What can you tell us about your character in “Casual Encounters”? How did you prepare for the role?
I play Kacy, a forward woman who seeks out the companionship of Justin (Taran Killam) after seeing his profile on a dating website. They go on a date, and then hit it off well enough for the date to continue on to other things. I prepared for the role by channeling my inner improv actor! The script (by Erik Steinmetz & Sebastian J. Michael) was already funny, so having the luxury to improvise around it was key for me. I really wanted to capture the awkward nature of the sex scene too, so I re-watched scenes from movies like “Bridesmaids” and “There’s Something About Mary” in order for me to build Kacy as a woman who was sexually assertive and unapologetic, without being vulgar. That’s pretty much how I prepared for the role. That and I cut back on cheese fries for a week!
How was working with such a great cast? Do you have any great moments from filming you can share?
I was on a really cool comedy high while working with Taran, and truly had fun crafting our scenes! I didn’t interact with other cast members because my character was kind of the date you don’t let your friends meet, but I’ve heard nice things about all of them, and I love their performances in the movie! Filming was a blur because we did a ton of fun little takes. I do remember thinking in my head how glad I was that I had gotten a pedicure. My feet were constantly on Taram’s forehead, rib cage, shoulder blade, etc.
How did you get into acting and what was your big break?
I was always in school plays when I was a kid, and then in the Drama Club in high school, and then a Drama major at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Like many actors, I started out acting in short indie films and student films right after college. I’ve always counted each of my roles as a “break” because it isn’t easy to get a good momentum going until you have a good running start! So, roles like nurse Risa Park, on “Code Black,” are blessings to me as an actor because I get to work on a set, day in and day out, and see my hard work, and the cast and crew’s hard work, each week on television.
When you consider a script or a potential TV or film project, what elements do you look for in the story and character? What types of projects would you like to do in the future?
With films, I read material to see if the writing is something that appeals to my sensibilities, and to see if I can add anything to the mix to help elevate it. You have to bring something to the party or don’t go at all! For television shows, I like watching anything and everything; I watch at least 6 episodes of a show to give it a chance and to see if I can imagine myself as a person in that world. Then there are projects which grab me – almost anything sci-fi, fantasy, horror will grab my attention and then I go from there.
When you’re not filming, what do you like to do?
I like to go to the movies, including movie marathon events that start at 2am and go until 11pm! I like to cuddle my rescue dogs at least 30 times a day. I like trying different restaurants, because I’m not much of a cook, so if I didn’t go out, I’d starve! I like to read a lot about animal advocacy and earth conservation issues. And then there are the random things I do during my day (and I mean random!), like downloading DIY instructions for building tall stilts, or looking for vegan recipes to make cakepops resembling Ned Stark’s head.
What other projects do you have coming up?
You’ve got to check out the limited series, “Six,” premiering on History on July 18th at 10/9c! It was really something to work along with the lovely cast, led by talented directors like Kimberly Peirce of “Boys Don’t Cry” and the always-brilliant Lesli Linka Glatter, who are so dedicated to bringing to life remarkable characters and stories. I play Lt. Camille Fung, a Navy intelligence officer assigned to SEAL Team 6. She’s is quite the departure from Kacy in “Casual Encounters”, but it was a treat to be given the opportunity to play both!
