Welcome back to The Code of Style, and today, I want to share with you this interview with Brooke Lewis Bellas, star of the drama “The Mourning“.
The drama The Mourning follows the journey of a man who must come to terms with the losses and evolution of his loved ones when he returns to his small Middle America hometown after his mysterious disappearance in Desert Storm 20 years earlier. The film is streaming now on Amazon Prime and Tubi TV.
Brooke also returned to her horror roots with a role in The Day of The Living Dead, a zombie origin story set in 1950’s Hollywood, which is available now on Amazon Prime.
Brooke Lewis Bellas is an award-winning actress and producer known for the mystery, thriller iMurders (2008) with Billy Dee Williams, Gabrielle Anwar and Frank Grillo, the mobster movie Sinatra Club (2010) opposite Danny Nucci and Jason Gedrick, the horror, thriller Kinky Killers (2007) with Charles Durning and Michael Pare, and her comedic mobster Vampire “alter-ego” character and passion project Ms. Vampy.
After growing up and beginning her creative dreams in Philly, she moved to New York City and got her first break playing Donna Marsala in the Actors’ Equity Off-Broadway hit comedy Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding. She made her living acting in New York for four years, before heading to Hollywood. Never forgetting her ties to the LOVE statue and Eagles football, she launched her production company, Philly Chick Pictures, to create more opportunities for herself as an actress.
In 2007, she played Dr. Grace Sario in the horror, mystery Kinky Killers on SHOWTIME and had the title ‘Scream Queen’ bestowed upon her in the entertainment industry. In 2010, she was honored with the ‘B-Movie Award for Scream Queen of The Year for her work in Slime City Massacre.
Her reputation for excellence is backed by the many accolades that she has received for her work. In total, Brooke has won well over 80 prestigious awards, most recently Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series at the Northern Virginia International Film Festival.
Brooke also starred as Pam Deluca in the comedy ½ New Year, which won the Audience Choice Award at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, and she will next star in the upcoming streaming series Red Rooms, which she also Executive Produced with Director Joshua Butler. Brooke will also star in the streaming series Stripped, created by the late Kristoff St. John and directed by Marc Clebanoff.
She is also the newest inductee into the Phillytainment Celebrity Hall of Fame in her native Philadelphia. You can see her large collection of awards and honors here.
Brooke has made her mark in many mediums throughout her career. In 2011, she launched the teen talk show Ms. Vampy’s Tween Tawk, Teen Tawk & In Between Tawk and a young adult book, Ms. Vampy’s Teen Talk: There’s A Lotta Power in Ya Choices followed in 2016.
That same year, her book Coaching From A Professed Hot Mess was published and hit #1 New Release in both Etiquette and Guides & Advice on Amazon. This book was also the Winner of the Beverly Hills Book Awards 2016 Self-help Motivational Book, London Book Festival Awards 2016 How-to Book, and Independent Press Awards 2017 How-to Book.
Following the success of her book, Brooke partnered with Rock n’ Roll Lifestyle Company Metal Babe Mayhem to brand and launch their Rock Your Hot Mess, Ms. Vampy and Scream Queen Brooke Lewis clothing lines. In conjunction with Brooke’s engagement in 2017, they added their Bridal & Bachelorettes Rock Your Hot Mess line with love!
And, as if she is not busy enough, Brooke is a passionate Philanthropist and has performed on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre and the Palace Theatre to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS as an AIDS Activist, has been an active force in several charities supporting Breast Cancer Awareness for the Busted Foundation and The Lynn Sage Foundation, and is a Celebrity Ambassador for the Breaking The Chains Foundation.
Interview with Brooke Lewis Bellas
What first inspired you to consider an acting career and how did you first get your start?
