By Joe Puccio

A performer excelling in a specific genre doesn’t necessarily guarantee that he or she is a fan of said content. Take Billie Roy, for example. While the starlet’s body of work spans a wide-ranging assortment of categories, including drama, comedy, and even rock music videos, it’s the one that she’s most closely associated with that she, ironically, doesn’t enjoy partaking in during her free time.

“I absolutely cannot watch horror,” Roy admitted, during a recent chat with Generation X Wire. “I can work in it, and I handled seeing The Mummy pretty well but it’s definitely not my preference. It’s terrifying to me.”

Roy’s role as Maud Cannon, the youngest child of two parents dealing with the devastation of the kidnapping and subsequent eight-year disappearance of first daughter Katie, in Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is just the latest endeavor for the precocious actress that has won her praise from both critics and audiences across the country. Her combination of authenticity and versatility, especially in the chilling supernatural film that’s currently streaming on HBO Max following a fruitful theatrical run earlier this year, is quickly getting her noticed in all the appropriate Hollywood circles.

A sweet, innocent girl in the initial stages of the picture, Roy managed to effortlessly transform into a possessed, flesh-eating demon later with ease, a task difficult enough for a seasoned veteran, much less for a preteen player. The experience, in fact, was an enjoyable one for the Memphis, Tennessee-born entertainer who began taking acting classes during the capricious early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Filming The Mummy was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done,” she exclaimed. “I think it was mainly because of all the makeup I got to wear and the props and prosthetics that were involved. It’s the reason why horror is probably my favorite type of project to act in. And even though it’s scary when you watch it on the screen, it’s really fun on the set.”

The multitalented Roy – trained in Jiu Jitsu and an avid piano player – had her first onscreen appearance at just 4 years old, via Atlanta-based band Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts’ video for the infectious, high-energy track “What Kinda Love.” And although a rock mini movie is undoubtedly a chic introduction into show business, Roy’s recollection of the gig is limited. “I kind of remember parts of it,” she smiled. “But not much since I was so young.”

Admittedly not a true horror series by definition of the term, Roy cut her teeth in a notable subgenre, true crime, in the form of Hulu’s hit mystery thriller Candy in 2022. While she appeared in only one episode, the part effectively prepared her for future jobs, including Spirit Halloween, The Mosquito Coast, and The Waterfront. “I was nervous doing Candy because it was my first time on a set like that and it was basically all grown ups and me,” she acknowledged. “There were other kids on the set, but I didn’t get to work with them. But everyone treated me really well.”

Although Roy’s current and future accomplishments in front of the camera are certainly undeniable, the forward-thinking go-getter is already contemplating other possible career opportunities. “I’d like to do voice acting and writing. Both of those things would be cool,” she added, matter-of-factly. “And I’d love to be a makeup artist. I watch what they do on the sets that I’m on and it’s so interesting to me.”

While the exact path that Roy will ultimately take is unknown, one thing is clear. Success is a likely result.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Follow Billie Roy on Instagram here.