Rew Starr: From Miss Underground NYC to Screen Queen

by Marisa Torrieri Bloom

When NYC musician Rew Starr, a.k.a. Miss Underground NYC, told me in 2019 she was leaving her popular live Internet radio show, ‘Rew and Who?” to make time for acting, I thought she was crazy! Most actors get their start in their teens or twenties. How would this mom of two (adult) daughters known for her cheeky, wry country-meets-punk songs be able to make a living in the most competitive vocation on the planet?

But four and a half years later, Rew is living the dream as a working actor, juggling wide range of roles — from off Broadway productions to commercials — with a side hustle as a Broadway promotor. Just last year, she scored a coveted cameo in a “Wednesday” (Netflix) promo, starring Thing,

And most recently, she landed a role in the indie film “Honeybuddy’s,” which follows a young woman as she navigates grief in a fantastical, timeless diner for lost souls.

[SEE RELATED: NYC ROCKMOMMY REW STARR PROVES IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO TAKE ON A BRAVE NEW ROLE]

But music isn’t totally on the back burner. We recently caught up with Rew to chat about what’s next:

Rockmommy: It feels like yesterday when we were on tour in 2007 and you had these two little daughters and now one just got married! How on earth did you manage to go on tour, with two young children at home with their dad?

Rew Starr: You know, that’s a great question, because I wouldn’t change it for a minute. I just did it because I knew if I didn’t, I never would have — and it was something I needed to do! Fortunately, their dad was able to take care of lunches for that week while I was on tour and got to see what happens on the other side of parenthood. So it actually set a new precedent.

Rockmommy: How did you earn the title of ‘Miss Underground NYC?’

Rew Starr: It was at this event — some of the people who had been on my show “Rew & Who?” quite frequently decided to create this ‘appreciation’ event — because when the show wasn’t there anymore, people really missed it. So on the birthday of my brother, who’s up in heaven, they put on this incredible event for me and so many people performed that had passed through the show. And that night they secretly did this crowning ceremony. I had no frickin’ idea that this was going to happen! I still have the crown.

Rockmommy: How’s everything going with your acting career?

Rew Starr: I take whatever they throw at me! I shot, like, four things in June. I’m always submitting tapes, self-tapes, whenever an audition comes by, and a lot of times you don’t hear from people for a month or two. I hate it when somebody says, ‘oh, we went another way!’ Come on! I also work on Broadway, and do promotions for other plays. One of the perks of this job is I get to see a ton of shows — I recently saw the show “New York, New York” for the third time. And every time that show just gets better and better and better.

I just feel this is like the gifts from the heavens because I’m always the imposter syndrome person and now I feel like I get paid to get educated — and in a way my education is going to Broadway and seeing shows over and over and over! It’s just magical and it’s just, like, so inspiring.

Rockmommy: What would be the one song of yours that people associate you with? Is it ‘U Suck?’ ‘Skeletons?’

Rew Starr: Both of those are prominent, but I feel like the song ‘Mistakes’ is becoming pretty popular. I just got to do that in a feature film called ‘Stars the Movie’ and I play a busker and I got to sing ‘Mistakes’ and the film is incredible. It’s from a screenplay by someone named Apollo Braun, his name is Doron Braunshtein.

The guy that like turned it into a film is Mars Roberge, and he’s in L.A. There’s a line in film that is my favorite line, when someone calls this country the ‘United mistakes of America.’ And I just love that line, the United mistakes of America — because that the song I do in that film is called ‘Mistakes.’ And it’s just, that’s a bullseye that just happened on its own.

Rockmommy: I always think you would be a great performer if you did a solo musical about your life.

Rew Starr: So I’m told by my kids.

For more on Rew’s latest role, visit Honeybuddy’s Indiegogo page.

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the founder and editor of Rockmommy.