As a little girl growing up in Philadelphia, I just knew in my heart I was destined to do something creative and expressive! I think, like many actors who have dealt with challenges in their childhood, I had a void to fill. I knew that I was destined to share my deep emotions and work in entertainment. I was a very emotional child. I would literally sit in front of the television watching TV for hours, and I would put myself into the television series and talk to the characters, as if I were one of them. Then, I remember attending my first Broadway Musical, and I was hooked! I began my professional union theatre career in Philly, signed with an agent in New York City, then moved right to NYC and booked my first little/big “break” playing Donna Marsala in the Actors’ Equity Off-Broadway hit comedy Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding. I made my living acting in New York for four years, before packing it up and heading to Hollywood. Never forgetting my ties to the LOVE and Rocky statues, I launched Philly Chick Pictures in 2002 to create more film opportunities for myself as an actress.
Can you tell us about The Mourning, and your character in this drama/scifi/romance?
The Mourning is genuinely one of my most memorable indie film experiences of my acting and producing careers. This production team, with Marc Clebanoff at the helm, is one I had previously acted with in films titled Gerald and Break, so I knew it would be a quality project. We filmed for a month in Holland, Michigan, the hometown of our writer and star, Michael Rene Walton. The town welcomed us like Rock Stars and this cast and crew formed such an incredible bond on location. I absolutely loved my supporting role of loud-mouth Lisa “Assface”, and getting to work opposite seasoned, talented actors! Since I am also a Co-producer on The Mourning, please indulge me for a moment:
Odyssey Motion Pictures released Drama/Mystery/Sci-fi/Romance on Amazon Prime and Tubi TV. Directed by Marc Clebanoff (Stripped), The Mourning stars Michael Rene Walton (20 Ft Below: The Darkness Descending), Louis Mandylor (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Dominique Swain (Lolita), Sally McDonald (Crushed), Larry Hankin (Home Alone), Peter Dobson (Frighteners), Kinga Phillips (6 Ways to Sundown), Brooke Lewis Bellas (Sinatra Club), Frank Krueger (No Clean Break) and Bob Spillman (White Mule). Produced by Marc Clebanoff, Michael Rene Walton, and Pepe Lobo. Co-producers Nadeem Soumah, Anoop Rangi, and Brooke Lewis Bellas. Cinematography by Nadeem Soumah. Written by Marc Clebanoff and Michael Rene Walton.
Synopsis: Aaron returns to his small Middle America hometown, inexplicably, not having aged a day since his mysterious disappearance in Desert Storm 20 years prior. Initially unable to speak, Aaron must come to terms with the losses and evolution of his loved ones in his absence. Concurrently, Aaron’s loved ones must come to terms with the reappearance of the boy who they grieved over and let go years prior. As Aaron begins to assimilate himself back into the lives of his family, his best friend, and his long lost lover, it is slowly revealed that Aaron’s homecoming is not permanent. A conspiracy theorist and a mysterious angelic figure, both stalking Aaron, build toward a finale in which Aaron must tie up loose ends before disappearing again forever.
What was it that attracted you to this role?
As an actress, there is nothing more special, honoring, and precise than having a writer create a role specifically for you. Marc Clebanoff is notorious for creating roles specifically for me that really play to my strengths… And, he is notorious for making fun of my quirks along the way! As for Lisa “Ass Face”, we had so much fun with this supporting role and, although she is, in fact, supporting, she is layered enough where I was able to dig in and show various sides of the character, from being flirty and that hometown mouthy bar chick we all know and love, to a character who helps to unravel the mystery and creates an intensity, emotion and tears that help to move the story.
So, I love how Marc wrote this role for me where the character was supposed to be “unattractive” when they were in high school, so they named her “Ass Face”, then she sort of blossomed and went from “Ass Face” to “sexy” (The Code of Style readers… See what Glam hair, makeup, and style can do for us! Wink!). I was able to have so much fun with the humor in this. And, to this day, Clebanoff still calls me “Ass Face”!
You have also been in many horror films and have won “Scream Queen” awards. What is it that most attracts you to this genre?
