Last Tuesday, Tegan Ollie had just finished watching the film “Perkins’ 14,” a grisly horror flick involving a group of brainwashed, bloodthirsty teenagers, at Seattle’s Varsity Theatre.

She was shaking uncontrollably, but at the same time, feeling that apt proud parent moment usually associated with a good report card or sports trophy.

Her daughter, 20-year-old Shayla Beesley, was in the lead female role. She played Daisy Hopper, a misguided teen who constantly rebelled against her dysfunctional family.

The film was part of this year’s “After Dark Horrorfest” and may soon be shown in an Oak Harbor theater.

“Oak Harbor pretty much raised me. I think it would be great to give back to the community, even if it’s scaring people,” Beesley said.

Beesley lived in Oak Harbor until the age of 16, with her mother and three siblings. A few months after becoming emancipated, she flew to California to launch her acting career. She landed a few short film roles, but the roles grew larger after she attended The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.

At 19, she starred in her first feature film, “Promises,” as the shy Audrey, which was accepted to Deauville in France under the title “Sex and the USA.” The film centers on abstinence-only education and two teenaged girls (Beesley and Jamie Perkins) torn between evangelical morals and the images of American popular culture, such as scantily-clad pop stars. Despite the risque title of the film, Beesley has a strict policy of refusing nude roles.

“Shayla is very modest,” Ollie said. “She’ll take on roles as long as they don’t cross her personal boundaries.”

Last May, Beesley competed for the lead role in “Perkins’ 14” through a unique audition process. The production company called Massify held an online competition in which the pitch, a portion of the cast and even the poster were voted upon.

Shayla was initially out-voted, but director Craig Singer moved her into first place after reviewing her film reel.

Perkins’ 14 was released last week, and critics lauded Beesley for the performance.

“Two of the actors cast through the online competition also hold their own and turn in very good work, particularly Shayla Beesley as Daisy Hopper,” Fangoria Magazine reported. “The best part is that she elevates the role as written, which, if played by someone less talented, would’ve been a typical rebellious ‘Goth girl.’”

Although Beesley is known for her roles as a trouble-making teen, Ollie said her daughter is the polar opposite. While working seven days a week as a full-time actress, Beesley is pursing a bachelor’s degree in social psychology.

“She was like a little adult as a child,” Ollie said.

At 13, Beesley began taking drama classes at Oak Harbor High School. Her teacher, Shawna Lindsey, helped draw out her creative side.

“That’s when I really fell in love with acting,” Beesley said. “She made the classes friendly and warm. It made me really want to go.”

Beesley’s family is also familiar with the entertainment world; her great-grandmother was a radio singer and her mother Ollie, a world-renowned Egyptian belly dancer.

Recently, “Perkins’ 14” was picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel, and will be aired this April. The film is set in a small town named Stone Cove, where a decade prior, 14 children were abducted. On the 10th anniversary of the first disappearance, Officer Dwayne Hopper (whose own child was taken) picks up Ronald Perkins for a traffic violation and believes him to be responsible for the vanishings. He decides to enact revenge, but finds the victims are still alive. After years of psychological torture, the victims are savage, and thanks to the cop (Daisy’s father) they are free to roam the town.

And coming this February Beesley’s DVD “Sex and the USA” is slated for release.

With her latest reviews, Ollie said directors are buzzing about Beesley, and there’s talk of another movie with Massify.

Ollie, while proud of her daughter’s success in the horror genre, hopes for something more tame in the future.

“I hope she does a comedy next, maybe a Disney film,” Ollie said.

With a grin, Beesley said she would consider it.

“It would be nice to laugh on set for once, instead of crying and screaming” she said.

Ollie is currently working with Plaza Cinema 3 in Oak Harbor for a showing of “Perkins’,” which is rated-R for graphic violence, terror, language and some sexuality.

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