Contains minor spoilers for Sanctuary season 2.


You’re originally from the UK, how did you come to live in Canada?

My dad was an engineer and we moved to Montreal from England when i was three.

You have appeared in both television & film productions, aswell as stepping behind the camera aswell. Do you have a preference?

Acting is my first love. but there is something incredible about starting a project and seeing it to the end. i love seeing a vision carried out, and being completely creative. i find writing a lot harder for me than acting, but I like the challenge. acting is tough too, but i guess i trust my instincts more as an actor. i’ve never directed, but maybe one day i will. but for now i have my hands full!

Was there any one thing that has inspired you more than others in your work?

People and a desire to see change. i’m a voyeur. i love observing people and the way they interact and react to situations. I love trying to get into their brains. I’m interested in the human condition.

I’m also really inspired with creating change in the TV/film world. Being a woman of color, it means a lot to me to play such a strong character in a show like Sanctuary. Growing up I rarely saw anyone that looked like me on TV. And it’s a dream for me to know that in some way I am creating change in this industry, and that it might inspire other young girls.

Do you have a favourite genre to work in?

No. I’ve been so fortunate in having the opportunity to have done both. Comedy isn’t easy, but when you get into the rhythm its so much fun. It’s about being honest and playing. If the writing is good and you’re having fun and you allow yourself to play, chances are it’ll be funny. But I also love drama. I love scaring myself and pushing myself and being dark, because I’m not really a dark person in real life, so it’s a challenge. I also love thinking and being really cerebral about characters. I love them both, and they both challenge me in different ways. I think actors like Jim Carey and Robin Williams are so great in dramatic roles. There is something really touching and bittersweet to see humor in darkness and vice versa.

You appear in the upcoming Roland Emmerich film 2012. What was it like to work on the film & can you tell us anything about your role?

2012 was pretty amazing. I play Aparna, the wife of Jimi Mistry’s character (Blood Diamond, East is East). It’s a huge blockbuster Hollywood film. I did that role a year ago and it was the first time I worked with a green screen on such a large scale. There is a scene where me, my husband and my son walk up a mountain along with hundreds of extras. The mountain was built in a studio and around us was a green screen. It was enormous! And so much fun to play in such a big space. Little did I know that it was an experience that would prepare me for Sanctuary!

You have recently joined the cast of Syfy channel series Sanctuary. What was it like joining the team?

You’ve met them all so you know how much fun and how sweet they are. I felt totally lucky to be a part of such a great cast of talented sweet people and such an awesome crew. They really made me feel at home. I really worked hard though, because they had all had a year and more playing their roles. And I felt like I had to catch up. I wanted to make myself and my team to be proud.

Have you experienced any of the pranks that are played on set?

I have was lucky! I think they all felt like I was the new girl, so they were nice to me. But I witnessed a few crazy pranks. Robin is generally the culprit of a lot of them. You can’t trust him!!

What is your favourite thing about your character, Kate Freelander?

I adore Kate! Because in a lot ways she’s the opposite of me in real life. She’s brash, rough, tough, likes to play with guns and beat up boys. She is fearless a lot of ways. I call her my personal alter ego. I feel like I naturally know what she’ll do, and how she feels because it’s opposite of what I would do. I’m much more cautious than she is. But what I really love, is that underneath all her roughness and jarring attitude is a venerable girl. That’s the characteristic that I connect to the most with Kate.

Does your character get to see much action & if so, did you have to do any stunts?

Episode 3, you’ll see Kate getting some action! She loves guns, and I play with a lot of them throughout the season. I did some fighting and got to be really physical. At one point in an episode, I’m hanging off bigfoot’s arm and we’re suspending in the air. It was crazy! I had to do a lot of climbing and jumping. It was a challenge but tons of fun.

The majority of the series is filmed using green screen? Was it a new experience for you & did it take much getting used to?

Yeah, a lot of the show is green screen. I had worked on green screen in the past like on 2012, but not as much as I have with Sanctuary, and it’s surprisingly easier than I expected. It feels like doing a play. There isn’t as much to distract you. It’s you, your imagination, a few props and your fellow actor(s). So you have to really believe in the world that you’re creating in your mind. What I love about it, is there is a lot of freedom in it.

If you found out that your character was going to be given an abnormality & you could choose what it could be, what would you choose & why?

So far I haven’t heard if Kate is an abnormal of any kind. But I have been trying to persuade Damian to make Kate into a vampire! I love Vampires, and have had an obsession with them since Interview with a Vampire. I would LOVE to play a vampire one day! I love their sensuality and strength and passion and brutality. I love the fact that Vampires are really beautiful but really dangerous. It’s an attractive combination.

What can we expect to see from your character? Is there a favourite moment coming up on the show, that you can tell us about?

Kate is a tough girl, and a con artist. She’s abrasive and rough. But throughout the season you’ll see her melt a little more. We start to see a lot more of her vulnerability and a side to her that she doesn’t show just anyone. So this season is going to be a lot of getting to know the mystery behind Kate.

My favorite episode is Penance, with guest star Michael Shanks who plays Jimmy. He was so great to work with and so committed. And Kate and Jimi have a very special relationship — what that means, I can’t say. But it reveals a whole new side of Kate that is really exciting to watch. I was thrilled when I read the episode, and I think people will love watching it.

Is there any type of role you you would like to play or any type of production you would like to produce?

Oh my gosh! what a tough question. I want to play it all!!
I would actually love to do a musical someday. I would love to be a Vampire film or show. I also really love dark or quirky characters.