The young woman lost in The Doom Generation, ex-girlfriend of mysterious Marilyn Manson, Rose McGowan defends her right to belong to cinema genre. Directed by Quentin Tarantino in Death Proof and by Robert Rodriguez in Planet Terror, she portrays a woman with machine gun leg and turns her back to the classic American blockbusters.

What is your background?
I grew up in Italy. My parents are French and Irish. I’ve lived in lots of different places in the US, then in Montreal.

How did you get into cinema? You have played in Charmed, a TV series. What made you begin by TV rather than cinema?
In the US they prefer you to have starred in TV shows before doing movies, because they are transmitted worldwide. And as the financial backers are from different countries like Germany, France and Italy it’s better for you to be well known all over the world.

In France, when actors or actresses start their career in televised series, they rarely evolve into cinematographic roles.
There is a clear distinction between both. The American system subsidises quite substantially televised programs and films. This allows much greater creative output in Europe, for example.

How do you prepare for a role? What is the difference in preparation between Charmed the more superficial character of television who you must embody episode after episode and a deeper role in a cinema production?
For me, all the roles are similar. I absorb myself completely into role of the character to make it all the more credible and sincere. Each requires the same amount of work, there is no distinction.

How was your meeting with Brian de Palma, for The Black Dahlia?
It was lovely. I was supposed to play a bigger part, which was originally cast with Mark Wahlberg and then the movie fell apart, and they pushed the start date back a year, and this was a point of time when I wasn’t available. But I got a call out of the blue to take a small part. And after finishing nine months of Charmed, I flew out there to film with De Palma. I love old classic movies like he does, so we would often talk together about this.

In this film you play a Hollywood starlet. Was it complicated for you to become this girl, who is not really from your world?
It’s a character, so like any role you slip into. It’s more of a sad character. So many people like that in Hollywood today working as extras in films and they think they are stars. There are so many people like that girl, trying to become famous and get work. But I was never like that. I was never trying to be an actress; I came to LA to visit and accidentally got cast in a movie.

Did Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez come to you to offer you the parts for “Grindhouse Saga”?
No actually, I auditioned for Quentin whilst I was shooting Robert’s movie. I had to fly to Los Angeles twice to audition for Quentin whilst I was filming in Texas for Robert.

How did it feel being directed by such great directors as Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez?
You want to make sure you know your lines. It’s the same job but a different process. It takes the excitement level up a whole lot when you’re working with these big, important people. It makes the whole thing very fascinating.

Tell us about this saga. How is it different to other commercialized horror films?
The exaggeration which resides in this film makes it slightly comical. My leg being a machine gun for example. Today, the public is no longer afraid of horror films. At the times of release, Alfred Hitchcock’s films inferred a certain panic, fear, murder, which was felt much more intensely than recent films.

What do you think about B-movies? Do you consider them as background movie?
In general, if someone likes horror movies then they think romantic comedies are less important and so are B-movies but if you like romantic comedies then horror movies will be like B-movies. It’s just a case of what you like. It’s based on personal taste. If you like kung-fu movies and only kung-fu movies, everything else will be a B-movie. And for Grindhouse, they called it B-movie because it was they way they chose to describe it – the Grindhouse is the place in the past where they showed B-movies.

Do you consider yourself like an actress of independent cinema?
Not really because you can’t really pin me down to one particular type. I did TV after doing a load of movies that won awards. I’m just all over the map. I’m an independent movie actress.

What are your future movie projects?
I’m going to be shooting in film called Black Oasis by Stephan Elliot where I play Susan Cabot. This movie deals with a B-movie actress, who is assassinated by her own son, in 1986 who suffered from psychological problems. It’s a true story which really moved me. I really got into the skin of the character.

In this role, which has a tragic twist, was it more difficult for you to perform a dramatic role?
Playing dramatic roles isn’t any more complicated. But for this role in particular, Susan’s story really did touch me, and I gave it my all.

You could be an actress of David Lynch movie, what do you think?
You think…? I hope that is a good premonition. Introduce me to him!

Do you have any movies planned in Europe? Or in Asia? Do you have an agent in Europe?
Not for the moment, but I would love to work in Europe and Asia. I think that European films, and especially French films, are rally interesting. There are important cineastes in Europe but this art could not burst. Unfortunately, there just isn’t the funding. It’s a shame. I don’t have an agent in Europe, no, but if you know one to introduce me to, that would be great.

We saw you at the Cannes film festival for “Grindhouse Saga”. Was it your first time at Cannes?
I actually came to Cannes once before to support a friend a few years ago. I asked Robert Rodriguez for a more important role in the next part of the saga, so I can headline the film and come back to Cannes. For me Cannes is the most beautiful and exciting red carpet. There is a magic spirit where does not exist all around the world.

How do you like France?
It’s amazing! I love France, especially Paris, the Rodin museum for its history, for its sculptures of Orphee & Eve and gardens with all their roses, Rodin’s ones… Camille Claudel. I tell all my friends to come here and discover the French ‘ambiance’. My first trip to France was for my 20th birthday. I was doing loads of part time work to pay for the trip. And I didn’t regret it. I just regret not being able to come more often.

Where do you live?
Los Angeles.

Is Los Angeles better than New York for cinema?
Definitely. There’s no doubt about that. You cannot progress in this art in New York city.

What would you like to change in Hollywood Cinema?
Stupidity, one word… no more…

What are your cinema references? What sort of films do you like?
I like all movies. I love the art of cinema, and there’s not one particular genre of film that I like most of all. I love popular cinema, horror films, romantic tales. For me, it’s the people that work in cinema that I appreciate. Those that work day after day, and even nights. I love spending time with these people.

What does fashion mean to you?
It’s another role to play. At Cannes, I loved wearing Dolce & Gabbana. I felt sexy and glamorous. I just regret not having had more time there. I would have loved to put on more of a show!

Do you have some favorite brands?
I love Dolce & Gabbana, and I appreciate Dior for his Newlook. I love the French designers, but I unfortunately don’t have enough time to be more involved with fashion.

Where is your favorite place to live?
Boston.

What is your favorite film?
Fritz Lang’s M.

And your favorite music?
Pasty Cline, a country singer who lulled my childhood. And I love all songs from the 30′s and 40′s through to AC/DC.

Your favorite movie?
M by Fritz Lang.

Your favorite smell?
Freshly cut glass.

Your favorite color?
Green.