Ledger Pop Journal - Celebrity News & Sports

Shooting the gruesome "Saw 5" was almost the straw that broke the camel's back, reports Julie Benz, who stars in the latest installment of the graphic horror films due out in the fall. "I had quite an intense year," says the actress, who co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in last year's "Rambo" and now plays Michael C. Hall's girlfriend on Showtime's "Dexter." "I went from being in the jungle running from the Burmese in 'Rambo,' to loving a serial killer (Dexter), then right into (the upcoming) 'Punisher: War Zone,' then 'Saw 5.

Julie Benz On "Saw 5" Psychologically Terrifying (Image: Wenn)

The last film, which she wrapped in late May, "came home with me," says Benz. "These 'Saw' films are very psychologically terrifying, and it really affected me on a very deep level. I'd go back to the hotel and have nightmares about the movie, not actor nightmares -- like 'Will I be able to perform?' -- but about stuff going on in the film.


I didn't think it was going to affect me like that. I mean, I was there on a set. I knew it was make believe, knew it wasn't true, and still I was getting really scared. They had a bucket on standby because I was really getting nauseous over things I had to do. I've never had that reaction to a movie before. I was always able to turn it off. But there were moments I actually forgot I was shooting a movie and really did think something awful was going to happen."

It was the kind of verisimilitude an actor lives for, apparently. "It was kind of exciting and fun," says Benz, in retrospect. "I would do it again in a heartbeat. It probably wouldn't affect me as much the second time around."