It was 2006 when young actress Katie Featherston spotted the audition for ''Paranormal Activity''.

"There's an acting website that sends out little clips about what parts are up for grabs - I heard about it through there. I applied online, then auditioned, and wound up with the role!'

Though the film's writer/director (San Diego resident Oren Peli) would only be able to pay Featherston and her co-star Micah Sloat a derisory $500 for their time, that was still more money than Featherston had in her savings account at the time.

"I was really struggling as an actor. I was spending all of my time just going to auditions. I went to college and studied acting, and then moved out to L.A right after I graduated, but couldn't get any work. I was barely making ends meet. I was just trying to get some leverage somewhere. Thank god this project took off".

Shot for less than fifteen-thousand dollars, and filmed in the writer/director's own house, ''Paranormal Activity'' would take many a cue from the 1999 indy hit ''The Blair Witch Project'', in that it would play out as a scarefest seen through the eyes of a video camera.  In it, Featherstone and Sloat would play a couple (Katie and Micah) who discover, by leaving their video camera running at night, that a none-too-friendly ghost is visiting them at night.

You never see the ghost - you simply hear him; his footsteps, his thumping on the walls.

"Oren wanted to make a smart horror movie -something that wasn't just all jump scares, and gore, and things like that. He wanted to make an intelligent film that scared you and stuck with you, and I think he succeeded".

In the film, it's Katie that's the more alarmed of the two when she discovers there's a third party in their house.  Though she's never been in such a situation ("I've had things happen to me that I can't quite explain, but nothing as drastic as you see in the film"), she doesn't think she'd be as stressed out about it as her cinematic-self.

"You always bring parts of yourself to a role but the Katie in the movie is definitely not me, and I definitely wouldn't behave like her in that situation. I think I'm pretty laid back; I don't get that stressed about things".

Due to budget constraints (and the fact that her co-star was due back at college in a week) the entire shoot of the movie lasted seven days.

‘' We filmed pretty much around the clock. It was fast. Oren was great to work for - he was excited and dedicated, and had a really clear vision of what he wanted. We worked hard hours, and we were exhausted, but it was great fun".

A couple of years later, after the film had won raves at film festivals, Dreamworks - the company run by one Steven Spielberg - asked for a copy of the movie.

Spielberg decided he'd watch the movie at his house - alone, in his room. Half-way thru the film the doors to the room locked from the inside, and he couldn't get out! Spooked out, the famous director had to call a locksmith to get him out.

He didn't return to the movie until the next morning - and afterwards, returned it in a garbage bag.

‘'Yeah, he was like ‘I love the movie, but take it back!'', says Featherston.

The film left such a mark on the ''Jaws'' director though, that he urged his company to buy it. Immediately.

Featherston says whilst she "always believed in the project, and we always wanted to make it worthy of a big screen release" she never expected someone like Steven Spielberg would buy it.

"What has happened is just above and beyond of anything we could have imagined! It's been a whirlwind!"

Since its release earlier this year, ''Paranormal Activity'' has now made over $100 million dollars.

"It's like it's all happened overnight. It's been very exciting", says the actress.

And has success changed her?

"Yeah, I'm in a limo right now..... Ha! No, I'm at my parent's house, just chilling out with the family".

The best part of it all, says Featherstone, is knowing how much audiences are enjoying the film. She's also enjoying talking to its fans on the web.

"I have a fan site and a twitter account and I love chatting to those that have seen the film. I'm on Twitter when I'm in bed", she laughs.

And while Spielberg and company brainstorm over the inevitable sequel, Featherstone's back home to spend some time with her family.

"They're happy to have me home. And best of all, I don't have to rush back for a crumby day job".

- CLINT MORRIS