by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Magenta Baribeau aka Mlle. End

Age: 26

Occupation: Actress

Bio: This venerable Village vixen moved to Montreal from Hull back in 1995 and, "having never even seen a goth before, I thought I was alone in the world. But then I saw all these people [at her CEGEP] dressed in black, rebelling against society, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is me.'" Now widely regarded as the "Queen of Montreal Goth," a lofty title to be sure yet one she's not quite comfortable with ("It's a little too pretentious for me"), Magenta hosts both the 745-member-strong Montreal Goth Forum and the Montreal Goth Information (http://go.to/gothicmontreal) Web site. A gifted actress, she's worked on countless independent features and is currently on the hunt for an agent who can finally set her up with an ACTRA card.

The number of her original CEGEP goth buds who still style themselves after Nosferatu: Zero. "For most people goth is just a phase they tend to grow out of. But that's okay, so long as you don't forget your roots, your principles."

Goth defined: "It's something nobody agrees upon. But for me, goths are people who don't want to conform, not political like punks, but who don't want to belong, and feel alienated. Some [goths] say they dress in black because they mourn society - and this is true for me. Society has prioritized the trivial, the values are wrong. Goths like to talk openly about the taboos. Anything that is not tolerated, that isn't in the mainstream, that's what we want to do."

Like ritual murder? Not so much.

Does she now or has she ever had lipstick-smeared posters of Robert Smith up on her bedroom wall? "No. I grew up listening to Guns 'n' Roses. I was in love with Axl Rose."

One good reason to slap on some black lipstick and pretend that Einstürzende Neubauten were the greatest thing to happen to music/culture since Bobby "Boris" Pickett: Because "goths do a lot of different things sexually. We dress like whores - although honestly, I really don't think we are."

Does she believe most goths are truly depressed? Yes.

Is that because people are always making fun of them? "No, it's more to do with the age group. You learn stuff in CEGEP and then you start thinking about how messed up society is. When you think a lot about issues, how can you be happy?"

How much time she spends in her bedroom writing poetry: Very little. "I've tried to write poetry but I really suck at it. And you know, most goths I know can laugh at the goth stereotype, because really, it's sad and funny at the same time."

Fave TV show: Six Feet Under

Fave local clothing store: Diabolique

Fave film of all time: Requiem for a Dream

Fave local club: Saphir

Musical preferences: Ivory Frequency, VNV

Last book read: The Sandman:The Doll's House, by Neil Gaiman.

Words of wisdom: "It's better to regret things you've done than never try things at all."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca