Interview with Robin Johnson: Born That Way

AN INTERVIEW WITH 'REBELLIOUS' ROBIN JOHNSON:

 BORN THAT WAY 
By Jerry Saravia

Robin Johnson as Nicky Marotta in 1980's "Times Square"

Robin Johnson is one of those actresses who slipped under the Hollywood radar. Her quixotic debut turn in Allan Moyle's "Times Square" is possibly the iconic role of her career - the rebellious, husky-voiced Brooklyn girl, Nicky Marotta, who performs a rousing rock number at the top of a marquee of a Times Square theatre during the climax of the film. It is her performance that gives the movie an injection of soul and purpose, along with the casting of Trini Alvarado as her best friend, and undoubtedly most will recall Robin Johnson as one of the standout, underrated performances of the 1980's in a criminally underrated film that has since gained a cult status. Such a strong impression lead to a recurring character as Darcy Dekker in "Guiding Light," a cameo in Scorsese's "After Hours," TV's "Miami Vice," a small bit in John Sayles' "Baby, It's You," "Splitz" (1984) where she played the member of an all-girl rock band called the Splitz, and some theatre work. Though she remains private about her current life and whereabouts, she was gracious and kind enough (with a quirky sense of humor) to agree to do this interview. 

Jerry: Thanks for your time and thank you for agreeing to do this interview. I can't tell you how happy I am to be interviewing the girl from Times Square, a film I consider a minor masterpiece.

Robin Johnson: Thank you for asking for the interview.  The “girl” from Times Square is now 49.  I am intrigued that you consider the film a “minor masterpiece.”  I think you should interview Allan Moyle or the co-writer Leanne Ungar, if she’s still around.  They are the ones that are probably responsible for the “masterpiece” part of it.

1) Tell me the story of how you were discovered for Times Square.  I recall on the commentary track of the DVD that you were discovered by a casting scout on the streets named Michael, and you still have no idea who this person is since nobody connected to the production knew of him?

RJ: Seriously?  Are these questions from an ancient press packet?  Don’t take offense but anyone really interested in me or my story of “discovery” knows this story in their sleep.  Or they might get the DVD where I’m sure I talked about this ad infinitum. 

I was cutting class – cutting up – and yes I have never seen or heard from this man after the one meeting and as far as I know – no one knew of him.  Perhaps he was a figment of my imagination.  What is interesting is the idea of a chance meeting such as this – the fantasy or dream of it – yet it was real.  Must have had to happen to me since (referring to question 2) I really was just playing myself and probably would have died young had I not had a chance to channel my self-destruction into a starring movie role. 

2) I have read that your character, Nicky, from "Times Square" is no different than who you were in 1980. Reform school, rebellious, didn't get along with teachers or authority. How much of your personal life ended up in the character of Nicky?

RJ: NONE of my personal life ended up in the movie or the character of Nicky except rebelliousness.  Born that way.  (As a matter of fact I really dig Lady Gaga – and the Clash.  And Bach.  Fatboy Slim.  Aerosmith – Janis Joplin – Coltrane – Pat Metheny – Sheryl Crow – Frank Sinatra – Johnny Cash – Coldplay – Simon & Garfunkel – oh God don’t have enough paper.  I happen to like people who can play their instruments and tell a good story.  Oops – skipped to question 6.  See – rebellious.)

Every actor brings their core to every role they play.  Meryl Streep is elegant at her core.  In Ironweed she has a dignity which cannot be erased even though she is a down-and-out Depression era alcoholic.  She is exceptionally skilled at characters and “the craft” of acting – but, she is still Meryl Streep – elegant at the core.

Robin in TV's "Miami Vice"

Robin in "After Hours"

3) Times Square was your breakout role but you have done very few films since. Tell us about your cameo in After Hours and working with director Martin Scorsese and actor Griffin Dunne. Seems like your brief bit as a punk rocker passing out flyers to a local punk club alludes to Nicky, to some extent.

RJ: I think my cameo in After Hours could have been a favor to one of my agents.  Also I have a face that seems to magically attract lots of make-up and strange hair-do’s.

Robin as Darcy Dekker in "Guiding Light"

4) You are also a part of Guiding Light (playing Darcy Decker) and Miami Vice (as Candy James), two wildly different television shows. Darcy Decker was a tough girl who became a drug counselor, and the other role on Vice was as a poolside prostitute. Why weren't roles more forthcoming since Times Square?  Also, tying in with your role of Darcy in Guiding Light, rumor has it that you were considered for the role of Violet in Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning, true?

RJ: I have the same question.  (Not really.)  Why weren’t more roles forthcoming after Times Square?  Because everyone knows what a star-studded acting genius and incredible stunner I am. 

I had an interview with a hoped-for personal manager when I was about 22 or 23.  Actually – it was a pair of managers.  A “creative” guy and the “money” guy.  The creative guy said, “You know, if it was up to me, I would say yes in an instant.  But, my partner, well –”  Enter “money” guy: “Look, we manage Julia Roberts!  Why would we need you?”  My “career” has really been about something other than that – you know?  Que sera, sera.  C’est la vie.  Don’t know any other languages. 

If I was considered for anything in Friday the 13^th Part V or any other Roman numeral – I think it’s too late. 

                                                    Robin in a clip from "Guiding Light" 

5) Aside from being a traffic reporter for KFWB in Los Angeles, CA, you also played the lead role in a play called An Unhappy Woman at the Moving Arts Theatre in Los Angeles in 1997, and you won the LA Weekly award for Best Female Performance. Have you done any other theater since?

RJ: After the LA Weekly award – which I let stay at the theater company (never let it be said that I have to dust my award weekly) – I did some one-acts and was a stagehand.  It was a theater company – you contributed any way you could. 

I will say in all sincerity that Unhappy Woman was probably one of the most satisfying things I have ever experienced as a human and an actor.  I am peculiarly pedestrian.  Say that 10 times fast.

                                            Robin in a clip from "Baby, It's You" (1983)

6) Back in the days of Times Square, you stated that you hate the real punk music from England, such as the Clash. Have you changed your mind since then, and what are your current musical tastes?

RJ: [see question 2]

7.) Finally, for the Robin Johnson fans out there, tell us what you are doing now and your future plans.

RJ: I do not currently pursue acting – and it doesn’t pursue me.