Sherry: I started modeling at 16 but didn’t have any interest in acting until my early 20’s.

Greg: Did you see yourself acting in horror films?

Sherry: In the late 80’s there were a ton of horror films being made. It just happened to be what I was cast in most often.

Greg: What was your first taste of acting?

Sherry: I had a bit part in “Sid and Nancy” in ’85.

Greg: What was your first horror film?

Sherry: “Slaughterhouse” was my first horror film.

Greg: How did you hear about auditions for Slaughterhouse?

Sherry: There was a trade paper by the name of “Drama Logue” that had audition and casting notices in it. I submitted for the film and was called in to audition from my head shot.

Greg: What was required for you to audition for the role of Liz Borden?

Sherry: I received the sides, a part of the script, and performed it in front of the director and producer.

Greg: Who were you up against for the part?

Sherry: Several hundred girls submitted photos for casting consideration and they narrowed that down to about 20 to audition.

Greg: Did you have doubts of your name Liz Borden thinking it was corny and unoriginal and talked to Rick Roessler about changing it?

Sherry: It was definitely corny but it kind of fit with the movie. I would never suggest to a director that they change something like that. It’s not an actors place to do that.

Greg: What was Rick Roessler like to work with?

Sherry: Rick was an absolute dream to work with. He brought so much experience, talent, and creativeness to the set. He surrounded himself with awesome behind the camera talent as well.

Greg: I was always wondering what Don Barrett and Joe Barton were like in reality as they played the demented slaughterhouse killers? Since you worked with them how were they like with you?

Sherry: They were both really professional and fun to work with. Joe really did hang out with the pigs off camera so he was a bit “ripe” to be around. That was the hardest thing about working with him.

Greg: Do you still stay in contact with them?

Sherry: No.

Greg: What time of year was the movie filmed and where? I noticed it was at a countryland and by a swampy type area.

Sherry: It was shot in June. Parts of it were shot south of San Diego, CA and other scenes were around San Diego sub berbs. There was a small lake by the actual slaughterhouse location.

Greg: Was there a scene you found difficult doing during the shooting of it?

Sherry: The scene on the butcher table where I was being restrained was the hardest day of the shoot. Joe kept sweating and spitting on me and it totally grossed me out. The other hard part was where I find my friends hanging from the hooks. That really freaked me out and caused real tears.

Greg: What memorable scenes did you have in the film?

Sherry: The dance scene at the VFW was a blast. We played like kids all day.

Greg: Lots of actors when they have a scene of being freaked out while encountering death scenes think of a scary experience they have had in the past. While you were trying to get away from Lester and Buddy after encountering the gory slaughters of your friends did you think of a scary event that really happened to you in the past and just brought it to life then?

Sherry: Just thinking about what I was running from in the script was enough to get the reaction. As for the actual scene of seeing my friends on the hooks for the first time, I lost my best friend a few years before that so it didn’t take much to trip that emotion.

Greg: The corpses that were hanging on the hooks next to you while Buddy was tying you down when Lester was making sick jokes saying this little piggy went to…. Were they dummies or were they the actors with make up on as sometimes horror films still use the actors as the corpses of their characters after they’re killed due to tight budgets?

Sherry: It was the actual actors and they were such champs to hang for as long as they did. We did put blocks under them when their feet weren’t in the shot.

Greg: When you saw the film did you ever find the gore in it disturbing and unnecessary?

Sherry: It was totally gory but that’s what horror films are.  It wasn’t bad to me because I knew how they made that gore and it just looked awesome on the finished product.

Greg: I understand it got a small theatrical release. Was it shown nationwide or to selected theatres?

Sherry: It got national release and was actually number 38 out of 40 on the Nations top 40 block buster list at the time.

Greg: What kinds of feedback did you get as a lot of gorehounds loved the film during it’s theatrical release?

Sherry: Very positive feedback. It wasn’t an Academy film by any means but it was good for what it was.

Greg: You really presented yourself well in the film and could see you getting more work but I was thinking it was tough for any actors to get work after a film like that like anyone who starts out in a low budget slasher film. Did you have a difficult time toughing it out during auditions for future shows?

Sherry: I got a lot of work after “Slaughterhouse.” People don’t really care too much about what type of film you worked on, they just want to see that you did good and you are easy to work with.

Greg: Now a Slaughterhouse 2 was made a year later but it beared no relationship to the original one as it took place at a carnival run by an evil clown named Pigsby Malone. Were you asked to be a part of the cast in that one as it featured your everyday teenagers like in the first one?

