JESSICA HARPER: My mother. She suggested I audition for the cast of the musical HAIR when they had open auditions and I got the part.

CC: In addition to acting, you have a tremendous singing voice. Were you always interested in singing as well?

JH: I discovered my voice when I was in college. After months of imitating Dionne Warwick, I found I could sing a song, well, maybe not as well as she, but I could pass for a singer.

CC: Your first major role was in Brian De Palma's PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE. How was the audition process?

JH: It was a Hollywood dream: I was discovered in an off-Broadway play, flown to Hollywood, competed with Linda Ronstadt, dinner at Musso and Frank's with Martin Scorsese, phone call two days later with good news.

CC: What was the experience working on PHANTOM?

JH: I had a great time. The people were hilarious and quite nice. The food was bad, but we survived. (A little too much chicken fried steak in Texas.)

CC: What would you say was the most challenging aspect of preparing for Phoenix?

JH: The most challenging aspect of preparing for Phoenix was getting over a bad case of the nerves and a serious disagreement with the costume designer.

CC: You're probably most known for starring in SUSPIRIA. How did you get the role of Suzy Bannion and what interested you to do SUSPIRIA?

JH: I loved the idea of doing a horror movie, and of working with Dario Argento, in Italy. He'd seen PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE and that sparked his interest in me...

CC: How was your first meeting with Dario Argento?

JH: I met him at the William Morris Agency. I thought he was smart and interesting.

CC: What would you say unnerved you more; the eerie lighting on set or the score being played through the speakers?

JH: I don't remember the score being played, people keep asking me that! The lighting was quite beautiful...and when you're on the set, of course you're not really unnerved because you're all too aware of the fact that you're on a film set... you have to make it scary while ignoring the key grip adjusting the lights and the carpenter building the set a few yards away.

CC: What would you say was the most grueling experience working on SUSPIRIA?

JH: The ending was tough: I had to run through a hallway that was literally exploding. I was genuinely frightened. Luckily all went well and I am here to talk about it...

CC: You've had a great career recently as a successful children's author. What made you decide to write books for children?

JH: I was inspired by my own children...we loved reading together so much, I loved the idea of making books that children and parents could enjoy together...

CC: You are the mother of two children who are all in their teenage years. Considering the violent nature of SUSPIRIA and your current stature as a children's performer, how would you as a parent approach a child into explaining the content of a film like SUSPIRIA?

JH: I don't really try to explain the content. When I did the movie, I had no idea when or if I would have children, and I gave no thought to that issue. I did not let my kids watch SUSPIRIA when they were young, but now they have an understanding of what the horror genre is, and they are old enough to make their own decisions about what to watch. 

CC: What do you think are some of the best horror films for children of all ages to see?

JH: I don't think young children should see horror films, frankly. When they get to be sixteen, it's another story.

CC: What is next for Jessica Harper?

JH: I have a new book series for young readers (ages 6 up), starting with this spring's UH-OH CLEO from Putnam's. And I'm working on other projects, too numerous to mention....

CC: I leave the last word to you.

JH: Please visit my website at www.jessicaharper.com, and send me an email if you like.

CC: Thank you for your time Jessica.

JH: You're welcome.