Actress Interview:

RED ALERT: TALKING WITH LENORA CLAIRE

Currently Lenora is going in a million different directions and having fun with it all (except the sleep deprivation part). She is filming Ramzi Abed’s ‘The Black Dahlia’ – that horrid “halving of a starlet” Hollywood tale – with a cast that includes Lizzy and Julie Strain, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Dame Darcy, Lloyd Kaufman, Kristen Kerr, Gidget Gein, Trent Haagam, Count Smokula, and Werner Herzog! She hosts the wondrous cabaret/sideshow/stage-a-geddon extravaganza ‘Apocalipstick’ and is a major force of frolic in the LA underground scene. She has a column for ‘Frontiers’ out of LA, appears regularly in music videos and even had a band Robotique. She does ‘The Queen Edge’ on Q TV, made a quick appearance as herself in ‘Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV’, and of course was a Tromette as well as a Scream Queen of the Month. She even appeared as a futuristic hooker in Steven Spielberg’s ‘A.I.’ though (boo Spielberg!!!) she ended up on the cutting room floor. There is no debating that this busty ball of fire is going places --- the question is where is she going to focus all that combustive energy. For now this Neo-Warhol Superstar is testing a lot of waters…and likes the feel of them all.

Recently Lenora was kind enough to take a break from her crazy schedule to give racksandrazors an exclusive interview. So take a deep breath, kick off your shoes, and say hello to Lenora Claire.

Owen: Hi Lenora, how is life treating you today?

Lenora: Fantastic! I have so many projects going on, things I never would have imagined doing even a year ago. Right now is a really exciting time for me. I only wish I could sleep more.

Owen: Set the scene for the www.racksandrazors.com readers.   What does your writing room look like?

Lenora: Well, your male readers will probably hate this but the walls are painted bubblegum pink as is the connecting boudoir. So are the kitchen and bathroom actually. Jayne Mansfield would be proud. I have an original Eraserhead poster framed on the wall behind my bed as well as a Forbidden Zone poster Richard Elfman autographed for me when I did the Apocalipstick meets the Forbidden Zone event. I always have a dozen pink roses next to my bed. I also have artwork my friend Gidget Gein (formerly of Marilyn Manson) gave to me. One painting is of Joan Crawford and the other my first obsession Klaus Nomi. I have a bookshelf full of every Disinfo book ever put out, many Feral House books as well as books on Hollywood Babylon, film theory and Grand Guignol. A few trashy celebrity bios are in there as well.

Owen: I am so impressed by your energy and the amount of things you do!  You have so many things going on in so many different areas.  Have you begun to decide yet whether you are gravitating towards film, live performance, modeling, or music --- or a combination?

Lenora: I kind of hate modeling. I love the glamour involved in the final product but for someone with opinions and ideas it's hardly fun to be a mannequin. There's nothing wrong with contributing to someone else’s art, but I am at a point in my life where I rather make my own. Modeling has taken me some great places and introduced me to many fascinating people but it will never be as exciting as eating light bulbs, or performing for thousands of people. I'm the kind of gal that likes an audience. Films can be amazing. I've had some tiny parts in big Hollywood films and huge parts in tiny go nowhere films. Every film is unique and magical in it's own way. Lately I've really been enjoying writing for Frontiers magazine. I just interviewed Janice Dickinson -- that was pretty crazy. I also LOVE producing music videos. I just co-produced one for the band The Kids of Widney High. My friend Michael Medaglia directed it. Watch out for that kid!

Owen: Well, lets start with your surreal live sideshow sorta venue APOCALIPSTICK. How did that performance concept come about?

Lenora: I wanted a home for all my crazy filmmaker, artist, and performer friends. I'm friend with actor Carl Crew (Dahmer, Blood Diner) who happens to own the coolest club in LA, the California Institute of Abnormal arts www.ciabnormalarts.com It's a sideshow venue complete with dead clowns, Fiji mermaids and a GORGEOUS stage. It just seemed too perfect and I decided to do my night there. I had no idea it would be so successful. I'm often packed to capacity but then again nobody else has 30 ft intestine slides for Forbidden Zone night, or honors Russ Meyer legend Kitten Natividad the same night as having two live monkeys and Shaye St. John on stage.

Owen: With your love of horror as well does it have sort of a 'Something Redheaded This Way Comes' feel to it?

Lenora: That's a perfect description!

Owen: I also want to hear about your work in Ramzi Abed's 'The Black Dahlia’. I've loved the Hollywood horror story since I saw Lucie  Arnaz in the TV movie years ago.  This current production has an awesome cast -- Lizzie Strain in the title role and appearances by Julie Strain, Count Smokula. Lloyd Kaufman, etc.  First off tell me about your role in the movie?

