You'll remember Kelli Maroney from a few cult classics like 'Night of the Comet' and 'Chopping Mall'...maybe even another Jim Wynorski film called 'Transylvania Twist'. Our own beloved Dr. Mowamba recently got the chance to interview Kelli. We hope you all enjoy the latest edition...of the Mowamba Report!

(Q): How did you get started in the entertainment industry?

(A): Well, I wasn't born into it, that's for sure. I always knew that's what I wanted to do,along with writing, but I always thought of movies and TV. Near where I grew up was the Guthrie Theater, and my mom suggested that I try out for their apprentice program, probably so I would get it out of my system. There I got to meet and study with great actors who were there doing the season: William H. Macy, F. Murray Abraham, to name a few. I took summer break at a conservatory school, The National Shakespear Co. Conservatory, and never left. When I got to NYC to sign up for their Fall session, I got a Soap Opera contract role in Ryan's Hope while looking for an apartment, no kidding. The rental agent had a friend who needed to submit a teenage "sex kitten" for a daytime show and did I want to go see her. I slid my non professional picture under the casting office door (I couldn't make this up) and got a call, and got the part. Knock everyone down with a feather, I know.

(Q): Your first film was Fast Times at Ridgemont High. How did you get the role of Cindy?

(A): Actually, FT was my second film. In Slayground, with Peter Coyote, I open the film as a teenage hitchhiker. For FT as Cindy, the Spirit Bunny, I was auditioning for Stacy, the role played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Phoebe Cates, Brian Backer, and I read scenes from the script almost all day long in NYC. Later, I got a call in NYC saying that they had cast Stacy, but did I want to play Cindy the Cheerleader? I'd have to fly myself to LA. So I got myself on a plane. First time in Hollywood.

(Q): Are you surprised that Fast Times at Ridgemont High is still as popular as it is today?

(A): I got a feeling while we were shooting, something special in the air, that FT would be a stand-out. But, yes, I am surprised that it is still such a classic.

(Q): You have also done several horror films. Were you a fan of horror movies growing up?

(A): Yes, I was always the one who wanted to stay up late and watch Dracula and anything else that was on late night TV. Once a teacher asked us to list our favorite things to do over the weekend and I started with watch horror movies as my number one answer. She questioned me about it when she read my paper, like, why do you like to do that?? I felt like Wednesday Adams or something. Still remember that.

(Q): Your first horror film was Night of the Comet how did you get the role of Samantha?

(A): I auditioned for it. At the time I asked the producers if I could read for Reggie and they said NO, flat out. Just NO. They were also looking at Heather Langenkamp I think, but Wayne Crawford, one of the producers, said "But which actress can you picture shooting an Uzi?" That was it. I got the part.

(Q): What did you think about the script of Night of the Comet, and the outfit you had to wear for the film?

(A): I was pretty sure that it would come and go. I remember saying to Cathy that we'd probably have to wear paper bags over our heads after it came out. But as we got rolling on it, come to find out there was a lot of meat in that material. So I decided to run with it. I remember flying back to LA and reading the script and laughing out loud. Some of the script was actually funnier than it played when we added the reality of the situation the characters were in. As for the outfit, what's not to like? : ) My only concern is that the uniform wouldn't make me look chunky, like a real cheerleading outfit might do. The school letters on the skirt are CL...Crawford/Lane, the production company. There's a weird piece of trivia for you.To this day, every time I start dating someone, he gets around to asking "SO, uh, do you still have that cheerleader outfit from Comet?" And I say yes, and it still fits, and they get all flustered. It makes me laugh that everyone wants to know and also that everyone is embarrassed to ask because they know it gives their intentions away, completely. Or, totally, as Sammie says.

(Q): Did you have the chance to get to know Mary Woronov or Geoffrey Lewis?

(A): Yes, I have a picture of me and Geoff at the Hollywood Collector's Show on his birthday. We didn't have much screen time together on Comet, though. He has a great work ethic and a great attitude too. Funny guy. We died laughing when we saw how he was playing that he was getting the Comet disease, especially when he was trucking down the hall yelling to himself. He should come back too, but we'd have to figure out how he escaped the big explosion, and also, he was a pretty advanced zombie at the end!

Mary I really liked too. I would love to figure out a way (and actually have an idea about it) to bring her back if we ever get to do a Comet sequel. She was great to work with and I loved doing our scene together, where she thinks she is putting me to sleep. For good. She'd also have to survive the explosion, but if anyone would have figured out an antidote for it, it would be that character. Just thinking out loud, here. Then in Chopping Mall I got to see her again, but we didn't have any scenes together, which I was bummed about. Anyway, I would love to do something with both of them again, in a heartbeat.