Sherry: No

Greg: Did you decide to become a stuntwoman right after the films release?

Sherry: I started doing a little stunt work about 6 years later and then became a full fledged stunt woman in ’94.

Greg: What other work did you do for a while till you waited for your next gig?

Sherry: I worked at FOX TV, CBS, and Universal Studios in production.

Greg: You had a good supporting role as Bonnie in another low budget horror flick a few years later titled Demon Wind which I own and really enjoy. Did you get the part of the role due to your fame in Slaughterhouse?

Sherry: It helped but I got it after auditioning like everyone else.

Greg: What did you have to do at the audition for it?

Sherry: Same as most auditions, I just performed the scene I’d received in advance.

Greg: You seemed to have worked with a more familiar cast. Who did you get along with the most during the shoot?

Sherry: Francene, the girl who plays my best friend, was actually my best friend in life when we got cast for this film. It was awesome to work with her again.

Greg: Did you find this film a more enjoyable experience for you?

Sherry: Any time I work it’s a great experience. This film was no more or less so than others.

Greg: You really fit in well with the cast and your role was extremely effective as I remember the time when a child demon grabs you and you scream. Then you turn into a doll. Was this scene one of your favourites to do?

Sherry: Not really. I think I enjoyed the scenes in the house better.

Greg: I also remember when the head demon was eating you alive as it was a good special effect. How long did that take to shoot?

Sherry: Way too long. When he was biting my neck it was tickling me hysterically. When they shot my reaction I couldn’t have him really bite because I’d laugh and not scream. By the end of the day I had a huge hicky on my neck that hurt like crazy.

Greg: It very much reminded me of the first Evil Dead film. Was Charles Philip Moore a big fan of Raimi’s work do you know and wanted to do something similar?

Sherry: I have no idea.

Greg: Were you a fan of the Evil Dead and was thinking wow I’m going to be in something similar?

Sherry: I’ve never seen the Evil Dead films.

Greg: Apparently the film was direct-to-video as most horror filmmakers discover that direct-to-video sells better at video rentals. Did it ever have a small theatrical run or was it straight to video?

Sherry: It ran on cable for a long time before going to video.

Greg: Did you have fans come up to you telling you that they enjoyed you in Demon Wind as well as in Slaughterhouse?

Sherry: Once in a while but not that often. Unless I went home to Iowa, then I got it a lot.

Greg: Have you ever attended any horror conventions or appeared in horror magazines like Fangoria due to your fame in these two movies?

Sherry: No

Greg: I am wanting to see your work as your role Kimberley in Born Killer. I understand that was an action/thriller or am I wrong?

Sherry: Yes it was an action thriller. It was fun to shoot but really exhausting.

Greg: What was your character all about in the film?

Sherry: I again play the best friend of Francene's. We are in the wrong place at the wrong time and we’re killed by an escaped convict.

Greg: You seemed to get a bit more work in non horror shows after that and went to France to play Annie in the short-lived action series Yellowthread Street? What made you travel all the way down there? That’s quite a journey?

Sherry: That episode was actually shot in Hong Kong. I was already there for another project and auditioned for Yellowthread Street. It worked out perfect as I just stayed longer to work on it.

Greg: Did you find the series a challenge to do?

Sherry: A little but only because of the extreme heat and humidity at the time of shooting.

Greg: What made you change your last name from Bendorf to Leigh?

Sherry: I liked it better.

Greg: You have made a big success as a stuntwoman after the series especially working at Universal Studios as a stunt double, plus being a contestant on Hollywood Squares, a guest role on the daytime soap General Hospital, appearing in many TV commercials and even a part in a Kiss music video. You still do the odd acting gig in films like The R.M. and a film still in post-production titled L.V.J., do you miss acting in the horror film genre and will you plan on returning to it or will you be a stunt double in a horror film to speak? I enjoyed your work in it since I saw you in Demon Wind.

Sherry: I love working as a stunt woman but I will always pick acting over it if it comes down to it. As for horror films. I don’t think I’d turn any good part down regardless of the genre. Being a “scream queen” was kind of fun.

Greg: Now here’s some fun stuff: What are your favourite horror films?

Sherry: “Halloween” was my favorite.

Greg: What is the film you acted in that you cherish the most?

Sherry: I loved working on “Yellowthread Street” for its dramatic content.

Greg: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sherry: Never looking back and wondering “what if…”

Greg: What are your ambitions in life?

Sherry: To be the best I can be at whatever I choose to do. I love to make people around me smile and feel better about themselves.