Traci Lords: American Pop Icon and Sexual Terrorist

By Alexander Rodriguez

Traci Lords has caused a scene in every genre of entertainment, literally.  Surviving a turbulent youth, she made name for herself in both mainstream and cult film circuits.  Kevin Smith named her an American Pop Icon, John Waters named her a sexual terrorist, the gays – we snap our fingers and call her a Fab Diva – she is all those things and then some.  Her resume reads like a bucket list of every Hollywood entertainer – TV, film, music, literature, fashion – check.  From bad girl to sweetheart, to mother and director, there are not many roles in front of or behind the camera that she hasn’t conquered. 

She has appeared in dozens of films and television shows from Roger Corman’s Not of This Earth, Cry Baby, Blade, Zack & Miri Make a Porno, Melrose Place, Roseanne, Will & Grace and Gilmore Girls to series regular roles on NBC’s Profiler and Syfy’s First Wave. Her autobiography Traci Lords Underneath It All (HarperCollins) was a NY Times Bestseller and has been optioned for a miniseries. Her pioneering techno album 1000 Fires (Radioactive/MCA) topped the Billboard Dance Chart and was featured on both the Mortal Kombat and Virtuosity soundtracks. Her directorial debut, Sweet Pea was produced under the auspices of the renowned Fox Searchlab.

What could possibly be next?  Traci will make her stage debut, playing Gloria in the camp, black comedy Women Behind Bars at the Montalban Theatre from January 24^th to February 2^nd.  Better than any gay man’s dream, among Traci’s castmates include fellow John Waters colleague Mink Stole, Coco Peru, RuPaul’s Eureka O’Hara, Chi Chi DeVayne, Ginger Minj, and adult film star Wesley Woods. 

You have crossed over between so many different genres of entertainment, established yourself as a model, writer, director, actress, and musician, and ridden the waves of so many changes in the entertainment industry.  You have constantly evolved.  What is your daily mantra?  What do you attribute your strength to?

Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise!  

You studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute – what were your biggest takeaways from that experience that stay with you to this day?

That before you can paint the picture you have to prepare the surface and solidify the foundation.

You are a fan favorite in both mainstream and cult films – what do you think fans respond to most about you?

That I’m a survivor. They see the fighter.  They love when I’m cast in dangerous darker roles. They like me as the aggressor, the boss, the killer, the badass.

Describe your first-time meeting John Waters.

I first met JW at Imagine Films in 1989 at my audition for Cry-Baby. I was so nervous that I had to excuse myself to throw up before I went in. He was very direct about what he wanted and laughed out loud at my performance. It was an out-of-body experience… I cried when I heard I got the part. He gave me a career.

How has the entertainment industry changed the most over your career?

When I first started acting, actors went into offices to audition for the director, producer, and casting director. Today most auditions are self-tapes. Actors today have little offered to them regarding direction or input. It’s much harder in that respect. My advice to women in entertainment is to keep your wits about you and your pants on.

Which role of yours would you want to go back and revisit?

I had a small role in the first Blade movie. I played Raquel, a vampire who met her fate at the hand of Blade. The follow up had me coming back as my twin sister to seek revenge. I wasn’t available when the script arrived, and the studio scrapped that version. Blade was the first of the Marvel movies that hit the box office. And the first one was so damn unreal. Stephen Norrington directed it and I still have fantasies about what could have been and where I could have taken it.

Music is also a big part of your life, who were your earliest musical inspirations?

Blondie, Pat Benatar, and The Cure.

You are a major ally to the LGBT community – what about that community affects you the most?

The fact that people are still being murdered, persecuted, and discriminated against simply because of whom they love.   

So excited to see you on the LA stage in Women Behind Bars!  This is your stage debut!  What made you say yes to doing this project?

I love Tom Eyen’s words. And I think Scott Thompson is a very clever director. But I ultimately said yes because I want the challenge of live theatre. I want to reach to the edges and see what’s there.  I’m both excited to perform live and nervous to perform live. Gloria, the role I play, and I are both alphas, although she is way meaner.

What does the future hold for Traci Lords?

Many more unpredictable adventures… I hope.