Q&A Robert Englund

By Lev Grossman

Robert Englund has played Freddy Krueger in all seven Nightmare on Elm Street movies. The latest, Freddy vs. Jason, opens Friday

Has there ever been a day when you were like, Oh, God, I just can't do this anymore?

Oh, yeah. When I was doing Part IV. I literally would drive past the off-ramp. I couldn't do it! I couldn't get off! It was like going to the dentist.

Do you ever get recognized on the street?

There'll be parents who come up and want pictures with their children. They want that Polaroid for the refrigerator--you know, kissing the baby.

What does Freddy have nightmares about?

I'm a victim of those old stress nightmares. Generally I'm backstage, I don't know my first line and I'm waiting for the cue. I guess they're just anxiety dreams.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you may be the least scary person I've ever met.

I get to exorcise all of it, playing this guy. I get all that stuff out of me, grinding all over fresh teenage girls once every few years. Getting to torment them with my S&M glove.

Say something in the voice.

[reluctantly] Something in the voice?

Yeah! The Freddy voice!

Oh, my God. I don't know. [does a crazy Freddy laugh] Sweet dreams!