Q.  So you know, every actor/actress obviously has certain criteria that they take into consideration when

they’re selecting a series or a part. I’m just wondering you know, because this is an Internet series, if -

how much of an effect that had on you when you were deciding whether or not to do this project.

Elisa Donovan:  Well initially - certainly for me, everything always starts with the script itself. And, I read

the scripts and they were hilarious and so well crafted, and created by Brent Forrester, so I knew

already that he has such a great career behind him and is a brilliant guy. And knowing that there’s a

network behind it - all of those things already just made me say yes.

And you know it’s really rare. I’ve said this so many times about this character. It’s so rare as an actor

that you read something and you immediately just say, “Oh, I know exactly who this person is. I know

exactly what I should do for this.” And a part of the audition process was improving. And because I

had such a clear idea of who I thought Gayle was, it was really easy for me.

And, we would all would like to believe we can play any part, and I think that’s true to a certain extent.

But, there are certainly things that speak to you a little bit more. So, it felt like a great fit from the beginning.

Q.  Right. Now you know obviously, you've amassed a pretty impressive resume, and I noticed today also that

you do a lot of community work.

Elisa Donovan:  Yes.

Q.  I’m wondering, do you find in real life that you are the person that people come to for advice?

Elisa Donovan:  Yes. I am. Sometimes - and sometimes, I’m very flattered by that. And as soon as I get a little too flattered by that, I realize that

I don’t know very much at all, and I’ll usually put my foot in my mouth or something. So, I tried to - I think that I am inherently a person that is

curious about human nature and that generally likes people and likes to be around people. So, I think that is a part of it. And so, I probably am

that person. Yes.

Q.  So, how does it feel to be the first NBC Digital Studios series to be renewed for a second season?

Elisa Donovan:  Oh, it feels fantastic. It’s great. It’s wonderful to be - you know, this is such a new thing for the entire industry, really. So, it’s

very exciting to have something be successful in the ways that they need it to be successful.

You know, any project that you do has various ways that it’s successful. It can feel creatively successful, or commercially successful, or just be a

good script. And, it’s great when you have all of those things meet. And where I did the - creatively, we’re having a great time, but it’s also

achieving the sort of success that they need. So, it’s super exciting.

Q.  Excellent. And since you're a writer yourself, do you have any input into your character at all?

Elisa Donovan:  Well, we do a little bit of - with the scripts themselves, no. No. They’re written by you know, real TV writers. But certainly

within the constructs of each scene we improve a little bit and we - in this case, Sandy Smolan who is our Director -- who’s wonderful --

we always make sure that we’re achieving what needs to be achieved in any given scene, in terms of the beat of the comedy as well as the

information we need to get across.

But, there is some freedom within the - in an improvisational way, particularly with the people that - the characters that have come back for the

second season. Because, we’ve already developed a relationship - an on-screen relationship of how these characters interact. So oftentimes,

we’re allowed to just - you know, just roll after we do what’s scripted. And oftentimes - these guys are so talented and so funny -- the

characters -- and it’s great. So, we just wind up finding some really funny things that weren’t initially on the page.

Q.  Nice. And, what was your favorite episode from Season 1?

Elisa Donovan:  From Season 1?

Q.  Yes.

Elisa Donovan:  Either The Plumber or Gayle and the Dog. Oh, no. You know, I really loved the one with The Drake and I, also. It’s very hard

for me to say. It may be Drake. Yes. Drake and I.

Q.  So earlier, you were mentioning that you definitely have been the voice of reason before, giving a lot of advice and stuff. What - I mean, just

like Gayle has to comment on really wacky things, what has been the wackiest advice that you've ever had to give, or some sort of like subject

that somebody approached you with, and you're like, “I have no idea how to even start answering this.”

Elisa Donovan:  Oh, goodness. Sadly, women with relationships, we can just be really delusional, myself included. So oftentimes, I’ve had

girlfriends - when you start a discussion with something like - for example, a girlfriend said to me, “Well, it’s not that he lies, it’s that he just isn’t

always telling the whole truth.”

