I chatted with Alicia Witt about her impeccable career and her love of Fells Point
When did you know you wanted to be an actress?
I made my first movie when I was seven. I felt when I first set foot on that soundstage, I had a calm knowing that this was a part of my destiny. It just made sense for me. I didn’t grow up in a house that didn’t have anything to do with the Entertainment industry so it wasn’t something that was on my radar before that.
What was it like — I don’t know if the right word is mentor — but David Lynch was a part of your early career?
He was the person who cast me in my first movie. The casting director called to see if there were any kids who were right to play the role of Alia. That’s how I got that first audition. He worked with me and changed my life with no question. He set the tone in a big way–he’s an exemplary leader to have on your first movie. There’s some really questionable experiences out there David is one of the best out there. And part of that is how he conducts himself on set; he knows what he wants and how the crew respects how strong, king and compassionate. I’ve worked with him now four times and he’s familiar just as any family member. He’s like a uncle I see sometimes. I don’t know what my life would be if he wasn’t in it.
You played Zoey Woodbine on the sitcom “Cybill.” What was that experience like?
It was like college. That’s how I describe it in my book. Those were my formative years. I had most of my first experiences on that show. It changed my life because it was the first time I had been in the public eye in such a big way. I made money; was able to buy a house. It launched everything in a different way. I had made some movies and won a Sundance Award for the movie “Fun.” It kind of established me as a film actor too. 1994..another year that changed everything ::laugh:: I learned so much with who I worked with. Christine Baranski was somehow who exemplified who I wanted to be as I grew up. I admired that she had a tight family life, living in a small town in Connecticut. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to the life I have now..I live in Nashville. I feel like I’ve got a real life.
You’ve appeared in many films like “Two Weeks Notice”, “Last Holiday..” but you actually filmed “Cecile B. Demented” here in Baltimore. How insane was that set?
Yeah! I LOVE John Waters. He’s still one of my favorites. It was a bucket list item to be in one of his movies. To be able to say I had sex with a gerbil in a John Waters movie is..just..I think that’s fantastic. ::laughs::
Also the biggest ensemble I’ve worked with on film. Meaning twelve of us were on set at the same time. The AD’s would have to count heads a lot.
You’re also an accomplished songwriter. You’ve written songs for the Christmas movies you’ve starred in. How cool is that?
The last Christmas movie I made was five years ago. I wrote the story for that one as well. Being able to write the song and produce the movie because I had been living with these characters for a while.
My new Christmas album is coming out this November as well. The first single, “I Think I’m Spending Christmas With You”, is coming out November 1st. It’s the name of the album too. I’m going on tour to promote it this fall as well. So there’s been a lot of Christmas in my life this year.
Leaning into the singing side, you were the Dandelion on “The Masked Singer” last year. How INSANE was that?
It was something I never could’ve predicted being as profound as it was. I found that it changed the way I communicate with my voice. Even though it was silly and trivial, I was VERY emotional about it and deeply loved the experience. I deeply didn’t want to leave. I just wanted to stay. To be a human on earth is to have all these preconceived notions about you..to have all of that stripped away and be a voice? It’s powerful. I’m trying to think about doing more versions overseas..it’s addictive.
On my end, I love just trying to be a detective and figuring out the clues. When Ken guessed it was you, I knew you had been in “The Walking Dead” but the Christmas stuff didn’t click yet. When the mask came off and it was you, I remember going “KEN WAS RIGHT!!”
::both laugh::
That was FUN! I couldn’t believe he guessed me either.
I have to mention “Urban Legend.” To me it’s one of the best modern horror ever made. What memories do you have from the set?
Thank you! It was a eight week long shoot. The thing about “Urban Legend” was that I supposed I didn’t realize until working on it..take the description of”Natalie runs through the rain.” ..that’s a half day running in the rain, in the dark, soaked. I also learned you shouldn’t wear a suede jacket and high heels while running through the rain, which felt like the majority of the shoot. That was HEAVY! I also had jeans on. I don’t wear suede at all anymore ::laughs::
Any scene that took place inside on that final night; everyone else was dry because they were having fun and partying and stuff. Well, they were gonna end up dead. They would hose me down like I had just came in from the rain while everyone was dry. So my biggest memory of being on that set is being wet and cold. I just couldn’t get warm. I had such insomnia. I love night shoots, but at that point I didn’t know how to get rid of that character when I come home. Fortunately, I’ve learned that now. I don’t think I could’ve played my character in “Longlegs” twenty years ago.
Why do you think “Urban Legend” still resonates?
I don’t know honestly. We make so many movies as actors, if we’re lucky, and the majority of the credits I have are films no one talks about anymore. Then there’s these movies that people watch year after year like “Urban Legends.” It’s been twenty years..plus. It has that legacy. I’m blown away. In a similar way to “Dune”, audiences may have found it after the fact, which is a blessing.
For me, it’s a great concept, great writing, great casting…
Aww Thank you
The opening scene is a classic. Because of that scene, even if it’s 2pm, I check my backseat. It freaked me out as a kid but it’s carried on with me as an adult ::both laugh::
I feel like you don’t get the credit as one of the best Final Girls in horror either.
Thank You! Really appreciate that.
You’ve done a few conventions. What is it like being able to meet your fans?
When I started doing conventions, the year “The Walking Dead” came out, it was a whole new world for me. It’s stunning that these are the people who we make them for and the people who let us keep doing what we love. Every person who comes up to my table, I’m honored. Even though it’ll be most likely “The Walking Dead” or “Dune” or “Urban Legend” or “Longlegs”; sometimes it’s something totally I wasn’t expecting. Like an episode of “Two And A Half Men” where I did a striptease or an episode of “CSI: Miami.” I’ll hear actors say it’s always this one movie or show. But my career is so odd, it makes it interesting. They’ll come up to talk about one thing and see a picture “Oh that was you in “Mrs Hollands Opus!” I had a dude come up to me in Wisconsin recently and talk about one thing and realized it was me in “Longlegs.” He went “AWW HELL NO” and laughed and walked away. ::laughs:: That made me laugh so much.
Not to mention a great turn in “The Sopranos..”
Oh wow. Thank you!
I’m so excited to come out and do your convention. The last time I was there was for the premiere of “Cecil B. Demented.” I hope we’re staying in Fells Point, which is where I stayed while filming that movie. I have so many happy memories in Fells Point. A friend of mine, Brooke Langton, was in town filming “The Replacements” and we just had a ball. We stayed in the same building and got to hang out together. I LOVE Fells Point. I also realize doing a convention, I don’t know much time I’ll have to explore but I really want to see how the City and Fells Point have changed.
Alicia Witt appears at Monster Mania this weekend in Downtown Baltimore! Buy tix