MARIN MAY SOUVENIR INTERVIEW

Exclusive to Dena! Picture on the bottom! Feb., 2001.

DENA: So what did you think of the con, did you have a blast?

MARIN: I THOUGHT THE CONVENTION WAS PHENOMENAL AND I HAD A BLAST.  IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

DENA: Did you recognize any of the old faces and did they recognize you?

MARIN:   YES.  I RECOGNIZED A LOT OF FACES.  NOT EVERYBODY RECOGNIZED ME.  IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST WALKED INTO THE CONVENTION ON SATURDAY, I SAW SHANNON AND FRANK ASHMORE.  I REMEMBERED FRANK AND THEN I REMEMBERED SHANNON BUT I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT SHE DID ON THE SHOW, BUT I REMEMBER SHANNON SO VIVIDLY BEING SO LOVING AND KIND.  I LOVE HER, I HAVE A KINSHIP WITH HER. THEY KNEW WHO I WAS IMMEDIATELY.  I DON'T THINK MARC RECOGNIZED ME AT ALL.  HE GAVE ME A HUG AND WAS LIKE "HEY!" BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS. EVERYBODY WAS NICE TO ME.  TO WATCH EVERYBODY'S REACTION WAS JUST A TRIP.

DENA: You must have been about  5 years old when you appeared in V. What do you remember from those days?

MARIN: I REMEMBER TARTER SAUCE.  I NEVER ATE FISH GROWING UP, BUT I REMEMBER THERE WAS SOME KIND OF WHITE FISH THEY USED TO FEED US FOR LUNCH, AND I REMEMBER I LOVED THAT!  I REMEMBER A LOT OF FOOD -- LOVE FOOD; CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT FOOD.  I REMEMBER PLAYING OLD MAID (PLAYED WITH WHOEVER WOULD PLAY WITH ME), AND MOUSETRAP WITH VIVEKA DAVIS.  I REMEMBER TRAILERS. I  REMEMBER THE TOILETS WITH THE PEDALS.  I REMEMBER KEN (JOHNSON) REALLY VIVIDLY.

DENA: Have you any interesting stories about the other actors?

MARIN:  DOWNTOWN L.A. WHEN WE WERE DOING THE TUNNEL SCENES.  I REMEMBER MARC EATING WITH ME.  BLAIR WAS LIKE  THE MOM.  SHE WAS ALWAYS CARRYING ME OR HOLDING ME.  MICHAEL DURRELL - I JUST LOVE HIM.  I CRIED WHEN I FOUND OUT PENNY (WINDUST) WAS LEAVING THE SHOW.  PENNY USED TO PLAY SOME GAME WITH ME.  I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT IS. DOMINQUE DUNNE - I GOT GOOSEBUMPS AND SICK TO MY STOMACH WHEN I SAW THE THING ON E!. I TOOK SOMETHING FROM "V" WITH ME THAT'S STILL WITH ME TODAY AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS - IT AFFECTED ME.

DENA: Was "V" your first acting job?

MARIN:  I'VE DONE OTHER STUFF.  I DID A LOT OF PRINT AND COMMERCIALS.  I DON 'T THINK THAT I WORKED THEATRICALLY BEFORE 'V'.  MY MOM MIGHT CORRECT ME ON THAT.

DENA: Was it your parents who thought you had star quality & is that how you got into the business?

MARIN:   MY MOM'S AN ACTRESS.  I WAS 1-1/2 YEARS OLD.  I WAS ON AN AUDITION WITH MY MOM.  THE PHOTOGRAPHER, ELYSE LEWIN, SAID TO MY MOM THAT SHE HAD TO GET ME INTO THE BUSINESS AND I WAS REFERRED TO AN AGENT.

DENA: Best and worst things about being in the limelight at such a young
age?

MARIN: BEST THING ABOUT BEING IN THE LIMELIGHT IS THE TEXTURE IT GIVES YOU AS A HUMAN BEING, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU MEET, THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAVE. WORST THING IS PROBABLY THE PRESSURE THAT IT PUTS ON YOU TO PERFORM AND PLEASE EVERYBODY ALL THE TIME.

DENA: Tell me about your other things since "V"?

