With a cameo in a very funny indie film, Jane White Is Sick and Twisted, the only remaining original cast member of MadTV has great fun telling us about Jane, her career, and enjoying what you do.

MadTV has been on the air for 8 years, and Debra Wilson has been there the whole time, making us laugh with some incredible parodies and off the wall characters. She's been a spokesperson for Burger King and a sidekick to Joan Rivers for her show Can We Shop? She does voice work for Fox TV's Family Guy, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Oblongs, Disney's The Proud Family, and others. She's been in the films Gridlock'd, BAPS, Blue in the Face, American History X, Sleeping Together, Skin Deep, and many more. Debra Wilson is talented, spirited and optimistic, and she spoke to me recently from her Los Angeles home.

FM: After 8 seasons on MadTV, you must have seen a lot of changes.

Debra: Oh, a lot of changes. I've seen 'em come and I've seen 'em go. Almost 40 changes. I'm the last original member of the cast, now.

FM: Do you feel all that exposure has helped you get more roles.

Debra: Sure hasn't hurt. This business is all about being seen, and the more people see you the better.

FM: Do you feel as though you're being offered more parts in other shows or films?

Debra: I'm getting work. It's good to work. It's not starring roles, but it's work.

FM: Do you think things are changing for black actors?

Debra: There is a class system in acting just like in anything else. Black females fall in a category below black male actors. And the class system extends to types. I'm not the classic type - fair skin, very beautiful women of a classic type, I'm talking about now. They get the work, the Vanessa Williams' and Robin Givens', not the traditional, kinky-haired type like me. I fit into the quirky, character class type of actor. It is what it is. Why should I be upset about that? It's just the way things happen and I'm good at what I do, when maybe they aren't. That's all.

FM: It certainly sounds as though you have a positive outlook. And realistic.

Debra: People who don't use the tools given to them only injure themselves. Why fight things that are so huge you can't change them no matter what? Why waste that energy? I don't have the time for that. I've got my own future and my own life and it's positive and I feel blessed, so I'm going to do what I need to that's in my best interests. It's all about doing good work, getting good parts. It's all about humanity, humility, and integrity. Showcase those talents. My driving force is spirituality. I have to approach my life in this way so I can do what I need to do, and do it very well. Everything in my life falls under that umbrella. It helps focus every part of your life and creates energy and effort on all levels. So I can do what I need and what I want. And I desire to do great work.

FM: So you don't let the pressures of this business get to you.

Debra: This is first an ego-driven industry, then a money-driven industry. Don't let anybody tell you different.

FM: You've had small roles in a number of films and videos ranging from Gridlock'd to Carrot Top is Chairman of the Board...

Debra: That was a funny one. That was actually very good for me. I was asked to write a short film for Carrot Top, and ended up writing a song to be used in the film for a sketch. It was never used. It was a take on Heaven Can Wait, and it had Jack Warden in the scene. It was really good for me to do that, and I thought it worked well. But they ended up not using it.

FM: Do you have a musical background?

Debra: We've done lots of musical parodies for MadTV. Voice is my instrument. I've played piano and guitar when I was younger. My older sister Nikki went to Hampton music school in Virginia, then to another school later in New York. When she would come home she would teach me how to sing Bach vespers in three-part harmony. My other sister Lysette also helped. And I used to listen to a lot of jazz. Chick Corea was a great influence on me, musically, as I was growing up.

FM: It sounds as though you have a very talented family.

Debra: My family is very theatrical. We always performed for our church, but we also just performed whenever the family got together. Singing songs, putting on little skits and plays whenever we all got together. That was what started me wanting to be a performer. I was a shy little girl, nothing like what I am now. I sang in school, but other than that I was completely different. But the family started it all. Just generation after generation of people singing and performing and all that artistic and creative outflow had to go somewhere. Singing was the big focus and outlet for me. I would buy a lot of 45's as a kid and sing to them all the time. I go to New York from time to time and I have a friend who teaches the diggery-doo. I learned how to play it. What's so interesting is that the Aborigine language is all handed down from generation to generation – it's not a written language. And I've learned something about that from learning to play this instrument.

FM: But now you're into acting.

Debra: When I was five years old I knew I wanted to act. I watched TV and collected TV Guides and read Rona Barrett's articles and followed different characters and character actors. I loved shows that had pathos. One of the oldest memories I have is Jonny Quest and Mannix. Loved the jazzy music on Jonny Quest. I could pick out different voices, too. I knew that Tim Matheson was Jonny's voice. I recently met Kurt Russell at a premier and knew his old TV show The Quest, which co-starred Tim Matheson. When I went up to Kurt Russell and told him how much I loved that show he looked at me like I had two heads. He said, "You aren't old enough to know that show." He was stunned that anyone would remember it.

FM: And that was your introduction and piqued your interest in show biz?

Debra: Edu-tainment. I got an early education from television. Watched Star Wars in 77 and that's when I got into watching films. I was just blown away by it.

FM: Did you ever do stand-up?

Debra: I hated stand-up. Too many non-truthful people. So many comics have such low self-esteem. I just did not feel good about any of it.

FM: And now you've got a small part in the new indie comedy film, Jane White is Sick and Twisted.

Debra: Jane White was an offer for a cameo role. I read the script, liked what I read, and thought it was funny. I asked to play with the character - without messing with the director's vision. They let me. I face every project the same way - do it right and give 110%. 100% isn't good enough. If you're going to do something, make it right and make it as good as you can. Don't waste anybody's time, especially your own.

FM: Was Jane White a fun shoot?

Debra: Yeah. We shot it at night. One night. Had a great time doing it. Most of the film is cameos but it is all about fun. And I think that comes across n the final product. I think it's a great project.

FM: It's been getting great reviews from the festivals. So what's the future hold in store for Debra Wilson?

DM: I'm in a film called Target starring Stephen Baldwin and James Russo that will go direct to cable before it goes to video. And I'm in an action film distributed through Alliance that's called Friendly Fire. It stars Dennis Hopper and Gary Busey. And I'm going to be doing a single - recording a song. I was first approached two years ago by someone whom I didn't think was all that serious at the time. But about a year ago my agent called and asked if I remember that person, and did I know they were serious about doing the deal? They want me to do a sort of disco song. So that will be coming out this summer.

FM: Well, I wish you all the best with the career and here's hoping you light up the dance charts this summer. You are a very talented artist and it has been a real pleasure talking with you.

Debra: Thank you.

Jane White Is Sick And Twisted hits video stores May 6th.