Let’s Get Scary: A Conversation with Marcia Do Vales Ahead of Horror Channel’s premiere of Zombie Rom-Com IBIZA UNDEAD
The Inbetweeners meets Shaun of the Dead in this riotously entertaining British zombie film. A group of young people head to Ibiza for the holiday of a lifetime - all the sun, sea and debauchery they can handle. Leaving the girls behind, the lads get in to an exclusive club where the performers are the undead. But one of the lads’ drunken antics lead to the zombies escaping their restraints… Soon all hell breaks loose and no one on the party island is safe. Starring Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners), Matt King (Peep Show), and Cara Theobold (Downton Abbey).
Ahead of Horror Channel’s premiere of zombie romcom IBIZA UNDEAD, we ask actress and producer MARCIA DO VALES gets scary.
When did your interest in horror films begin?
About the age of 11 or 12, I started enjoying watching horror films, after my parents had gone to bed. I remember watching Child’s Play with the volume turned off, sitting directly in front of the TV so I could quickly turn it off if my parents came in.
Tell us about your first horror film role.
In my first film role, I played The Girl in The Reverend I found myself working alongside the legendary Rutger Hauer who was cast as the Devil. He had his own private room but in fact he chose to come out and be with us most of the time, which was lovely. My first lead role was as Gabby in Deranged. This was a major step for me as I was also the producer and English was actually my third language at the time!
Who are your genre inspirations?
I truly admire Clare Higgins. I worked with her on Heretiks and she delivers an amazing performance. I was very impressed with her preparation too. I ‘m also a big fan of Milla Jovovich, especially in The Fifth Element and Resident Evil.
What was your role in Brit horror comedy IBIZA UNDEAD?
I played Mari, a kick ass promo girl for a bad guys' nightclub in Ibiza. Maria hates her job and her gangster boss Karl. Finally she quits but Karl won't allow that so easily. She's destined to become the next "undead" attraction in Karl's club. Maria's a feisty, take no shit, girl and I loved that.
You were the lead producer on Paul Hyett’s HERETIKS. What was that like?
Heretiks was originally a script called The Sisterhood, written by Gregory Blair, that I found with my business partner Keven Kane. It's an English period chiller and we fell in love with the whole idea of it. Templeheart came on board, then Paul (Hyett), who re-wrote the script with Conal Palmer. The executive producer, Lyndon Baldock, then brought Michael Riley on board to co=produce the film with me. We had a fantastic cast with Clare Higgins, Hannah Arterton and Michael Ironside and discovered some amazing new young talent too.
Marcia stars in IBIZA UNDEAD, which has its channel premiere on Horror Channel, Sat Jan 12, 9pm.
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