There are several inside jokes within "Grindhouse," including a few characters appearing in both films, and some actors appearing in the fake trailers between features. But Rose McGowan is the only actor to appear in both films as unique characters.
“I auditioned for Quentin‘s, twice,” she said. “I had to go back twice, while I was shooting ‘Planet Terror.’ It was not a foregone. I think it was just the same old-fashioned way of somebody making an appointment for you and just going in. Also, that Quentin likes me and my acting, so to speak.”
Despite having the “in” of doing Robert Rodriguez’s film, McGowan never asked for a favor. “No, I would not ever presume to go up to anybody and ever say anything like that. In fact, I made it a huge point to never talk about it. He wasn’t even doing auditions or doing anything back then. I think he was still finishing the script."
Rodriguez’s film required McGowan to undergo a complicated visual effects process to appear like she has various objects substituting for her leg. “I had a really heavy gray cast, and it had kind of a ball-bearing in the heel, so that if it was a table leg or a rifle or a machine gun, you’d have a little nub to rest on. So that was the ball bearing, and my toes were pointed in the air. I thought maybe my Achilles tendon was gonna snap.”
After that, going to Tarantino’s dialogue-driven talk fest was a relief. “He has a very specific cadence, obviously. As long as you can get that, I think you’re sailing away and you’re just fine."
Can’t wait til Friday for the release of "Grindhouse?" Check out our "Grindhouse A to Z" feature for a fast and furious rundown of all the best exploitation classics that inspired Tarantino and Rodriguez’ double feature sleaze-fest!!
