Janelle Monáe tends to go all-out for Halloween — however this yr, her costume shall be two years within the making.
Talking with PEOPLE in a brand new interview to advertise her position as host for AMC’s FearFest this Halloween season, Monáe, 38, spoke about why dressing up for the spooky vacation is one among her favourite issues to do — and the story behind her upcoming costume this yr.
“I like reworking,” she says, trying again on a few of her most intricate costumes from through the years. “And I believe one of many causes that I spotted, I imply, Halloween and reworking into characters, it brings me pleasure.”
Lately, the Knives Out: Glass Onion star has made headlines along with her costumes, which have included well-known singers like David Bowie, science fiction characters like The Fifth Component‘s Diva Plavalaguna and even animals — like her head-to-toe chameleon costume in 2023.
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“I might be working, and shifting and touring, and making an attempt to drawback resolve, and I did not get an opportunity to get the lyrics proper on this music. However each time individuals need to discuss to me about Halloween, my cortisol ranges simply drop, and I am happier,” she says. “… It is one thing that I’ve carried out privately from being a child all the way in which up till now.”
“It brings me pleasure when different individuals round me give themselves permission to remodel, give themselves permission to go outdoors of their on a regular basis lives and remodel into someone that possibly they need it to seem like, or in a film, or need it to seem like in a cartoon, or seem like in a horror movie,” Monáe provides. “They actually get inventive.”
For Monáe, that inventive spirit that takes over for individuals every October is “how I need to dwell on a regular basis.”
“Sure, the remainder of the world is lastly realizing and giving themselves permission to be foolish, to be gory, to be frightful, to be angelic, no matter that’s, you are giving your self permission to experiment,” she provides. “And that is what I like about it. And so I give myself that permission too. And I do take my costume critically.”
As for her 2024 costume, Monáe says she had a slight hitch in her plans — nevertheless it will not cease her from going all-out this yr.
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“I’ve shared a fancy dress concept with somebody’s group, truly, and tried to get a worth for a way a lot it will value. After which I discovered that individual was going to be that,” she reveals of her costume planning course of. “And I had been planning this costume for 2 years.”
However was she going to scrap the concept? Positively not, she tells PEOPLE, revealing that her look shall be “an iconic film character.”
“I will have a number of costumes,” she provides. “So, final yr I could not be the costume that I will be this yr due to the strike. And I used to be standing in solidarity with my fellow actors and writers. And so they requested us to not be any film characters. So, the one trace I can provide is it is a film character.”
She continues, “It is such a contented factor for me the place I am like, ‘Oh, I will get to remodel into this.’ I keep in mind how I felt once I watched this character, and I am unable to wait to pay homage to it. And I spend a lot time getting emotionally related to what it’ll seem like, and the way it’ll make individuals really feel.”
“My niece, when she sees me reworked, she’s smiling, she’s comfortable, and that is all I need to do,” she finishes. “That is what I believe Halloween units itself up as a playground to do this.”
Monáe is about to host AMC’s horror-centric programming block, “that includes over 700 hours of iconic horror movie franchises, new collection, specials and extra,” in keeping with an official launch from AMC.
The trailer for FearFest, set to run now by means of Oct. 31, exhibits Monáe expertly channeling The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock as she exhibits off each her horror data and internet hosting chops.
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“It simply appears like an natural match, particularly if you realize me and you realize my love for Halloween and horror,” she informed PEOPLE of her position as host.
“After I was requested to be the host and to be their HalloQueen, I used to be like, ‘This feels so proper, as a result of each film you guys present, I watch, and I’ve watched since I have been little,’ ” Monáe continues, including that AMC has “carried out only a exceptional job of being a supply of a spot of pleasure for the entire horror lovers like myself.”
The lineup for FearFest will embody classics equivalent to Halloween, Kid’s Play, Carrie and The Shining, in addition to Monáe’s personal curated horror picks, together with An American Werewolf in London, Candyman (1992), The Fly, Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Puppet Master, Carrie, Jeepers Creepers and extra.
The full schedule for AMC’s FearFest, operating throughout Oct. 31, is offered at amc.com.
