Black Women In Horror History: Geretta Geretta

"I have always loved horror it was my Mom’s favorite type of film and back in the day there were still ‘Fright Night’ channels  so I grew up watching all kinds of things go bump in the night."

Geretta Geretta may not be a name you immediately recognize, and it's not often that genre actresses are lauded for their well-rounded portfolios and experiences. Geretta Geretta is definitely in that camp. Accomplished, beautiful, and loving her fans, the most important aspect about Black History Month for me has always been getting to know more about a figure in African (diaspora & American) history that others may not acknowledge.

Many cinephiles especially recognize Geretta Geretta from her role as Rosemary in the Lamberto Bava directed, Dario Argento produced 1985 film Demons, but did you also know that Geretta:

• Was a part of an improv comedy group called Rusty Nails
• Directorial debut was the award winning Sweetiecakes, noted nod for Best Director!
• Graduated from AFI (American Film Institute) Masters Program in Screenwriting in Los Angeles
• Has appeared in over 20 films while living over a decade in Italy
• Has taught writing seminars
• Directed and produced the drama, Whitepaddy starring Lisa Bonet, Hill Harper, Debra Wilson, and RuPaul
• Spent a few years in Ireland immersed in its arts culture
• Wrote, directed, and produced "100 Voices Against Apartheid" a collection of one hundred filmed anti-segregation testimonials from Odessa, Billy Bragg, Miriam Makeba, Roberto Benigni,Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy and many others for the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid and UNICEF.
• Won a Best Female Director award at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival
• Is fluent in Italian
• Some of her favorite horror movies include The Hunger, 30 Days of Night, The Sentinel, Bela Lugosi’s Dracula, Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein, Love at First Bite, The Others, The Fog with Jamie Lee Curtis and the original Nosferatu. 

Geretta also hits the convention circuit with regularity and is still active in the film industry, starring in one recent, micro-budget film Bloody Christmas (2012). She's a force that is worthy of our attention and a great name to drop if anyone ever challenges you about Black women's contributions to horror.