On Mother’s Day weekend, I had the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with Carmen Electra at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas to discuss her career, the insanity of celebrity, and her experience shooting Twentieth Century Fox’s latest comedy spoof, Meet the Spartans.

Q: Did you study acting when you were attending Performance Art School in Cincinnati?

CE: Dance was my major and vocal music was my minor. I did take a couple acting classes here and there but I guess my main focus was on dance and that took up most of my time. So I was actually really surprised when different projects started getting me on camera. I don’t know… I guess growing up I had a lot of fears about that. And movement… dance and movement… felt like an easier way to express myself. I was really super shy. So even hosting or sitting here doing an interview… if I go back to my childhood, I can’t imagine getting over that shyness… and being that vulnerable. So it’s really interesting how much your life can change.

Q: So dance gives you a center and grounds you?

CE: Definitely. I mean, that is my love and passion and focus… so luckily I still get to dance a little here and there.

Q: With The Bombshells?

CE: Yeah! To me, that’s really fun… and it comes really easy… really natural. It’s what I studied to do, so I kinda know where to go with it. Whereas with acting, I feel a little more vulnerable… a little bit more in my head… but it’s fun! It’s challenging. Definitely way more challenging.

Q: Is it true you were a dancer at King’s Island amusement park when you were a kid?

CE: (She smiles) Yes… yes I was. When I was 16 - 17… that was actually the job that helped me save enough money to fly to LA. So it definitely had a strong meaning.

Q: And right after that move you had the opportunity to start working with Prince, who at the time was hitting his creative prime. What was it like being immersed in that environment?

CE: Well, I was 18 turning 19… and I felt like I was living in a dream. You know? I don’t know… I couldn’t believe how much my life had changed within a week. I mean, I still can’t. I still look back and think… wow… thank God for this person… this powerful person that’s so admired and listened to… who believed in me and gave me that much self-confidence to try and do this on my own.

Q: Do you ever draw inspiration from those experiences, to help with projects you’re working on today?

CE: Yeah… I feel really lucky and blessed to have had that situation. It was great because I got to dance. I mean, he’s a genius… a musical genius… so to have someone make music that you can dance to and feel good is really cool and creative and fun and exciting and new. It was a completely different time in my life. I mean, he gave me my name and… I don’t know. I guess, in a way, I can look back at that time and if I ever feel insecure or doubt myself, I can say “Prince believed in me. Why am I not believing in me?” You know? And that’s kind of an interesting way of looking at things… and it does help me. And definitely, at times when I feel uncertain, it gives me a little boost.

Q: Has he connected with you at other points in your career?

CE: We were just at Coachella and I was hosting a T-Mobile party and he headlined, so it was actually going on at the same time and I didn’t get a chance to see him.

(Method Man stops in for a quick Meet the Spartans photo op on his way out.)

CE: How’d it go?

MM: Good… One of the other interviewers asked me what it was like working with you on this movie, and I had to say we didn’t, but we did on my television show. I told him, “she was cool.”

CE: Awww… I know, I’m like all star struck. It was fun on your show. I had a good time.

MM: Yeah, but that dog was disgusting. I couldn’t believe it. That was horrible.

CE: Oh! That dog!!

MM: We had one of those skinless, I mean fur-less dogs and they all got bad skin. Nasty.

CE: Yeah, they do have crazy problems…

(The photographers do their thing.)

CE: Will I see you later?

MM: Yeah, after my show.

(A quick hug and Method Man leaves. The staff resets to continue our interview.)

CE: He’s the real deal. You know? I like his music and he’s so down to Earth. A nice guy… just doing his work. And it makes my job fun, ’cause I get to be all star struck and excited.

Q: After all this time in the business, you still get star struck?

CE: Absolutely!

Q: So who’s been the biggest talent you’ve freaked out over?

CE: Umm… Let me think… I’m trying to think, because you meet so many people… I mean, I guess there’s a different level of people who you actually admire and respect… or actually really watch this person’s work or listen to this person’s work… it’s at a whole different level of excitement when you get to meet ‘em. You know?

Q: You’ve had the opportunity to work with some great comedians in recent years — Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, David Cross, Eugene Levy…

CE: Steve Martin! Oh, I was very star struck over Steve Martin. The Jerk is one of my favorite movies, so I was… you know, it had just come out, and I think we had just got cable and they would show that movie over and over again. It was cool, you know? He’s legendary…

Q: Do you pick up comedy tips and tricks being on set and watching them work?

CE: I don’t know… I mean, Eugene Levy… he was so great because he was really interesting to watch. He would second guess some of his choices and I’d see him go, “I shouldn’t have done it like that.” And I thought, “god, here’s someone who’s one of the most talented comedians ever and he’s not sure if he made the right choice with the delivery”… you know? So, that was really endearing and really charming.

Q: You also got the chance to travel to London and do some British comedy recently, right?

CE: Yeah! I Want Candy. That was fun… I played a porn star… (she laughs) that’s a stretch. But it was fun, you know? I got to do a lot of porn research.

Q: Was it completely different from the work you’ve done on other comedies?

CE: Yeah, it was different. I mean, I think the British sense of humor is a lot different… and I’ve done a lot more spoof movies, so yeah… I guess every film experience is different.

Q: Does it become easier, the more often you work with [Meet the Spartans creators] Adam (Seltzer) and Jason (Friedberg)?

CE: I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s easier, but I do think the guys have a sense of what they need to get from me, after working together so much. And I know, going into it, I’m gonna have fun, you know? The set’s gonna be relaxed… and I know they’re not taking it so seriously. So you can go in and be sort of spontaneous and a little bit more comfortable than if you had to go in and get every line… you know, say every line perfectly to the script. They’re not like that. They know it’s a spoof movie and that’s what it’s all about…. going in, having a good time, taking it light, knowing it is what it is… and that’s really the joy of it.

Q: You’ve done film, television, fitness DVDs, written a book, traveled the world… what haven’t you done that you’ve always wanted to do?

CE: …be a mom.

Q: Really?

CE: Yeah… some day. As much as I sort of dream about being a mom… I have fears… so… it’s a fine line and I feel like I really have to be ready. You know?

Q: You and Dave (Navarro) did the whole reality TV thing. Your life has to be insane as it is, with your celebrity status. Does that make things more complicated for you, in terms of maintaining a relationship and a sense of self?

CE: Yeah, on a personal level, definitely. You know, in that situation, with the success of the TV show… it did so well… and MTV does create celebrity… it really gets you exposed and gets you out there. I mean, taking a real relationship… and then doing a show… and then all of a sudden that became… the relationship became the brand. Do you know what I’m saying? And I think we both ended up getting so much work… from having that show… that in the end it wound up pulling us apart, because we didn’t have the time… we didn’t make the time… to really put into the relationship and make it work.

Q: Are you doing anything differently now, as a result?

CE: Yeah, I mean, I really haven’t dated at all… and I really felt like I had to step back from it… you know? It was pretty intense, the way that all happened…. but Dave is great… he’s an amazing person… I’ve learned so much from him… and I love him to death. I think we get each other… you know? …and we always will. We’ll always be connected. It doesn’t matter, if we’re doing a show or not… if we’re married, if there’s paperwork, if we’re divorced, or whatever it is… we’re always together… and that can’t ever be taken away… no matter what the situation is.

For more on Carmen Electra, visit her official site.

DVD Verdict review: Meet the Spartans
DVD Verdict review: Meet the Spartans (Blu-ray)