Ella Balinska on the Action and Emotion in The Occupant
In The Occupant, Ella Balinska doesn’t just star, she fully immerses into the physically demanding and emotional role. Playing Abby, a lone survivor following a crash, Balinska delivers a performance that’s as visceral as it is vulnerable. In our interview she opens up about the challenges of her role both in front of and behind the camera as a producer and the deeply personal journey that unfolded during production.
Balinska was initially drawn to director Hugo Keijzer’s project after watching the short film that inspired the full-length feature. “It was just well executed,” she said, praising the tone, cinematography, and ambitious vision. “That kind of crazy ambition I kind of like.” That early vision came with a script, which she found immediately compelling. The combination sparked not just her interest in the role but her desire to help shape the film itself, leading to her first turn as an executive producer on a feature.
Known for her physicality in action-heavy roles (Charlie's Angels, Resident Evil), Balinska welcomed the chance to stretch those muscles again, this time, with a twist. “I’ve got the action in my back pocket,” she laughed. “But this time, I had to throw in this crazy emotional intensity alongside it.” That duality, she said, was one of the greatest challenges: tapping into high stakes emotions while performing physically demanding stunts, often in freezing, punishing conditions.
Despite being considered for the role early on, Balinska chose to audition with what she called one of her most intense self-tapes ever. “I was wet on the floor in my living room, pretending I’d just come out of a river,” she said. “I just kind of wanted to show: this is a full send project, and here’s me, willing to go full send.” That commitment didn’t just secure her the part, it set the tone for everything that followed.
Balinska took a meticulous approach to tracking Abby’s physical and emotional journey. With her character in every scene and facing escalating hardship, consistency was crucial. The first assistant director even helped her stay on track: “He’d yell out reminders—‘leg injury, you’ve been through this’—and that just kept me in the right mindset.” She also used breath as a storytelling tool especially during Abby’s panic attacks. “Being at altitude helped,” she noted. “It was already hard to breathe. Emotionally, physically it became very real.”
The film's late sci-fi twist might surprise some audiences—but Balinska said the emotional core always remained the focus. “Hugo was so disciplined,” she explained. “He didn’t overdo the sci-fi. It’s about something very human. And whether it’s real or not? That’s up for interpretation.” She even fought for a subtle shot at the end of the film that leaves the ending open. “Maybe one day I’ll reveal which one it is.”
Though Rob Delaney’s character communicates with Abby only via Walkie Talkie, their connection still crackles on screen. Balinska shot their scenes alone, often imagining how each line might be delivered. “Every take, I ran through the whole scene in my head,” she said. The final edit? “Credit to Hugo and the editor. Rob and I never filmed together, but it feels like we did.”
For Balinska, The Occupant was more than just a role—it was a chance to push herself in ways she never had before. “I’m unsure whether I’ll ever get another opportunity like this,” she said. “A film that’s this physically demanding, with this much emotional depth, in a place so extreme,it needed specific justice.” She gave it just that.
Watch the full conversation below:
Q&A on the film The Occupant with actor & executive producer Ella Balinska. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company.
When Abby, a guilt-ridden engineering geologist in transit from her remote assignment survives a mysterious helicopter crash, she must try to escape the harsh environment. But she is not alone.