MARIN:  I REMEMBER PEOPLE CALLING ME TO DO VOICE OVERS; THINGS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN AUDITION FOR.   I DID TEQUILA SUNRISE, A SHORT CALLED COWBUNKLE THE COW.  THAT WAS SENT OUT AS A TREATMENT (AN OUTLINE) TO THE STUDIOS. I GOT TO JUMP OFF OF A ROOF, I WAS 16, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.  I DID ALIEN NATION, PARTY OF FIVE, MODELED FOR SPIEGEL CATALOG. I WAS MODELING FOR OSHKOSH CONSTANTLY.  A CUTE STORY: MY MOM MAIL ORDERED TOYS FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER AND ALONG WITH THE TOY, THERE WAS A BROCHURE WITH A PICTURE OF ME.  DID COMMERCIALS SUCH AS KOOL-AID, JELL-O, CHEETOS, MCDONALD'S, SOUTHWESTERN BELL, TOMY TOYS, CHEERLEADING DOLL, BREAKFAST CEREAL COMMERCIALS, DID THE E.T. BROCHURES.  I WAS ON ROXIE, A SHORT LIVED SHOW.  I JUST RECENTLY DID A LITTLE FEATURE THING ON A FILM WITH DEE WALLACE STONE CALLED 'GASH.'  IT WAS ACTUALLY A GRADUATE FILM.  I DID HIGH SCHOOL HIGH WITH JOHN LOVITZ, A FILM WITH THE SOUTH PARK GUYS CALLED BASEKETBALL - THEY ACTUALLY CUT OUT A LOT OF THE FOOTAGE.  I WORKED ON THE SERIES THE CLIENT AND DIVORCE COURT.  ON MY 9TH OR 10TH BIRTHDAY I GOT TO GO DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH LASSIE. IT WAS THE AMANDA FOUNDATION - THEY DEAL WITH ANIMALS.  THEY ASKED ME TO BE A CELEBRITY GUEST.  I JUST RECENTLY JOINED THE ECLECTIC COMPANY THEATRE.  I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON A CHILDREN'S PROJECT WITH MY BOYFRIEND, KEITH FAY.   IT'S A CONCEPT ALBUM WHICH APPEALS TO KIDS 8-14.  I PLAY A CHARACTER WHOSE NAME IS  PRINCESS CHELSEA.  THE PROJECT DEALS WITH A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES-I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT!

DENA: What's it like auditioning for roles in Hollywood? Is it really competitive or have you found it comes really easy for you?

MARIN:  IT'S EXCITING IN ITSELF. IT'S ITS OWN JOB, ASIDE FROM WHEN YOU GET HIRED.  I'M NOT A COMPETITIVE PERSON SO I DON'T REALLY FIND IT COMPETITIVE. THE BIG THING IS THAT YOU FIND REPRESENTATION THAT WILL PUSH FOR YOU TO GET READINGS.

DENA: I`m like hanging around waiting to be discovered like Lana Turner was (remember!!?). What sort of advice would you give to an aspiring actress who doesn't have a realistic idea of what this business is about? 

MARIN:  I THINK THAT THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO ALWAYS GO AFTER WHAT YOUR HEART DESIRES BECAUSE IF YOU AT LEAST TRY TO GO AFTER IT, YOU KNOW YOU GAVE YOURSELF THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.  SCREW WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE THINKS, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH, YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

DENA: While your waiting for that big break in a Hollywood movie, how do you pay bills & meet rent in the meantime?

MARIN:  WAIT TABLES LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.  I DO PRODUCTION WORK PERIODICALLY. I WAS WORKING ON A TV SHOW CALLED FARMCLUB.COM WITH LOTS OF TALENTED BANDS. (Note: Marin no longer waits tables).

DENA: New York & L.A. are like the two hottest places in the galaxy to be based!  What`s the whole LA scene like?

MARIN: I'M LIKE THE OLDEST 23 YEAR OLD YOU'LL EVER MEET.  I'M SO ABOUT BEING ALONE AND GOING FOR HIKES AND GOING OUT TO EAT.  ALL MY FRIENDS JOKE AROUND THAT I'M EVERYBODY'S MOM.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CLUB SCENE IS LIKE.  (JOKINGLY) ALL I KNOW IS THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PLACES WITH GOOD BEER ON TAP.  I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO - IT'S THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN GO TO A COFFEE HOUSE AND THEY HAVE GUINESS ON TAP!  MY DREAM IS TO BECOME A WINE AFFINCIONADO.  I THINK THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.  I THINK FOOD, SEX, PERFORMING ART, IS THE ESSENCE OF LIVING. (Note: Marin is now 24 as of 9/9/2001.)

