You’ve now acted in television, film and TV movies. What’s your favourite medium to work on?
Well, shows like Once Upon and Timeand Arrow run like well-oiled machines. Everything is down to a science and the cast and crews are just so great to work with. Right now, I’m working on a show called Un-real for Lifetime that will air sometime next year. It’s a scripted show that goes behind-the-scenes of a reality dating show. It’s been really interesting because you have to be ‘on’ all the time and telling your character’s truth. WithOnce Upon a Time, you work on the character, you step on the set and you ARE that character. With Un-real, you have to be that character for longer periods of time. It’s a different platform and I’ve been really intrigued by it. I’d be interested to see if more TV shows start to do stuff like that.
Tell me about your character on Un-real.
My character’s name is Shamiqua and she’s an Ivy League girl who has clerked for Supreme Court Justice. She’s an excellent violinist, and she’s an extremely well-rounded girl. The kind you see on these dating shows. Throughout the show, you find out why she—and other characters—might not be a good match for the show. It might be different than when viewers watch these reality shows versus what actually goes on behind the scenes. It’s a lot different than what you’re allowed to see. Not to spoil the surprise.
It sounds like a Bachelor-type reality, dating show.
We call that show The B-Word. We’re not replicating it. Reality TV has been here for a minute and people are starting to wise up to the fact that a lot of reality TV isn’t actually reality; a lot of it is scripted and planned. They’re here to tell a story. I think the fans are at a point where they want to know more of the truths behind it. We’re going to pull up the curtains and let everyone see what goes on with a ‘reality show.’
That’s an interesting concept because I think people fall into two categories: either they love reality TV or they hate it. But I think both groups of people would want to see a behind-the-scenes look at reality TV.
Yeah, I really believe the exact same thing. I think people are going to be really intrigued whether you hate or love reality TV.
How do you feel about it?
I love it. It depends. I find it interesting from Un-real’s point of view because I enjoy watching it to find those little flaws, to see where they’re setting up the storylines. One thing I love about shows like Arrow or Once Upon a Timeis that you can go so far into that fantasyland and it’s so different. The thing about reality TV and shows likeUn-real, or even scripted reality shows, is that they’re so raw—it’s such a polar opposite.
Which reality shows do you like?
I’ve been a fan of the Real Housewives! [Laughs.]
Do you have a specific city you watch?
I probably like New York and Orange County the most. It’s embarrassing, but I do enjoy it.
Embarrassing is watching The Bachelor/Bachelorette, which is what I do.
No, I like those too. I just find them so interesting. These are extremely educated, well-rounded humans and the situations they get put in are just awful. They’re all lovely people.
Then there’s the opposite side of lovely, which was Jersey Shore.
I had a hard time with that one because I just felt like they kept doing the same thing over and over. But I did of course watch the first two seasons. Did you ever watch Real World?
No, I never got into it.
I loved Real World, and Jersey Shore was just a bit of a rip on it. While Real World always took pride in having these people who were completely different from each other from such different walks of life, Jersey Shore was six people who were exactly the same put in a house together.
How did you first get involved with Once Upon a Time?
I went to a top-secret audition and I didn’t know anything about the character I was auditioning for or the size of the role. That was probably over a year ago. Shortly after, I found out that I booked the role and that Maid Marion was the character I’d be playing. But for the viewers who have watched Once Upon a Time, they would know that in season 2, my character actually died. I was really surprised when, a little while later, I was told that she was coming back in quite a big way.
I still love a good fairy tale. Are you a fan of the concept?
Yes, oh, I’m a huge fan. I grew up on fairy tales. We weren’t allowed to watch a lot of TV, but Disney movies were ok. I love that we’re going to be doing Frozen later this year. I love the spin that the show puts on all the classic stories.
They’ve already covered so many stories on the show. Is there one you hope they bring to life?
I’d be really interested to see Jasmine. There was a spin off called Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and I think they did a little story on her there, but I’d want her on the show with a bigger storyline.
With this show, your episode arc on Arrow and your appearance in the film Percy Jones and the Olympians, you seem to have quite the fantastical acting background. Do you enjoy working on projects that blur the lines between real and fantasy?
Wow, I’ve never thought about that. I guess I do. I think when you’ve grown up with the characters from Disney movies, it’s neat to think about them existing nowadays. Silly things like what it would be like is Sleeping Beauty had a computer or whatever. I also think many characters were so ahead of their time and some of the storylines they dealt with, we’re still dealing with nowadays as regular people.
Let’s talk about the TV movie you’ve been working on called June in January.
It’s about a woman named June who is engaged and is looking to get married in January. It deals with all the chaos that goes into trying to plan a rushed wedding. Her mom passed away and I play the supportive friend trying to get her to the alter. I think she has about 5 weeks to plan the wedding.
Would you ever try to plan a wedding in 5 weeks?
I think I would! I’m pro-eloping, pro-surprise weddings, I like things quick. I’m on the train like once you decide to do it, just go for it.
Before I let you go, what do you have coming up?
I’m currently filming Un-real and will be until the end of this year. There’s already a hashtag, #UnrealTV, on Twitter and Instagram. People are already curious to see some behind-the-scenes pictures. Also, the executive producer behind Un-real has created a show called The Girlfriend’s Guide to Dating and Divorce. That will air on Bravo on December 2. I popped over there for a couple episodes and it was a lot of fun. With rotating between Un-real and Once Upon a Time, it was nice to hop over there and be on a different show. Girlfriend’s Guide has the same feel of a scripted TV show. It’s about a bunch of young women…I guess I would say it’s a take on Sex and the City. They’re all divorced or newly married and they’re dealing with these different concepts. It’s for Sex and the City fans but also for Real Housewivesfans because it does have a more reality perspective.
