By Gregg Shapiro

Contributing writer

The camera loves RuPaul. Anyone who remembers RuPaul’s music videos or talk show knows that’s a fact. So it’s perfectly logical that RuPaul would eventually be playing the lead role in a movie, and “Starrbooty” is just that flick. And whether you see “Starrbooty” at your favorite GLBT film festival, such as Reeling, or at home on DVD (it’s newly available), RuPaul’s “starr” power is undeniable.

Gregg Shapiro: The IMDb plot outline for “Starrbooty” reads: Supermodel goes undercover as a hooker to rescue her niece from an evil body parts broker. Is that a satisfactory description to you? If not, how would you improve it?

RuPaul: No, no, that’s great, that’s the perfect description. The only other description I would add is: Lots of gratuitous violence, hair and makeup and nudity (laughs).

GS: Mike Ruiz, who appeared in the 1997 movie “Latin Boys Go to Hell,” makes his directorial debut with “Starrbooty.” What was it like to work with a first-time director?

R: Well, he had directed me in a couple of music videos before, and we’ve worked together on photographs for many years. So it was just like being home with him. I felt very comfortable, and we have such a similar sense of humor that it just felt very, very comfortable with him. It didn’t feel like the first time.

GS: You are described as a “method-acting superstar” on the “Starrbooty” website. How accurate would you say that is?

R: (Laughs) Well, maybe crystal method acting superstar, but I don’t know about method acting. I think that is kind of a joke. I mean I have done some training in acting, but none of it ever caught on with me (laughs). I learned more about acting from Diahann Carroll on “Dynasty” than any other.

GS: So you act with your eyes and eyebrows mainly, yes?

R: Yes, exactly!

GS: It looks like “Starrbooty” parodies and pays homage to the blaxploitation flicks of the 1970s. Do you have a favorite film from that genre?

R: Absolutely! When I was 12 years old I was enthralled with “Cleopatra Jones.” In fact, I even wrote Warner Brothers a letter, asking about a sequel and any other information they had on Tamara Dobson, the star.

GS: Did you ever get a letter back?

RuPaul: Actually, they did write me back and told me that they were working on the next movie, which at that time…it came out as “Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold,” but when they wrote me back it was called something else. It had a different title.

GS: The cast members include familiar porn stars such as Michael Lucas, Owen Hawk and Gus Mattox. What was it like working with them?

R: So much fun! Especially any time your co-star is willing to whip out their cock, at any moment, I think you’ve got yourself a winning cast (laughs). They all had a really great sense of humor, so it really worked out very well. And we’re doing this kind of guerrilla filmmaking style, and people have to be flexible in a working situation like that, and they were more than accommodating.

GS: Gay singer Ari Gold appears in “Starrbooty.” Any chance that either one of you will be making an appearance on the other’s CD in the near future?

R: We tried to work it out for both me to appear on his new album, and for (him to appear on) the soundtrack to “Starrbooty,” but we weren’t able to work it out due to scheduling conflicts. But he is one of my closest friends. Ari is a fantastic person! But we couldn’t coordinate it so that we could be on each other’s albums, unfortunately.

GS: Since RuPaul is still the reigning “Supermodel of the World,” is there any chance that you will be making an appearance on fashion-oriented shows such as “Ugly Betty” or “Project Runway”?

R: Well, we have been talking about some stuff. I haven’t done television in many, many years, but recently we’ve been talking to some people about appearing on some of those things. So, maybe, maybe in the future, in the near future, if things work out, I will do it.

“Starrbooty” screens Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway.