Regina Hall, scream queen

The actress discusses “Scary Movie,” her first foray into the horror genre

By DAVID JAY LASKY
Lifestyle Editor

Regina Hall, one of the stars of the recently released DVD "Scary Movie," recently sat down for an interview to discuss her role as Brenda, Shawn Wayans' girlfriend in the horror spoof. Perky and effervescent, Hall had a lot to share.
Daily Trojan: How would you describe Brenda?
Regina Hall: She's just too much. Brenda is all about being in the know. She's a hip-hop girl and a slave to fashionshe needs to maintain her popular status! We had fun with the characters and their issues. We got to make fun of everything from A to Z.
DT: You grew up in Washington D.C.?
RH: I'm a Washingtonian. You know what. I liked it. I have to say D.C.'s pretty interesting. It's not New York but it's not L.A. You get a little bit of the South. You get Maryland. Little bit of Virginia. I had good friends. Mommy and Daddy, can't complain.
DT: Did they encourage you to become an actress?
RH: Not at all. My father, the only professions he thought about were doctor or lawyer. He was a typical kind of Southern father. My mothershe was whatever. Whatever you want to do, whatever makes you happy. When I told her I wanted to act, she was supportive.
DT: Did you grow up watching "In Living Color?"
RH: I did watch it because my brothers watched it so I knew all of the skits. I knew they were crazy. I also had watched "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" in high school.
DT: Did you grow up watching comedies or dramas?
RH: I like comedy a lot because my family is funny. I watched Eddie Murphy on "Saturday Night Live." I know I shouldn't have been but I watched his stand-up. I had a huge appreciation for comedy.
DT: What do you like doing now - "Love and Basketball" or "The Best Man"?
RH: Ooh, you know what? I like them all. Doing comedy is really fun especially when it comes together really well. I think that any time you are working with a great cast, even if the script is not a comedy, even that's fun. I like to work and get a check.
DT: What directors do you want to work with?
RH: Wow. I wish this were going to be broadcast from a speaker nationwide. I saw "Mission: Impossible 2." I just think John Woo's mind is fascinating. I am just so open because I have had the opportunity to work with Malcolm and Gina who were both first-time directors. And after having such wonderful experiences, it doesn't matter to me if they are new or veterans but I would love to work with Steven Spielberg. I mean, put that on your resumé. You can just put S.S. You know, the big ones. Martin Scorsese. They get the big movies and the great budgets. The great actors. So any of them but anybody really.
DT: What movie comedians inspired you?
RH: Eddie Murphy. Whoopi Goldberg. I like Whoopi a lot. I think she is hilarious. I loved her in "Ghost." I even loved her in "Jumpin' Jack Flash." She is funny. I mean, who doesn't like Whoopi? I would take her salary, her house, her career. I am not mad at Whoopi.
DT: I think you are like a young Whoopi Goldberg. You have all of the comic energy she lost. The movie theater scene was hilarious.
RH: Well, that is a compliment. Thank you. Keenan [Ivory Wayans] was so good about that. He just said go. So I thought, let's just be the most obnoxious movie patron that nobody would want to see a good quality movie like "Shakespeare in Love" with. She is not the brightest bulb in the tree but none of them are in the movie.
DT: Did you watch the "Scream" movies?
RH: I actually saw them in the movie theater when they came out. For their time period, they were really good movies. I re-watched them before we shot. It made it funnier when I saw the premiere.
DT: As an actress, do you feel you have a responsibility to be a role model?
RH: I think ideally that we all have a responsibility. Especially in light of what is going on with the youth. We never know what impact we have on young people's lives. When I was little, I was watching a Hugh Hefner special and they were roller-skating in the mansion. So I went upstairs and told my mother that I wanted to be a Playboy Bunny. She was on the phone and she said to hold on. She said "You might not feel this way next week but ok, Momma's on the phone." My brothers were harsh. They said, "Nobody wants to look at you."
DT: What causes are you interested in?
RH: I have a huge affinity for senior citizens. Kids are important too but old people get forgotten. Those years right before you die are really important. I would like to work with them more.
DT: Did you have any formal training?
RH: I studied for two years before "The Best Man."
DT: What do you think about women's roles in Hollywood?
RH: I feel like they are getting better. Leading men still get to be 80 and the women are made to fear aging. There should definitely be more roles for black women.
DT: Like whom?
RH: Angela Bassett is really talented. Alfre Woodard is great. C.C.H. Pounder is great. I was about to say the cast of "Good Times."
DT: Would you ever like to write or direct?
RH: I would love to write and I think I could direct. You will see me direct. I would like to direct a great movie with a great cast.
DT: How did your parents react to the movie?
RH: My father is deceased so he did not get to see it. My mother was giggling. She got the raunchy humor. She liked it. Her famous line was "I wish you were in it more but you were really good. That's a mother's line."
DT: How did you like working with the Wayans Brothers?
RH: Keenen is really smart and focused. They are a creative, fertile bunch. They are in control of their own destinies.
DT: Do you have any funny stories from the set?
RH: Marlon Wayans felt a producer's butt when Shannon Elizabeth was hugging the producer. The producer thought it was Shannon.
DT: Do you like spoofs?
RH: I loved "Airplane." The "Naked Gun" spoofs are so funny.
DT: What are your favorite scary movies?
RH: The first two "Friday the 13th" movies. After I saw "The Exorcist," I thought I was possessed. I did the voice and hopped on the bed. "Jaws" was scary.
DT: What do you do for fun?
RH: I love to sleep. I am a mean sleeper. I like to eat. I like to read a lot.
DT: What books?
RH: "Memoirs of a Geisha," Miles Davis' autobiography, the Bible for my spiritual quote of the day.
DT: Do you play sports?
RH: I like to run. I played soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey in high school. Soccer is my sport. I like to watch boxing like the De La Hoya fight.
DT: Any future projects?
RH: "Disappearing Acts," Gina's film for HBO. It's with Wesley Snipes and C.C.H. Pounder.
DT: Would you like to do your own sitcom?
RH: I have been asked that by people. I like to do different characters. I want to do "There's Something About Shante." A movie like "There's Something About Mary" with a black girl.
DT: What is your dream role?
RH: Gosh, a good dramatic piece. I went to see "Gladiator." I was going to put Russell Crowe's character's name and me as Crowe on my reel.
(Her voice gets serious now.)
RH: I want to be challenged. I want to do different stuff. I want to do a great period piece besides slavery. There is so much to do even if it is crazy. Maybe something sexy. My lips to God's ears.
She smiles and modestly thanks me for interviewing as if she had no idea how great a comedian she is.

Copyright 2001 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 142, No. 13 (Monday, January 29, 2001), beginning on page 5 and ending on page 6.