Kelli Maroney Interview
Interviewed on the 27th May, 2009
When growing up, was it always your life long dream to become a
Hollywood actress?

It was my first thing I wanted to do, but fearing it might be unrealistic
to want to be in movies and TV, I also thought of nursing and psychiatry,
becoming a vet, etc. but always came back to what I really wanted.


What television actor/actress inspired you to become a the actress
you are now?

I saw old Bette Davis, Susan Hayward movies, as well as loving
Bewitched and I Dream Of Jeannie reruns. And I thought Farrah Fawcett
was gorgeous and hoped I would grow up to look like her. Oh, well.. :)


Can you remember the first celebrity you ever met face to face, if so
who was it and what was your reaction towards them?

The first huge movie star I met was Christopher Reeve when he came
on Ryan's Hope to play himself for a day. I was SUPER impressed with
how nice he was. And yes, Ryan's Hope was my big break.
The first movie deal you landed was in Fast Times at Ridgemont
High. After the release of this film so many cast members career
took right off. Was anyone jealous towards you since you have
already appeared in a well known soap opera and having such a
large fan base?

No, I don't think anyone was jealous of me. Other people had done
things, too, or had other things in the works.


What do you think the reason is, why fans love the most about
Night of the Comet?

I think folks love NOTC because the characters are pretty human and
just dealing with an unbelievable event.


Were you aware that the working title of Night of the Comet was
going to be called Teenage Mutant Horror Comet Zombies... Which
title did you prefer the most?

Uh, of course I prefer NOTC to the other thing. That was a joke and I
don't think they were ever going to really call it that.
If Night of the Comet was to ever to fall into the remake trend
(which i believe it will) if you can pick one actress to play your
character Samantha Belmont, who would it be?

I don't know of any young actress who I think would be a great Samantha.


Most of my friends had centrefold playmates, adult entertainers or
other erotic images on there bedroom walls. Personally for me,  I
had a huge poster of you from Night of the Comet (the one of you
holding a Uzi) on the wall of my room, which i cherished and miss
very much (wipes a tear from his eye). Since appearing in Night of
the Comet and also Fast Times at Ridgemont High as a cheerleader. I
was wondering were you ever a cheerleader in High School?

I wasn't a cheerleader in school, no. I thought I was too cool for that.
Actually, I was too shy to try out.


Did you manage to keep one or both of the cheerleader outfits from
the two movies mentioned above?

I have the NOTC cheerleader outfit only. Yes, it still fits.
I always say to people that the 80's was the era of filmmaking
especially for Horror and Sci-Fi fans. Still to this very day i can
remember renting out Chopping Mall for the very first time on VHS.
What was it like to run around in a shopping mall after hours, in
and out stores with 3/4 robots chasing after you?

Fabulous, of course. I got in really good shape.


Did any of the robots ever break down or fall apart?

They didn't work a lot of the time. There was really only one or two
and I think most of them only partially worked. So, they weren't that
scary in real life.


Did anyone use the robots as a practical joke and scare anyone?

Suzy Slater's head exploding was a pretty gross day on set, I
remember. The guys all thought it was so funny that I had to laugh,
too.
I've read that Roger Corman is a very hands on type of person when
working on-set. What is he really like in person?

Roger is a nice guy. But it was his wife, Julie, who actually produced
CM.


Is there anything you like to do before you get yourself into
character before shooting?

It varies from role to role, but I usually pick some songs to listen to, to
get me in the feel of the character.


Which is more rewarding: behind the scenes or in front of the
camera?

They are completely different experiences. But I think in front of the
camera.


What are your thoughts on the movies that they come up with
nowadays?

I hate the whole remake thing and wish there were more original
scripts.
From what i have researched around the internet, your latest film Nightmare Carnival is currently all hush, hush, at the
moment. Are you able to tell us a little bit about your film?

Nightmare Carnival is still in the process of trying to secure funding. That's the whole story.


How do you balance both the demands of producing with acting?

Producing and acting together is just something you have to do these days if you're going to stay in the industry. You feel more
pro-active if you have some ability to help get projects together, so you get to be more of a grown-up, rather than just waiting
around for someone to hire you.


Was it hard to leap from being a actress to becoming a producer?

No, it depends on what the role requires. Each thing is different.


How do you go about by approaching different genres in different ways when preparing for a role?

I have studied different genres, but the process of finding the truth in a role is always the same.


What is the differences between working in TV and doing film?

TV is faster, that's all.
Out of all of different filmmakers you have worked with during your career. Who's your favourite director to work with
and why?

Well, probably Thom Eberhardt, since I had my two best characters in his projects.


Have you ever accidentally hurt or injured yourself on set by preforming your own stunt. If so which movie and what
exactly happened?

I've never gotten hurt doing a stunt, but for the really dangerous things they had a stunt woman. Have to by insurance
requirements.


What was the weirdest thing a fan has ever said, done or sent you?

On RH I got some really strange hate mail because I was an evil character. One letter corrected me by saying, "I don't hate your
character, I hate YOU." I don't know why a person would take time to write and send a letter like that to someone they didn't
even know.

Out of your whole career, which movie do you hold the closes to your heart and is there ever one that you regret ever
doing?

Well, I hold them all close to my heart, and I don't regret anything I've ever done because I learned from it.


Is there anything you like to say to our readers before we end this interview?

Yes, it means a lot to me that people like what I do and are interested in hearing me ramble. Thank you. :)