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Cohn Sheds Her Layers in ‘Violet Tendencies’

22 Apr, 2011 By: Ashley Ratcliff


Mindy Cohn in 'Violet Tendencies'


Actress Mindy Cohn has a metaphorical coming out party of her own in gay-themed indie comedy Violet Tendencies, which shows her as she’s never before been seen.

From her days playing Natalie Green on sitcom “The Facts of Life” (1979-1988) to voicing Velma in various “Scooby Doo” episodes and specials, the Los Angeles-based actress said starring as Manhattan single Violet was a “chance of a lifetime.”

Breaking Glass Pictures releases Violet Tendencies May 24 (prebook May 3) on DVD ($24.99).

“It gave me the opportunity to do things on camera that hadn’t been done before,” Cohn said. “It’s a part that I definitely haven’t played. … As an actor, you look for parts like this, where you can play something that is so removed from you. It was a challenge. … I feel that somehow I’ve gotten outside of the box of being Natalie.”

Violet is adored by her gaggle of gay friends, who make her the center of their universe. But at 40, Violet longs for a serious relationship, and the outlook is increasingly bleak as she belly flops into the New York dating pool. She decides the best way to find love is to distance herself from her boys and throw out essentially everything she’s learned about dating in the past.

“Violet is an independent, free spirit, [and is] incredibly bawdy,” Cohn said. “She literally eats life with such a voracious appetite and is so good-natured but lacks a lot of social grace and self-awareness.”

Those factors make for some especially awkward yet amusing moments for Violet.

Cohn said she initially felt some trepidation about the role, which calls for nudity, sex scenes and raunchy rhetoric.

“I was really putting myself out there. … Even though the gay community has always embraced me — the character Natalie is sort of this gay icon, as all the girls are on ‘The Facts of Life’ — you’re still taking a chance by doing a lead in a gay-themed movie,” she said. “Although, I do have to say that I don’t see it as gay-themed as other people do.”

“I think it’s a wonderfully sweet love story that happens to be about a girl and her gaggle of friends. … It really isn’t just for gay men,” Cohn added.

Like her character, Cohn — a self-proclaimed “fag hag” since the age of 13 — has never been married, has no children and still is searching for the man of her dreams.

“It takes [Violet] a while,” she said. “I think that’s how a lot of single women move through the world. They think they know what they want, and they really aren’t honest with themselves. And they surround themselves with the safety of … gay men or shopping or anything to divert [their deep desire for a serious relationship].”

The character of Violet was very relatable to Cohn and her group of girlfriends, she said.

“Being successful, there is a sense of failure sometimes of not getting what you want. … It’s really about living your life as if the guy’s already there, ‘cause he is,” Cohn said. “You just haven’t found each other yet. The message of the movie is love will find you.”

Cohn offers the following advice to women in a similar predicament: “You don’t need to go out and make it a mission. That’s not how it works best. You don’t have to be someone else to find the love of your life. Stay true to you. Be you and do you.”

Violet Tendencies also stars Casper Andreas (who also directs) as baby-crazy Markus, Jesse Archer (who also wrote the film) as loose Luke, Marcus Patrick as go-go dancer Zeus, Samuel Whitten as Markus’ skeptical husband, Armand Anthony as Violet’s love interest, Adrian Armas as Luke’s fed-up ex and Kim Allen as dating guru Salome.

Bonus material includes deleted scenes, a commentary with Andreas and Archer, director and cast interviews, trailers and more.

 


About the Author: Ashley Ratcliff


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