A genre in its prime these days, the horror film is a work of beauty. Pumped with the deadly killers of retro 'B' drive in films and stacked with the antics of sexy vixens and victims, the scream queens of the thriving horror industry are upon us. One of these, Stephanie Beaton, is making a mark in her films and on her fans alike. A veteran of 20+ films and numerous television, magazine and other appearances, Stephanies resume just keeps growing. We managed to get a few moments in email with her and got a great chat....

NR - Did you plan on being an actress, or scream queen?

SB - Actually, I never wanted to be an actress. I always wanted to be a veternarian while growing up. Acting sorta came to me in High School after moving to California. Being a "Scream Queen" was never planned either. It just happened that way by being casted in so many horror flicks.

NR - Does it bother you to be known as a scream queen?

SB - No, not at all. In fact, I love it!! Since I am a HUGE fan of horror, it's kinda cool.

NR - If so have you always been interested in horror?

SB - Oh YES!!!! I have loved horror all my life. When I was a kid, I remember buying all the Fangoria Magazines and looking over and over the pictures of guts and stuff! :) I watched horror films when I was a kid again and again.

SB - Well, when my career first began, I did runway modeling, calander modeling. That was back in 1993, 1994. In 1995, I did my VERY first film, Unnaturally Born Killer. Prior to that was some Music Videos and modeling jobs. But UBK was my first film. I auditioned and got the part. Part of the audition was screaming.

NR - Do you find a difference ( the work atmosphere )between doing horror type films/tv to dramas or other work?

SB - You know, there really is no difference between doing horror verses other types of films such a comedies or dramas. It's basically all the same for the exception of the budget and whether its a independant or a A list film. I've done both "A" and "B" films. If it's low budget, then it's real tough. But there is a lot more creativity going on.

NR - What was your first experience with horror as a child?

SB - Are you asking me when I saw or remember my first film? If so, I was 4 and watched "Phantasm". If you are asking me my OWN horror...well I can tell you, when I was a kid, my Mom used to tell me of the story of the Bagman and how he gets little kids who are bad. He drives a dark van with tinted windows and he has two black dogs in the back. When you are bad, he comes and puts you in a burlap bag and takes you away, chops you up and feeds you to the dogs. Well, one day, a knock came to the door and my Brother told me it was the Bagman. He told me to look out the window and guess what was there? The dark van! I paniced!!!! He drug me to the kitchen where this man was at the back door and he held me down as I screamed and screamed!!!!! My Mom was there too. But that was my first REAL experience with horror.

NR - Are you into horror films/books/etc in your real life, or is it just a job?

SB - Yes I am into horror. I have a quite extensive library of films, books and all types of dark and mysterious things!

NR - What is your favorite work that youve done? What type of work do you find most satisfying?

SB - Wow...this has to be a tough one here. I really enjoyed playinmg Serena in, "The Evilmaker". I liked working on that film a lot. But unfortunatly, they casted someone else to play me in "Evilmaker 2". I like doinf roles which are meaty. I like roles with more pof a character base then anything else. I also liked working on "Bikini Planet" too. That film was a riot to work on!!! It was a comedy.

NR - What type of work did you do before films?

SB - Let's see, where do I begin! I worked as a 911 Dispatcher for the Police Department, I worked in a Veternarian's office, Nursing Home, Grocery Store, And I did telemarketing...I sold toner!!!! Yes, toner, for photocopiers! I also was a bookkeeper.

NR - How do you feel about the current state of hollywood, do you find
most of the big budget films good/bad. Is/was it a hard system to
break into?

SB - Well my opinion of Hollywood isn't too great! All your fakes, pretenders and losers all seem to flock to this industry and prey or feed on people and they literally will take your soul if you let them. But as far as big budgets are concerned....I prefer the indi scene more so. Don't get me wrong, I love working on Blockbuster films, BUT working on indi's are the best!!! The hardest working people around do these types of films. And yes, it IS hard to break into the business. There is no such thing of an over night success.

