It is worth noting that yesterday, about noon, I called Emma Cohen. Emma Cohen is a Spanish actress (and authoress), who is most known in the United States among euro-cult fans for her roles in such films as HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB, CUT-THROATS NINE and, possibly, CANNIBAL MAN. Her resume is far lengthier than that, of course, but such is fame that one finds it sometimes in the least expected places--at least for the actors and actresses who starred in genre films once upon a time. They may have forgotten about these films, but we haven't.
My call, with my Spanish-speaking friend Louis assisting me, came after a third attempt last month to contact Helga Line, another euro-cult actress. I wasn't expecting to reach her, but the person who picked up the phone was a female--and, yes, she confirmed that she was the Emma Cohen. After a frustrating time talking to Helga Line's maid (if it was her maid and not her), talking to Ms. Cohen, however briefly, was refreshing, even exhilarating. Her Spanish was spoken with precision and kindness (Louis and I tried to confirm her e-mail address several times, and Ms. Cohen exhibited lovely patience with us), and her voice was clear, youthful, sensitive and intelligent.
She had guests, so I was not able to interview her at that moment (I wasn't prepared, either), but with her e-mail received, I was sure to approach her again with questions about her life and career.
Now the dilemma is whether Emma Cohen will want to respond to questions about the films she is most famous for here in the United States. I said to her, through Louis, my interpretor, that I wanted to interview her about her career, so she doesn't suspect the specific direction many of my questions will take. (Though, obviously, I will address other parts of her career in some measure, too, not just that horror stuff.) In my next introduction to her, via e-mail, I will be upfront about my reason for interviewing her--research for my book on Spanish fantaterror films and for DVD liner notes.
As far as I know, Emma Cohen has never been interviewed about her genre films. Considered an intellectual, she may not be interested in going down the memory path of films she may think beneath her nowadays. But, then again, her voice was so lovely and her demeanor so casual, that it may not be that much of a big deal to her.
We shall see. As beauty can be deceiving, so can voices be.
