AnnaLynne McCord's Controversial Role as a Mass Shooter Sparks a Heated Debate

Beware: AnnaLynne McCord initially hesitated to take on the challenging new film, Condition of Return. "I had to analyze my reluctance, which arose from the film's nature," reveals the 36-year-old 90210 alum in an exclusive interview with We. "Upon reading the script, I immediately decided not to participate. However, I soon realized that if I had such strong reservations, it was a sign for me to say yes. I have never agreed to a project as quickly as this one."

In the drama, McCord portrays Eve, a devout woman who commits a mass shooting after striking a pact with the devil. Despite the dark nature of the movie, McCord confesses that she was motivated to join the cast, which includes Dean Cain and Natasha Henstridge, because it serves a greater cause.

"At this moment, mass shootings are occurring in our world. Films are typically light-hearted and enjoyable, but it is crucial that we address these issues through relevant movies. These events are happening, and we need to have a dialogue about them."

Courtesy of Pasidg Productions

In portraying Eve, McCord has learned to set aside personal judgments. "When taking on the role of a villain, it's important not to pass judgment," the actress from Nip/Tuck explains. "Throughout my entire career of playing villains, I've come to realize one crucial fact: Villains are not real. People are capable of both good and bad actions, and sometimes those bad actions can be incredibly heinous."

courtesy of Pasidg Productions

Dealing with her own mental health struggles has led McCord to take a personal approach in portraying her character for the audience. "That is something I deeply care about," she expresses to Us. "I have faced thoughts of suicide and have openly shared my journey with mental health. I am very transparent and strive to shed light on this issue."

Despite portraying a woman engaged in a despicable crime, which McCord acknowledges as a challenging experience, she managed to detach herself from the character once the cameras stopped rolling.

"I have experienced something remarkable in my professional career as a direct outcome of all the treatment I have undergone and the therapeutic methods I have explored," she reveals. "As a result, Eve has developed into a distinct entity – I can simply leave her behind when I leave the set and return home."

McCord hopes that viewers will view Eve, a character who strongly believes in a belief system without questioning it, from a new perspective. She believes that even if people are unable to empathize or care about Eve, they may gain a better understanding of her after watching this film. It is McCord's desire for the film to spark a larger conversation about mental health. She expresses that although society is now discussing mental health on a broader scale than ever before, there is still much more to explore. According to McCord, this exploration begins by asking questions and developing a relationship with oneself, something that Eve lacked.

courtesy of Pasidg Productions

“I hope it gets people talking,” she concludes.

Condition of Return is now in theaters, and available on Vudo and cable services to rent or own

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

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AnnaLynne McCord