Although I was born a “Drama Queen”, never did I think I would become a “famous” “Scream Queen”! My life and career have always taken nontraditional paths. As I mentioned earlier, I got my first “break” in the New York City Actors’ Equity Off-Broadway Italian Comedy Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, then went on to do TV sitcoms like Quintuplets (FOX) and Mafiosa, then acted in mobster dramas like Pride & Loyalty and Sinatra Club (Netflix), then unexpectedly, broke out in the horror/thriller genre with films like Kinky Killers (SHOWTIME), iMurders (STARZ) and Slime City Massacre, having the title of “Scream Queen” bestowed upon me in Hollywood, and I embraced every minute of it! To me, a “Scream Queen” is a sexy, powerful actress in horror films or television. The elements that attract me most to the horror genre are… I LOVE how the horror genre and community embraces WOMEN of all body types, curves, ages, ethnicities, offers strong roles for women… I love dark mysteries… and, I love that horror has the most loyal and supportive fans in the world!
Your film “The Day of the Living Dead” was recently released on Amazon Prime. What did you enjoy most about playing your character in the film?
There were many things I enjoyed about playing Ms. Daniels, including having the opportunity to step into a more mature, women empowered, character actress role! I have not acted in a horror film in quite a few years, so I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to return to indie horror and hopefully make the fans happy!
Killer director Thomas J. Churchill’s The Day of the Living Dead is an indie zombie film that was shot a few years back, but never received the streaming home it deserved, so we are overjoyed that zombie and mystery fans can finally stream it! Thomas Churchill and I have been friends for many years, and we share a love for mysteries and Hitchcock. This is a period piece, set in the 50s in Hollywood, and I know the sophisticated zombie fans will be entertained. I play the supporting role of Ms. Daniels who brings important information to George A. Lazarus investigating the case, and what a stellar indie horror star-studded cast we have, including James Duval, Natalie Victoria, Sarah French, Brad Loree, Brian Andrews, and more!
“For fans who love The Walking Dead, THE DAY OF THE LIVING DEAD is another great zombie origin story. Set in Hollywood 1957, a time of glitz and glamour, a time of brains and blood. This movie is full of action, suspense, gore and graphic violence. George A. Lazarus is an insurance investigator who disappears during a routine claim. His heartsick fiancee, Bethany, retraces George’s steps and discovers that the employees George was investigating also all mysteriously disappeared. Now, as Beverly finds herself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, this simple insurance fraud case may actually be the beginning of the end of the human race.”
You recently worked with Director Joshua Butler on the upcoming streaming series “Red Rooms”. What can you tell us about the storyline? How is this project different than others you have worked on in the past?
Red Rooms was such a unique project and filming experience in every way. At the start of Covid-19 lockdown, my creative instinct kicked in and I knew I had to create to stay somewhat “sane”, so I spent most of the quarantine producing and filming a virtual streaming series. Red Rooms was conceived and completed out of “isolation inspiration”!
Joshua Butler and I had been in development on a project and had been reminiscing about our favorite industry days of yesteryear when we met on the horror film circuit. I had already been a superfan of Joshua’s work for years. In October 2019, we shot a proof of concept for our project, which paid homage to his hugely successful film VLOG (2008) from the producers of SAW, which went on to become a hit TV series.
When the pandemic hit Hollywood and we were all in isolation, I called for a production meeting, then suggested we use the footage we shot and attempt to experiment by filming each character virtually from their homes.
This is the basic storyline, “In darkest corners of the dark net, there are places where victims are held captive, psychologically tortured, live-streamed, then given a chance to escape if they confess their worst sins, preserving them online for eternity in Red Rooms.”
Red Rooms stars horror film and TV veterans Brooke Lewis Bellas (iMurders), David Alpay (The Vampire Diaries), Susan Lanier (The Hills Have Eyes), Ricky Dean Logan (Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare), and Noah Blake (Teen Witch). We are currently completing post-production and will hit the festival and streaming circuits in 2022.
You produced and starred in the upcoming streaming series “Stripped“, created by Marc Clebanoff and the late Kristoff St. John. Why was it important to you to work on this project?
