What was your most memorable introduction to scary movies as a child and what remains your most unforgettable scary movie to this day?

I grew up in Elizabeth, NJ and lived just around the block from the famous Ritz Theater. Not realizing what type of movie was playing at The Ritz, my Italian native mother brought me to see The Exorcist when I was eight years old. It was released in 1973 but for some reason it was playing at this theater in 1980. A few minutes into the movie, my mom knew this movie was not for me. However, I wanted to stay. I will never forget Linda Blair's head-spinning, vomiting scene.

Can you describe the experience of creating the realistic corpse of Alita?

I booked the job just one day before I was traveling to Tunisa for a friend‘s wedding. Jason Todd Ipson, the director, notified me that I had to get a “live cast“ done that same day before I left because production was beginning immediately.

It was a surreal experience. They poured this cement-like seaweed concoction over my entire head including my eyes, nostrils and ears. My entire head was enclosed by this gooey stuff that took about 30 minutes to harden to the shape of my head. I only had a small straw poking out of my mouth to breathe in and out of.

I‘m not claustrophobic, but my heart began to pound and I felt some anxiety. I kept thinking, if they want to kill me right now and suffocate me, they can. Right now! But I focused on my breathing, long deep breaths in and out, and I calmed myself down. I could hear Greg Solomon, the makeup effects supervisor, telling me that everything looked good and to stay calm. It was the longest 30 minutes of my life but I got through it.

An impression of my teeth was also taken along with in-depth photos of every angle of my face and eyes. Since I was traveling out of the country the next day, time was limited, so the live body cast of Gillian Anderson of X-Files fame was used. Her body was similar enough to my size so that saved everyone a lot of work.

What was your response to Alita's cadaver? Did you feel a personal connection or a dispassionate fascination?

Jason emailed me a photo of my cadaver from the set one day. I could not believe my eyes. My head looked exactly like me! Teeth, eyes, everything. I had slashes all over my face and body but I could still see the “real me."
It was kind of creepy but I also felt like there really was a part of me inside that cadaver. I emailed the image to my sister-in-law and manager and they both freaked out. My sister-in-law said she never wanted to look at that image again!

Where were your scenes filmed for Unrest?

I traveled to Utah for one day to shoot all my scenes. I had the most fulfilling time playing that character. I went from a sweet, scared archaeologist to a sex-vixen prostitute to a pregnant schizophenic-like mad woman in a mental hospital all in one day. Ahh -- that is why I chose this career path. It is and was very cathartic for me.

Have you experienced your own real-life encounters with ghostly phenomena or have you experienced a feeling that certain rooms or places have a frightening resonance of their own because of the events they've contained?

I definitely believe in energy. I can walk into a room and know if it‘s a good place to be or not. If it‘s unsettling for me, I walk out. Often times people think I'm strange when I do this, and I don‘t really care. Other times, people concur in my awareness and then we wind up having a fascinating dialogue about it.

Do you have formal training in acting, either in college or professional acting classes?

I studied acting at the famous HB Studio in NYC as a kid. In high school, I performed in many plays and musicals. I didn't study acting in college. I was a 30 minute train ride to NYC, so I studied there at the Terry Schrieber studio for a short while but I received most of my experience and training by actually performing in off, off, off Broadway plays. The theater is for the actor. I love it.

What has been your experience with fans of Unrest? Do you feel like you relate to them?

I hate to say this, but I'm not a big horror fan. So I am so amazed and excited to hear from fans who have seen Unrest.

Are you ever recognized for your often-seen appearances in the Deal Or No Deal show?

No, but I was recognized today at Whole Foods for my recent role in Reno 911! I was like, “you recognized me from that? Really? Wow!”

Is there a well known acting role you'd love to play in a remake of a famous horror film?

I would love to play Tippi Hedren’s role in Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963). Remakes are tough to do, but with the advances Hollywood has made in film technology, it would be fascinating to see those vicious little creatures recreated in a new and magical way. I used to catch that movie on television all the time as a kid. I loved it!

UNREST stars: Corri English .......... Alison Blanchard Scot Davis ............... Brian Cross Joshua Alba ............ Carlos Aclar Jay Jablonski .......... Rick O'Connor Marisa Petroro .........Alita Covas Derrick O'Connor .... Dr. Walter Blackwell Reb Fleming ............ Dr. Carolyn Saltz Unrest is Rated R for violence/gore, nudity                                        and some language.