Known as cinema’s first female action star, Pam Grier has seen much success in her career since the 1970s as an actress and singer. Grier is now tapping into the genre of horror and plays a mother hiding a secret from her family in Season Two of the series “Them: The Scare.”
Grier spoke with rolling out about the series and what people should expect.
How did it feel to be a part of this series?
I wasn’t sure I had the energy to do it because Little Marvin was going to demand so much of my life and experiences, and I was ready to chill. He found me and searched me out. I was hiding on my ranch and not answering. He wanted to really speak with me and convince me that he was going to bring it, [that he would] be there for me and all my emotions [of] fear, confidence and [needing] protection. I’m going to have to bring it — and he has to catch me and be there because I’m now a very vulnerable woman.
In this film, I gained my strength from the Civil Rights Movement and the women’s liberation movement. … I raised a daughter who’s becoming one of the number one female detectives of the LAPD, and she’s raising a son. I’m taking care of both of them … I’m aging; I have illnesses; and I have a secret — and I don’t want them to have to take care of me. I’ve been taking care of them. Now, there are paranormal activities in my home. How do I protect myself and them? Do they see it, or is it my imagination or my illness? There’s a washing machine in my basement that turns into this aggressive monster that’s coming after me. Is that my imagination, or are my daughter and grandson seeing these events? Have I lost it? Are they going to have to put me in a home to take care of me? All these layers that I have to be very vulnerable and raw to. I’m not hiding my wrinkles, and I’m not hiding my illness. I’m not hiding all the issues that I have — and when do I reveal the secret that could devastate my family?
What do you want people to take away from the series?
That they have to lock their doors and turn the lights on — and don’t trust everybody. Like Richard Pryor said, “I ain’t going into no dark alleyway unless I have a baseball bat.” Working with Little Marvin, you have to walk into that dark alley; you have to expect something, protect yourself from anything — and he was there. He was there for every actor who needed him there. We’re bringing it to him. You’re dealing with life; you’re dealing with all kinds of stuff; and now, he wants you to be there. The first jab is the deepest kind of work — and you’re going to be exhausted — but you’re going to be elated because here’s someone who said, “I can do it and I’ll be there. Trust me, I’ll be there for you.”
The genre of horror has come a long way from the 1950s to today because we have the intellectual and psychological competence to create a platform of fear and the element of the camera and technology. That’s going to inspire everyone to go, “Let’s see that again.” I am enjoying an incredible opportunity that I waited many years for, and I think I did a good job for him. I was challenged; he challenged himself; and he was there for me — and I will send him my therapy bills.