DENA: What would your ideal role in a movie be?

MARIN:  I THINK MY IDEAL ROLE WOULD BE SOMETHING SO INTENSE THAT I CAN'T CONCEIVE AT THIS MOMENT OF BEING ABLE TO DO IT; A CHALLENGE.  IDEALLY, TO KICK THAT ONE UP A LITTLE BIT, SOMETHING THAT REALLY CARRIES AN INCREDIBLE WEIGHT THAT MAKES PEOPLE THINK, THAT MOVE PEOPLE.  I THINK NEGATIVE CAN BE AS GOOD AS POSITIVE - ANY REACTION IS GOOD. THAT COULD BE COMEDY, JUST SOMETHING PHYSICAL, OR SOMETHING SO DRAMATICALLY HEAVY-JUST SOMETHING THAT REACHES BEYOND WHAT I CAN CONCEIVE OF AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE.

DENA: Do you consider yourself a 21st century girl?  

MARIN: IT DEPENDS ON WHAT 21ST CENTURY GIRL MEANS TO YOU?  WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THESE DAYS?  I CAN GO OFF ON THIS.  IT'S ALL RELATIVE. WE'RE BLESSED AND CURSED IN THIS CENTURY. WE'RE MORE FREE THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST, LIKE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, A CARING FOR EACH OTHER AND MANKIND. I THINK THAT AS MANY WALLS THAT ARE BEING TORN DOWN RIGHT NOW THAT MORE WALLS ARE BEING BUILT UP.  I THINK WE NEED TO CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS, AND CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.  I'M AN IDEALIST.

DENA: Like I said at the con, I think you`d be perfect as a Buffy bad girl!!
Any plans for auditioning?

MARIN:   I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY A BUFFY BAD-GIRL.  I WOULD LOVE TO AUDITION FOR ANY ROLES THEY HAVE TO OFFER, IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.

(SPECIAL NOTE TO DENA FROM ILANA: Marin is funny as hell, but she says "I'm a cheeseball" - Marin says you can use the "I'm a cheeseball" line).

DENA: Who's influenced you most and who in the movie and music scene do you think has it going on?

MARIN:  DAVE MATTHEWS!  I ADORE DAVE MATTHEW'S BAND AND I LOVE DAVE MATTHEWS.  I JUST WANT TO LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC ALL THE TIME.  LIFE INFLUENCES ME.  PEOPLE, HUMAN BEINGS, A CHILD'S SMILE, A FLOWER, A CLOUD IN THE SKY.  MOVIE AND MUSIC WISE.  LOVE U2.  I THINK THAT BONO IS REALLY DOING RIGHT BY HIS SUCCESS.  I WORKED WITH THEM, THEY ARE THE MOST COOLEST GUYS YOU WOULD EVER MEET.  THEY IMPRESSED ME SO MUCH-THEY HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE ROCK STAR ASSHOLES BUT THEY'RE NOT.  MOVIEWISE: I DON'T KNOW.  KATE WINSLET I THINK REALLY HAS IT GOING ON.  SHE'S A POWERFUL ACTRESS-SHE TAKES ON GREAT, CHALLENGING ROLES-SHE'S JUST NOT AFRAID TO EXPOSE HERSELF.  I LIKE JOHNNY DEPP.  I LOVE TO PERFORM BUT IDEALLY MY GOAL IS TO REACH A PLACE WHERE I CAN TALK TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE AND MOVE PEOPLE OR MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GOOD CAUSES.  ANYBODY WHO'S AN ARTIST--I THINK THEY'RE GREAT.

DENA: What's next for you as an actress and as a person?

MARIN: AS AN ACTRESS TO KEEP PURSUING AN ACTING CAREER AND AS A PERSON, WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST AND BE WHAT I CAN BE - AS IF I'M GOING TO DIE TOMORROW.  I TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN EVEN IF I'M MISERABLE, BUT THAT'S OKAY!

	Dena Vaughan & Marin May V Con 2000, Sept.