Interviews
Translation of interview with the
Italian Press & Visto Magazine
How long have you
Impersonated Madonna?
Professionally, since 1985. The only
Impersonator of Madonna in the US to make a living this long.
Have you ever met her?
Yes. About 1989 she was holding auditions
for a concert. I knew her choreographer Jeffrey Hornaday. He suggested that I come to the
audition and try out. After three separate auditions I made it to the final cut. This is
when I met her. I had to free style dance for her (which made me incredibly nervous). After
the audition Jeffrey introduced me to her. I was trying to get a job as a stand-in for the
tour.
What did she think? Did
she know of your Impersonating her?
Yes. I had recently won first runner-up in a
contest she held on MTV. She had a contest to make a music video for her. The contest was
open to anyone (not just Impersonators). As fate would have it I got a call from a
brilliant film director named Luis Marnue who was thinking about entering the contest and
needed a subject to film. We had less than 24 hours to make a video and zero budget. Our
video was hand picked by Madonna as first runner-up. We were the only video to have a
Madonna look-alike make it to the final ten videos which really surprised me because when
we were filming it on the streets of Los Angeles we saw about 10 girls making videos
.There was 2000 videos entered. When I met Madonna face to face it was after the contest.
I was not in Madonna drag when I met her but she had my head shot and resume in her hands
at the time of meeting.
How did you get started?
I begged my Mom and Dad for dance lessons and continued dancing all the way
through college. I received a scholarship in dance, choreography and acting. At my early
point of auditions for commercials and television, I sort of got side tracked. I went to
my first audition for a television show where the director was looking for an actress to
play the part of "Madonna". So I auditioned and got the part. Not long
after I realized there were many opportunities in Hollywood to play the part of Madonna.
Do you do your own make-up
and how long does it take you to transform?
Many times if I am on television or a film,
there will be professional make-up artists on the set. I also have a wonderful make-up
artist named Michael Adkins who I met because of Madonna. He came to LA from Chicago and
was a huge fan of Madonna. We bumped into each other at Universal Studios (I was performing
that night) he thought I was really Madonna and asked if he could take a picture of me.
After awhile we chatted and realized I was the Impersonator from the MTV contest. We were
instant friends. He made all my costumes from the film "Without you I’m
Nothing" as well as so many others. He does my make-up for photo shoots and such. It
takes him about one hour and up to two hours depending on which look I’m performing
that night.
Is it hard to keep up with
all her changes?
It is a challenge to keep up with her
changes, but makes for some fun as well. I am very lucky to have a crew of great
support. Also Madonna fans lend a lot of
great insight and most current Madonna news. Madonna is a beautiful icon who is close to
impossible to impersonate because of her richly exquisite individuality. I love to pay
tribute to Madonna in my own passionate way and I have had the blessing to reach a lot of
people and give them a dream.
Have you ever done a job
that you regret?
No. Each job I’ve done in my 15 years
has taught me something. I’ve done some amazing work that I can look back on and feel
proud, and I have also done jobs that feel less than glamorous, but I have never
compromised my integrity and I have never done any job that was not professional and
uncompromising. I hold her image with high respect. Impersonators should! That’s the
responsibility of the job. I have no regrets. I have turned down many jobs that I would
have if I didn’t have the integrity.
How long will you
Impersonate?
I am writing a book right now
(which I hope
to publish in Europe as well). I have always hoped to work directly with Madonna on a
music video or film. I am currently performing Madonna’s
newest "Ray of Light" which I think is amazing. I am inspired once again by her
and excited to perform music that I relate to. As a matter of fact, I have never
identified with her as much as now. People in my life think she is becoming much more like
me than vice-versa. My career as Madonna has always brought me in
new directions and has not yet become stagnate.
Do you have an agent? How
do you get work and how does someone book you?
All my fifteen years as a professional
entertainer, I have had several agencies represent me for work. Look-alikes and
Impersonators work as free agents, so we can work for several agencies at the same time.
