Born and raised in the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts, Erika moved to New York at the age of 18 to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She trained at the legendary Neighborhood Playhouse, under Sanford Meisner's long-time protege, Ron Stetson. Fresh out of acting school, Erika nabbed the starring role of Nora in the Creative Artists’ production of Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House.” For the next four years Erika would appear in over 15 theatrical productions, most notably playing Susan Smith in Ian Belton's "Medea Machine." Erika then embarked on a new phase of her career: B-movie scream queen. She first garnered notice from the independent film community for her role in the 2003 cult comedy “Hotties” and its follow-up “Hotties 2: the Hot, the Bad and the Ugly.” “Bite Me!” followed, in which Erika’s performance as Trix, a clumsy burlesque dancer, earned her rave reviews and a reputation as a gifted young comedienne. She continued working in independent films, finding work and a growing fan base, especially in the horror film genre. With 2006’s “Sinful,” Erika showed film audiences her dramatic side, as an expectant mother terrorized by her violently jealous neighbor in a story ripped straight from the headlines. 2007 brought Erika back to her comedic roots and a chance to break through to mainstream audiences with her role in the long-awaited sequel to the Tom Hanks film “Bachelor Party 2.” And with roles in the last year's "iMurders," "Hysterical Psycho" and "The Wrestler," Erika's star will continue to rise. Look out for her as the unapologetically evil femme fatale Brenda Shaw in the upcoming noir "Rain Falls."

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HMB: Erika, tell us a little bit about your background. How was growing up in Boston Massachusetts and what influenced you to get into acting?

ES: I grew up in a really small town about 50 miles west of Boston, population 3000, or so they say, I never saw more than like the same 15 people!  The town and the neighboring town where I went to school was kind of fancy, and my family didn't really fit in.  Besides that, it was really boring, there wasn't much to do, I spent a lot of time daydreaming and wishing for a more exciting life!  I got really into books, and music and poetry and old movies, I was a total nerd.  My aunt had a video camera and my friends and I used to borrow it and film little movies we'd make up.  Most of the stuff we filmed were word-for-word reinactments of TV shows like "The Golden Girls" (I played Blanche) or this show "Sisters" or Broadway musicals like "Les Miserables," "Evita," "Jesus Christ Superstar."  We would dress up in ridiculous costumes, put the cd on really loud and lipsinc, and film it.  We even wrote our own musicals, based on stuff we were learning in school.  We had one about Hiroshima, and one about Nazis.  I still remember the songs we wrote, we were like 13, I'm still friends with one of the girls, she's a shrink now, we laugh our asses off about it now. 
 

HMB:  You moved to New York at the age of 18 and trained at the legendry Neighborhood Playhouse under Sanford Meisner's long-time protégé, Ron Stetson.  How was that experience for you?

ES:  That was amazing!  I wanted to be an actress so bad it hurt.  But I was so shy, and scared of embarrassing myself.  Ron got me out of my shell and got me to laugh at myself.  I remember asking him on the first day of class how to overcome self-consciousness and really be the character and be in the moment and he assured me it would just happen when you learned the technique and started using it.  And he was right!
 

HMB: You appeared in over 15 theatrical productions, most notably playing Susan Smith in Ian Belton's "Medea Machine." What are your thoughts on Theater vs. Film?

ES: I really love them both, I can't say I prefer one over the other, it depends what I'm in the mood to work on.  I enjoy the rehearsal process in theater, and the rush of performing in front of a live audience, and doing the piece straight through.  With film, I like getting a bunch of takes to get something right, and I love having a finished product at the end to show for my work.
 

HMB:  Later on you embarked into a new phase of your career: B-movie scream queen. You garnered notice from the independent film community for your role in the 2003 cult comedy “Hotties” and its follow-up “Hotties 2: the Hot, the Bad and the Ugly.” “Bite Me!” followed, in which your performance as Trix, a clumsy burlesque dancer, earned you rave reviews and a reputation as a gifted young comedienne. How did that come about?

ES: Well, you kind of take what you can get early in your career.  I was excited to do ANYTHING.  My first paying movie job was the "Hotties" movies (we filmed both simultaneously, kind of like "Lord of the Rings").  There was no script, it was all improv comedy, it was a little crazy, but I was psyched to be getting paid for my work, and starring in a movie!  One of the other "Hotties" was not so psyched, she was pissed she'd agreed to do it because she said she made a lot more money working for this other production company called EI Cinema.  I was like, "Well hook a sister up!"  And she did, which resulted in an audition, and me being cast in "Bite Me!" 
 

