Actress Interview:

THE SOUTHERN CHARM OF LENNOX MILLER

Hi Lennox, why not start all of us eager beavers at www.racksandrazors.com out with an image & describe the room where you're answering these questions?

Kewl! Well, I'm coming to you live from my little office area in my living room. I'd love to make it sound like a sexy room, but it's actually quite cluttered! Plus, I usually eat at my desk as well so there are a lot of paper plates and bowls and forks and stuff lying around. I'm a slob!

So Lennox, as a horror fan do you recall any specific incident as a kid that hinted that one day you would grow up to be Scream Queen of the Month?

Well there wasn't any one isolated incident, but my parents used to let my best friend April, my brother Jeff, and myself watch all kinds of crazy B-horror films. We got into it because my mom liked them so she'd rent an occasional one and let us watch, but pretty soon--like by the time I was in 6th grade--we'd rent them endlessly. That was all we'd watch! Like our friends would probably be watching those hokey "After School Specials" while we'd be laughing our asses off at the guy getting his head chopped off while sledding in "Silent Night, Deadly Night." I should mention that, despite all the horror films we watched as children, we all grew up to be really well adjusted adults with no desire to drive ice picks into anyone's skull or eat them alive! But, anyway, it was that early introduction to horror that instilled in me my desire to be a Scream Queen.

Somewhat going along with that - what exactly does the naming "SQ of the Month" process entail and (other than this racksandrazors.com piece) have you noticed any repercussions or benefits of having that title bestowed upon you?

The process was simple . . . my boyfriend actually nominated me--he sent in the materials and such--but he had me write my own bio! He submitted me in May 2005 but I wasn't picked until May 2006 so the bio text is a bit outdated--I've done a lot more acting and modeling since last year when I wrote my bio. But, I was happy that they went to my website and picked out some of my newer photos to use. As far as what the title means for me, first off it enables me to have my pictures and a short biography on the http://www.screamqueen.com website. This is great because I've gotten hundreds of hits on my site from that site and exposure is worth everything to me at this point. Plus, I had one movie offer from a filmmaker who saw me on the site. Unfortunately I have a full-time job in Atlanta and so I can't take off 2-3 weeks to shoot the film in Kentucky. Finally, I've had a lot of "fan mail" from people who saw me on the site. That means the world to me!

Did you always want to be an actress (and specifically a horror actress) or was this a recent career development?

In a nutshell, I've wanted to be an actress since I was a kid, but at the same time the acting and modeling really is a pretty recent career development for me. I'll explain. Since I've always been a super nerd and have my Masters degree and conduct Health Policy research for a living, I get this question all the time--I'm a little hard to figure out and define since I have so many sides to me. But I'll try to explain . . . when I was growing up and then even all through college and graduate school, I was a total teacher's pet who won many academic awards and scholarships. I was fiercely driven to be Number One academically. I even made Phi Beta Kappa as a junior in college! Anyway, I was always wanting to do the "right" thing and for me that meant going to graduate school right after college . . . I was intelligent, I loved studying and research, and it just made sense to me and everyone around me that I'd would be an academic. Well . . . about three years after obtaining my Masters degree and being in the working world, I got bored. REALLY bored. I thought about what lit me up in my current state and couldn't think of a thing. So I decided to return to what I loved as a kid--acting. I used to take acting classes as a kid and was a total ham and loved being the center of attention. In elementary school I would host/narrate school plays and speak at P.T.A. meetings and do morning announcements and such. But when I went to Junior High I just stopped all together for whatever reason. Anyway, I loved being a "host" more so than an actress--I like playing myself, so to speak, as opposed to a character. Keeping that in mind I wanted to target my acting to hosting. My boyfriend was such a blessing to me at that point (and still is!). He convinced me to "go for it!" even when I thought I was being ridiculous to pick back up this new hobby at my age. He was the reason I went to my first audition to host a couple of pilot episodes for a live music show which never ended up getting picked up, but I got the gig and I was off and running! Getting that first gig made me 100% more confident that I was doing the right thing for me and that no dream of mine was too far-fetched. So I also decided to pursue being a Scream Queen since I absolutely loved horror movies. The rest is history baby! :)

I'd love it if you would discuss a bit about your work as Amber in "Sleep" (2005) - can you give me a teaser that is going to make it irresistible to www.racksandrazors.com readers?

