Dana Davis – Heroes

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I’m sort of locked in to just doing “Heroes.” I shot a movie called Prom Night, which is more like a thriller than a horror movie. It’s going to come out in April of 2008 and it stars Brittany Snow and myself. In the movie, there is a slasher on the loose, but it is set with the backdrop of the most awesome Hollywood style prom that you could ever imagine. It’s a really fun movie.

Q) Please tell us about your character Monica on the hit show “Heroes.”

A) Monica is just this girl with a heart of gold and when we met her she was just recovering from the effects of Katrina. She lost her mom and is recovering from the storm. She had to drop out of school and take on the role of mother to her little brother and to Micah (who is played by Noah Gray-Cabey). Her grandmother is also there, but she is kind of ailing. Monica has to become the new breadwinner and the new mom. When we first met her, she was first discovering this new ability where she is able to copy anything she sees. They call it “adoptive muscle memory” on the show. It’s a fun power! She can do, literally, anything she sees and the physical ability she can do. A lot of people wonder if she can do supernatural things, as well. She can’t do that yet. I know that sometimes “heroes” powers have a way of evolving. As of now, all Monica can do is copy all human physical capabilities.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?

A) I was a huge fan of the show! I had gotten a huge stack of pilots last year, before “Heroes” aired, and I remember being bored with all of them. I remember coming across “Heroes,” thinking “Oh my gosh!” I was so excited that I called my friends and said, “I have the next new hit! You guys have to come over and watch this!” It became a tradition with my friends and I that every Monday night was our “Heroes” night. I was a diehard fan and when I heard they were adding a new character it was so exciting. I thought, “No one can play Monica, but me!” I felt really connected to the character and who she was.

Q) What about your role do you find challenging?

A) There is so much! I find it challenging with all the physical things I have to do. I’m kind of jealous of people like Masi [Oka], who to do his power has to just close his eyes and scrunch up his body. For me, I have to do stunt work and I do have stunt doubles, as well, but a lot of the things I have to do too. They want me to do as much as I can though to make it seem as real as possible. So, I was kind of thrust into the stunt world from jump roping, to juggling, to playing the piano and the WWE wrestling moves. Everything is so physical with Monica. I kind of came into “Heroes” out of shape so I had to step it up so I could be true to the character and who she is since she is extremely athletic. 

Q) Where do you draw on for your portrayal?

A) I did a little bit of research before I started and I just kind of watched a lot of Katrina documentaries and got to know a little bit about the people in New Orleans. One thing about them is funny, but they have this love for where they are. It’s a weird thing because sometimes people have a love for things, but it isn’t organic. People from New Orleans just love the city. I sort of look to that to have that spirit. They have this heart of gold and I sort of look at the people of New Orleans for my inspiration and the background for the character Monica.

Q) If you could have any powers, what would they be?

A) I think I would like to teleport because I hate flying. I wish I could close my eyes and be somewhere else and not have to sit five hours on a plane to get back home (since I’m from the Midwest originally). I would also love Monica’s powers because I would join the NBA and try to impress the men in my family. She has a cool power.

Q) Was there instant cast chemistry when you joined?

A) I came into it so nervous because I was a fan of the show. I just felt like I was going to have to deal with a lot of Hollywood personalities, but I was so shocked and pleasantly surprised that the “Heroes” cast are genuinely some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. They are really down to down Earth. They all have hearts of gold. They are just so inviting and warm. I was the new kid on the block, but they didn’t make me feel that way at all. Right away, they welcomed me and they are just nice people. I’ve been lucky because they have been nothing, but good to me. I haven’t had the chance to work with a lot of them. I worked with Sendhil [Ramamurthy], who is amazing and I love him to death. I’ve worked with Ali Larter and I work a lot with Noah. Those are probably the only “heroes” I’ve gotten to work with, but we do see each other a lot because of the events we go to with the press. It was definitely instant chemistry.

Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming “Heroes?”

A) I think the most memorable moment for me is working with Noah because he’s such an awesome kid. He’s so sweet and I just love him. When I first started, everyone was saying, “Have you met Noah?” or “Wait until you meet Noah!” I was like, “Ok, I get it. He’s great!” Now that I’ve met him, I’m the one saying, “Noah is so great!” He has such a great personality. He treats everyone like they are the Executive Producer of the show. He treats everyone with the same kindness and is genuine. Even when we have fans on the set and they are all over him, he never gets annoyed. I told his mom that when I have kids I’m going to call her and find out exactly what she did so I can have a Noah because he’s so awesome. I would say my most memorable moment is getting to know him and forming a relationship with him. He and are buds. We’re constantly getting in trouble on set because we’re laughing and giggling too much.

Q) Why do people continue to tune in to see “Heroes?”

A) I think it is because it is an escape from reality. Life can kind of be boring and with “Heroes,” there is never a dull moment. Everybody wishes they could have super powers and it is fun to go into that world. Sci Fi films things like Spiderman and Batman, we only get once a year. With “Heroes,” you get your fix once a week. It’s Monday night and then you’re excited because in one week you get to watch it all over again. You go into this world and escape so I think that’s what is so intriguing about it.

Q) Do you keep in touch with your former “The Nine” castmates?

A) I do! I loved doing that. I love forming relationships and keeping in touch. A lot of the people I worked with on “The Nine” like Owain Yeomen (who played Lucas) is my closest friend and Camille Guaty. I just think that’s important. You work long hours together so you can’t help, but become good friends. It’s important and it makes the hours go by quicker.

Q) What is your latest obsession? A book? A sport? A film?

A) Right now, I have this really weird and crazy addiction to Guitar Hero. I’ll come home from work and it is one o’clock in the morning and I’m so tired, but I’ll think, “I have to rock out, just once!” I’m sort of obsessed with it.