Greg:
At what age did you see yourself as an
entertainer?
Sherry:
I started modeling at 16 but didnt
have any interest in acting until my early 20s.
Greg:
Did you see yourself acting in horror films?
Sherry: In the late 80s 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. Its
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 didnt
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 theyre 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 werent
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 thats what horror
films are. It wasnt 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 its
theatrical release?
Sherry: Very positive feedback. It wasnt 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 dont 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 Id 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 its 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 couldnt have him really bite
because Id 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 Raimis 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 Im going to be in
something similar?
Sherry:
Ive 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 were
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? Thats 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 dont think Id
turn any good part down regardless of the genre.
Being a scream queen was kind of fun.
Greg: Now heres 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. |