Interview With "The Lair"'s Lead Vamp, Peter Stickles

AE: Interesting. And yet on The Lair …
PS: I have a much more graphic scene in The Lair than I had in Shortbus. Although I don't think you really see anything of me. But I was naked. But we were all wearing a sock. Dylan and I, we had a sock on.

I gotta say, I really feel fearless in a way. When Shortbus was happening and a lot of my friends and people who are close to me — they didn't say it then, but I found out afterwards that they were very concerned that I was doing this role. They were concerned about my future, my career, what this would do, doing this weird movie. They sort of kept their mouth shut, but later on they let me have it and let me know how they felt.

And in a certain way I can understand that, because I was terrified. When I was in Shortbus, I was absolutely terrified. The very thought of it made me want to vomit, because it was so exciting. And I want to be scared in that way, where I can do it and say I did it, and then can move on and do anything.

AE: Do you have concerns about being typecast as an out gay actor?
PS: Of course I have — absolutely. The producers of The Lair took me aside and we had a meeting about whether or not I was going to be an "out" gay actor and whether they were going to be able to market me. But they wanted me to take it very seriously, because it's a very big decision and I had to stop and think about it.

Because even though it sucks, and it shouldn't matter, it does matter. So yeah, I had to really think about it — not so much in terms of being a horror movie actor, because if I could do horror movies for the rest of my life I'd die a happy man. But being pigeonholed as a gay film actor is kind of weird for me.

AE: What is it about vampires that people find sexy — and kind of gay?
PS: The whole flamboyance, and they're sort of androgynous, sort of like a drag queen in a way. Like when they're fully clothed, it's hard to tell if they're a man or a woman. I know when I was all dressed up as Damian, I felt like a drag queen with all the eyeliner and the hair. I mean, it's not like I was very masculine-looking, which I think can be sexy to both men and women. And you know, they want to suck on your neck, which is very sexual. They're writhing, sexual creatures.

AE: Do you have a favorite vampire movie?
PS: I love Near Dark and I like The Lost Boys.

AE: Kind of the alpha gay vampire movie, really.
PS: [Laughs.] True!

AE: What more can we expect from Damian as The Lair goes on?
PS: You can expect to see a little more of Colin, kind of my second in command. You can expect to see some mutiny. Did you get to the story with the painting?

AE: Yeah, that's in the second episode.
PS: You can expect to see more about that. There's some issues that happen with the painting, which is sort of the keystone of our existence, so I get concerned when things happen with that. And Colin tries to take over our family.

AE: It's like All About Eve with fangs.
PS: More like Showgirls!

AE: So who's hotter — the Dante's Cove cast or The Lair cast?
PS: Oh, The Lair! God, of course! My whole orgy room? The one where I orchestrate the orgies? Those are my boys. We have those Dante's Cove boys beat!

AE: Who would win a dance-off?
PS: Oh my God, we would destroy them! We got the moves.

AE: You live in New York full-time?
PS: Yep.

AE: Your admirers will want to know: Are you single?
PS: Oh yeah, always. I've never really dated anyone seriously. I've hung out with people for a couple weeks or so, but I've never had a boyfriend.

AE: Are you too busy?
PS: I don't know. It's just never really happened. I mean, I'm open to it, but it's just never happened.

AE: Well, I'm sure it'll happen.
PS: If so, cool, if not, that's fine.

AE: You've got a lot on your plate.
PS: Yeah. I'd rather work!

AE: And I have to ask: If you could become a vampire, would you?
PS: No. I wouldn't want to live forever. Are you kidding? Did you see Death Becomes Her, when they're falling apart and they have to, like, glue their faces together? Live forever? No way. I'm happy to go at any time.

AE: Well, we won't rush you!