Elizabeth Lail Photograph by Jameson Baldwin [This story contains spoilers from Five Nights at Freddy's 2.] More than a decade into her career and Elizabeth Lail is still pinching herself. The 33-year-old actress first captured audiences' attention with her role as Princess Anna in the fourth season of Once Upon a Time. She later gained more recognition with her portrayal of Guinevere Beck in Netflix's You, becoming Penn Badgley's Joe Goldberg's season one obsession who ultimately saw a tragic fate. While Lail is enjoying the thrill of her flourishing career that she's put in the work for, she admits there's still that "stream of consciousness of self-doubt that can creep in" ever so often. But once her projects connect with audiences, she's reminded she's exactly where she's meant to be. Related Stories Person of Interest 'Dancing With the Stars' Was the "Dream" Robert Irwin "Always Knew" It Would Be Person of Interest Social Media Star Noah Beck Takes Aim at His Next Challenge And currently, that's starring as Vanessa Shelly in the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise, which just released its sequel following the box office success of the first installment in 2023. Lail confesses to The Hollywood Reporter that she's a "huge scaredy cat" when it comes to watching horror films, but as an actor, "I'm super interested in inhabiting those spaces, that kind of deep fear and that fighting-for-your-life kind of experience." Below, Lail breaks down her character's arc in Five Nights at Freddy's 2 and what she would love to see in a potential third film in the horror franchise. She also reflects on returning for the final season of You earlier this year and the biggest challenge she's overcome. Going back to the beginning, what made you want to pursue a career as an actor? I feel like I've had a bit of a come-to-Jesus moment with that recently. Looking back, I realized the first time I felt a real sense of belonging was doing theater in middle school and high school, and being part of that crew and [with] my friends. It's one of the first times I was like, "Oh, this is what it's like to be a human being and really feel like you are meant to be somewhere or a part of something." I think I've been chasing that feeling ever since. Of course, storytelling is incredibly important and creates catharsis and joy and mirrors back what it is to be human, and I believe in all of that very deeply as well. But I think deep down, the reason why I keep coming back to it is I feel useful and feel that sense of belonging. What was your initial reaction to seeing the box office success of the first Five Nights at Freddy's installment? Surprised! I knew it was a huge franchise and that it had that potential, but I have a lot of practice in my career and I think this keeps me grounded. I don't ever expect too much, only to save myself from disappointment, perhaps. I know I got so much from being a part of the film and making the film, going back to that sense of belonging; that collaborative experience I loved so much. I loved working on the film [so much] that it's always a bonus if people bother to watch. In this case, many people watched it. And it goes back to that idea of having this collaborative experience on set and then bringing it into theaters where young people or their parents have this really collective, fun experience. At least that's how it was described to me by the people going to see it. Then they'd go home and watch it on Peacock. And I thought, what a delight. I know things that have been that for me, like Gilmore Girls, what a delight. So it's really sweet and amazing to be a part of something that could delight so many people. Is that a strange experience, getting that feeling when you watch Gilmore Girls, as you mentioned, and then to be the one providing that for other viewers? It's always weird. I did not grow up in show business. I had no connection to it whatsoever. So I still very much identify as a regular civilian. Then I'll be walking in Manhattan and hear someone screaming Five Nights at Freddy's, and be like, "Wait, that's me!" So I'm surprised, and it's surreal and I've been very lucky in my career to be part of a few things that are very loved. But this is special. Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio and Josh Hutcherson in Five Nights at Freddy's 2. Everett Collection Going into Five Nights at Freddy's 2, what were you looking forward to most about returning to the role of Vanessa Shelley? I love how in this film we go a little bit deeper. In the first film, we were just getting a "hi, hello," drop the bomb of her being such an integral part of the Freddy's franchise because of her father. And in this one, we go deeper into her psyche, her trauma and what she's attempting to overcome, which is an impossible thing. Just like the fans, I'm getting to know her in real time. As I get the script, I'm like, "Oh, here's more information about her." That's always exciting, like reading a good book where you're learnin