Toni Collette, who starred in the 1999 film The Sixth Sense, did not realize she was part of a horror movie until weeks into production. The actress shared this revelation during an appearance on Q With Tom Power, saying,
I just thought it was a beautiful spiritual story.
Her understanding of the film’s genre shifted after she saw footage being edited on set, where a scene showed Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, encountering the ghost Kyra, portrayed by Mischa Barton.
Discovering the Horror Elements in Her Role
Collette recalled the moment she recognized the film as a horror project, describing the scene where Kyra reaches out to Cole. She explained,
She reaches out and grabs him,
and added,
“And the way it was shot, I was like, ‘Oh, holy s–, I think this is a horror movie.’”
This realization came unexpectedly as she observed the editing process firsthand.
Toni Collette’s Upcoming Role in Wayward
Following her work in The Sixth Sense, Toni Collette is set to star in the new series Wayward, created by Mae Martin. The show focuses on the world of troubled teens and the complex environments of schools designed for them. Martin, who has personal connections to this topic through friends, shared with TheWrap the emotional roots of the story, stating,
Because it was my best friend who got sent to one of these schools, and I always had a lot of guilt about it, because I felt like I should have been the one who was sent, imagining a scenario where I went to bust her out and then was in there with her trying to stay sane, was a really interesting exercise.
The Dynamics of Friendship in Wayward
The series also follows Leila, played by Alyvia Alyn Lind, and Abbie, played by Sydney Topliffe, who are close friends dreaming of leaving their small town. Martin described the nature of their relationship, noting,
the intense codependent friendships where you feel like you can be full of yourself and you’re hysterically laughing all the time,
highlighting both the challenges and bonds that define their connection.
Why Toni Collette’s Experience Matters
Toni Collette’s initial misunderstanding of The Sixth Sense sheds light on the film’s deeper layers beyond conventional horror, revealing its spiritual and emotional dimensions. Her evolving awareness reflects the film’s complex storytelling, which helped make it a memorable cinematic event. Looking forward, her involvement in Wayward suggests a continued focus on meaningful roles that explore real-life struggles, promising thoughtful narratives and compelling performances in the coming years.
