Did you ever expect to end up doing so much work in the sci fi genre?

I did specifically want to be on Star Trek because I knew that the world of science fiction was a vast and really intriguing one. And also because I knew of the faithfulness of the fans of the genre.

But whereas I did set out to be in the genre, I never dreamt or expected that it would become what it has to me. I'm really grateful.

I've got two genre projects coming up. I'm the lead in an upcoming film which is a genre feature with a kind of a horror bent. It's got a fabulous story and I'm really looking forward to it coming out. It's called Creature Unknown, and I was also a producer on that project. That'll be out this summer.

The next project I'm really excited about is, I am going to become the chairman of the first ever major genre film festival in the world. It's being done through Cinescape magazine, it's September 19th through 21st in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and it's going to be called Maniafest. It's website is at Maniafest.com.

I'm honoured to say I was asked to be the chairman, and we're putting it all together. We're picking panellists, we're going to have some really fabulous top directors and producers coming to speak, and we're going to be honouring Stan Winston, who is an incredible icon in the genre. And we're supporting boys' and girls' clubs through America by doing it.

Do you think this will become an ongoing thing?

I really do. I think it's high time there was a major event put together to honour the genre film work, and to recognise the writers and directors and other artists who've created the genre to be what it is. It's exciting to be honouring some of the greats who've moulded the genre, George Romero, Toby Hooper, Clive Barker, guys like that, and we're also having a competition for screenplays, shorts and feature films. So we'll be recognising and honouring up and coming genre artists as well, and maybe helping establish some of those.

I'm really putting my nose to the grindstone and doing my homework, and learning about some fabulous genre projects. The old sci-fi of the fifties and sixties which is so camp and fun. Really, some of the effects in the old days were great, considering that television had just been invented. It's an education, and I'm more and more falling in love with the genre.

Would you have liked to have been in one of those Saturday morning cinema fifties sci fi programmes, or would you have a problem with how they portray women?

I think they're great. I love campy fun and I've never had a problem with that kind of thing being sexist. To me, science fiction is a genre where women can be sexy and powerful and smart. They can be leaders and not lose their femininity, which is great.

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