NR - You have a fan club, how is that going? How large is it? Do you take any active parts in the club?

SB - My club is going well. You know, if I had a members site for the fan club, I could tell you how many people are in it but because I don't, I can't tell you. I answer all my email personally. I am 100% involved with my site and my fans.

NR - Who is your favorite actor/actress?

SB - I like Demi Moore, Morgan Friedman, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro.

NR - You have a great internet site, are you good with computers or the
internet? Do you spend a lot of time online? How many emails do you
get everyday?

SB - Thank you first off. I know nothing of HTML. So I design my site and my webmaster does it all for me. I am completely illiterate when it comes to computers. But I do anser all emails and such. I get about 500 to 1,000 per week from fans alone.

NR -What is your favorite type of music, or band?

SB - You would have to ask me this. I am one of those people who are clueless to the band's names but just know the song by heart. So I can sing it to you, but can't tell you who it is. I do like all types of music though.....Blues, rock, Old Rock, Alternative, Techno, oldies, Jazz, etc.

NR - How do you feel about nudity in a film, do you think it is overdone?

SB - Yes I do. I mean, you can tell the cheap low budget films from the big budgeted films JUST by the nudity. The low budget guys seem to think that they have to exploit the woman in their films to sell the films and thats sad. If they wrote a better script they could maybe do better but instead they sell only to a certain market. I don't think that there is anything wrong with nudity, BUT, when it comes to the late night Cinemax films or low budget films where its raw....YES there is a problem! The stuff aired late night on Cinemax is VERY close to porno. If you are going to do porn, then do it, make money at it but please don't be crossing that fine line with stupid scripts, ridiculous actors and constant sex scene after sex scene that makes no sense at all!

NR - Do you think it affects film quality?

SB - Yes, having too MUCH sex in films does affect film quality! If it's done when needed, then its fine but when doing it too much is pure trash and then your film is nothing more then merely trash!

NR - Have you ever done any 'playboy' style magazines, or been approached to do any?

SB - No, I haven't done Playboy. I wouldn't have a problem with Playboy either, I would LOVE too! In fact, Penthouse WAS cool too at one time, BUT now, Penthouse has gone bad. There photos now are pretty risque.

NR - How about pornography, do you get approached for that?

SB - No, I have never been aproached for porn. I know plenty of porn people but never been asked to do it. Probbaly because I make it VERY clear that I would NEVER do that. So therefore, they don't ask me.

NR - What is your stance on pornography? Do you feel it should be
restricted?

SB - It has it's place. I think Pornography on the internet is bad. Mainly because kids get their dads credit cards and get in there and watch. But who knows what will happen with this new DA guy, John Ashcroft. He has already closed down many porn shops all across the country and he will start working on the internet too. Which is good because the internet isn't regulated. Well to a degree it is. You can't away with murder on it, but it would be a good thing if this Ashcroft guy could start cleaning things up a bit. He is against sex and violnce in films too. So maybe the end of all these late night almost porno films on Cinemax! That would be wonderful if he got rid pof those.

NR -What are you currently working on? What is in the future?

SB -I just rapped up shooting two films actually. One here in Los Angeles titled, "Quarantine". I play Jenny and I get ripped apart by zombies. That was fun to make. Then I flew to Minnesota to shoot, "Tortured Soul 3, The Willing Flesh". I just returned from there like 3 days ago. That shoot was interesting. As for whats in the furture...right now, we shall see. I have a few productions lined up.

NR - What city are you living in now? What is a good town for horror
films?

SB - I live in Hollywood, California, but I am moving VERY soon. As for where is good for Horror, there seems to be more horror films shot back east then out here in California.

NR - Is it good money making horror films? Is it a living or just a side thing? Have you done work for free?

SB - It's good money when things are Union. When films are non-union, thats when you can get screwed! So you have to becareful. I have worked for free, back when I first started. I think I worked twice for free, but NO MORE!!!!! No my fees are pretty high. I've done well over 30 films so your prices rise as your popularity rises and fame and experience.