Viewers of film and television will certainly recognize Elisabeth Rohm from her numerous acting roles over the years.
Serena Southerlyn in"Law & Order"from 2001 until 2005.
Movies like this certainly do a good job of presenting that.
Did you learn more about the subject matter as you delved into it for the movie?
I spoke to representatives at Polaris Foundation that we are working in partnership with.
That element is sometimes, statistically, a part of these scenarios.
We did research what we felt was necessary to this storytelling, but it’s a very big topic.
It’s a $150-billion business.
Is that a fine line to balance those aspects of storytelling?
Luckily, I had great actors, Anne Heche, and Larissa Dias, and Max Montesi.
Can you tell me a bit about how you transitioned from acting to directing?
I was very lucky … [I] luckily also have benefited from that.
But I have fallen in love with directing and still also love acting.
It’s really important to me to continue to see women in places of leadership get their chance.
A lot of people have asked me, “Did you always want to direct?”
Thankfully, we’re seeing more women directing.
I didn’t, in the beginning of my career.
I’ve been able to dream much bigger for myself by stepping into that.
I definitely am drawn to drama, so I like the difficult topics.
I am doing a film with Village Road Show coming up that is a romance.
I want to be diverse in my choosing with storytelling.
But moving forward, I tend to gravitate toward dramas and serious topics, maybe the darker stuff.
Is it complicated to juggle the two?
Does it require a lot of scheduling to keep that going?
You have tunnel vision when you’re doing anything.
You have to be present; you have to be in the moment.
I don’t think you have to pick and choose a lane.
it’s possible for you to manage to produce and act and direct.
It’s definitely captured me right now, and that’s mostly what I’ve been doing lately.
That’s a very exciting process.
It’s felt as an actor, but as a director, you’re holding it.
If I had to choose, I’d say, “Filling my cup a lot,” lately.
You said that “Girl in Room 13” isn’t just a movie, it’s a movement.
That’s very true in the case of this film, isn’t it?
If you look atPolaris Foundationonline, you’ll see that it’s also a database.
This film is not just a tough story.
It’s not just an awful story.
Polaris is really a strong foundation to help support both survivors and victims.
How active will you personally be in that campaign?
We’re going to continue the conversation.
Hopefully, we’ll continue to have a platform to talk about this topic.
Is there any chance that you might pop back in at some point?
I’ll be honest I would absolutely say yes to being asked to the dance.
I love this show.
It’s smart TV; it’s responsible TV.
Again, it’s also ripped from the headlines and all of that.
“Girl in Room 13"debuts September 17 on Lifetime.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
