Halloween: Colchester woman speaks about working as a scare actor

Halloween has always been her favourite holiday, with her family throwing annual costume parties around the scariest time of year. 

So when it came to finding a way to make a living out of those the 32-year-old from Great Bromley has hit the jackpot. 

She is working this spooky season as a scare actor at Trinity Scares in Ipswich. 

Michelle started off with an interest in acting at a young age, however, she never pictured herself as an actress. 

Character - Michelle enjoys getting into character (Image: Michelle De Feo)

She said: “It wasn't something I wanted to do professionally at all. I can't remember lines. 

“When I was a kid, I went to Stagecoach in Colchester but I didn't do acting for ages, it wasn't really for me. And then probably about 2019, I started doing TV, the extra work. I've been in a couple of TV shows.” 

Since then Michelle has appeared in big TV hits like EastEnders. 

The long hours on set, as the main characters have to work, were always something that kept her from pursuing bigger gigs. 

Despite her choice of career being unusual her family and friends have always been supportive. 

“They always knew I was a little bit nuts about Halloween," she said.

"We always used to throw Halloween parties and we all, all the family used to dress up, dress up. I think all my family is a little bit Halloween-mad anyway. 

“When I send them pictures and little video clips of what I'm doing and things they, they just really laugh and just said, ‘yeah, this is the perfect job for you’.” 

The opportunity to become a scare actor came as a coincidence a couple of years ago when Michelle spotted an ad on Facebook which she responded to. 

“It came up on Facebook,” she recalls, “And I always wanted to be a scarer. I always loved how the scare actors are they make up their costumes and I attended a couple of scare events I always was like, ‘Oh, I just wish it was a bit closer’ because there's nothing really in Colchester.” 

When she went to her audition, Michelle was nervous, not knowing what to expect. 

But her passion and excitement kept her going as she found something she loved to do. 

At Trinity Scares, which is located in Trinity Park just off the A14, actors get to choose their characters according to the themes of the sets, which are designed ahead of the event. 

However, sometimes, actors will be moved to different parts of the experience to even out the number of actors in one area. 

“My favourite part has always a possessed girl," she said. 

"I always have a little baby with me, like a baby doll, not a real one. I feel free with her.

“I loved playing the dentist as well one year, that was really fun.” 

Being a clown is on her no-go list, but she could envision herself playing a nun in future years. 

A normal day as a scare actor starts for Michelle by putting on her make-up at home in preparation for the evening. 

She said: “I tend to go with my makeup done, just because the lighting in the barn isn't great.

"It's quite funny driving and stopping with all your makeup on and people are like ‘what the hell is she doing? What is that?’” 

On set, the actors are shown their areas of the night and they can get familiar with the space, finding places to hide and preparing for the visitors to walk through the scare experience. 

But as fun as working at a Halloween experience sounds, it is not all roses, as she and her colleagues have to deal with abusive customers from time to time. 

She said: “Sometimes you get rude customers. On weekends, especially, people are sometimes a little bit drunk. They can get a little bit aggressive towards you. 

"It makes me think ‘Why are you going to these places? You know we're gonna scare you and we wanna have a laugh with you.” 

But thanks to the support of the team and managers of the venue, who look after their actors, Michelle is looking forward to another year of scares. 

Trinity Scares is open daily between 7pm and  10pm until October 31.