Chloe East greets Bill Murray daily, and she recently had a delightful encounter that could have gone smoother but was memorable nonetheless.

During a Zoom interview, the lively star of the horror movie “Heretic” (now playing in theaters) highlighted a massive “Lost in Translation” poster in her home, which she humorously called a “mistake purchase,” as she anticipated it to be smaller. She reminisces about sitting next to Murray at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards with her co-stars from Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans.”

“That moment was surreal. I thought about telling him I have breakfast with him every day!” East shares, while comforting her dog Michael. “I said, ‘Hi Bill, I’m Chloe,’ and he replied, ‘Yeah, I’m Bill.’ I responded, ‘I know,’ but then I blanked. I even had a picture ready to show him.”

Chloe East, 23, is set for more encounters with film icons, as she features in upcoming projects with Amy Adams, Colin Farrell, and Margot Robbie, marking her debut leading role in “Heretic.” She stars alongside Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”) as Mormon missionaries who unexpectedly challenge their beliefs and face terror at the door of scholarly Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant).

In her role as Sister Paxton, East faces off against the menacing Mr. Reed. Grant praised her fearlessness, commenting, “I get nervous, especially during the close-ups, but she’s completely at ease, and the camera loves that.”

Here’s more about Chloe East that new fans might find interesting:

Chloe East’s Background in the Mormon Faith Mirrors Her ‘Heretic’ Character

East expresses a strong protective instinct for her optimistic character, Paxton. “She could easily become someone you’d want to ignore,” the actress explains. “I aimed to portray her in a way that helps people understand her naivety and genuine excitement about sharing her beliefs. She’s earnest, and that comes from a good place.” Having grown up in the Mormon faith herself, East connected deeply with her character after leaving the church in her teens, even reaching out to missionary friends for insights and incorporating a quote from the Book of Mosiah into her work.

The film’s exploration of faith struck a chord with East. “Growing up in that environment, your beliefs come from what you’ve been taught,” she notes. “As I matured, I began to question everything, even my taste in food, like whether I genuinely like sushi or if it’s just something I grew up with. I found I relate to Paxton more than I realized. Her strength in believing what she believes is admirable, even when faced with opposing viewpoints or evidence. It’s inspiring to see such blissful ignorance and embrace that perspective.”

How a Quentin Tarantino Film Turned East into a Film Buff

Originally from Southern California, East began dancing at a young age with aspirations of becoming a prima ballerina. “I was dancing around 30 hours a week, performing in ‘Nutcracker’ annually, and went en pointe at a young age,” she recalls. This led to roles in Hollywood and commercials, ultimately paving her path to acting, including appearances on episodes of “True Blood.” Then at 14, she discovered her love for cinema, declaring herself a “cinephile snob,” especially after watching Quentin Tarantino’s gripping film “The Hateful Eight.”

“Before that film, I didn’t even know who Tarantino was,” East shares. “After watching it, I looked him up and found his top 20 movie list. I started exploring directors like Jean-Luc Godard, knowing that ‘Hateful Eight’ ignited my passion for movies.” (As a fun tidbit, her movie poster collection also features “Phantom of the Paradise” and a Japanese one-sheet of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”)

Rising Star of ‘Heretic’ Keeps a Level Head

Chloe East has appeared in Netflix’s 2016 middle school comedy “Jessica Darling’s IT List,” and also had parts in “Liv and Maddie” and “Generation.” However, her most significant opportunity came from her role in “Fabelmans,” where she portrayed the memorable Christian love interest to Gabriel LaBelle’s character inspired by Spielberg. Expect to see even more of her next year as she will have a supporting role in Netflix’s new dark comedy series “No Good Deed,” which releases on December 12. Additionally, East will shine in two notable films: “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” alongside Robbie and Farrell, and “At the Sea” featuring Adams, whom she regards as a fantastic mentor.

Despite her growing career, she is keeping her perspective intact. “I hold a quote close to my heart since I began working: the cavalry isn’t coming,” East shares. “Even when you’re working with Steven Spielberg and everyone tells you that you won’t have to audition anymore and this is the peak, the cavalry isn’t coming. It’s all about staying motivated and in touch with my passion for acting; I can’t afford to become complacent.”