‘The Housemaid’ Star Brandon Sklenar Reveals He Lived in a ‘Haunted’ Hunting Cabin as a Child: ‘It Had a Weird Vibe’

"The Housemaid" star Brandon Sklenar has opened up about the eerie, "haunted" dwelling where he spent the majority of his childhood—before traveling to Los Angeles where he had to live in his car as he struggled to snag his first big Hollywood break.

Sklenar, 35, who stars alongside Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried in the movie adaptation of author Freida McFadden's chilling novel, laid bare what he described as a very "difficult" childhood in New Jersey, recalling how he was "shuttled" between homes from the age of 6 after his parents divorced.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, the actor admitted that his journey to superstardom was anything but easy, acknowledging that the news of his parents' divorce led to a great deal of "instability and constant disruptions" in his life from an early age.

To begin with, Sklenar, who was raised in Hopatcong, NJ, spent half the week with his mom and the other half with his dad—however, as the years passed, he ended up spending most of his time living in an "old hunting cabin" on Lake Hopatcong with his father and grandparents, a property that he was convinced was "haunted."

"The lake house was an old hunting cabin built in the 1880s. It was big, with three floors, but it wasn’t sprawling. It smelled like wood and had a weird vibe, as if haunted. That was the most consistent house I had as a child," he shared.

While he notes that both his mother and father were very "patient" with him, the actor admitted that he struggled in school, where he acted in a "confrontational" manner and "just wouldn't apply [himself]" unless he was working on something that he found particularly interesting.

Describing himself as an "angry child," Sklenar explained that he spent a lot of time "living mostly in my own head" in a bid to "self-soothe," noting that it was this imaginative time that led him to fall in love with acting.

"By 13, I visualized becoming an actor. This wasn’t about setting goals, which only get you so far. A vision is something you can see happening, as if it has already taken place. Goals happen automatically because you’re pulled toward the vision," he recalled.

After graduating high school, Sklenar attempted to go to community college; however, he soon dropped out and drove to Los Angeles with the woman he was dating at the time.

Although the pair lived in apartment, they eventually couldn't afford rent and got evicted. After they broke up, Sklenar lived in his car for "a while."

Speaking about the day that changed his life, the actor revealed, "One day, I was at Mel’s Drive-In diner and asked a guy for a cigarette. Turns out he was a talent manager.

"He said, 'You got a good look, kid' and signed me. I was 20. He got me an agent, and for years I was cast in small parts. I also studied acting with Howard Fine and did scene study for five years at the Beverly Hills Playhouse."

Sklenar noted that starring in the series "1923" was his big break, adding that he had been longing to work with series creator, writer, and director Taylor Sheridan for years.

After he landed the part, he had a "good cry" and knew his life would be changed forever.

Sklenar has come a long way from the days of living in his car, and he now resides in Santa Barbara, CA, with his girlfriend, Courtney Salviolo, and their dog, Remy, in a stunning midcentury modern abode that offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.

He told the outlet that his favorite part of their home is their upstairs living room, which boasts stunning views, an expansive deck, original polished wood paneling, and a stone fireplace.

"I like natural elements," he said.

"Over the past four months, I’ve been in Spain finishing Taylor’s upcoming film, 'F.A.S.T.' Courtney had seen the house, sent me videos and told me I’d love it. The first time I stepped inside was when I got home in late November.

"If I had it easy growing up, my life probably would have been very different. There’s no way I’d be where I am now without that childhood stutter," he said about what is coming next.

"The Housemaid," which is due to hit theaters Dec. 19, was filmed in New Jersey at a sprawling mansion in a leafy community in the Garden State.

Sweeney, 27, and Seyfried, 39, are starring as the two leading ladies in the highly anticipated movie adaptation of of McFadden's bestselling novel.

Photos from the set of the film show Sweeney—who plays maid Millie Calloway—and Seyfried—who stars as Nina Winchester—in and around the expansive Madison, NJ, estate, which was built in 1909.

The home features six bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms and is situated on a 1.86-acre lot. It also boasts high ceilings and a three-car garage.

Although the interior is impressive, it is the exterior that attracts the most eyes, thanks to the lush greenery and a castle-inspired facade.

According to property records, the home was last sold in 2015 for $2.1 million. It is unclear who the owner of the home is.

Realtor.com® estimates that the home is now worth $3.8 million.

According to NorthJersery.com, the cast and crew of "The Housemaid" was first spotted outside the Madison abode in January.

The movie's production crew were seen at the house putting up a tent of their film equipment in the winter months.

In the film, Sweeney's character begins working as a live-in maid for a wealthy couple in an attempt to restart her life and leave her past behind for good.

However, things go south when the seemingly normal gig turns dangerous. The film's description promises a "seductive game of secrets, scandal and power."

Director Paul Feig told People that Sweeney and Seyfried's chemistry is "simply through the roof."

"They are both such powerful talents and work so well off each other that you very quickly get sucked into their onscreen world," he said.

Seyfried revealed that fans will love the film as it perfectly follows the same nail-biting theme of the book.

"The film captures everything fans loved about the book—the secrets, the tension and the twists. We can’t wait for audiences to immerse themselves in the experience," Seyfried said.

Meanwhile, Sweeney revealed that her character, Millie, is "the type of character I love to play: complex, strong and with a little something up her sleeve."

She added, "I can’t wait for fans to see how hard we all worked to bring 'The Housemaid' to life."

Fieg claimed that Sweeney's character is "someone we invest in immediately as she walks into what to her is a very foreign world of wealth and high expectations."