Alana Husband – Intelligence

Q.  What are some of the recent projects that you’ve been working on?

A.  This year past year has been really great for me. Aside from working on “Intelligence,” I got to play Blade’s mother in “Blade: The TV Series,” worked on “Saved” playing a conservative Mormon girl, played a distraught speed dater on “Psych ” and a waitress in the “SNL” feature film Hot Rod.

Q.  What can you tell us about the premise of the show “Intelligence” and about your character?

A.  Sex, Drugs & Espionage.  “Intelligence” is all about opposite sides of the law joining forces to help each other and themselves. You’ve got the government trying to develop Canadian intelligence (Klea Scott), the head of crime family (Ian Tracy) who deals in exporting the “BC bud” and has a volatile ex-wife, moles, cover-up operations, warring gang factions, undercover cops, money laundering, double agents, exotic dancers, gun-runners…

My character Alison, a.k.a. “Sweet,” is the girlfriend of John Cassini’s character Ronnie.  Ronnie runs the Chickadee where Sweet works. Sweet runs Ronnie. She’s the top dog at the club and isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get what she wants. She’s smart and speaks her mind. You don’t want to be on her bad side. She also desperately longs to settle down and has decided that Ronnie is the lucky guy she’s going to do that with. She just has to convince him.

Q.  What made you want to be a part of this project?

A.  Initially I actually turned down the audition for the part because it involved nudity and I wasn’t comfortable with that. It was a difficult decision because it was a great part and I really wanted to work with the series creator/writer Chris Haddock. A couple days later my agent came back to me and said that the part was still available, they were willing to forgo the nudity and was I interested. So I did the audition and my agent called me two hours later to tell me I had the part. I think I just about fainted with joy. I had wanted to work with Chris for such a long time because I love his writing and he is just such a cool and interesting person. It was also really important to me to work on a quality Canadian project. Most film and TV productions shot in Vancouver are American and I have done my fair share – it’s my bread and butter, but there’s a certain pride that comes with working on a home grown project.

Q.  Do you have a really memorable moment from filming on the show?

A.  When I fell down the stairs wearing six-inch platforms! Luckily, I grabbed the railing in time so there were no injuries! Also, the first time I had to dance on the stage was a little intimidating for me but afterwards Ian Tracey told me he forgot he lines during the scene when he turned around and saw me so I guess I did a good job!

Q.  What about your role has been challenging for you?

A.  Probably not eating dessert or candy when I’m on set! I have a sweet tooth but you can’t wear the kind out outfits I have to wear and indulge in that stuff.  The last day of shooting though I was bad – burger, fries and apple strudel.  Seriously though, the challenge with Sweet was to make sure that her intentions were always clear. She’s not the nicest person but she’s got her reasons for everything she does. Yeah, she can be bitchy but she just wants what she wants. She‘s a princess but, deep down she wants to be loved and respected like everyone else, and especially by her boyfriend Ronnie. John Cassini (Ronnie Delmonico) and I worked really hard on developing out relationship and doing our best to make it real and believable.

Q.  Why should people take the time to check out the show?

A.  “Intelligence” is a smart, well-written story that’s unlike anything else that’s on television right now. It’s not dumbed down – it asks the viewer to keep up, pay attention, and keep guessing who’s good, who’s bad and who’s playing whom.

Q.  What is it about stunt work that drew you to it?

A.  Definitely the action of it all. I grew up doing gymnastics, dancing and every sport imaginable so when a stunt coordinator to do some approached me work on a film I thought, “Why not?” It’s a whole other world separate from acting. You have to know your body, be extremely coordinated, good with choreography, know how to take a fall and you have to be tough. Stunt guys have no time for princesses! It was fun and I met a lot of cool people but I eventually moved away from stunts because I love being an actor so much more, it’s what I feel most passionate about and comfortable doing.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  So much! I’m a hobby slut. I love to read, crochet, paint, take pictures, go to art galleries, watch movies, go to plays, go to the beach and shop.

Q.  Do you have a latest obsession?  Are you into any particular book, sport, music group or activity?

A.  I love Texas Hold ‘Em poker, I watch it on TV, I play online and  I read books about it. I used to play in a home game once a week. I’d love to play in a Casino but I’m a little intimidated. But, I figure if Jennifer Tilly can do it, mind you, she did win an academy award so her poker face may be a little better than mine. I also reading a lot of books on writing because that’s something I’m interested in. Right now it’s Stephen King’s On Writing.

Q.  You’ve done stunts and acting, is there anything else you would like to try your hand at?

A.  I’ve always wanted to do improvisation. It’s a whole other art form unto itself and it’s a great skill to have as an actor. Recently one of my friends from university decided to put together an improv troupe and teach classes so I’m doing that every week now. The goal is to put up an improvised soap or serial in the spring. So far I’m having a lot of fun with that. I also dream of doing stand up comedy but that is terrifying. Unfortunately, I’m a great believer in doing things that scare me so that means I’m going to have to try it at some point!