Stripped is a special project I am excited to share with your fabulous readers! Our production team spent December 2019 in Reno, Nevada filming the TV pilot.
It is a Comedy/Drama that was written and directed by Marc Clebanoff, who also directed The Mourning.
Stripped was a true passion project. I was one of the Executive Producers and Producers, alongside Marc and Frank Krueger.
I play Jules, the sassy publicist to the star, Chris Cameron, played by the wonderful Casper Van Dien. It was originally created by Mark Clebanoff and late actor, Kristoff St. John. They had created the concept before he passed on, which is heart-breaking, but Marc wanted to carry on his legacy, and he did, and we did.
Jules has easily become one of my new favorite characters I have been fortunate enough to play! There is an exceptional opportunity when writers create a role for you, specifically, and they write for your strengths as an actor. Jules is the lead female role in the series, but she is a supporting lead to Casper’s, Chris Cameron, starring role.
I must, proudly, share that we recently participated in the wonderfully professional NOVA Fest and TV and Film Market 2020 that director, Fernando A. Mico was forced to move to a virtual festival and convention like most events, due to Covid-19 this year. That said, Fernando and his production crew did it right and fabulously!
They held the virtual awards ceremony streaming online in their tuxedos and gowns. I am humbly and graciously sharing that I was honored with the win for ‘Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series Award’ and I owe this all to Clebanoff for writing me this role and talented actors Casper Van Dien and Louis Mandylor for making me a better actress! We have such an incredible cast, and series, we are all proud of. We are negotiating distribution and it will release at the end of this year in 2021.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives today. Can you tell us what are the biggest challenges you are facing in your career during this pandemic? And how are you overcoming them?
I am so sensitive to this pandemic and challenges in our world right now, I sometimes feel guilty when I share that I have been creatively busy. As an actress, producer, and philanthropist, so much of my “normal” life has been spent working from my home office. Thankfully, I am still able to work and do all my media and press interviews, as I did prior to the pandemic. But, I so miss my face-to-face creative connections with other people!
I am currently in post-production on film and TV projects with my various teams for Red Rooms, Stripped, and Staci Layne Wilson’s The Second Age of Aquarius. As we know, a lot has been halted with COVID-19, but we have managed to forge ahead slowly. I have been watching and voting on a lot of EMMYs content as a Judge for The New York Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NY NATAS) and for the horrific Shriekfest Film Festival 20th Anniversary.
I have also had some real creative fun appearing on virtual Horror and Pop-culture Conventions and speaking on Film Festival Film Panels… these have been a wonderful way to connect with my peers. I also worked behind the scenes to raise money for The Actors Fund and Frontline Responders Fund during this pandemic.
That said, I deeply miss interaction and energy with my people and social activities. The quarantine has also offered me time to do some serious soul-searching, and I have learned a lot about myself. I have been compelled to reflect on life, work, and choices, and it has affected me both personally and professionally. I have been assessing the choices and mistakes I have made in my career, and how I plan to step back into my career space when this pandemic is contained.
On a more personal level, can you share your strategies about how to stay calm and sane during these difficult times?
Hmmm… I am not sure I would call myself “calm” or “sane” before, or during, these difficult times (LOL!). That said, I do my best and my strategies are… Be Fearless and Balance, Baby!
I think balance is so important, and I will be the first to admit that I am a hypocrite when it comes to balance and I need to balance more in my own everyday life. I want to work a little less and have a little more fun! I strongly believe in moderation and I think in order to have the healthiest mind and body each one of us can have, we have to put equal work into our mental health, physical health and spiritual health.
And, you know what, Ladies… It is okay to cheat on our diets once in a while… it is okay to miss a workout every now and then… it is okay to take a day off of work and play hooky and find your truth that feeds your soul!
Find balance, whatever that means to you, because as I stated in one of my coaching books, Coaching From A Professed Hot Mess, we are all “perfectly imperfect” just the way we are!
