ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: So, how does it feel to be a part of the cast of a movie that's called the "sleeper hit" of the summer?
CARMEN ELECTRA: It feels so good. This movie is so cutting edge - it's really pushing the envelope! It's almost disgustingly hilarious! That's kind of how I would describe this movie because it's so out there!
ET: Have any scenes that you shot been cut from the film?
CARMEN: Yes, there's a part where the killer is chasing me and he's getting closer and closer, and I'm running and panting, and I'm scared! The camera is set up for a close - up shot and then the camera pans back, and you can see that I'm running on a treadmill, and that's why the killer is getting closer! So I stop to check my pulse and look at my watch, and then I realize that the killer is going to get me, and I take off! I wish that part had been included in the film, I thought it was so funny! I don't know why they cut it out!
ET: Have any scenes that you shot been cut from the film?
CARMEN: Yes, there's a part where the killer is chasing me and he's getting closer and closer, and I'm running and panting, and I'm scared! The camera is set up for a close - up shot and then the camera pans back, and you can see that I'm running on a treadmill, and that's why the killer is getting closer! So I stop to check my pulse and look at my watch, and then I realize that the killer is going to get me, and I take off! I wish that part had been included in the film, I thought it was so funny! I don't know why they cut it out!
ET: The film has so many up-to-date references, not only to the horror films that it spoofs, but also the scene in the movie theater with the cell phone is hilarious, and the "whaaaaaassssssuuuuuuuuuuupppp!" Were KEENAN IVORY WAYANS and the scriptwriter changing things up to the last minute?
CARMEN: Yes, that happened with my scene. Once they cast me for this role, they probably thought "How can we use some of Carmen's life to make this movie even funnier!" I was so open and willing to go in there and have fun with it! Keenan was great at coming up with some hilarious ideas!
CARMEN: Actually, at one point Keenan tricked me! There's a scene where I'm on the phone with the killer and he tells me to look outside because he has my boyfriend tied up. The script said that a football - type boyfriend would be tied up outside. But that was cut in a different shot and they used PRINCE! I just have to say that I had nothing to do with that! (Laughing) I really think that Prince is a musical genius. He gave me my first chance.
ET: Did you know that Prince had that sense of humor?
CARMEN: Yes, he really does have a great sense of humor, so, hopefully, he'll look at it that way!
ET: Is there a character from another film that you are spoofing?
CARMEN: At first it was a big secret and I was asked not to tell, but I think its okay to talk about now! I play the DREW BARRYMORE character. My name in the movie is Drew Decker and it's the scene from 'Scream.' It's the opening scene of the movie. It was so great! We had a television monitor and we watched the scene over and over, and we just went beat by beat to try to imitate that scene perfectly, and its pretty out there!
ET: So you imitate it up to a point, and then you take it off into a completely different direction!
CARMEN: Yes, of course, it goes over the top!
ET: Who came up with the idea of the sneakers? I think that is what makes that outfit so funny!
CARMEN: Oh, the little tennis shoes? Well I think that Drew Barrymore in 'Scream' had the same outfit on. So, basically, we just took a picture and then the stylist went out and tried to recreate the same look. They even made my hair blonde and a little shorter for the film.
ET: How difficult of a shoot was this?
CARMEN: There's a scene where I'm running from the killer and he rips off my sweater and then rips off my skirt. Then I'm basically in a bra and panties running away from the killer when the water sprinklers come on, and the next thing you know I'm soaking wet. Then I start doing that ridiculous slow motion "Baywatch" run, and then I turn right to the camera and start working it as if I'm doing a photo shoot. We did the scene a lot, and everyone was very supportive. We shot in Canada, so it was really cold! We had a lot of heaters and a lot of blankets to throw over me, so it wasn't too bad!
ET: Are you a fan of the genre?
CARMEN: Yes, I've seen all of the teen horror movies, but I think that I'm more a fan of those 70's horror films, like 'The Exorcist,' and 'The Omen.' Those are the movies that really scared me as a little girl. After watching those movies I couldn't even sleep in my bed, I had to go sleep in my mom's bed!
ET: Have you, or any of the cast members heard from any of the producers or the stars that you spoof?
CARMEN: No, I haven't heard anything yet, but I think it's too early. I'm sure we will! (Laughs)
ET: Tell us what you are doing now, or what's next?
CARMEN: I just finished shooting a movie called 'Perfume.' Its kind of like hip - hop meets fashion. Its all about the fashion industry. I play OMAR EPPS' girlfriend in the movie. This movie is great because it follows a script, but there's no dialogue, so its all improvised. We basically went into it with a really open mind. It was so spontaneous and we never really knew how a scene was going to end.
ET: What is the latest in your personal life? Who is the man in your life today?
CARMEN: I don't have a man in my life right now. I had a really hard year - I lost my mother to cancer. She was my best friend. She was everything to me. During that time I sort of became numb, because I didn't want to accept the fact that she wasn't there anymore. While I was going through this painful time DENNIS (RODMAN) was there for me. We love each other very much and we definitely have a close connection.
CARMEN: But I felt I was surrounding myself with people because I didn't want to face the loss of my mother. Then I was watching OPRAH and she said, "In order to heal you have to feel." I gave it a try. I decided to spend some time alone, and accept the loss of my mother and really feel the pain. Once I did that I started to heal. Now Dennis and I are friends and I'm working right now so things are going very good!

