Exclusive: Lone Fleming on Her Life Making Horror Films
David Gelmini
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Best known for her roles in classic horror films such as Vampyres, The Possessed, and Tombs of the Blind Dead, acclaimed horror actress Lone Fleming will soon be heading to the UK to attend two huge events.
Firstly, she’ll deliver a talk at the London arts venue known as the Horse Hospital on October 19, to deliver a talk about her life and career. This event was organized by the good people over at World Wide Weird, and you can learn more here. She’ll then appear at the 28th Festival of Fantastic Films from October 20-22 at the Manchester Conference Centre.
In anticipation of the events, we decided to ask Lone some questions about her long career in the horror business.
Dread Central: You’ve been in a ton of classic horror films over the years, including, Vampyres, Evil Eye, The Possessed, and of course, the Tombs of the Blind Dead franchise. Also in 2014, you were awarded an Algeciras Fantástika award for your contributions to horror. So I suppose you must have a real affinity for the genre?
Lone Fleming: Hello to everyone. That’s a good question. I actually started out making comedies. As an actress, you don’t usually get to choose the genre of the films you make, but you might be lucky enough to star in a film which may go on to achieve cult status. Which would make you very lucky.
As a child, I was very scared of horror. But later when I started to work on horror films, I came to love the genre. So much is goes on when you’re shooting a horror film. It’s very exciting and different. So luck was on my side with “Night of Blind Terror”, and I am very grateful to all my fans. We all know that horror movies will last forever.
DC: You’ve worked with some legendary figures over the years, haven’t you? Not to mention the fact that your husband Eugenio Martín directed the 1972 film Horror Express, which starred horror legends Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.
LF: I worked with Telly Savalas, James Mason, Gina Lolobrigida, Chuck Connors, and the lovely Kenneth Moore. He was a lovely man. I worked with him in Simon Piquer´s film “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”.
I also worked with Lee Van cliff in a western called “Bad Man’s River” where I played a Mexican. When you worked in big productions at that time, you did your role and they sent you home unless you were the main star. LOL. Today there’s much more friendship between actors and directors and crew. I also love my role in “A Candle for the Devil”, which was written and directed by my husband Eugenio Martin. He’s a great director and he’s great at working with actors.
DC: Can you talk about the experience of making your directional debut on the upcoming film Barefoot Virgin?
LF: I have taken a big step. I love gothic films, and this is a film I feel that only I can direct.
I believe in energy from other lives, I always wanted to write a story about my belief. The film’s about a young girl named Leonor, who receives a letter which blows into her window the night before she is to marry. And then her nightmare begins. It’s a gothic fantasy, and a strange love story.
I also have written and produced another short story called “The Grey House”, which I also starred in. But I had problems with the director. So I have not released it yet, but one day soon I will post it in YouTube.
DC: And I hear that you also created some beautiful storyboards for the film?
LF: Yes. As I have painted and made sculptures in the past, I thought I would create the storyboards. I have done the drawings in the style of a fairly tale. I have never done that before, and found it very it to be very helpful to me and for the camera man to understand the story and how I wanted to shoot it. Now I am going on to do some posters to sell for the crowdfunding campaign.
I was happy to get back into painting again. I have also visited the location several times to look at how to shoot the scenes, and to study all the possible problems that may occur. And I am happy to have a great cast and crew, who understand me well.
DC: You also recently starred in the Danish horror film Escaping the Dead, which did quite well on the festival circuit. What can horror fans expect from this film?
LF: I have a group of friends who work on underground movies in Denmark. Through them, Martin asked me if I would like to play a role in the film. I thought the story was good, and acted as a sort of lesson about what drugs can lead to. Also, I found it terrific that for once I could speak in my own language. Oh, it was so easy to do, and I loved it.
DC: You are scheduled to appear at a World Wide Weird event in London on October 19, and then at the 28th Festival of Fantastic Films in Manchester from October 20th – 22nd. Are you looking forward to these?
LF: Oh yes, do I look forward to theses events! I have got some very special friends, and I know I will have a great time. Really looking forward to them.
DC: Are you working on any other projects?
LF: Yes I have two other project. One has a very special title in Spanish, which will shock people. LOL. It’s called “Eres Una Hija De Puta”, an expression we use quite a lot in Spain. You can use it in a funny way, but also in a very angry way. It would translate to something like “you daughter of a bitch”. The film’s about abuse . The story has a with a mother and daughter talking face to face, with very harsh dialog.
I also have almost finished writing a western, which will be shot in Almeria. But first I need to finish La Virgen Descalza. I also plan to make a documentary about my life. That is if I have enough time left on this Earth, LOL. But I don’t plan to stop.
See you all soon in London and Manchester. Big hugs :))))
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