The horror!

Pop-culture princess Paris Hilton
holds forth on her role in REPO!

TABLOID TO TERROR: Hilton

by MALCOLM FRASER

Among the many unexpected delights offered by REPO!, perhaps the most surprising is the spirited performance from trash-culture icon Paris Hilton. Admittedly, the hotel heiress’s storied history of transgressions against taste may have set expectations low, but she goes far above and beyond them with a show of song and dance panache.

“I only knew Paris from tabloids,” admits director Darren Lynn Bousman. “I saw House of Wax, and to me that’s not acting. So when someone suggested her, I wanted to see if she could really act. She came in to audition, and she was amazing!”

Co-star Anthony Head agrees. “Everyone knows her from television, but she shows a different side here,” he says. “I watched the film with my two daughters, 19 and 17 years old. They were ready to hate her, and they really took their hats off to her.”

After much negotiation, the Mirror succeeded in contacting Hilton for a brief e-mail interview. Sadly, an inquiry on how she feels about those who believe she represents the decline of Western Civilization, as well as a longshot on her thoughts on the U.S. election this fall, were kiboshed.

Mirror: With all the different projects you’re already involved with, what made you decide to get into acting?

Paris Hilton: I’ve been involved with acting all my life, but this was a special opportunity to work with some amazing people in the industry, from so many different backgrounds. The script was like no script I’ve ever seen before, and I trained with the renowned [acting coach] Ivana Chubbuck to prepare.

M: You were in House of Wax and now this; is there something that attracts you to horror movies?

PH: I love the horror genre, and I love the unexpected in filmmaking.

M: What was it about this movie in particular that made you want to do it?

PH: The script blew me away, and I was so honoured to be able to work with Darren Bousman and Twisted Pictures, the creators of the Saw films. There is nothing like the REPO! concept, and I can’t wait for people to experience it.

M: What was the shooting like? Any memorable moments, or ones you’d rather forget?

PH: The best—and most difficult—part of the shooting process was the transformation of my character. I had so many different prosthetics, and so many different looks. I look almost unrecognizable.

M: Describe your character, Amber Sweet.

PH: She’s very twisted and desperate for her father’s attention. She’s a little bit evil but has a human side as well. She goes through many physical changes and I really enjoyed taking on her personality, as an actress—she and I are so different.

M: Have you seen the finished film? What do you think of it?

PH: I have, and am so proud of it! It was scary to watch, even though I saw it all from behind the scenes. The scariest parts look so real.

M: What’s next on your acting and other agendas?

PH: Hmm… REPO II?

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