Lauren German: The Mr. Skin Interview

Stunningly beautiful Lauren German first caught Mr. Skin’s eye way back in 1999 when she appeared in the sex- and relationship-themed MTV soap Undressed. Since then Lauren hasn’t actually gotten undressed, but she has participated in a lesbian make-out with Amy Adams in Standing Still (2005) (Picture-1), been a beautiful paraplegic in Crispin Glover’s It Is Fine. Everything Is Fine! (2007), and sketched a topless Vera Jordanova before decapitating her in Hostel: Part II (2007) (Picture-1). Now Lauren is appearing in the romantic comedy Love and Mary, which was released on DVD this week. She spoke to our own Maximilian Mueller about horror movies, lesbianism, and nudity in her future.

Can you tell us about your role on the MTV soap Undressed in 2000?

Oh yeah! That was one of my first jobs. In fact, it may have been my very first job. I play this bratty girl, and her boyfriend either was cheating or had been cheating or she was suspicious. I don’t remember. I just remember doing a lot of scenes where I was jealous that he was flirting with a girl that was prettier and smarter and all that.

You worked with Crispin Glover and Steven C. Stewart in It is Fine. Everything Is Fine! What was that like?

Oh God, it was amazing! Everyone looks at Crispin like he’s this weird, dark, I’ve heard people say “self-indulgent,” or whatever . . . He’s not like that! He’s so giving. He’s really normal. Crispin is a good friend of mine.

My character was paraplegic and I had a breathing tube and a urine bag and an electric wheelchair, which was weird. I’m not in that much of the movie, but when I saw it, I was blown away.

So you knew Crispin before the movie?

Yes. Oh my God, this is coming full circle! When I was doing Undressed, the actress who played the girl I was jealous of was named Carrie Szlasa. And one night she introduced me to Crispin and we have been friends since. So when he was doing It is Fine. Everything Is Fine!, he called me. And [Carrie] has a part in it as well.

You did your own stunts in Hostel: Part II. What was that like?

Well, what happened was that the amazing girl who was my stunt double was much more muscular than me and you could tell [she wasn’t me]. So I said, “Let me try it.” And it was fun! Doing the stunts a lot of times would give me a whole new angle on the scene that I would never have experienced.

Were you familiar with the works of Edwige Fenech or Ruggero Deodato, who have cameos in the movie, before you met them on the set?

Oh, yeah! [Director] Eli [Roth] gave me a whole bunch of movies to watch before we even went to Prague. He gave me about thirteen of his favorite horror films. I had never been into horror, but some of them were actually done really beautifully, and that’s what made them scary. So I was familiar with [Edwige Fenech (Picture-1-2-3) and Ruggero Deodato] before they were on set. It was cool to meet them.

You weren’t a horror fan after doing The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 2003?

No. Not because those movies aren’t good. I’m kind of scared of that stuff. Horror films give me bad dreams. But that doesn’t make me unable to work on them as an actor. It’s a whole different thing when you’re acting in them. That’s the fun part. That doesn’t give me bad dreams.

But there is one scene [in Hostel: Part II] where Heather Matarazzo (Picture-1) is doing her torture scene. I visited her on the set that day. She wanted me to come by, because it was pretty gnarly what she was doing, hanging upside down for hours at a time. She’s nude in that scene, and she was in a very vulnerable position.

But even being on the set and seeing the lights and the fake blood and people running around with walkie-talkies, I still went home that night and had the worst nightmares I’ve ever had in my life. It was awful!

After Hostel: Part II, I was like, “I don’t know if I’m going to do another horror film ever.” I loved every minute of it, but I was more drained and physically exhausted after that film than I think I’ve ever felt in my life.

What was it like to do your lesbian make-out scene with Amy Adams in Standing Still?

That movie was so, so fun!

What about the lesbian scene itself?

It’s always weird a little bit when you have to be intimate with someone on film. It always gives me butterflies. But with Amy, it was really easy. I said, “Look, I’m going to just go for it. I’m going to make out with you and probably creep you out. Whatever. Are you okay with that?”

And she said, “I’m totally okay with that. Do whatever you’ve got to do.”

In that movie, my character Jennifer is gay and she fell in love with Amy Adams’s character in college. And she goes back to see Amy’s wedding and it’s her last chance to be like, “I love you and my love for you has not gone away. And I’m just going to lean over and make out with you and hope and pray that there’s something still there.”

What’s the first nude scene you remember seeing?

I remember it so vividly. I believe I was watching TV at my aunt’s house and they had Flashdance with Jennifer Beals (Picture-1). It was the scene where her friend who plays the ice skater has a breakdown and she goes into a strip club and she’s stripping in an elevated bathtub with no water in it (Picture-1).

I was like, “Oh my God! I can’t believe this woman is naked in a room full of people, moving around like that. And all these men are watching!” It was so crazy to my innocent little brain.

How old were you?

Oh, gosh I don’t know. Maybe eight or nine.

What’s your favorite sex scene of all time?

The Postman Always Rings Twice with Jessica Lange (Picture-1-2). I remember thinking, “Man, that looks real!”

Who’s the sexiest actress working today?

I know! Marion Cotillard (Picture-1-2) I can’t even put into words how great she is! You look at her and she’s a hot young actress, but she has so much depth.

What about the sexiest actress of all time?

Jessica Lange (Picture-1-2). For sure. Before her, Katharine Hepburn. Joan Crawford. Bette Davis. For me, sexy is so many things. It’s strength, it’s wisdom, it’s a sense of humor. It’s not just the girl with the perfect body and the pretty face.

What’s next for Lauren German?

A thriller called The Dark Country and a comedy called Made for Each Other. That was a lot of fun.

Do you have any nude scenes coming up we should know about?

You know what? Mr. Skin must really not like my no-skin career. I, to this point, have not Mr. Skinned myself onscreen.

Is there a reason behind that?

My body is perfect and so great, I don’t think everyone’s ready for it. Do you know what I mean? All right, all right. You have to reveal perfection at some point and I will. I will. I’ll call you guys the day I decide.