At certain points of my career I had signed exclusive contracts with commercial agents,
but I find that no one company or person looks out for me as good as myself. I am always
networking to get myself booked. I work for over one hundred and eighty five companies
world wide. I am constantly putting promotional materials together and new shows to sell.
Most recently I have had a web page put together, so I am able to book myself through the
internet as well.
What is that information?
http://www.tributeproductions.com
E-mail: Madonnadouble@hotmail.com
Have you ever been to
Italy?
No. It is a dream of mine. I have been booked to
perform on Italian television, but it was filmed in Hollywood. To travel to Italy and
perform for the Italian people is a dream for me. The Italian audiences are the most fun
to perform for. My mother is Italian (my Dad is Greek) and I have always made her a promise
that I would take her back to Italy. Maybe I can book my show there someday and bring them
both. That would be a gift from the angels!
REVIEW JOURNAL 2006
I'm just
curious what you focus on in the beginning to really nail your
impression of her?
Depending on what kind of job I am performing (television, just my
voice, stage performance) each of these kinds of performances
require just a little bit of something that I pull our from deep
within myself, but all in all I feel one must already carry a
certain kind of "similar essence and energy dynamic"
to the star they emulate in order to portray an accurate
impersonation.
The reason I began impersonating Madonna is that I found our
"energy" was very similar and her fire on stage, in videos was
something I completely identified with. There is a fearless focus
Madonna has in her eyes when she sings/dances and this is a huge
reason she captivates her audiences.
To re-create
something like this- I truly feel you have to BE it other wise a
good impression of M may not come across accurately- It's FEARLESS and then it is sensual,
sexual, freedom to explore and feel, technique of dance steps, soul
passion for performing- these are very different kinds of things to
bring to life then say someone who impersonates "Whitney Houston".
For myself, I watch
endless video of Madonna to tap into her. There is a certain
"guard" she always seems to carry- a certain protectiveness,
defensiveness- can't get too close to her kind of feeling- which
gives her a certain "royal/Queen" quality. For me this has always
been humorous to capture because my personality is so opposite. I
feel I am more approachable, open- so it takes real "acting" to put this on.
Next I think about what it is I am performing (performance on stage
for example) which I feel is when I am really able to bring her
essence to life-
There has to be a fire in me (no matter what) every time -every
performance-and a certain type of way I hold my head (tilted up
almost arrogant) mouth pressed down-hands on hips- and to
impersonate Madonna in a believable way one MUST be able to COMMAND
your audience in your stage presence and performance.
For her voice-
again there is a certain almost childlike sound to it-a little
sarcastic-a little defensive, a little silly & sweet-very
annunciated (for the most part) and some cursing here and there-and a hint of
British accent now a days.
Confidence is
something a performer has (or not) and it would be impossible to
impersonate Madonna without a healthy amount of self-confidence.
I believe much of
my success as M has been in a similar fearless confidence and
passion to take a risk and perform with every ounce of passion
inside. There are other M impersonators who have a brilliant LOOK to
her and create an impression with just their face matching-there are
some impersonators who SOUND just like her and re-create M with
song- and for myself the ESSENCE of me (I believe) is why I have
been compared to M since 1985.
This is a quality
one can NOT fake-this essence is what has carried Madonna from
struggling dancer to LEGEND. For all that her career has gone
through- the up's & downs- the harsh critics-etc- NOTHING has killed
her FEARLESS LESS and she continues to try new things and re-invent
herself with complete conviction. I truly believe one can manifest
anything in life be it a dream, goal, life decision- when one can be
fearless and completely convicted in their dream.
Madonna is the
living example of this essence- so let's learn from The Queen-
everything is possible!
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Web site interviews Denise
GIRL
POWER/Candy Perfume Girls- The 1st FEMALE on-line Madonna community
(read an empowering interview with Bella
about women finding their place in the world)
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