Q.  Oh, my gosh.

Elisa Donovan:  So, when you put - you know, that sort of thing. Or like, “Do you think it’s bad that he doesn’t come home until 5:00 in the

morning?” You know, or these absurd sort of things, and you're going, “How do I,” because you have to be smart enough to know if you just

berate her and say, “This guy is a complete tool and you need to leave him immediately.”

We have that counter thing where then we say, “Oh, but I love him, and maybe he’s great.” Then, I - you know, “He’s just innovative and

unusual.” But, you don’t want to contribute to the problem. So, I’d say generally its women in relationships.

Q.  Okay, so you've gotten pretty good at like going around it in a nice, gentle way, much like Gayle.

Elisa Donovan:  Well I try, but then ultimately you reach those points where you go, “Are you blind? Are you insane? Like he’s a drug addict and

he’s on his way to jail!” You know, you just sort have to get clear sometimes.

Q.  Yes.

Elisa Donovan:  But, I try to be diplomatic.

Q.  Perfect. And then, I remember when we chatted with you when the series was first starting. You were super excited because you finally got

to play a good girl on screen.

Elisa Donovan:  Yes.

Q.  So, have you eased into the role? Like, are you just very happy being this nice person on camera?

Elisa Donovan:  I have to say, it is really a pleasure to be the person that everybody wants to be around, as opposed to being someone that

everyone tries to avoid, or everyone loves to hate. It’s so funny. It’s such a - it’s energetically such a different thing. It makes for such a different

thing. I mean obviously, they’re all characters, but it is really fun to be the person.

But, I also feel the responsibility of it. There were certain points a couple of times during this, when we were shooting this season where I said to

the Director, “It’s really - Gayle’s got it rough. Like, this is a lot that she has to handle. People want things from her all the time.” And, we were

laughing about it. You know, that she’s really - she’s putting in her time. She’s definitely working for it.

Q.  Definitely. Those moments, do they make you want to bring back you know, the sassy Amber/Morgan or anything like that?

Elisa Donovan:  Only when I get really tired. There was one day when I was really, really tired and I just thought - and, I felt myself -- Elisa --

getting tired. And, my response; going back to this - you know, I’ve played those characters for such a long time, an you just kind of know

exactly - I still know how Amber and Morgan would respond to anything.

And so, I did have one moment where I responded - I think it was - I can’t remember what scene it was, but I had this expression of, “These

people are insane and I have to get out of here.” And then, I went, “Oh, wait. No. Okay. Wait. Hold on. This is not right. We need to go again.”

Q.  That’s not Gayle.

Elisa Donovan:  Yes.

Q.  Of course, In Gayle We Trust is a Web series, and I’m wondering how important social media and social media sites like Twitter and

Facebook are to the promotion of a Web series?

Elisa Donovan:  Oh, I think they’re invaluable. Because clearly, you just can reach so many people immediately. And if someone likes something,

then that multiplies exponentially. So, it’s an incredible tool for a Web series, most defiantly.

Q.  And how about for yourself? Why is it important for you to be a part of a network like Twitter and to connect with fans that way?

Elisa Donovan:  Well, I was thinking about this the other day. It is so interesting that for me, there’s still real - there’s a line that I draw where I

don’t want to be too personal with these things, because I do believe that one needs to maintain their personal life.

But at the same time, you do want people to know who you really are, and I think it’s a great - it is a great way for people that are fans to be

able to have a little bit of your personality and see kind of what you're doing in your free time, or what you're doing on sets and what’s

happening. So, yes. I think it’s still something that’s tricky to kind of balance out.

Because for example on Facebook, I have a personal page that really is for my friends and people that I know personally that are in my life,

so I put really personal photos up there, and we make plans on there, and that kind of thing. And then, I have another page where - it’s not

that I keep it strictly professional, but I do keep it a little bit less personal, so there’s always a dividing line there. But, it’s - I think it’s tricky

for everyone to navigate that.