"Blondie" returns in Gen-Art opener, "Six Ways to Sunday"

by Andrea Meyer

Deborah Harry, pop star extraordinaire from the legendary band Blondie, has been an actress since the late 70's. Even though it's been a million years since "Heart of Glass" hit the top ten list, we still think of her as Blondie. And Deborah Harry isn't even blond anymore. I chatted with her at the GenArt Film Festival launch party at the dimly lit Soho hotspot Verucka, where she was hiding behind her brown hair with blond streaks at a dark corner table. While the diva still sings - she'll be touring this Summer with the Jazz Passengers and then in Fall with BLONDIE!- Harry's acting career is also going strong. She's worked with a host of auteurs including John Waters in "Hairspray" (1986), David Cronenberg in "Videodrome" (1983), and James Mangold in "Heavy" (1996) in which she had a starring role.

Her upcoming film "Six Ways to Sunday" directed by Adam Bernstein, in which she plays the possessive mother of a disturbed eighteen year-old hitman, is opening the GenArt Film Festival tonight. I had the giddy pleasure of interviewing my childhood hero over blaring music and chocolate martinis.

indieWIRE: A lot of people still know you as Blondie. Let's talk about Deborah Harry the actress.

Deborah Harry: I've been acting quite awhile. I keep trying. I've done cult films or borderline cult films, so I am not really known as a feature film actor, though I'm not saying that it's not a possibility.

iW: What attracted you to "Six Ways to Sunday"?

Harry: I thought it was gutsy and funny and dark, and I liked Adam (Bernstein). I think Adam knew what he wanted. I thought he made good choices, and he wasn't afraid to do things that were distasteful. That's like life.

News » Oscar Doc Shortlist Features » Tim Burton's Big Show News » Sundance's 2010 New Frontier

iW: What about it was distasteful? Harry: It's not a picture about middle class values. They don't play a big part. iW: Do you like doing films that take a slap at middle class values? Harry: That's not a basic criteria for choosing a role. In this case it was important to the character. I look for characters I can relate to. I think that having needy times in my life, that's how I could understand her. The fact that she'd lost her mind and emotional ground somewhere, but she was still trying. She had a certain strength of character. iW: Do you have visions of doing movies you could sing in? Harry: I'd like to do a movie version of Chicago. Now, please ask me about Norman (Reedus). iW: Ok, then, tell me about Norman. He plays your son, right? Harry: Oh, he's scrumptious! Delightful! He's my babydoll. I just love him, I want to steal him away. Login to recommend this article » posted on April 28, 1998 Films to Snag Login to Leave a Comment »