Kelli Maroney: Drawing True Blood with Screamdom’s Favorite Queen. By Brian Kirst
Actress Kelli Maroney needs no introduction. With powerful, spunky performances in Night of the Comet, Chopping Mall, Zero Boys, Servants of Twilight and Face Down, the forthright Maroney is practically a legend to her many fans. Maroney recently took a break from rocking the German beat, to answer some sharp and snappy questions for Horror Society.
Brian: So, Kelli, would you rather be clawing through a meaty role onstage or dodging bullets and angry robots onscreen? Or do both styles of performing have special, yet separate, places in your heart?
Kelli: Uh…if I may be perfectly frank, I LOVE working in film. Theater has broken my heart. I went broke, paid for, supported to no good end, and generally not been happy in theater. Film on the other hand treats me very, very well. I know that isn’t politically correct….tough. LOL
Brian: Cool. – You’re known for adding a momentary twist of Kelli Maroney flair to many a project (Big Bad Mama 2, Transylvania Twist…). Do you find you try to come up with background histories for these cameo appearances or do you just amp up your own natural presence because that is, in essence, what they’ve hired you for? (Dang! That question may be longer than your answer, huh?)
Kelli: You MUST be an actor to ask that question—answer is–usually I was called at the last minute to add some ‘personality’ to something and I went. I just improved and went with what we made up as we went along.
Brian: Nice! – You’ve done many physical roles with Zero Boys seeming like it might have been one of the roughest. – Any specific (or interesting) memory-mementos about working on that project?
Kelli: Nothing I can say without insulting some other folks—the cast and crew were tremendous and deserved better. I always think of physical roles as a great rationale as to why I am not in the gym. :)
Brian: I only wish I had that excuse!! – You’ve worked with some amazingly strong feminine role models. Did you find that you just picked up performance (and life) skills just by watching women like Louise Shaffer and Angela Lansbury work?
Kelli: Absolutely, I got not only acting coaching, but dating advice from Louise and Joan Fontaine plus financial advice from John Gabriel( Ryan’s Hope). Unfortunately, the advice from John didn’t stick. LOL – Yes, I was just a little sponge when it came to learning the ropes from the ladies who came before me, whether or not I took their advice. When you’re a kid, you think you always know better—maybe you actually do, in the long run, given your situation, but you need guideposts along the way and I was lucky to have them!!!
Brian: Definitely! – You recently gave a bravura performance as a televangelist on True Blood. Is digging down deep and coming out with a truly interesting character one of your favorite things to do as a performer?
Kelli: Again, please stop cracking me up—I had 0 time to come up with a character on TRUE BLOOD..In fact, there was a pact between the powers that were and make-up/ wardrobe to NOT tell me what I had to do. Alan Ball came down and personally directed my episode, so unhinged was he about a certain evangelist he had wanted me to mock…but the set had explicit instructions NOT to show me the photo of the woman in real life who I was supposed to be mocking. When we wrapped that episode they got to show me—-YIPES!!! That was a real person!!!! AAGGGHHH!!!! So, no—no actor prep involved!!
Brian: Great story! – Your characters are often strong and resourceful while maintaining a truly honest and genuine quality. It is something that the young women of the world could definitely benefit from. What are your hopes and dreams for the next generation of women?
Kelli: My hopes and dreams for women are the same as my hopes and dreams for all humankind —-that we learn to love ourselves enough to let go of our hurts and wounds and be our best selves.
Brian: Nice response! – Lastly, any words of advice (IE: Always be sure to fall asleep in a sturdy tool shed during a nuclear disaster) or future projects that you’d like to tell us about? And thanks – this has been better than heading off rapidly firing robots-on-wheels any night of the week!
Kelli: My advice—-when in doubt about a comet attack—Lawn storage shed all the way. Never breathe anything from strangers. Always have somewhere to pack a flare. Keep enough bullets for the Uzi at all times. Don’t waste your ammo. Work on your fleeing speed every day. Oh, and be sure to think positively. Only what you are not giving can be lacking in any situation. – For inspiration, please listen and if so inclined, purchase my tune on YouTube—I don’t get anything from it except publicity, but the band worked hard on this and they deserve it! “https://www.youtube.com/v/g1pSjOHti7Q&hl=en&fs=1&”
"Zero Boys" was my first paying job in this industry! Glad Kelli complimented the crew (which included Frank Darabont, by the way).