You play the mother of a family tormented by haunted happenings (in picture right) in the house you move into. In real life, have you ever encountered anything paranormal or supernatural?

I was in a house that was not pleasant. It was in Rhode Island, of course. I still don’t know exactly what was happening there. It’s just that I no longer want to seek any of it out.

Do you personally believe in the supernatural?

Sceptical... I’m still undecided. I’m on undecided border and that’s okay. I don’t have to be decided. I don’t know. I can’t explain anything.

What kind of research did you do to play Carolyn Perron?

In this case, because no one really knows them (the Perrons), I feel like I had more liberties. They’ve solder-waxed their stories. James (Wan, the director) and the writers have done their job, so I don’t have to. I’m free to do what I need to, to make it work and resonate.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga who play demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren spoke to Lorraine, but you decided not to talk to Carolyn Perron. Why is that?

They had more of a responsibility. First of all, Lorraine is still alive; their stories are well known... there’s a fan base. I think that they needed to have some more background. For my character, her story isn’t that well known. I don’t have the same kind of responsibility. I didn’t need to know the facts. The writers had presented me with the research that they had done and that’s what I was dealing with. It’s easier because you have more freedom. Sometimes actors can be trapped with the mask that’s put on them.

How was it working with James Wan, who’s quite a master of the horror genre with films like Saw and Insidious?

I felt like I could totally trust him as a director... what he would say would get me to where I needed to go. I’ll do anything with James. I would be seven hours in make-up — I don’t even have to be listed in the credits, you don’t have to know it’s me — just to be part of the collaboration.