411 Movies Interview: Carmen Electra
Posted by Tony Farinella on 12.12.2007
411's Tony Farinella sits down with Carmen Electra to talk about her new DVD series!
If you want to burn calories and look good at the same time, Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease series is for you. On December 18th, Carmen Electra will release two new DVDs in her Aerobic Striptease DVD series. The first one is titled In The Bedroom, and the second one is titled Vegas Strip. If you're looking to spice up your love life, or if you just want to look good, you've come to the right place. Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Carmen Electra, and we talked about her DVDs, body image in Hollywood, what makes her happy, how she stays healthy, and a whole lot more. I hope you enjoy my interview with Carmen Electra.
TONY: How did you come up with the idea for this DVD series?
Carmen Electra: It first came about a few years when I started dancing with The Pussycat Dolls. I had actually started ten years ago, but this was when the show was just at the Viper Room. It was a small little show, but had, even back then, a big fan base. So, I performed with them long ago and then went on to work with MTV and Baywatch, and so I sort of stepped away from it for a while. Then I reconnected with the owner of the Dolls and started performing with them again and danced with them for about two years, and during that time, pole dancing and striptease became very popular in Hollywood and in all the different gyms, the local gyms. And we saw more and more women who wanted to take these classes, where you don't actually really have to strip, but you can learn the sexy moves and get in shape at the same time. So, I was approached around that time by a company that was interested in putting out a workout series about aerobic striptease, and I just hired Robin from the Dolls, who I was working with at the time, and we rehearsed and shot the video, and it did so well. The response was so well, and they sold through the roof, so that was really cool.
TONY: After watching one of the DVDs, I was really impressed with how much fun you were having while you were working out. I think sometimes people might think, "Oh, it's so boring. I don't wanna work out." On your DVD, you show how it's really a lot of fun.
Carmen Electra: Well, I think no matter what workout you're doing, it can be boring if you're doing the same thing on a daily basis. So, for me, I always like to try to switch it up, even if that means going to take a yoga class or going to the gym and trying something new at the gym. For a while, I was kind of into kickboxing, so I think the key is definitely to have fun with your workout, because the time flies by and you don't even realize it. And keep it new and interesting. So, I felt like aerobic striptease was an interesting and fun way of learning some new dances and getting into shape.
TONY: This is also a workout that you can do in the comfort of your own home. In my opinion, that's a great thing. Sometimes the gym is too crowded, or you have a lot of people watching you.
Carmen Electra: Yeah, definitely. I mean, sometimes you don't want to have an audience of people watching you while you're figuring out how your body moves and what feels comfortable to you. So, that's what I love about having a DVD series: You can use them in the privacy of your own home, and no one has to watch you. But I do know a lot of people who have little get-togethers, and they invite their girlfriends over and put in their Aerobic Striptease DVDs and have aerobic striptease parties. So, it's your choice.
TONY: What kind of success stories have you heard from women who have used your DVDs?
Carmen Electra: You know, it's interesting, because I wasn't quite sure, when we were putting out the series, if I would get more of a response from men or from women. And we definitely got a response from men, which is great, but got even more of a response from women. Boyfriends were buying it for their girlfriends as gifts, Valentine's Day gifts, or Christmas gifts. You know, girls were buying it to surprise their boyfriends, so that they could, in private, learn how to give a lap dance or do a striptease or something special for their boyfriends. So, it has been really sweet to hear the response and to hear that people really like it. It makes me really happy, because, I mean, you never know, especially trying something new and trying something different that no one's ever really tried before. I mean, you don't know what to expect, and everyone's been really cool, so it makes me happy.
TONY: How do you feel about body image in Hollywood? I mean, people were so cruel to Jennifer Love Hewitt. What's your take on body image and this obsession to be thin?
Carmen Electra: Well, there definitely is a lot of pressure, so you, as the person that is being watched, have to figure those things out for yourself. I mean, I think it comes with the territory. If you know this is a business that you wanna be in, there's gonna be an upside and a downside, just like anything else. So, you have to be ready for that within yourself and be happy with who you are. You know, a lot of people don't even read or pay attention to things that are written about them. And then you almost kind of can be just who are you and not really think about it or obsess over it. It just really depends. I think the most positive way of dealing with it is just to have gratitude for all of it and to not take it personal.
TONY: What else do you do to stay healthy?
Carmen Electra: I was journaling for a while, but I stopped. I should probably start journaling again. I think about it a lot. I read a lot of self-help books. I'm reading one now called The Four Things That Matter Most. It's been interesting. It's good. They help me. Self-help books are great books to pick up and read and help you get through the day, if you're not having a good day or whatever. So, I would say those two things. What else do I do to stay healthy? Hang out with friends. You know, stay social, get out of the house.
TONY: I have a quick sports question for you. Do you have a favorite football team? I know you were involved in NFL 2K5, which is why I ask.
Carmen Electra: OK. (laughs) I don't follow sports, but I just shot a Super Bowl commercial with Ice Breakers about two days ago, and I was asked that same question. So, I'm gonna have to go with the Patriots. I'm rooting for the Patriots.
TONY: When I was watching this DVD series, I noticed how much fun you were having and how you were always smiling. In fact, I've always noticed that about you. You're always smiling and always having a good time. It doesn't matter if you're acting, dancing, or whatever. Where does that come from?
Carmen Electra: I don't know. I remember spending some of my childhood feeling sad, to be honest, and I don't know if that was just a hormonal thing. You know, a lot of teenagers, especially around the age of 12 to 14, your body is going through so many changes, and I just remember feeling a little down. I think having big dreams, wanting to get into this business and be in front of the camera, and wanting to be independent. Sometimes when you're in a small city, it's almost hard to believe that you could do that, that you could ever fulfill your dreams. So, now that I'm able to live an independent life and do the work that I wanna do, I'm really grateful. So, I don't know, I just try to keep that in mind and have a light and positive attitude about things and laugh a lot. I love to laugh. I love to make other people laugh, so I try to bring that into the work I do.
TONY: Finally, what else are you working on right now?
Carmen Electra: What else am I working on right now? Let's see ... I have a movie coming out called Meet the Spartans, which is gonna be really funny. It's a spoof comedy. I'm working with Max Factor again. We just shot the new campaign for them. What else? The Super Bowl commercial. Aerobic striptease, obviously. I have a book on how to be sexy, and it just gives girls fun tips on feeling confident and little things that you could do to help yourself feel just a little bit sexier. I think that's it. I can't think of anything else. Oh, and I have a stripper pole coming out.
TONY: Thank you so much for your time. It was great talking to you. Happy Holidays.
