Debbie Rochon: The Mr. Skin Interview

When and how did you get started in the business?

I was a teen and got featured extra work on Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains. I worked on that film for about three months and have been hooked on acting ever since!

What was your first big role?

The next film I had a substantial role in was a movie by ex-porn director turned B-horror-movie director Roberta Findlay. It was called Banned, and in this movie I had my first nude scene as well. I loved the experience, and she was a real spitfire to work for!

Who are some of the directors that you worked with who taught you the most?

That's a tough question because I always learn something from everyone I work with. The director who has had the biggest influence on me so far has been Lloyd Kaufman; he taught me how to work very "big" but grounded. He has become a very good friend over the years.

Jon Keeyes taught me the joy of collaborating. J.R. Bookwalter taught me how to shoot very quickly and still have fun and do a good job. Tim McCann taught me to work very intensely and was an amazing director!

Paul Scrabo gave me the opportunity to work with his wonderful comedy writing, which I will always be grateful for. There are so many other directors I have enjoyed working with but those are among the top.

How did you feel when you were first approached to do nudity and how did you make that decision?

The first movie I had a nude scene in was Banned and that was very scary, but Roberta made it extremely comfortable for me. She was normally a yeller, but on that day she was very sweet!

Since then I have made the decision to do nudity in various film projects based on the role. If I find the role interesting or challenging it's worth it. If every other element about the role is exciting to me I just bite the bullet and do the nude scene in order to be able to do my acting in the rest of the film. The pay also has to be right for nude scenes, I feel.

You seem to specialize in horror movies. Is that your favorite genre?

I have done comedy and drama as well. But horror is just such a mainstay and there are a lot of indie filmmakers doing it. I love the genre, which is very important.

I think there always was and always will be a market for indie horror. It's not going away. I think a good horror film will have a lot of elements of drama in it too, so that has always appealed to me as an actress.

I would love to do TV. The couple of times I have done it I have loved it, and getting residual checks rocks my world!

What movie did you have the most fun on, and can you give me an example of a funny thing that happened?

So many films I have had a great time on. I would have to narrow it down by talking about my recent work over the past few months. Savaged was fun because the entire movie rested on my shoulders and I adored making it.

One of the funny aspects of making that movie was my costar, Val the dog. She had to play an evil undead dog, and in real life she is incredibly sweet, wagging her tail all the time. It was very funny watching the director, Jason Liquori, try and get her to look mean.

I just got back from Germany where I made Fearmakers, directed by Timo Rose. It is a very serious ghost/horror movie and I simply loved working with all the amazing actors.

It was funny because myself and Joe Davison were the American actors and every other actor was German. We didn't know a word in German. So they would teach us words like blowjob just for fun so they could hear us say it and laugh. We were good sports and made the cast and crew laugh a lot, so that was an incredibly fun and funny experience!

Who are your favorite performers to do love scenes with?

I would have to say, seeing there are so few love scenes I have done, I have mostly done nude scenes in showers alone, that Jane Jensen in Tromeo and Juliet (Picture: 1) would have to be my favorite! She was just so sweet and easy to work with. It could have been uncomfortable or awkward but she made it easy and fun! Jane is a very sensuous woman, so it wasn't a hard acting job either!

What are a few of your favorite nudes scenes?

I always liked Broadcast Bombshells (Picture: 1) It played on cable for years. There was a lot of nudity in it and I think I looked good so I would definitely go with that one! That was the only movie I have ever done where the softcore element was the only selling point. A true SKIN-emax movie!

I also enjoyed the segment I did for the Playboy channel years ago in 1995 called New York Memoirs. I played a police woman who comes home from work and is surprised by her boyfriend and they end up in bed with her handcuffs and whatnot! That was great because it was directed by a famous photographer named Robert Farber so he made us all look very good!

Who are your favorite nude actresses and actors?

My favorite nude actresses are Carrie Fleming, who was in the Masters of Horror episode called Jenifer (Picture: 1 - 2) with the amazing Steven Weber. She was simply gorgeous. She must have spent 90% of that show naked and looked just amazing!

Another fave is Julia Anderson, who was also in a Masters of Horror episode called Right to Die. (Picture: 1 - 2) Her lovemaking scene in the hot tub was amazing! She has such an incredible body! I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

My favorite male nude actors include Gerard Butler, who played King Leonidas in Frank Miller's 300. I know he's not a "nude" actor, but damn his nude scene in that movie had me back in the theater three times! He is amazing.

Tell us a little about your Fangoria Radio show on Sirius and what it's like working with Dee Snider.

Dee has become such a good friend. He is a terrific guy with a big heart! He is a rock superstar, and every time we walk down the street, I am reminded of that from the amount of people who still rush up to him to say hi! Dee's a strong-headed force that is something to reckon with, but that is the exact quality that makes him unique and a success.

Dee's abilities behind the microphone always impress me; he has such natural talent as a radio personality. Even though I had done radio for a few years on and off myself before meeting him, he has taught me so much and I will always be grateful for his friendship.

On Fangoria Radio we cover everything horror on the show: movies, comics, music, and books. We have some of the biggest icons alive today in the genre on as guests, and that's very thrilling for me. We just had on William Friedkin, who directed The Exorcist. We have had Stuart Gordon, director of Re-Animator. (Picture: 1 - 2) We have had on every personality you can think of, from Eli Roth to Frank Henenlotter, so it's like being in heaven for me every Friday night when we're live on air!

Any parting words?

Long live Mr. Skin!