As for the former… Be Fearless, we want to take one day at a time, know that this too shall pass, the world will heal and resume in time, and as long as we are still standing, we will keep moving forward!
The Code of Style is all about representing and empowering dynamic women everywhere : What does women’s empowerment mean to you? Can you recall a particular moment this year that influenced your growth and evolution as a woman?
Women Empowerment is so important to me, and a topic, and issue, I speak about often! I truly feel that, for many years, our society set women up to compete, and compare and contrast, with one another. It is the time in our world to break that cycle and allow ourselves to empower other women, to support other women, to not compete with other women, and to really band together and know that Girl Power is the greatest power we have!
I have been fortunate to have had many experiences working with, and empowering, women throughout my lifetime, from being president of my Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority in college to being a Celebrity Ambassador for the Breaking The Chains Foundation to support women (and, men!) with eating disorders and negative body image to working with badass women in production, like our Lady Power film team on the The Second Age of Aquarius… director Staci Layne Wilson, producer Nancy Long, and editor Nina Hirten (we love you, Darren!).
I have to admit that this year was life-changing with moments of growth and evolution for me as a woman! The pandemic changed me in every way! From projects to people to my philosophies and future, I had a deep epiphany around my dignity and self-respect as a woman. The quarantine and isolation truly forced me to stop and go within to learn how my own choices have disempowered me, as a woman. I am a lover of men and have worked with many wonderful men throughout my career, but I learned how much I still give my power away to men in my career in the entertainment industry, especially working with male producers on a project, and I feel more empowered that ever to make this change as we step into a healthier future!
What do you want to be known for in your life and career?
I want to be known for being: GOOD, KIND, COMPASSIONATE, LOYAL, HUMBLE, TALENTED, SUCCESSFUL, and, most importantly, in both my life and career… maintaining my TRUTH and INTEGRITY! I am a strong believer that behind my success as an Actress and Producer, and the success of any brand, is truth and integrity.
I realize these words are tossed around quite often, but I mean integrity in my own personal “truth” in every sense of the word. After more than 20 years in the entertainment industry, between New York and Los Angeles, I have become very clear about where I “fit” in the Hollywood industry.
Years ago, I gave up trying to be something/someone I am not and started embracing who I authentically am! I believe in order to have true integrity and joy in my life, I need to gravitate toward people, projects, and acting roles that speak to me, and speak to others, in some way.
I choose everything to do with my life, career and brands by FEELING, truly feeling inspiration. I always say, “I am the only one who has to sleep on my pillow at night and wake up with myself in the morning.” So, for me, true integrity comes when I am feeling good inside and when I am feeling proud of my choices and what I have committed to… with each project… with each endorsement deal… with each charity event I support. Those times (and, there have been many), when I did not stay true to my gut feelings or pay attention to the “red flags”, were the times I ended up making mistakes or feeling miserable! I only hope to inspire others and be known for doing so.
What has been the biggest challenge/ hurdle you have faced so far?
I appreciate this personal question, as I feel it is so important for us to share to hopefully help or inspire others. It is funny, because throughout my career, I have had fans, or friends, tell me that they perceive me to have an incredible life. And, although it has been incredible in so many ways, I have also had an incredible amount of challenges and hurdles to jump through.
Something I do not often speak about in public, or the media, is my chronic health issues and challenges. I have battled autoimmune diseases since college, that have caused me an unbearable amount of chronic pain and fatigue and have kept me “down for the count” for long periods of time, in which I have not been able to go off to another city to act in a film or have caused me to miss out on major life and career opportunities and events.
Yet, for the public, I push, and smile, through when I can! I also want to share with women who are reading this piece, that I sacrificed a lot to have/sustain the career that I have, as I was a single woman in New York City and Hollywood, which are two very expensive cities to live in, and I often had to find side jobs and ways to sustain myself and my lifestyle, throughout my acting ebbs and flows.
Again, I met my husband later in life, so nothing has been spoon-fed or come super easily to me. I am proud that I have managed to get to where I am today, with some level of success and accomplishment, and I hope to inspire other independent, hardworking women to continue to bring their goals and dreams to fruition!
