Kiana Madeira, the lead actress of the MMA drama Perfect Addiction, sits down to discuss her latest project, a film that seamlessly blends the toughness and strength of a fighter with the softness and gentleness of a love story. Directed by Castille Landon and based on the Wattpad novel by Claudia Tan, Perfect Addiction follows Madeira’s character, Siena Lane, a trainer seeking revenge against her ex-boyfriend Jax Deneris, while developing a connection with his arch-nemesis Kayden Williams. Madeira is drawn to the project’s unique blend of physicality and emotional depth, emphasizing the importance of a female lens in the filmmaking process.
One of the standout aspects of the film is the strong female presence on set, with a female director, screenwriter, author, and protagonist, which created a comfortable and supportive environment. Madeira praises the Polish crew, citing the beautiful location and talented team, and discusses the physical training she underwent for the role, which included Muay Thai and Jujitsu training, as well as weightlifting and cardio exercises. She contrasts this physicality with her experience on the Fear Street trilogy, where her character, Deena, relied on emotional energy rather than calculated training.
Regarding the intimate scenes, Madeira mentions that they were choreographed with her co-star Ross Butler and an intimacy coordinator and that the experience felt similar to filming fight scenes, where they knew what to expect and could surrender to the choreography. She also talks about the numerous eating scenes in the film, admitting that she didn’t realize how much food they would be consuming and ended up eating a lot of pancakes during filming.
Madeira expresses gratitude for the fans of the Fear Street movies, saying, “When I heard that they wanted to do more, and the fans just keep asking, ‘When’s the next one?, I was like, ‘Wow, that’s really a testament to the whole team and all the work that everyone put into it’.” She also discusses the dynamic between her character and Jax, played by Matthew Noszka, saying that their focus was on building a connection rather than playing a toxic relationship, which allowed them to maintain a friendly relationship off-camera.
Regarding her chemistry with Ross Butler, Madeira credits their natural progression and sense of humor, saying, “We were just starting to get to know each other, as Kiana and Ross, and our characters were just starting to get to know each other. As we built our relationship off camera, it also was perfectly in alignment with our characters on camera.” Perfect Addiction is now available on VOD, offering audiences a unique blend of physicality and emotion that sets it apart from other films in the genre.