Adrienne Barbeau needs no introduction to genre fans. Married for five years to film director John Carpenter, she was featured in several of his best films: as Sophie opposite Lauren Hutton in the 1978 TV-movie SOMEONE'S WATCHING ME!; as the DJ Stevie Wayne in THE FOG; as Maggie in ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK; and as the voice of Kurt Russell's "cheatin bitch" computer in THE THING. She also appeared in SWAMP THING for Wes Craven before he relocated to Elm Street. In addition, she has accumulated considerable television credits, including six years on "Maude," guest spots on "The Love Boat," "Fantasy Island," "The Drew Carey Show," and regular roles on "Batman," "Gotham Girls," and most famously on HBO's "Carnivāle."
An avid reader, in 2006 she wrote a book about her life and career called "There Are Worse Things I Could Do," the title taken from the lyrics to the Broadway musical "Grease" which she starred in. In 2008, she published her first novel, "Vampyres of Hollywood," with Michael Scott, to critical acclaim.
Adrienne is probably best known to genre fans for her turn as Wilma, the ball-busting, castrating, vociferous wife of Hal Holbrook in "The Crate" episode of George Romero's CREEPSHOW. She returned eight years later for Romero on "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar," a segment of the companion film TWO EVIL EYES.
Her latest film is a short horror tale called ALICE JACOBS IS DEAD, which is making the rounds of film festivals and tells the story of a woman who becomes a zombie. You can read more about it at the Strange-Case.com website.
Jonathan Stryker: You've been acting for over thirty years. Where did you get your start?
Adrienne Barbeau: I started out onstage doing musical comedy. I played the first Rizzo, in the first Broadway production of GREASE. Before that, I was in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, I was the second daughter. But, the role of Rizzo lead to a Tony (Award) nomination and that lead to Norman Lear casting me in "Maude" and that took me to Los Angeles.
JS: The films that you have made for John Carpenter are among my favorites, especially THE FOG. I had read in Fangoria at the time of the film's release that he shot the movie, was dissatisfied with it, and then reshot it again. Is this a rumor or is there truth to this?
AB: I have a chapter in my book, "There Are Worse Things I Could Do," about THE FOG, and I talk at great length about that film. He shot it, he looked at it, and he thought that it needed some work, so he did go back and reshoot.
JS: You played Wilma "Billy" Northrup in George Romero's CREEPSHOW, and she is one of the film's most memorable characters. Was that character all there on the page, or did you do some embellishing on your own?
AB: No, it was all in the script. Plus, I don't drink, you know, I've never had a drink in my life! (laughs) So, the alcoholic part of Billy was a real challenge. I sort of showed up to the rehearsals and I told George that I was going to try something, and he should tell me if he thought it was okay. It was really a question of trusting George's vision because it's not the kind of acting that one usually does. Billy is really big and broad, and George just kept telling me that I could go further. I felt that if they crucified me, I'd say, "Well, that's what George wanted!" (laughs) And it worked!
JS: Do you look for roles that you can relate to?
AB: Well, I look for roles that are well-written, not necessarily a particular type of role. It matters to me whether the words are believable. Obviously, I tend to play strong women, and I know when I read it if the character is there or not.
JS: What are some of the movies you have seen and liked a lot?
AB: I am not a person who watches movies over and over again, although I have seen ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN and KLUTE more than once.
JS: Those are great movies.
AB: Yes. But, I wasn't raised in a family that went to the movies. I didn't watch them as a child. I'm more of a book reader. I love reading.
JS: Who haven't you worked yet but would like to?
AB: Al Pacino. Kurt Russell, I'd love to work with him again. Jeff Bridges is one of the finest actors of our time and I would love to work with him. He finally won an Oscar, but he rarely gets the praise that he deserves.
JS: What's next for you?
AB: I just completed a short film, ALICE JACOBS IS DEAD, with director Alex Horwitz, and we're taking it around to film festivals. The response from fans has been so positive!
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