Hmmm, a teaser . . . how about "They really were her bras and panties--but she didn't sleep with him!" Yeah, that should be the tagline of our movie poster. Well, actually I wasn't the lead so I think the lead would be pissed if that were the case. Anyway, the movie centers around three female friends, a lot of plotting and scheming, and a lovely little twist. I can't reveal too much but I will say that Amber was set-up. And she didn't deserve to die!

I also want to hear about your work as in ''Deadly Predator, Deadly Vengeance" What was the most memorable part of filming that role?

The most memorable part of filming that movie was that my scene partner NEVER SHOWED UP to shoot, thus I had to quickly turn my dialogue into a monologue and make it seem believable. We decided that I'd deliver it the monologue as if I were responding to someone on the phone. I *think* it worked okay. :) I did "Deadly Predator, Deadly Vengeance" for Lynch Films, the same company who did "Sleep." One thing I want to say about them is that they are so good to their actors. They always pay and pay them well, even for small roles. Gary Lynch totally respects his actors and I love working with him.

And I also must hear about your work in the upcoming feature 'Plague of the Damned.'

Oooooh! I'm so excited about this film! I play the character of Stormy Winters in the upcoming film "Plague of the Damned" which is now in production. This film hopefully will re-imagine the zombie genre. Stormy Winters is a former porn star who has been exiled to the "contaminated zone" for her medical background (i.e. she's considered a health risk because of her porn background). I guess I should explain that the "contaminated zone" is a place in the Midwest where sick humans and zombies were exiled after the fictitious "Black Flag Act." The humans there are essentially slaves and eventually food for the zombies who run the zone. Anyway, Stormy and six of her fellow Black Flaggers' are total renegades and loot and pillage villages along the contaminated zone while fighting constantly to survive the zombies in charge. The bulk of the action takes place over three days when Stormy and her gang go on a mission to retrieve some diamonds. There will be a lot of fight scenes. 'Plague of the Damned' mixes Peckinpah with Romero for a gory good time! I'm super thrilled about playing such a strong, female lead. I even have to undergo weapons training. I'm grateful that my producer believes in me so much - I mean I'm a total girlie-girl, but he envisions me learning to fire weapons and kick-ass and I thank him for that. Hey check out my producer J. Caleb here: http://www.myspace.com/highlandroguefilms .

Are you a big hollow-eyed fan of zombie flicks?

Actually no. And that's awful to say since my upcoming movie "Plague of the Damned" is a zombie flick! J. Caleb (my producer) would kill me for saying no! Shhhh, don't tell!

Somewhat going along with that Lennox - what does it for your horrorwise - vampires, zombies, witches, aliens, creatures, werewolves, psychos, haunted houses, ghosts - what genre does it for you & why?

The things that scare me most are:

1) Regular people (as opposed to zombies or vampires, etc. who are "off" in some regard--those people who are outwardly one thing but then inside they're totally psycho and plotting something terrifying. I mean they could be outwardly a bit weird but no one would peg them as twisted--take "May" in May or "Jack" in 'The Shining' or even Norman Bates in 'Psycho' . These characters aren't supernaturally strong in any way but they are much, much scarier to me than say Freddy or the Chucky because they are real people who just lose it. It implies that we really don't know the thoughts that are lurking around in the heads of those who seem outwardly normal or just weird but not murderous . . . but they could be!

2) Possession. The thought that humans could be possessed by demons is horrifying! The "Exorcist" and films like that right up through "American Haunting" which I recently saw scare the hell out of me! They make me wonder if one day some evil spirit will enter me and use me. It's totally frightening to watch on-screen and to think about. Plus, my boyfriend's dad is a pastor and he grew up actually watching exorcisms that his dad and other church members would perform. He's seen possessed people and has told me all about it. It's real and it's scary!

Do you have any other upcoming projects you would like to tell the www.racksandrazors.com about?

I am filming a short thriller called "Casting Call" in mid-June, again for Lynch Films. I play Lisa, a, um, well, slutty girl who tries to use her looks and charms to win a role in a horror film. She's actually an awful actress! The script is about 80% improv so it will be neat to see what I can do with my character. It has a nice twist too, of course! Oh and I actually don't get killed, but my impending death is implied and someone else gets killed.

Also coming up is a HOOTERS commercial I was in with Brooke Burke. Look for it to air nationally May 22nd.

As well, I'm in the "waiting stage" for what could be some very big projects. For instance, I test shot for Playboy in February and am just waiiiiiiiiiiiiting to see if they want to shoot me. And I met with the Liberator last week on a go-see--I'm now in their database and could potentially shoot national campaigns for them. I hate the waiting game but I guess it's a natural part of what I do.

