by Catherine Marquis-Homeyer
staff editor

Jenny McCarthy, of MTV fame, is appearing in the new film "Scream 3," as starlet Sarah Darling. The name of her character seems especially appropriate considering that Jenny started and finished most of her remarks by calling the interviewer "Honey." Overall, McCarthy came across as friendly, talkative, and sharper than you would expect. She started off the interview by asking people to call her "Jenny," saying that the plot was a secret, but that in "Scream 3," her character Sarah was making a movie that was part of the "Stab" series, a movie-within-a-movie. In the course of the interview, she also mentioned that she'd grown up outside Chicago, was a cheerleader at her Catholic high school, and seems to be quite a sports fan. Here is part of the phone interview (without most of the "Honeys"):

Current: How did you feel about being cast in this movie?

McCarthy: Hi, Honey. I felt like I belonged. I liked the first film, and when I saw it, I thought "Why aren't I in this movie?" I was thrilled.

Current: Was screaming part of the audition for the part?

McCarthy: No, not for my part, but I would have if they had asked me! Usually, you get your "sides" [your lines in the script] ahead of time, but this was so confidential, that it wasn't possible. So, it was a cold reading.

Current: How was your working relationship with director Wes Craven?

McCarthy: I was scared at first, but he was sweet and shy, the nicest guy. Working with him was great. He really knows how to move the camera.

Current: Since you were new to the cast of the "Scream" movies, did the cast give you any kind of "hazing"?

McCarthy: No, they were very nice, even though they had worked together before, they made me feel accepted. They even gave me a "ghost" T-shirt they made.

Current: Do you like scary movies?

McCarthy: I love them, but I'm a big baby. Afterwards I have to sleep with the light on. The scariest film I ever saw was "The Exorcist."

Current: Will you do more of this kind of film?

McCarthy: Not more of this series; this is the last one. I may do more like it, if a good script comes up. I'm reading a "maybe" right now.

Current: What other things have you been up to?

McCarthy: I'm working on a TV show for the fall, and I'm in a film, "Diamond," that's in production now, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Kirk Douglas. This was a great film for me, good for my type image. Not a Meryl Streep kind of thing, but good. I just came back from taking a year and a half off, after a hectic year. I took some time off to reevaluate my career and life, got out of my contract, changed my agent, fell in love. I feel more in control of my career now.

Current:What about the end of the "Jenny McCarthy Show"?

McCarthy: The show wasn't cancelled. Paramount just wanted me to do a different show. My new show is with Fox, and it will be a combination of sexy and funny.

Current: Your character in "Scream 3," Sarah Darling, is she like you?

McCarthy: No, she's not like me at all. She's used to being pampered and is kind of spoiled, so I played her a a bit of a brat. But I'm not her at all.

Current: I heard that you have "gone brunette." Is that true?

McCarthy: It was for a film, but I decided to keep it that way for a while.

Current: Does your character survive in "Scream 3"?

McCarthy: I can't say. How do you know I'm not the murderer?