It looks like you enjoyed getting your kit off in the opening scene…
I'm running away from the killer and he rips off my skirt, rips off my blouse so I'm in my bra and panties. The water sprinklers come on and I get soaking wet. I was freezing - you wouldn't know that by watching it, but it was in Canada and it was really, really cold. We had huge heaters and lots of coats. We got it done in a few takes and I didn't have to suffer very much.

So you were game for making fun of yourself?
People always think that I'm either really stuck up or don't have a good sense of humour about myself, so that's why I really wanted to do it. When I'm with my friends and I'm hanging out having fun I really have a good sense of humour and I love to make people laugh. It was great and I loved doing it.

There's a joke in there about your relationship with Prince, did he mind that?
Actually when I read the script it just said there was a boyfriend - maybe a guy dressed like a football player. I shot my half of the scene not knowing, or assuming they were gonna use this football player guy and I guess Keenan (Wayans - the director) went out and found a Prince lookalike and used him for the part. I thought that it was really funny and I hope that Prince has a good sense of humour about it and knows that I had nothing to do with it - it was all Keenan! Prince is wonderful and he gave me my first opportunity to do music and so I would never do that. But I thought it was funny and hopefully he'll laugh.

How are you dealing with the whole celebrity thing?
It's crazy because I had a really insane year. I lost my mom to cancer and married Dennis Rodman, It was really bizarre and that's when the press went ballistic. I married this controversial person and all of a sudden I'm in the tabloids and I'm dealing with this completely different life. For the most part everyone's really sweet and cool. It's exciting - I love it. You know that when you get into this business, you have to accept the bad with the good…

Do you regret the Dennis Rodman thing?
Not at all. That's where I was at that time of my life and I learned a lot from it. I realised that with losing my mom, I had so much pain that I wasn't facing. So I was doing things to hurt myself because I thought I was this tough girl, but I couldn't face the loss of her. During that time I met Dennis and it was fun and exciting and it was a distraction from actually facing things I needed to face in my life. I learned a lot and, after stepping away from him, I think I understand him more now. We're friends and we get along great - it's much better that way.

Stories about your Baywatch days suggested that you were a forlorn soul who was never given your own swimming costume and you got hand me downs?
It was true. They would bring me a different suit every day - Yasmin's suit, Pam's suit, I would look at the tag and it had their name in it. None of the suits ever fit me - one would fit better on the bottom, one on the top. It was the last week of shooting and I finally got my own suit and I left Baywatch and never went back. I sent the little suit to get framed but I never picked it up! It's still there - but I will go get it…

With having such a glamorous image, has it been difficult to prove you can act as well?
Being a dancer I've never been ashamed of my body and sexuality, I posed nude for Playboy and that was a choice that I made and something that I wanted to do. I went on to do Baywatch and shows like that knowing that it would be hard. I followed just what I wanted to do - against my agents, against what everyone said to do. I do think it's harder - you really have to prove yourself. If you do it's great. I definitely have a stereotype and it's hard to get rid of it, but I knew what I was getting myself into.