How would you describe yourself as ‘Shawna one of the hottest Hags in Tucson’?
Aww…thanks. Well, I think I've been able to fool a lot of people because I don’t see myself as hot or sexy, know I'm a dork. I'm a nerd. I've pretty much behaved like a knucklehead my entire life, I was probably more adorable when I was a child… as an adult I'm sure it's less attractive.
How important are looks to you?
I'm fairly specific about what I like to wear and looks are important to me, just like they are to everybody. However, I'm not a very precious person. On my own I generally have very messy hair, wear jeans and sneakers. I don't go everywhere with a make-up artist even though I love to wear make-up.
How was it like growing up?
When I was a child, I was the middle kid. My older sister got all the cool stuff, my little sister was the precious baby, and I was the chopped liver in the middle. I guess that is how I became first original Teenage Drama Queen, WATCH OUT LINDSEY LOHAN!
I was such a little Diva that I do remember my first Diva moment. There was this stupid annoying boy in the 5th grade named Benny Joe. He always teased me about my hair, clothes, the way I chewed my bubble gum. It got to the point that he was laugh at my layered socks [fad going on then] that I started to cry and slapped him real hard on his face. All the other kids were like, Woooo!, but I just flipped my hair and walked away. It was very dramatic.
In high school, I mellowed out and joined the drama club. I wasn’t a cheerleader or in sports. But I did have loads of friends, some of them gay. I was what you consider an ever changing Madonna. I went through phases from Nerd to Punk to Grunge to Goth to all around Daria.
Everyone thinks of you as the coolest girl in the world! When we just heard about you, all anyone says is how cool you are. Somebody actually said, "Nobody doesn't like Shawna. She's the best-liked girl in the world. The loveliest girl in the world.”
Are you serious? That is so insane. I wish I could let myself feel that. I don't feel like I'm the loveliest girl ever, but I'm too hard on myself.
What's your surefire way to win anyone over, you loveliest girl in the world?
Do I do anything to win someone over? No, I wouldn't know how to do that; I just try to be myself. I just try to be nice and be sensitive, supportive and crazy my friend told me.
You seem so confident.
Hey, I wasn't always like this--I had to learn how to get happy. I was a people-pleaser, and I never won in the end. I always felt like I was deceiving myself. I was falling apart at the seams-- and no good can come out of that. No good relationship, no good dates, nothing.
You've said you once wanted to be a rock star, but you've decided to be an actress instead. Why aren't you a rock star?
I don't know why I'm not. I absolutely love to sing--and people tell me that I have a good voice, but I'm like, "Oh, thanks." And if you get me in front of a karaoke machine, we're in trouble--because I will just not shut up.
I hear that you love to sing at Karaoke bars. What got you into it?
A couple of friends had a birthday party or some kind of get-together at a Famous Sams’ [Bar in Tucson] and I debut my first song ever at Karaoke, Tina Turner’s Proud Mary. My boyfriend at the time was so impress that I remember afterwards sitting at home watching TV one day and he would be trying to get me to sing and I’d just be like 'dude come on I’m trying to watch the Brady Bunch here.
What's your favorite karaoke song?
God, there's so many. "Turn around. . .every now and then I get a little bit. . ." [singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler], some No Doubt, Evanescence, 80s’ songs and the B-52s with my friend Joe.
Speaking of Average Joes’ what type of guys do you like?
Once upon a time ago I was into guys who were members in a band. They seem cute to me, you know the ‘don't shave, don't shower, don't care, be really stinky and wear the same clothes every day’ type of guy. I think what makes a man sexy is not being self-aware. That's was really cute to me. And lately I hang with a lot of gay men and they are the total opposite, the nice, clean smelling, and sexy bodies are changing my interests.
For you, what makes a good date?
I had good dates with my last boyfriend. On our early dates, we just walked around and talked. Since I was living in Tucson, and he was living in Los Angeles, we would go visit each other, which was challenging--but we figured it out. We just made an adventure out of it. It was fun and spontaneous.
Are sources tells us that you were once married?
Oh God! I can’t believe anyone would know about that. I feel so embarrassed!
So what happened?
Well it was like this, my friend [B. McLean] and I went to Las Vegas and got amazingly drunk as soon as we landed. Vaguely remembering what was happening, I do believe that we thought it would be funny to get married. I was totally kidding but as soon as it was said, it happen. I even had Elvis walk me down the aisle. I have the pictures to prove it too. The next day, as soon as we found out what we have done, we waited in line for one hour, with wonderful hang-overs, to get it annulled.
You always seem to have a good attitude about everything.
I sure try. I'm not always chipper--but I don't want to be ‘complainy’ and ‘nitpicky’ and unfortunate. I want to feel fortunate. Also I want to make people around me feel good too.
A source tells us that you can be ditzy at times?
Really? WHO ARE THEY? I’LL SMACK ‘EM! [laughs] That’s funny actually, I wouldn’t blame them. I can act ditzy at times but I think there's a difference between ditzy and dumb. Dumb is just not knowing. Ditzy is having the courage to ask! [laughs]
So what are you plans for the future?
God, that is really hard to say at the moment. I am really spontaneous. I've never planned anything - I can't make plans, I can't keep 'em, I'm so bad. But the one thing that has always been consistent, I think, with my choices is that it's always been about the people I get to work with… people I admire, who are creative and wonderful.