What has been your biggest milestone / achievement so far ?
Oooo… this is a tough one! As a chronic overachiever, and a woman who has always felt the need to “prove something” to herself and others, I have been fortunate to have many, both personally and professionally… But, I have worked very hard to accomplish each of them!
Personally, from the words of icon Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way!”… and with Integrity! I have faced a lot of fears and made many mistakes, but I have always chosen to “Be Fearless” in the face of adversity!
Professionally, I have been blessed with many awards for my creative efforts, but I have to share a milestone I was honored with at the beginning of 2021. I was recently inducted into the Phillytainment PA Celebrity Hall Of Fame. I have been a reader and fan of this Philly fabulous entertainment magazine and site for some time. When the editors reached out to tell me that I had been nominated and added to the mix of Philadelphia “celebrities” to be inducted into the ‘Phillytainment PA Celebrity Hall Of Fame’, I was overwhelmed with honor and joy!
Shortly after, they told me I won the nomination and would be added to their Hall Of Fame in 2021, alongside Philadelphia natives, including Will Smith, Bob Saget, Richard Gere, Grace Kelly, Patti Labellle, Jazzy Jeff, Pink, Jill Scott, Maria Bello, Tina Fey, Boyz II Men, M. Knight Shyamalan, Kevin Bacon, Bradley Cooper, Kevin Hart, Kobe Bryant, Eve, and more. Honestly, I cried for hours! In speaking very frankly, and I do believe many creatives will understand and empathize with my feelings… unless you reach A-list stardom in Hollywood, we are often not acknowledged for our career, craft, and blood, sweat, and tears we put into our passions and dreams throughout a lifetime.
I am, humbly and realistically, aware of the space that my acting career stands in, so after working hard and sacrificing so much for over 20 years in this industry, when a milestone/achievement of this magnitude occurs for me, I feel that I am somehow being acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done, with some level of success. For your creative readers, I am crying again as I share this, because I hope to be an example of an actress who moved from Philadelphia to New York to Hollywood and lived out her dream to the best of her ability and reached some beautiful milestones along the way.
What are your aspirations for the future? Where would you like to see yourself 5 years from now?
I feel very blessed and would not change much! I laser focused on my career and waited until my 40s to now manifest my amazing husband and home. I aspire to manage my health and stress better. I would love to land another TV series (hopefully, a steady one for a few years this time), continue to live in my beautiful Hollywood home, but also have an apartment in New York City, and a Villa in Italy every summer… is that too much to ask? LOL! On my professional aspirations list is also to win a Telly Award, then an Emmy Award!
Is there anything else you would like to share with us today, Brooke?
I am so grateful for sustaining in a crazy, unpredictable business for over 20 years, and having a loyal, supportive fan-base and following that has stayed with me for years, even through the challenging ebbs and flows (and, pandemic!), and has followed me from genre to genre!
I dreamed of being an actress as a little girl, and I sometimes pinch myself, as I realize I am living my dream and it is real! My dream may not look exactly as I imagined, and I may not be on a TV series right now, but I am here, and I am sustaining, and I am never quitting this dream, so, in some way, I know I “made it”!
I want to thank my fans for all their generous comments on my social media and for their hard copy fans letters I still receive to my PO Box. I cherish these and save them in my fan chest…and, when I go through my career ebbs, I go back to read them to remind myself how lucky I really am as an actress!
Last, but not least, I want to send positive vibes to all the readers for healing and love in this world! Please stay healthy, positive, and spread LOVE!!!
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Brooke Lewis Bellas, star of the drama “The Mourning“., and I’ll be back to share some more articles with you again soon! In the meantime, you can see our other features here.
Julia x
Website: JuliaReesCoaching.com : Instagram: @julia.rees_
Credits:
Photographer: Birdie Thompson @birds_eye_photo
Hair and Makeup: Allison Noelle @allisonnoellemakeup
