Alana De La Garza – FBI

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) We are now in Season Three of “FBI.” Where do we pick up with Isobel Castille?

A) You know, when we first pick up with Season Three it is kind of business as usual. She is still kind of doing her thing, making sure everybody is functioning and doing their job’ trying to make the right decisions for the team, of course. We just aired a big bombshell that happened where she really has to choose over her career or survival of one of her team. And, I mean, of course she chooses to support her team. It’s a very exciting and intense episode. That was a lot of fun to play.

Q) She is such an intense character, and we know that you’ve obviously done a number of dramatic roles before. Was the role really somebody you were looking to take on because of some sort of character trait she has or was it just the script itself?

A) Yeah, I really trust The Wolf Pack. I worked with him for many years and they seem to put together, gather all of these people that collaboratively want to do the same thing and have same goals of creating the best TV and the best entertainment that we can. So, to be honest, when this offer came by I had no idea what her character was. I didn’t have the script. I didn’t know anything. In fact, I was on “FBI: Most Wanted” originally. Then, as time kind of went on they were like, “I think we will be able to use you on ‘FBI.’” Kind of more of go back and forth. So, I thought, “Oh great!” I really just sort of trusted them and then when I was introduced it really was a doozy! I was really tough and no nonsense direct, unapologetically the boss, which was actually really fun. So, my first episode I was introduced really reprimanding OA (Zeko Zaki’s character) because he had gone against what he had a direct order to do and followed his own heart. I was like, “That is dangerous!” I end up telling him off and telling him that he’s on thin ice. That was my intro. So, it was really intense, and I remember reading that first episode and going, “Whoa! This chick is no nonsense. She’s definitely in charge and unapologetically so, which was fun to do.

Q) This season were you hoping to share more scenes(s) with someone in particular?

A) It was more in particular I know you get to work with a ton of people in the team and I know I am I really enjoy the one-on-one scenes that I do get. Honestly, all of the characters are so different, but like powerhouses in their own right. So, it’s really fun whenever I get to explore that. I hope I get to do that. That’s a good question. I don’t know I don’t think there’s anybody specific that I’m like, “Oh, I have to do that” because I’ve gotten share moments with each character so far except Katherine Renee Turner. We’ll have to see what our relationship is. She’s a new character. She’s strong, confident and very cool. And she has that vibe in real life when you meet her – just this beautiful, confident strong woman. So, that’s cool.

Q) Well, the Fall finale was pretty intense! Talk about the scene with David Zayas.

A) That was just intense. He’s such a lovely down to earth guy and lighthearted and all the good things that you hope that your guest stars are. His character is like Isobel’s nemesis. He is the head of the Durangos cartel and he is as bad as they get. He is the guy who makes orders to harm hundreds of people, but also personally has killed an FBI agent and almost killed another one in that episode. He killed the cop. Just he’s a bad dude. When they kind of go head-to-head, Isbobel thinks that’s she’s got him and she’s like, “Yes! Let’s bring him in. Let’s make sure he knows he’s going down,” and then of course he turns the tables. So, those scenes were really fun to play the strength of each character and see the two bulls in the pen starring each other down. That was something really fun to explore, especially with him. He’s so talented and I’ve always thought he was great. So, when he joined in and I saw him for the first time on the Zoom call during our read through, I was like, “Alright! Yeah! They did it again.” You know?

Q) Maggie has been gone as she went undercover. How much does Isabel know about what she had been up to while she was away?

A) You know, it’s interesting. I would assume that she knew what was happening and all of the details. Honestly, we never cover it. So, that’s an interesting question. I would assume that she knew what was happening because she’s quite involved That’s something that I would ask our advisor like in in the real world would they actually know all the details. But I do have a conversation with her at the end of last season where I tell her, “I think you should take the job. This is great for your career and you should do it.” Isabel says to her, “Listen, if he’s asking you to take this job he won’t ask again.” She’s like, “Oh, you’re saying I have to.” Isobel says, “No, I’m just saying he won’t ask again. This is good for your career. So, think about what you’re going to do.”

Q) How do you shake off a long day of filming?

A) You know, I have children, so I have no choice. I come home and I’m making dinner and bathing kids and singing them lullabies to sleep. It’s funny, we all laugh that somewhere in our brains must be this crazy morphed out character that lives with us because you don’t know where all of these storylines go and where they are stored. But in real life we’re all very normal, have normal lives and families. You have to do that. You have to be able to shake that off or I would be a very demented person. [laughs]

Q) You often taken on dramatic roles. Is there something about this genre that draws you to it?

A) You know what’s funny? I think in real life I’m completely opposite. I think that’s probably the number one thing that I hear – “Holy cow! You’re nothing like your characters!” I’m like, “No. That’s acting.” In real life I tend to be pretty lighthearted and happy-go-lucky. I’m not a super dark person. Although, I do love myself the “20/20”’s and “Dateline” and “FBI: Declassified” – all these real true crime stories. I do like those a lot.

Q) What have been some of your favorite moments from filming this show?

A) I would say just hanging out with the people that you love. COVID has made some really interesting challenges that you didn’t expect to have – like the holidays (not being able to travel and be with my family). I think you appreciate it that much more. Jeremy Sisto and I are friends anyway from our years on “Law and Order.” That’s where we first met. We both got married around the same time and had our kids around the same time. So, we were able to eat our Thanksgiving together, which was wonderful because we have kids who are a year apart. We made everyone take a test and said, “This is our extended family for this Thanksgiving.” It was great because we had each other and that was something that was really special. To work with people that you actually love to hang out with is something we all need, especially now, and I’m super appreciative of.

Q) What have you personally taken away from your time working on the series “FBI?”

A) I was just asked this question recently. I was talking to a college drama class and they were asking me “what is your absolute favorite thing about shooting.” It’s really the relationships that you build with the people you work with because you are spending so many hours together that you develop friendships. There is something really relaxing about that creative process when you trust the people you work with and you’re able to perform. If you’re able to take words off a page and, luckily, the words that are on our pages are just incredible. The storytellers that we have that are writing these scripts are so good that you can trust that and you’re able to feel creatively complete by trusting the other characters on the show who are also your friends. There is something relaxing about that. You get to play. Sometimes it is hard, especially when I think you’re first starting out as an actor, where you are given dialogue where you are not always the character…So, now I’m a little older I’m like, “It’s fun to make people feel things and have them go, ‘What? I don’t like the way she just talked to him!’” When you’re new, you’re like, “Oh man! Oh man! This is rough!” There is something fun about investigating that part of you and go, “If I was really that strong and outspoken in real life, how would I carry myself?” I’m the person who, inevitably, be treated rudely and then think, “Well, gosh! I should have said [this] to this guy. I should have had a better comeback! I just looked at him like ‘What’s wrong with you?’” The fun thing about playing Isobel is that she knows what to say. She is like, “Come again? Let’s go.” So, there is something really fun about that – becoming somebody that you’re not and just playing with them. My family loves to text me during shows and go, “Oh my God! Remind me never to get you mad!”

Q) What can you tease is in store for upcoming episodes?

A) I never know…Unless someone says something directly to us and pulls us aside and says, “this is going to happen…” We get the scripts sometimes a day before we are going to be shooting. So, we don’t know. I know, in true Wolf Film fashion, it will be action packed, exciting and unexpected and a fun, entertaining ride. Other than that, I’m just as excited to read the scripts as everybody is to see them.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the work you do?

A) I would say please feel a huge hug wrapping around you and thank you for supporting me and cheering me on. It’s why I do this.