(Q): What was the deal with the Woody Allen film that came along while you were filming Night of the Comet?

(A): The summer before I met Woody Allen for the WASP, or Woody Allen Summer Project. He is famous for not telling anyone about the script or pretty much anything that he is planning. I got a call for my agent ---good news, bad news call. Good news being that I would've been cast, bad news is that the funding for the film didn't come through. So, off I went to make NOTC. While we were shooting the scenes where we rescue Reggie from the scientists, I got another call, WASP was on again, and could I come back to NYC? They would marathon shoot me over the weekend and have me back for Monday. The NOTC producers again, just said NO. Wayne said to me, "Look, I understand how you feel. But if Rollins-Jaffe decides to keep you longer, and I need you back here, who do you think will win? Besides, this is a career making part, and you have no idea what WASP will be." I said, I'm playing a Jean Harlow-type starlet, and he said "Great, so they'll shave off your eyebrows and bleach your hair white and how will I match you after wards?" Anyway, long story long, I begged and pleaded but didn't get to go. The film was Purple Rose of Cairo. I would've been in the film within a film, where Jeff Daniels jumps off the screen to be with Mia Farrow and leaves the starlet up there. Just a few years ago, a friend was interviewing Mr. Allen, and just for fun asked him if he remembered me. He said yes, and that "I offered her a role in one of my films, but SHE TURNED ME DOWN!!!!!" Can you believe it??? I hope he doesn't really think that!

(Q): What do you think about the new MGM DVD release of Night of the Comet?

(A): I'm glad that MGM/Turner Classics is releasing it finally. For years I have been getting letters from fans of the film asking WTF the DVD was, and so I was getting ready to acquire the rights myself and do it, already. But it turned out that MGM is releasing it finally, so at least people will be able to throw out their old VHS copies, anyway.

(Q): You also starred as the heroine Alison Parks in Chopping Mall. This film had the Killbots, tons of explosions, and lots of action. Was this movie fun for you to film?

(A): SO much fun. We were all under the impression that we signed on to do a film called ROBOT. Ha! Robert Short, who did Daryl Hannah's tale in Splash and a whole bunch of other cool things for other films made the Killbots. It was my introduction to the world of Roger Corman. Julie Corman's first film as producer, too.

(Q): There is the one scene in Chopping Mall where the Killbot has you hiding in the pet store and knocks over the tanks of snakes and tarantulas. They looked very real. Were they real, and how was is for you shooting this scene?

(A): They were real, but professional bugs. Dolores was the lead tarantula, and has been in the business for years, a real old time pro. Snakes are warm and I wasn't scared of them, but spiders creep me out. Wynorski added that funny folly sound when i stand up..squish, squish. We had a Scorpion, too (the bug, not a band member) but Wynorski had said that he'd never try to get an actor to do anything that he wouldn't do. So for fun, the bug wranglers put the scorpion on his crotch, so he said, okay, cut the scorpion. I didn't know enough about scorpions to be very scared of it, so he probably could have put it on me, no problem. Didn't tell him that, though.

(Q): You were also did the film Not of this Earth. How was it working with Traci Lords?

(A): Traci Lords was really nice. I only had a short day on that film. She was fun and down to Earth. pun intended.

(Q): You did several films with Jim Wynorski. How did you wind up working with him so much, and how was it working with him?

(A): Jim and I always got along really well. We don't give each other any attitude, and we both like to shoot fast. We didn't argue. We laughed a lot, and that makes the work fun. So, he'd say, "Wanna come down and play Angie Dickinson's great granddaughter in Big Bad Momma 2 next Thursday?" or whatever, and I'd say "Cool, I'm short on rent this month." I don't think either one of us realized how many films we racked up together that way

(Q): At one point during your career you legally changed your name to Zoe Kelli Simon to try and get out of the entertainment industry can you tell us why?

