O: Hey Monique Can you start us off with a visual and describe the room where you are answering these questions?

M: I'm sitting on my black satin comforter with my laptop in front of me...
My television is currently playing Pulp Fiction. My wall covered with framed & autographed signatures of some of my favourite horror artists.

O: So how did a little girl from Maryland grow up to be the first black scream queen?

M: Actually, I'm from NJ. .I lived in Baltimore for 8 years. I started out as a model when I was 6 years old. My uncle would throw these fashion shows in all of the suburban neighborhood with up and coming designers in the NJ area. I was a huge tomboy though..I loved the nasty stuff..daring each other to eat mud pies and worms. (I always won, LOL) I used to play pranks with ketchup and pretend that I was wounded or that I'd been hurt..not to my grandmother, but the boys I hung around. Between that and not being allowed to watch horror movies for a stint but sneaking around an watching them anyway..I just became fixated...
The rest is history in the making.

O: What do you consider a scream queen to be?"

M: I like to keep it simple..alot of people have alot of views on what they feel a scream queen to be..I simply say this: Sexy. Femme Fatale. Vulnerable. Clever. Unpredictable. Versatile

O: You were also named Tromette of the Month for November 2006. What exactly does that title entail?

M: For me, it only entailed going to do the photoshoot..but I do want to say this: Before being a Tromette & even after, I tirelessly support and promote Troma in and of itself. Being a Tromette was a turning point for me... It opened up many doors & a whole new fanbase that I had never had before ..Lloyd Kaufman is the greatest and to me, he doesn't get all the credit he's due...Troma rules!!!!

O: What attacts you most to the horror genre of films?

M: Do you mean as an actress or a fan? As a fan I love the gore..physical & sometimes psycholgical torture of it all. The artistry that some people have when it comes to filming commiting brutal acts. To tell a story with a creature or an object..it's just great! As an actress, I get to play out things that I know I couldn't do in reality. I get to exorcize my demons.

O: I know you have several horror films coming out...first off tell me about your work in 'Cottonmouth' with Debbie Rochon?

M: That experience was incredible...Chris Garetano is such a visual artist..When he explains what he wants..you can just envision it and it makes it easy to accomplish as an actress. The film is based on the Steve Bissette Gore Shriek comic of the same name. I always enjoy working with Debbie Rochon..watching her work is awesome..and then you have Wicked EFX who are, to me, are creating a great name for themselves..Their work can always speak for their quality of their work.

O: I also want to hear about 'Pot Zombies' which has been described as "radioactive weed turns people into zombies with a hunger for a human flesh." That project sounds like a lot of fun. How did you get involved in that?

M: You have it about right, LOL Actually, I did the intro with Lloyd Kaufman where I played Hemophilia. THAT, my friends, was the wildest two hours of my life. Lloyd is a trip..and that's what I love about him.

O: I also must hear about 'Bachelor Party in the Bungalow of the Damned' with Zoe Hunter. Can you give the Racks and Razors Readers a teaser that will make the film a must see for them?

M: You asked for it. LOL...Ok so, after my smoking hot dance, I take one of the guys to a private room. I push him to the floor and straddle him..I take my bra off.
I basically ask him if he wants a taste..he obviously signals yes, so I let him taste...
All of a sudden, he sounds like he's having some trouble..he's grunting..then BOOM he falls back with his mouth full of blood..OOPs, My tit just bit his tongue out.
How ever did THAT happen? I guess you'll have to see for yourself, LOL

O: I also want to hear about the upcoming horror movie 'Heavy Metal' with yourself, Brenna Lee Roth, and Tiffany Apan. Any scream queen rivalry on the set?

M: We actually haven't started filming yet. The movie is set to film this summer and it proves to be a kick ass film..Mike Hartman (Detroit Blood City) really did his thing with this script. I haven't met Tiffany as of yet. But I've chilled with Brenna quite afew times. She's cool people. I would never show my butt on a set anyway. If there was ever a problem with another scream queen, my professionalism wouldn't allow me to get into a rivalry ..I'd simply finish that project and think twice about working with that person again...Now had you said scream queen romance, well......

O: Do you have any other horror films you would like to let the www.racksandrazors.com fans know about?

M: Yes...my projects that I've completed: Oria (Darkstone Pirctures
(www.darkstone-ent.net) which is the sequel to Shadowhunters (avail on DVD) and is part of a trilogy. This character was challenging for me because I had no dialogue. I was a snake demon..it was all body movements, hissing and display of emotion. The other film is The Maim Event..from Corn on the Macabre.
I played a character named Tiff-Tuff. That was the the second most interesting movie kill I had ever done! LOL. I also have a project that I just got attached to called Rage: Internal Demons . Some of the cast consists of: Lloyd Kaufman, Elske McCain, Zoe Hunter, Manoush, Melantha Blackthorne, Suzi Lorraine, Lisa Doll & Joe Knetter...you can find more info at www.myspace.com/ragethemovie

O: Why is it "Better to be the killer than to be killed" in horror?

M: Killers have all the great lines & cool outfits. Also, its just plain fun!

O: I also know you love being made-up for horror movies and all that entails... what has been the best make-up job you have been given so far in your horror career?

M: I would have to say Bachelor Party with Cottonmouth running a close second..but guess what? They were both done by Wicked EFX (I told you they rule! www.myspace.com/wickedefx )

O: You also make the horror convention rounds and I know you have been at Texas Fear Fest as well as this year's Fangoria Weekend. What are the best and the worst parts about those conventions?

M: The Best part are the fans!! The are so cool and genuinely interested in what you do. It's like they share your passion. The worst part would be the hours..It's physically & emotionally draining. I mean, I put in as much effort as I do as when I'm filming. You know, people don't want to see you sad or angry or whining about problems..they came to see you..the artist, ya know? When I saw at the Texas Fear Fest, I didn't set up for Sunday because I felt really ill. My other half went down to pack up my stuff and came back up and told me that a fan was downstairs waiting for me and he'd waited afew hours to see if I'd show. He said "You should really get yourself together and go down there" I felt so BAD that he came to see me and I wasn't down there. I gave him a free autographed picture and my other half gave him one of my posters, which I also signed..we sat and talked & took a few photos together. That was better than any medicine I could have gotten.

O: And also, what horror star(s) have made you the most starstruck to meet at those conventions?

M: Doug Bradley (Pinhead) He actually heard of me before. He was so humble and I learned much from my brief conversation with him. And I was lucky enough to get a picture. Meeting Tony Todd was another mind blowing experience. The fact that he asked for my information for a possiblity to work with me, well I just fell on the floor (well not for real, I had to keep appearances, LOL)

O: What makes you go psycho in real life?

M: Liars!!! I would rather someone just tell me how they feel or whats really going on..liars makes me want to go postal

O: What scares you in real life?

M: Serial Killers because they look nothing like what we often portray them as in real life. (I research serialkillers) We teach our children to stay away from weird looking people and they are usually the ones that wouldn't hurt anyone. It's the people that blend into everyday society..With a seemingly normal family & life.
That scares me...