Tamara Tunie – The Red Road

By: Lisa Steinberg

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

A) I’m on the new season of “Alpha House.” It is a series on Amazon and written by Gary Trudeau. I play Clark Johnson’s wife and he plays the Republican Senator from Philadelphia. It is a political satire, which is hilarious and fun. “The Red Road” is coming up and I’m really excited about it. I also did a guest starring role on a new CBS series called “Zoo.” It’s a sci-fi thriller that will be on in the Fall.

Q) What is new this on “The Red Road” and with your character?

A) Season One was fantastic. I loved it and loved the writing. This season is even better, if that is possible. There is so much going on. We’ll be looking at the Native American community a lot more this season and what is going on there and with their issues. They’re looking for federal recognition and with that, what does that bring? It brings good things, but can also bring some nefarious things. My character becomes much more pivotal this season, which is really great. I become a very pivotal character and I am much more involved this season, which is really exciting. Jason Mamoa plays my son and Tom Sizemore plays my ex-husband. Each individually and together have some fantastic scenes. So, Tom Sizemore is back. It’s just chocked full and tense, exciting and unpredictable. We have some great guest stars this season. Wes Studi, who is an amazing Native American actor who was in The Last of the Mohicans and Dances With Wolves, is coming in this season and doing great stuff. Rena Owen, who was in a beautiful film called Once We Were Warriors out of New Zealand, is doing a few episodes with us. It is really just a thrilling and exciting season.

Q) What do you think it is about the show that has hooked viewers?

A) I think the writing for one. Aaron [Guzikowski], our creator, is just one of the most amazing writers I’ve ever encountered. So, it starts there and then there is our amazing cast. Julianne Nicholson and Martin Henderson…They are just amazing and Kiowa Gordon. It’s the writing and the cast. When you get some fabulous direction to accompany that just makes for a very exciting show.

Q) What have you added to the role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) Well, I think that as an actor certainly I bring my own sensibilities and experiences. The fact that there is Native American blood in my ancestry just really allows me to inhabit a character in a way that no one else can. I also think that I bring a lot of weight and gravitas to the show and to my role. So, I think those are some of the things that, in all modesty, weren’t on the page that I brought to the character.

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

A) It was the first time a role was presented to me that was a Native American person. That is definitely on both sides of my family. So, I was very excited about that and I really wanted to play this part.

Q) Jason Mamoa plays your son. Was the chemistry with him instant or did you spend some time to bond?

A) It was immediate because Jason is such a loveable person. He is just such a great guy and a great person. He’s a sweet person. Even though he is 6’5 and gorgeous and I’d rather be dating him I was like, “I’ll play your mother. Don’t worry about it!” No Oedipus complex here at all! Ha! But we just hit it off right away.

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film this season?

A) I will say that I have a fantastic scene with Tom Sizemore that is just amazing. There are a couple of scenes with Jason that reveal more about  my character, history and path and why I do some of the things that I do that is really kind of a game changer.

Q) Who is someone you have not filmed with yet or wish you had more scenes with?

A) Wes Studi was fantastic. I have been a big fan of his for a long time and we had some great scenes together. I wish that we could have had more. Absolutely.

Q) What have you taken away from working on this project?

A) I just think that my take away is that there is such a great thirst for really great television drama and that there is room for it, particularly with so many more venues like Netflix, Sundance and AMC. That makes me really excited about the future of television.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive when episodes air?

A) It’s awesome! I’m going to be live tweeting with the fans on April 15th. So, I’m really looking forward to doing that because I’ve been getting responses and then tweeting back. This is the first time I am live tweeting and I am really nervous and very excited about that.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure to share with fans?

A) To all my “Law & Order: SVU” fans don’t give up! Dr. Warner is still around! I’m going to be shooting an “SVU ” episode this season so they can still find me there.