(A): Well, I got discouraged trying to make it as an actress. It felt like the business had me completely by the ovaries and I didn't know how to do anything else. A couple of times I had almost had chances to do bigger films and for one reason or another it didn't go that way. I was tired of being an 80s cliche/icon and being passed over for things. I hit an age range where there weren't a lot of roles for me. Because of doing B films, where I thought I was working and making a living??, I was actually hurting my chances of getting in any high-end films and, with the best of intentions, became known as a Scream Queen ( they say it like it's a BAD thing) which hurt my career, ultimately.I don't know why you can't be both, but I guess you can't. Plus, I hit a dry spot in B pictures as well. I could see myself eating out of a dumpster and thought, forget that! and took my football and went home. I was at a point where I just wanted to put the whole acting career thing behind me and see what else life had to offer, ever since I was a child I had only one goal. Luckily for me, to say that it didn't work is an understatement. Everybody knew my face or my voice or something and did I feel like an idiot! For example, the fact that I had even done that turned up all over the Internet, so I was busted. "..formerly known as Kelli Maroney.." jeez. I realized that I was proud of the projects that I had done and missed being in film, and 'embraced my crap.' Fans of the films and TV stuff I did really helped me by writing and telling me how much the various shows I did meant to them and gave me the push to come back. NEVER think that that isn't an enormous gift to be a performer. I love what I do, and having visited the other side of the fence, I can tell you that it's definitely greener over on this side. If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans, as they say. Oh, as far as the name itself, Simon was my married name (I'm divorced now) and Zoe means Life in Greek. This is dumb, but I have a cat that I rescued, and I wanted to name her Zoe, but a guy I was dating at the time told me that it was a stupid name, and talked me out it. So, a couple of years later, says dude, I took the name myself. Plus, I still have the cat, Lacy.

(Q): You are now working on the upcoming horror movie Nightmare Carnival. Can you tell us little about it?

(A): Nightmare Carnival is more weird and dark than David Lynch and Ray Bradbury put together, I think. It's very style-ized, visually. Clowns and Carnivals always freaked me out, in kind of a good way, like going too fast on a roller-coaster, that kind of feeling. We found a traveling carnival that is going to be very patient and accommodating and work with us. I really want it to be a theatrical release, and we are still in pre-production with it, so as I secure various things I will let you know, too.

(Q): Do you have any other projects you are involved with you want to tell the fans about?

(A): I have a project called Shadowland, with James Marshall (Twin Peaks) that is a smaller and more character-driven story that I am really eager to get to, as well. Sci-fi/Mystery, sort of an X File feeling to it. My character is a LOT of fun. My current projects are all listed on my website: www.kellimaroney.com. I keep that site pretty up-to-date now. I am playing a character in a graphic novel, too.. I signed off just this week on the rights to my likeness so the illustrations will be up soon.

I love animal rescue and helping children and the Special Olympics. There's a cartoon character called Snuggy Bear, and I always say that I sponsor a pop-star Polar Bear, that's how I put it. Snuggy and I do a lot with the Special Olympics right now, and he's in negotiations to do a TV show. I let Snuggy make his own decisions, but try to guide him as much as possible. : ) The Snuggy Bear Special Olympics theme song will be played on the Jay Leno show sometime soon by someone very special.That's all I'm allowed to say about it now.

I got into producing with a short film in 1999 called 'sam and mike.' Yes, all lower-case, per the writer's wishes. We won some awards with it and I got to learn a lot. Afterwords I was spent, though, and didn't know if I wanted to produce anything again for awhile. Now I'm up for it again. It's fun to make movies. I am not one of those that has an interest in directing, but I love the whole seat-of-your-pants feeling and things coming together at the last minute when you are a producer. Call me a thrill-seeker, I never said I didn't have issues. : ) I just feel that I could sit around and wait for projects to get going, OR I could help to get them done myself. Simple as that, really.

(Q): Thanks so much for doing this interview with me for Deadpit.com. Is there anything else you would like to say?

(A): I love Sammie, and yes, I think she is the most like me of any character that I've ever played. Thank you to everyone for picking up on that. It doesn't bother me at all, in fact, I'm honored to be remembered for NOTC. I put my heart into her, so of course I feel the love. James Doohan was asked if he ever got tired of hearing Beam Me Up, Scotty from people while in traffic and such, and he pretty much said the same thing. It's pretty cool alright. I like "The Little Girl with the Big Gun" "The cheerleader with the Uzi" and Robert Beltran's line to Mary Woronov , "Have you seen a couple girls running around here? One of them is a cheerleader?" There was a promo for the TV show Heroes on a couple of weeks ago where they kept saying "Save the cheerleader" and it always made me smile. I was never a cheerleader in real life because I was so busy trying to get to NYC and LA as fast as possible, so it's kind of ironic. But then, James Doohan was probably never really a First Engineer on a starship, either. I'm a big Trekkie, a fan of the old series. We used to watch it when it was in reruns every evening when I was a kid. That's why I added the line "Beam me up Scotty' in NOTC, because I actually was dorky enough to say that all the time. Okay, now you know all my embarrassing secrets.

For all those interested please check out her official website WWW.KELLYMARONEY.COM