Interviewing Christine Elise McCarthy

Courtesy of Christine Elise McCarthy

This is easily one of the most enjoyable interviews that I’ve done since joining the examiner. Most of us horror fans know Christine Elise McCarthy from Child’s Play 2 and Body Snatchers while others know her from her work on 90210. Her role as Kyle was one of my favorite horror movie heroine characters of all time. Christine is as genuine as anyone I’ve ever met and I truly enjoyed this little interaction.

How did you get involved in Childs Play 2?

"I got the job in the traditional way: I auditioned. I had just finished shooting an episode of 21 Jump St & was on the set of the original pre-Pam Anderson Bay Watch when I got the news that they had decided to cast me. It was my first feature film & I was very excited. I was especially excited to meet Brad Dourif (Charles Lee Ray, Chucky) because I had always been a huge fan. He was awesome."

What was it like working with Chucky?

"Not at all like it is watching me do it in the film. It isn't scary at all - though you sometimes forget he is not really alive. He took 7 puppeteers to run so the set was always really crowded whenever Chucky worked. The puppeteers were all pranksters & could make Chucky do anything - including flirt or make obscene gestures. Whenever we weren't shooting - they would make him smile at me & act bashful. He was incredibly lifelike. As you can see in the picture here - I was quite taken with him.

Courtesy of Christine Elise McCarthy

Did you realize, while filming, that the movie would develop into what it has?

I am not sure I know what it has developed into - so I can't really answer that question. I can say that I get stopped on the street & told by fans all the time how much they love the film - and that is pretty remarkable when you consider how old the film is now. "

"But for me - at the time - it was simply the most exciting job I had ever had. I made $5000 a week which was an obscene amount of money to me. I worked exceptionally long hours because of the fact that Chucky (and his seven puppet masters) were very expensive hourly - and Alex Vincent (Andy Barclay) was a child & worked restricted child hours. So - I was always on set working off camera for Alex & Chucky - then they all went home and I did all my acting to pieces of tape on various c-stands etc about the set. The tape marked where Chucky or Andy were supposed to be so it would look like I was reacting to them - but I wasn't. It was pretty challenging - but - I was so excited to be there that I stayed on set even after they released me. I could not get enough of it. And - the stage we shot on at Universal had the audience seating from the original Phantom of the Opera theater set still standing in it. It was the oldest existing film set in the world - and I was in love with it - but somehow managed not to take a single photograph. I think I heard that it has since been torn down.....or maybe it burned in a fire. If so - that is a great loss. But I must admit - it added to the excitement to be shooting a horror film on the Universal lot because of the history there of horror films & movie monsters. None of it was lost on me. I was in heaven."

What did you think about the other Chucky films?

"I only saw the first one - which I loved. I thought it was REALLY scary. I didn't see the third one - mainly in protest for having been left out of it Ha hah hah! But in all seriousness - I remain friendly with the writer, Don Mancini, and I have known my replacement, Perry Reeves, forever & have always liked her - so - it could have been worse. Actually - in a funny small world way - I also know Jennifer Tilly - and I like her, too. I guess I think the Child's Play folks have good taste in chicks!!!"

I’ll have more from Christine in the following article, including what she’s been working lately and a taste of her amazing photography.