter that is coming up more these days, all the time, legalizing the right to die, and that kind of thing. It has been all over the press and is becoming increasingly common around the world. I believe in several states, in Canada, and in many places around the world. It’s still so controversial.
If you remember, recently, there was this pod that they had, I believe, in Switzerland. People were going into the pod to die. Is it legal? Is it not legal? Being able to make that choice for yourself, of leaving, and the way that it was done. Interesting concept to think about, for sure.
Cryptic Rock – Most certainly. Lukas’s character of Abraham, and the way he plays it, is one that makes your skin crawl. The joy expressed by his character approaches it all. That was very hard to stomach, watching that.
Natasha Henstridge – Honestly, it was actually very easy to play this character in many regards, because Lukas was so committed. I know Lucas personally, so it’s always a bit more challenging when you know someone. The man can make me shudder. In scenes, I shudder with him.
We actually lived together when we were filming. We’d drive home and have a laugh on the way home. But, boy, when he was in those scenes, I did not know him. He made me shudder. It was not hard to play opposite him in this. He’s very committed. There were days I’d come home, I’m like, “You are a true psychopath, something is not right with you. First of all, you wrote this. Secondly, you play it this well. You’re freaking me out, man. Should I be left alone in this house with you tonight? I don’t even know. ”
Cryptic Rock – Those are the aspects that made it so effective. You discuss the element of this being a topic that is gaining prominence in society. What is interesting about the story of the House of Abraham is that you could take it one or two ways. You could take it as a way that, in the end, many of these people found hope, and they didn’t want to die. That was something that really struck you and gave you a sense of humanity in a way.
Natasha Henstridge – Yes. It’s really interesting. I read a book years ago called Veronika Decides to Die (1998), and it has always had a profound impact on me. Wishing for, wanting for, and deciding on something that you think you want until the moment comes, and then perhaps you don’t feel that way as much as you thought you did, that is a pretty interesting part of this storytelling. Changing your mind. I believe the tagline for House of Abraham is “Life is not for everyone.” What a concept. Then it’s got that whole be careful what you wish for thing. Maybe you’re not as certain as you think you are about things.
You hear these crazy stories about people deciding to end their lives and then changing their mind last minute, or actually going through with something, and it doesn’t work. How they change, and their concept of all that changes. You see all kinds of drips and drops of that throughout this film as well.
Cryptic Rock – Yes, and each character has an interesting arc. One in particular, besides your own, is the character of Alex (played by Marval A. Rex). That was a very compelling character. What was it like working with that character and working opposite?
Natasha Henstridge – Because of where my character is coming from, throughout this, I think she’s watching everything with such skepticism, concern, and worry about what’s really going on. If these people really are here for the right reasons. My character had that with everybody there on some level or another.
Cryptic Rock – Right, it works well. You not only acted in this film, but you are also credited as executive producer with co-star Lin Shaye. As you said, it was a small crew and a small budget. So what was that extra title like for you?
Natasha Henstridge – The gang that put the movie together really did all the work. Sometimes, when you sign on as an actor to a film, you get an executive producing credit. Yes, you’ll have a little bit of say here and there. I really can’t take any credit for producing at all. Let’s be honest about that.
Lisa did such a killer job. The woman is so determined and on the ball. I often watched what she was doing, not only directing, but also producing the film. Lukas, both of them together really did all the work. Seeing her produce, pull it together, get it together in the way that she did, and stay at that calm level while directing… There’s a time crunch, there’s a lot of cast, there’s a lot of characters, there’s a lot of moving parts to making a movie.
I’ve often thought about directing myself. Then I look and I go, “I don’t know if I could be as calm as she was.” She just really kept it together. Really impressive. She didn’t have the ego. There were notes when there needed to be notes. She’s not there saying, “Look at me. I’m the director. I’ve got to tell you every five minutes what to do.” She just fought for the important things. I would love to work with her again. I was so impressed with how she handled it.
Cryptic Rock – Despite the subject matter wrapped around House of Abraham, it seemed like it was a very positive experience.
Natasha Henstridge – I know. You go to work, and it’s such a great group. At the same time, you gotta go into this mindset. You’re not quite the fun, charming person all the time that you want to be. I hid myself away a lot.
Cryptic Rock – Understood. It is challenging to discuss the film thoroughly without revealing anything. The ending of the film leaves something open. What does your character Dee mean with her comment about the house? What did you take from that?
Natasha Henstridge – Good question. We’ll have to see what the masterminds come up with. It was tough even playing the end of the scene because of not knowing. Has she turned? Has she twisted? Does she want to use this for good? For that? It is a very open-ended question there. In that way, it also needed to play it sort of neutral in some regards as well. I don’t even know.
Cryptic Rock – It’s one of those things, like the ending to The Sopranos. People have been talking about that for years.
Natasha Henstridge – I never saw The Sopranos, but they have definitely been talking about it. Yes, there are a few shows like that.
Cryptic Rock – Absolutely. Well, House of Arbaham is worth seeing. You portrayed your character with emotion and realism. Beyond this film, do you have any other projects that you could briefly tell us about that are coming up?
Natasha Henstridge – I do. I can’t say I signed on to a Netflix project on Friday, because they offered me the role on Friday, to a very, for me, full-circle, incredible show. It’s so full circle for my life, for a multitude of reasons. Josh Hartnett will be starring in it. I haven’t signed the deal today, but I’ve been offered the role. In that way, I can’t really get into it too much. I will say I’m super excited about it. I will sign the deal!
That is something very cool. I haven’t been so excited about a project in a very long time. That’s all I’m gonna say about it. I can’t really get into it too much. It’s hard for me to really go “Yes, I’m doing this project.” The deal will be done soon, though.
Cryptic Rock – That is something to look out for. You stated you just turned fifty last year. You have had this lengthy career. You have done so many different things. You have worked with so many different people. As you said, you do not often stop and reflect when you are in the middle of everything. What do you think are some of the most valuable things you have learned from it all?
Natasha Henstridge – From everything, not just going about it by way of acting, because I find that that is a different experience every time when you trust somebody. When you’re in a scene with somebody, when you’re in flow, it’s such a beautiful thing. Sometimes those scenes and moments are amazing, but the show doesn’t turn out great or vice versa. I think one of the most important lessons, and I think this lesson goes for any career and any life, is to be kind. You hear this, and it’s cliche, but the people that you meet on the way up are the same ones that you meet on the way down.
There’s suddenly a point where maybe you’re sloping down in your career. It’s really important to be kind to everyone. I have seen that again and again. Obviously, everybody’s exhausted. Everybody’s going through something. Kindness goes a long way. The fact that I’ve been in some really tough positions, maybe financially and otherwise, where somebody hired me at a time when I didn’t really need it, or I didn’t really want to do the project. I was always kind, no matter what I thought of the project. Those people have come through for me in times of need as well.
Keeping those things in perspective when you’re at the height, the top, and the hottest. It’s really easy not to think about everybody in certain ways. They’re as important because you’re at the top. Those relationships and being kind to everyone along the way have really been beneficial to me. I will say that. That’s in any career, though.
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