Lenora: Growing up in LA and loving true time I've poured over the details since I was a child. Ramzi has decided to go in a different direction than most would expect. It's sort of an updated version of the story set in the current era. After all it's a timeless tale. People still come to Hollywood with great ambitions only for bad things to happen. In the film I play myself. Hope I'm convincing!

Owen: With that even partial cast listing it sounds like a recipe for some good tales from the set?  Any good tales from the filming you would care to share?

Lenora: One day on set at the Parlour (which has since sadly closed) we were shooting a nightclub scene and the fog machine was really pumping. I remember Ego Plum turning over to David J (Bauhaus) and asked, "Remind you of a Bauhaus video" and we all started giggling. Since most of the cast are LA underground superstars we all kind of know one another so there was lots of giggling on set which was really nice.

Owen: I also want to hear about "The Spielberg Experience" when you played a futuristic hooker in 'A.I.'?

Lenora: Well, I worked on it for two months and we were all completely cut out. You could tell we were in the Kubrick version of the film and while Spielberg LOVES to show violence on film he never seemed at ease with showing sex. My costumes were great, the hookers were stunning, and the sets WOW, but you'll never see it. We weren't even on the extras on the DVD. I actually ended up working on the same set with almost identical props on a George Michael video called Freeak. So if you want to see what it was like, check that out.

Owen: So tell me too about filming 'Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV'.   Am I insane to assume it was pretty different from working on a Spielberg film?

Lenora: I'm not in the actual film I am only in the extras section. You see me jumping around at the LA premiere of the film. Oddly enough that exact clip was all over E! news daily one weekend. Sgt. Kabukiman and I sure looked cute together.

Owen: In that Troma movie you played yourself, which sparks a question on this end. Do you consider your persona as Lenora Claire a sort of role somewhat different from how you are behind closed doors?  If so - how?  Is it you magnified, you 24/7, another you?

Lenora: No, I am always perfectly made up and fascinating...ALWAYS:)

Owen: I first heard about you when you were chosen as a Scream Queen of the Month a couple years ago.  How did that coveted title come about...did you get some super cool perks for it...or at least a SQ gift bag or plaque or t-shirt or certificate or something?

Lenora: I got a lot of extra site hits but that is all. My house if full of swag anyway.

Owen: Oh also Lenora -- I love the fact that you love silent movies too!!!   I can't recall where I heard that.  Anyway, I am a member of the Silent Film Society here in Chicago.  It such a different and delicious art form. What do you like about the movies of that bygone era?

Lenora: I am especially moved by anything hyper stylized and German Expressionist films are very much that. Dr. Caligari is just so gorgeous. So is Metropolis.

Owen: Do you have aspirations of one day making your own neo-silent film...and dammit if so I want a role!!!  Actually, I'll take a role in any of your movies...

Lenora: It is entirely possible. If you ever come to LA I'll take you to the Silent Movie Theatre.

Owen: Very cool. And tell me about Robotique, the band you started.  How did that come about, what's the sound, etc?

Lenora: That was like four years ago. My partner moved but maybe I'll take up music again. I've been kind of joking about making a record with my friend Kim Fowley. Who knows!


Owen: Ok, Lenora...this is your time...do you have any other film, TV, modeling, or performance projects pending or set for release you would like to plug or brag about?

Lenora: My site www.lenoraclaire.com is about to relaunch with my articles, photos and videos galore. If you are in LA pick up FRONTIERS the magazine I write for, if you like crazy television and get cable watch me on THE QUEER EDGE on Q TV (Jack E Jett is hilarious), I am MC'ing the pansexual beauty contest with Kim Fowley at the Knitting Factory in LA December 21st, doing Apocalipstick on New Years and I am also going to film something for Kim Fowley's movie soon as well.

Owen: Zombies, vampires, freaks, psychos, aliens, creatures, mummies, monsters, werewolves --- what does it for you Lenora and why?

Lenora: Zombies are great but invisible zombies would be scarier (don't steal my idea) Vampires are silly unless they are Udo Kier and then they're hot. Freaks, well all of my friends are freaks so you can say I'm partial to them.

Owen: Ok, it's a bit after dusk and we are pulling the Cadillac into The Lenora Claire Drive-in.  You are featuring a triple-bill of your favorite horror flicks.  First off what are the three movies and second of all what tasty goodies are they serving at the concessions hut?

Lenora: My three favorite Horror films would be 1.Santa Sangre 2. Black Christmas 3. Carrie and I would be eating popcorn while sipping on champagne.

Owen: What scares you in real life?

Lenora: George Bush