Currently you reside in Atlanta - how is that for filming & do you foresee a time in the future when you will absolutely need to get to either LA or NY in order to move your career to the next level?

I'm totally itching to get out of Atlanta--I've been here my whole life. However, I'm the least risk-taking person you'll ever meet meaning that I wouldn't pack up and move out to L.A. or New York just on a dream . . . for a big contract with guaranteed work and money, then yes I'd make the move. Atlanta is full of opportunities for short films and actually for horror movies. For instance, Lions' Gate just picked up "Motor Home Massacre" that was shot here (I wasn't in it). As well, I've always heard that Atlanta is a big market for commercials, but without an agent I've never even seen a casting call for one. I definitely need an agent to fully realize the potential of the Atlanta market but I think I've been so lazy about getting one because acting and modeling isn't my bread and butter--because I'm already making money at my full-time job then I don't feel impelled to go to every audition out there. Right now my love of the craft and the experience is what drives me, and believe me I hustle like no one's business to market myself, but I know I'd have more opportunities with an agent. Hmmmm, this interview may just propel me to get off my ass and try to get one! :)

Okee doke - we're pulling the jalopy into the Lennox Miller Drive In. What three films are going to be on the triple bill and what goodies are you going to have the folks serving at the concession stand?

Ooooh, let's talk about the food first! We will totally be serving cereal and chocolate at the concession stand--my two favorite foods. Yummy! Like Cocoa Krispies, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Cap'n Crunch and then chocolate truffles, cookies, and cake. With these goodies, damn, who needs the feature films? But since you asked . . .

My triple bill would consist of horror-only! The first film would be my number one all-time favorite horror movie and favorite movie in general, "The Shining." There are so many layers to this movie and people have analyzed it to death with their theories like oh, it's really about the genocide of Native Americans and whatnot. The cool thing is that Kubrick does leave what could be interpreted as "clues" (I've heard 'Shining' analysts call them called "confirmers") all over his masterpiece so you can draw your own conclusion depending on what you pick up and how you put it all together. At its very core it's an epic horror film, it really is. And when you factor everything else in, the film is as complicated as the Overlook Hotel's maze and for that, God I love the movie! I've seen in like 17 times and would watch it 17 more!

Next we'd move onto the film that disturbed me moreso than anything I've seen in my life, "Last House on the Left." I mean when my boyfriend said, "Well I'm not sure you can handle it," I dismissed him as thinking that he just meant it'd be too gory for me and so we popped in the DVD. I mean Wes Craven's gore had never freaked me out before . . . but, gory wasn't the problem. The rapes, butchering, torture, and general plot was horrifying. I still can't believe that I watched it and that it actually played in a theater 30+ years ago. It seemed like a snuff film to me more so than a horror film. I don't think it would be allowed in theaters nowadays. One good thing that came out of us watching the movie is that it's actually become the gauge my boyfriend uses to tell me if I really could handle a movie or not. Like I wanted to see "I Spit on Your Grave" and he said, "Absolutely not. It's comparable to 'Last House on the Left.' " And then I understood I wouldn't be able to handle it and thus I didn't want to see it! Anyway, I want everyone to see that movie and suffer through it like I did because I'm cruel! I mean I was disturbed for three days straight after seeing it--I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Finally, to end the evening on a much lighter note, let's watch "Re-Animator." We need some horror/comedy at this point and this movie certain fits the bill!

What makes you go psycho in real life?

Well I'm totally impatient so anything like long lines with slow cashiers or problematic customers makes me want to chop peoples' heads off. Oh and screaming, out-of-control children whose parents will not reprimand or remove them from stores even when they are clearly disturbing everyone around them. That's my number one pet peeve! In that scenario I usually mutter very loudly something like, "Control your children!" or exclaim to whomever I'm with, "Why can't parents take their screaming children out of the store?!?" I have no patience for poorly behaved children and parents!

What scares you in real life?

I am such a wuss! I am totally that girl who never stopped thinking there were people under her bed. Plus I think my bedroom is haunted--no kidding. So I'm pretty scared to sleep alone. I've felt my bed shake hard and so has my boyfriend and it's not the case that it's because a car is driving by or a door closed or whatever other reasons people try to console me with. I think someone must have died in my apartment before I moved in it and they like to stop by every now and then to say hello. Who knows? But fortunately my ghost is a friendly one--it just wants to be recognized but doesn't cause trouble . . . so far! Oh and I have a deep-seated fear of flying. I've only flown twice and both times were awful and I had massive panic attacks that disturbed others on-board and embarrassed those who I was flying with.