As you may know, February is “Women in Horror” month. To celebrate, PromoteHorror.com asked women from different professions if they would like to answer some questions about being a “Woman in Horror.” One of the women, who was kind enough to answer our questions, was actress/director/producer Maria Lee Metheringham. Lets see what she said about being a “Woman in Horror”…
-PH: When did you first become a horror fan?
-Maria: I’ve always been intrigued by horror films since before I was allowed to even watch them. When I had sleepovers at my mates houses we were always allowed to watch TV till late which I couldn’t do in my own home. First one I ever saw was about a ghost that killed people via electricity, no idea what it was but I remember a woman getting her hand chopped off in a garbage blender. Other one I remember well was the exorcist which I saw when I was 12.
-PH: Was there a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to go from being a fan of horror to a woman who contributes to the genre, or did it just kind of happen naturally?
-Maria: I started off acting in a few horror shorts for student films when I was in college then started to write my own horror movies and eventually direct them. I don’t think contributing to horror was planned but it felt like a natural route to go down since I was really into it.
-PH: What does having a “Women in Horror” month mean to you?
-Maria: It’s great exposure for women who don’t really get noticed or thought about within these themes. There are enough of us out there but the horror film market is usually thought to be guys. I have noticed since becoming a director I get less support than the guys who direct but this creates a good platform for us to get noticed and speak about the kool stuff we’re doing.
-PH: Is there a woman in horror who you consider a role model?
-Maria: Absolutely has to be Jamie Lee Curtis! I first saw her in the Halloween films which I love and more recently the TV series Scream Queens which is hilariously brilliant.
-PH: How do you think the role of women in horror has changed over the years?
-Maria: There’s a lot more women grasping onto that writer/director role. Women are being noticed for being just as imaginative when it comes to gore and terror. Also compared to previously, actresses in horror are not all damsels in distress who scream at anything and anyone. The roles are tougher and more challenging and far more realistic.
-PH: What do you think the future holds for women in horror?
-Maria: I hope to see more support and funding aimed at female directors. I think it will continue to progress as it has been and the boundaries will keep being pushed and expanded. I would actually love to see a compilation like ‘Masters of Horror’ but completely compiled of female horror directors.
-PH: Being that this is PromoteHorror.com, please feel free to plug your current/next horror project.
-Maria: I am the director of horror feature film PUMPKINS and also played Mina Adams in Mask of Thorn and one of the nurses in Attack of the Adult Babies. Currently Producer on a new Fantasy Horror starting in March in Wales too.
Links to my social media etc:
Twitter: @Actress_Maria_M
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marialee.metheringham
Latest horror film: https://www.facebook.com/FeatureFilmGame/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4073865/?ref=m_nv_sr_1
We would like to thank Maria Lee Metheringham for taking the time to answer our questions, but more importantly for her contribution to horror!