Kiori Mirza Waldman steps directly into the mayhem in Ice Cream Man as Mia, a popular small-town teenager whose confidence is tested when a sweet treat turns her friends into a violent threat. In a new conversation with Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias, Waldman opened up about finding the character, surviving the film's blood-soaked set pieces and the final twist that could reshape Mia's future.

Waldman's path to the role began with a self-tape, followed by callbacks and a chemistry read with two of her young co-stars. The character description immediately gave her a foundation: Mia was the cool, popular girl in town, but she was also brave and fearless. Waldman wanted the performance to reveal more than that first impression.

“She comes off as this cool, popular girl who's always trying to be trendy...but then, as the plot progresses, you get to see the real brave, courageous side of her.” Kiori Mirza Waldman

Finding Mia Beneath the Popular-Girl Image

For Waldman, the key was mapping Mia's emotional progression scene by scene. At first, she leaned into the character's “too cool for school” attitude and her awkwardness around the boys. As the danger escalates, Mia gradually learns to trust them and forms a deeper connection with the group.

That shift becomes especially important when Mia's own friends turn against her. Although the story carries real emotional stakes, Waldman found a darkly funny layer in Mia initially failing to recognize that something is terribly wrong—even as one of her friends stands before her covered in ice cream.

Blood, Body Parts and Trying Not to Laugh

The school sequences place Mia in the middle of the movie's most frantic action. Despite the grisly imagery surrounding the cast, Waldman said one of her biggest challenges was simply keeping a straight face alongside Shiloh, who plays Tommy, and Charlie, who plays Jared.

“The biggest challenge sometimes was not laughing... Everything was so fun during those scenes.” Kiori Mirza Waldman

The full scale of the movie's insanity became clear to her during one of her first days on set. While filming inside a glass room, she watched as director Eli Roth cued a barrage of gruesome activity around the young cast: skin hitting the window, blood dripping down the glass and infected children trying to break through.

Learning from Eli Roth

Waldman praised Roth's actor-friendly approach to directing. Because he also understands performance from the other side of the camera, she found his notes clear and easy to apply. One piece of guidance was particularly memorable: Roth encouraged her to rely less on her hands and eyebrows while acting.

“He was a really great director because he's an actor, too. All the directions he gave me were amazing.” Kiori Mirza Waldman

The lesson became a running joke during the interview, with Waldman naming “using my eyebrows less” as one of the things she learned from making the film. More broadly, she said the experience helped her overcome some of her own fears.

Mia's Wild Ending—and a Possible Sequel

Mia avoids the fate that immediately overtakes many of the other children because she throws up the tainted ice cream before it can fully affect her. That escape is only temporary. By the end, the infection catches up with her, opening the door for a much darker version of the character if the story continues.

Waldman was excited by the challenge of playing Mia's possessed state, although she hopes a sequel would eventually find a way to restore the character's personality. In her view, a fully infected Mia would likely join the children terrorizing adults—but losing Mia entirely to the possession would also mean losing the human journey she enjoyed playing.

“I do hope that they find a way to return Mia back to herself. In a horror movie, there's always a way to get people back.” Kiori Mirza Waldman

The final image of the ice cream truck heading toward the city only strengthens that sequel possibility. Whether Mia returns as a survivor, a killer or something in between, Waldman is clearly ready to explore the aftermath.

What Comes Next

Waldman also teased an upcoming role in an American television series. She could not reveal specific details because filming is still underway, but she indicated that an announcement may arrive ahead of its expected debut.

As for whether making Ice Cream Man changed her feelings about hearing the familiar music of an ice cream truck coming down the street, her answer was immediate: “I don't trust those anymore.”

Ice Cream Man is available now. Subscribe to Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias on YouTube for more cast interviews and entertainment coverage.