‘Friday the 13th Part 2’ Star Lauren-Marie Taylor Talks About Jason and Horror Legacy

Few horror franchises have endured quite like Friday the 13th. It’s a brand that has even more longevity than its most notorious character – Jason Voorhees!

Since the original film first terrified audiences in 1980, the series has become one of the most recognisable names in genre cinema. While the first instalment introduced audiences to Camp Crystal Lake, it was 1981’s Friday the 13th Part 2 that truly began the legend of Jason Voorhees.

For fans of the series, the sequel remains a pivotal chapter. It is the film that transformed Jason from a shocking final moment into a fully fledged horror icon. Among the counsellors unlucky enough to cross his path is Vicki, played by actress Lauren-Marie Taylor.

To celebrate Friday the 13th, we’re sharing a recent interview we had with Taylor to discuss her memories of working on the film, the experience of shooting at a real summer camp, and the lasting legacy of the franchise.

Taylor’s route into acting was not a conventional one. She recalls being discovered during a school theatre production after performing in musicals as a teenager. That early exposure led to television commercial work, including a three-year deal with Burger King that helped fund her college education. From there, film roles soon followed.

When the audition for what would become Friday the 13th Part 2 arrived, however, Taylor initially saw it as simply another opportunity rather than a career-defining moment.

Production took place at a working camp in Connecticut, with the cast living on location during filming. The experience created a natural camaraderie among the young actors, mirroring the on-screen friendships of the camp counsellors they portrayed. The setting also helped Taylor find her way into the character of Vicki, whose warmth and awkward charm remain memorable to fans.

Looking back, Taylor says the cast had little sense that they were creating a film that would still be celebrated more than four decades later. With its modest budget and remote filming location, the project felt like a small production at the time.

Yet Friday the 13th Part 2 would go on to play a key role in shaping the mythology of Jason Voorhees and cementing the franchise’s place in horror history.

In our full interview, Taylor reflects on the enduring appeal of the series, the growth of horror fandom around the world, and why the film continues to resonate with audiences today.

Watch the full interview with Lauren-Marie Taylor below.

‘Friday the 13th Part 2’ Star Lauren-Marie Taylor Interview