By Penny Fine
Sumptuous horror-flick hottie Zoe Hunter Lee (Picture: 1) is a native of upstate New York, an obsessed shoe enthusiast, a professional voice-over artist currently specializing in the audio versions of bodice-ripping romance novels, and, most skin-portantly, one of the 21st century's fastest-rising B-movie bombshells.
Zoe talked with Mr. Skin about horror movies, scarily sexy footwear, and the videos she hopes her mom will never stumble upon.
What's currently keeping you busy, Zoe?
I am really excited for 2008 and this coming spring, as I have several projects in pre-production. The first and foremost is the Kentucky Fried Horror, which may have a slightly different name by the time it is released due to legal issues.
Also, this month I am shooting an indie film in which I play myself, as an actress who shows up for a horror shoot only to find she is caught up in a snuff film. Scary stuff, for sure.
Non-horror wise, I have just finished work on my third audio book recording and plan to branch out and get back into commercial voice-over work as well.
What attracted you to horror films?
I have always loved horror as a genre in the books that I read and the movies I watch and have since I was very young and discovered Stephen King's The Shining (Picture: 1), which is still one of my favorites.
Horror used to get a bad rap as low budget and cheesy work; as a whole I think everyone from new starlets to A-listers are looking for great horror scripts now.
What I love about working in horror is the chance to play characters beyond myself. I love to portray monsters, non-humans, and am fascinated with monster myths, vampires, witches, and the dark side of life.
What was the first nudity you remember seeing in a film?
Wow, I guess my first nude woman that I remember is the woman who rises from the bathtub in The Shining (Picture: 1). She is beautiful at first and then becomes zombie-like. How apropos!
Do you have a favorite movie nude scene?
My favorite nude scene from a movie is anything from Gia (Picture: 1). I am totally infatuated with Miss Angelina Jolie; she really is perfect in body and spirit. She is sooo sexy in that film.
What is your favorite sexy movie of all time?
It is a tie between Gia (Picture: 1) and Y tu Mam Tambin (Picture: 1). I really have a thing for Gael Garc?Bernal, and that movie was really sexy, very hot, and provocative. Everyone should rent it, but probably not on a first date.
Who are the three sexiest actresses working today?
Jessica Alba (Picture: 1) is one hot mama, and she picks interesting, sexy roles as well. I am really turned on by talent and brains as well as a hot body and she has the total package.
I am also a huge Scarlett Johansson (Picture: 1) fan and have been following her career since she was a preteen indie actress. She has grown into a sophisticated, sexy woman-and her lips! Wow.
Okay, this third actress might throw you for a loop, because I don't think she is overtly sexy in that Hollywood way, but over the years I have really become a fan, and that is Jennifer Love Hewitt (Picture: 1). She has that appealing girl-next-door quality and kick-ass low-cut nightgowns on Ghost Whisperer (Picture: 1) that make me look at her in a whole new light. I wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers!
I'm totally feeling the JLH and the low-cut nightgowns. Who are the three sexiest actresses of previous eras? Why?
Wow, I can answer this pretty easily as I love vintage clothes, vintage accessories, and vintage movies.
I have been a hugeMarilyn Monroe (Picture: 1) fan since I was a teenager and have a collection of photo books about her. I plastered my college dorm room with her classic poses. Marilyn, for me, had the classic beautiful face, curvy body, and sexy demure voice.
Also, Lana Turner was positively stunning and had an amazing body, really hot! I tend to find curvier, fuller women really attractive, so although she is super talented, I am not that into Audrey Hepburn, but more Jayne Mansfield (Picture: 1).
What I miss about the classic Hollywood starlets was all of the glamour and the beautiful gowns, furs, gloves, et cetera. That is really lacking in today's stars. It was all about embracing the female form and accentuating the hourglass. That is what I find sexy.
What would be the sexiest scene in the movie version of your life?
I am assuming that my Mom will not see this. And Mom if you are reading this, please look away now.
When I was twenty-two or so, I was cast in a couple of Playboy shoots for a television show that they used to air about "real couples" exploring their sexuality in unusual situations.
Of course, I was just an actress, and my "husband" was also acting, and everything was simulated. The first time I shot for Playboy it was a show on naked yoga for couples, and I had a blast. It was fun, informative, and really was quite sexy.
The second segment was shot in this amazingly beautiful hotel uptown NYC, and the topic was SM 101, and I was the submissive to a mistress who taught my "husband" how to use basic bondage techniques as well as candle wax.
It wasn't so much the shoot that was sexy-it was the aftermath. My boyfriend at the time was so turned on by the fact that I was a Playboy girl and that others would be watching me and be turned on by me that we had some of the best sex of our lives. Really hot, steamy, hard sex.
So I guess the movie scene would be a video of me playing on a TV having sex, while my real-life lover made passionate love to me in front of the TV.
You do a lot of work with Crazy Ralph Films, movies like Klownz and Kottentail (Picture: 1). What are those shoots like?
I have shot three films for Crazy Ralph and feel fortunate to have befriended Tony Urban and his fabulous family of indie actors.
He was the first person to cast me in a horror, and Klownz was my first horror shoot. Tony really taught me a lot about working in the horror environment, doing my own stunts, and he inspired me to discover my inner scream queen.
When I shot Kottentail with him, I had a blast playing a bitchy sorority sister and was fortunate to meet Bridget Marquardt (Picture: 1), who is now one of Hef's Girls Next Door (Picture: 1).
You make yourself very accessible on the Internet; tell me about your websites and your message board.
For now, I am really enjoying building and writing for my own websites, which are open to friends, fans, and family. Also I maintain a MySpace page and a Facebook presence. I think it is really important to stay accessible to fans and keep up with the latest projects and information available on the Internet.
You love shoes. Tell us about this passion and your recent leap into shoe blogging.
I have had a love for feminine and high-heeled shoes since I was a little kid. My mom tells me that I wouldn't go to nursery school without a party dress and patent leather shoes on, but she would insist that I wear jeans underneath the dress. By the time I was her size in shoes, I would borrow hers and wear them to school.
As I grew older, my love for shoes grew stronger, and I started to collect couture and designer shoes from an artistic perspective. I think beautiful shoes can make an outfit and really stand out in a crowd. I recently started a shoe blog that takes account of my shoes (I am still not sure how many pairs I own), and will also list upcoming shoe sales as well as feature beautiful shoes for each season.
Tell us about your voice-over work.
I was working for a fashion company, answering phones, and everyone I talked to told me I should do voice work. From there, I made a CD and sent it out to advertising agencies. Young and Rubicam called, and soon enough I was auditioning weekly for big national radio and TV commercials. I booked Goldfish Crackers right away.
After that I did some local radio commercials and phone recordings. For example, "Please press two for English." Also, I work for Audible's Harlequin division, so I now record Romantic Audio books.
What's the best part of being a New York State girl?
I love commuting back and forth from the Hudson Valley to New York City. I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I love NYC like no one else loves NYC, but sometimes I just need quiet and a little garden to grow my own herbs and veggies. I love to go to the theater, film openings, art shows, and, of course, the best shopping on Earth, which is why I will always be a New York Girl!
What's in the future for Zoe Hunter Lee?
I fully intend to continue in the horror genre, as well as pursue indie films. This year I intend to break out more commercially and audition for voice-over commercials, as well as on camera. I also want to expand and maybe go back to the New York theater scene and do a play!