HMB: In 2008 you got introduced to a mainstream audience in the long-awaited sequel to the Tom Hanks film “Bachelor Party 2.” How was working with Director James Ryan?

ES: It was great!  James and the whole cast were really fun to work with.  We all hung out off set too, and went out together.  We were shooting in Miami, so we were all a bit out of our element and away from home.  As far as the character, I was playing a German backpacker chick, and they really went over the top with her German-ness, I had hooped braids on either side of my head, it was so silly, I loved it.  And I had to learn a little German for the role because my character basically just spoke in German.  By the end of it, I really felt German!
 

HMB: Also in 2008 you landed a part in the "The Wrestler"!  We can see you towards the middle of the film, where Randy "The Ram" (Mickey Rourke) goes to see Cassidy (Marissa Tomei) to tell her about his mounting health concerns.  You are talking to Cassidy when he approaches her, and again after he leaves.  How did you get the part? Was there any dialogue in your scene that never made it to screen?

ES: I was actually hired as a featured extra, but when I got to set I ended up chatting over breakfast with a guy that turned out to be Darren Aronofsky.  I honestly didn't realize it was him.  He was really cool, and ended up bumping me up to a speaking role, and had me improvise that scene with Marisa Tomei.  We did a bunch of takes, and improvised different stuff each time.  I was really nervous!
 

HMB: Okay and now to your two newest “Baby’s” the upcoming features Paradise East and Soul Killer. What can you tell us about these two movies, and when will they come out?

ES: "Paradise East" is a sick, twisted, funny, sad and totally weird movie that centers around a family of really low-level gangsters.  I play the pouty, rebellious, extremely jealous lesbian girlfriend of the femme fatale of the family.  I don't know when it's coming out yet, I guess it's still in post-production.  "Soul Killer" is a good-old fashioned slasher film based in an advertising firm.  I play a snarky and ambitious up and coming ad exec that believes very firmly in sleeping her way to the top.  So you can probably guess what happens to me there.  I think this one's still in post too.
 

HMB: Horror vs. Comedy?

ES:  What about horror/comedy?  I've done a bunch of those!  I guess I probably like Comedy best, but I love Horror too.  A good script is a good script, the genre doesn't really matter so much.
 

HMB: What’s important for you when you attach yourself to a project?

ES:  The story, the script, the character, the director, the other actors, all the other people involved.
 

HMB: What do you like or dislike about the business?

ES: The whole thing is a rush for me.  I love the rush of auditioning, when you find out you got the job, starting a new project, when things start to come together on a project.  Today I just bought costumes for this pilot I'm working on, and that feels great... I know what my character's going to look like now.  I love working with other creative people and bonding with them over work.  There's nothing better!  It's very rewarding, the whole creative process.  I guess the bad part of it is being broke and having no job security most of the time!
 

HMB: Some advice for newcomers?

ES: Just try to enjoy the process, stay in the moment, and don't focus so much on 'making it.'  And don't give anyone money up front.  And ladies, don't ever sleep with anyone for a job!  It doesn't work!  Not that I've tried it. 
 

HMB: What’s next for Erika?

ES: I've actually got a really full plate right now.  I'm flying to L.A. in a couple days to shoot a pilot I co-created, co-wrote and star in.  It's a horror sitcom called "13 Minutes to Midnight" with (fingers crossed) Heather McDonald, and Perez Hilton has a cameo.  Then I'm shooting a feature film called "Fake," about art forgery in mid-September back in New York.  After that my sketch comedy group, "Fine, Funny and Female" makes their debut at the Underground Comedy Festival.  And then, this is really exciting, I've been working on a cabaret show, co-writing, co-producing and co-starring with my buddy Rachael Robbins, which will debut in late fall.  I can't say what it's about, it's a secret, but it's going to be a huge hit.  And then next Spring I'm shooting "A Plate," a comedy about a used car dealership, which I'm really excited about.  It has an amazing script, and all-star cast, and my character is hilarious.
 

HMB: Please choose 5 people out of the film business (dead or alive), you want to have at your dinner Table.

ES:  Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Alfred Hitchcock, Vivien Leigh, Charlie Chaplin
 

HMB: Any people that have come along in your life you wish to give a special thanks credit in this interview?

ES:  Suzy McCoppin, Allison Swan, Rachael Robbins.  3 very sweet, beautiful ladies with very generous spirits.
 

HMB: Thank you so much for the interview Erika, and all the best for the Future!

ES: Thanks Herbert!!

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Links to Erika Smith:

Homepage:
http://www.erikasmith.net

Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/wunderbunny

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1653613

Casting contact:
Maude Kaplan Management: 212-873-4303