Ally Walker – Colony

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) You often play characters that are rich in development. Talk about how you select them.

A) I’ve been very lucky. I’ve been doing this forever. I’ve been lucky to work with some really good writers. I respond to parts that are well written and with depth. I like doing a variety of things. I think that’s really been very fun for me to explore, the different facets of peoples’ personalities. I think it’s really about writing. I think there can be a great collaboration – If you’re working with someone who is very imaginative as a writer and can see things that you may never see in yourself then you love playing it.

Q) Right now, we’re getting to see you in “Colony,” what are the other recent projects you are working on?

A) I don’t do much. I did a movie called Sex, Death and Bowling, which is on iTunes and Amazon and will be on Netflix soon. That was really a labor of love and I’m really, really proud of it. The acting was amazing in it (if I do say so myself). Now, I’ve been writing other pieces and I go back to “Longmire” in March or April. My character on “Colony” will begin airing soon and I have no idea where that is going to go.

Q) What drew you to your role or made you want to be a part of the show?

A) I worked for Carlton Cuse before really early in my career and I love Carlton. I loved “Lost” and I think Sarah [Wayne Callies] and Josh [Holloway] are amazing. It’s such a unique idea. I watched the pilot and I loved it. I watched it and then I said I’d do it. I think it is going to do really well. People are going to love it and I think it is a great idea and well written. I don’t know what it is going on moment to moment with this one. I come in as sort of the head of The Agency. I’m Proxy Snyder’s (Peter Jacobson) boss and she is this corporate, controlling LA woman. She is the liaison between the invaders and the government on Earth. We’ll see what happens. My part is really fun because she is a controlling, complicated person.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy getting instant fan feedback to your work?

A) I really do! I didn’t really think anything of that until I started doing it. When you are a celebrity, you tend to stay away from the internet because they claim you had countless plastic surgeries, you’re dying or you’re a horrible person. All of these horrific things are written about you and people can be very unkind. When I started on social media, I thought, “I hope they don’t start an awful smear campaign.” But they have actually really gotten me through some tough moments. People have written beautiful things about my work when some critics have been really nasty. I want to thank my fans for being there for me. I’ve been around for a really long time and it is really touching to know. I’m very grateful to know I’ve touched other peoples’ lives and that they care about the work – that they like what I have done. That’s why you kind of do it, really. I made a living doing this for a long time and this has really kept me afloat and kept me very centered and happy to see such kindness. They are just amazing people and have really carried me through.

Q) Was there anything added to your role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) You are not really sure where your character is going. When you are the lead of the show everything is spelled out for you and it is very hard work because you are working sixteen hours a day. But it is all spelled out for you and you really have a lot of collaboration between your producer and showrunner. I have really developed an enormous respect now for character actors and people with guest parts because you really don’t know. You have to hit and hit it hard without getting many takes. They are very good to me, but you get inventive in ways. In one way, I kind of wanted her to be cold, but gracious. You are not quite sure what she is up to. I also wanted to look more like Tippi Hedren so I had them pull my hair back in a bun and I’m wearing pale makeup. I have on tight dresses. I took it from the corporate world where you are very efficient with running a large organization. I believe she is juggling trying to save people and dealing with a ruthless invader. So, she is very efficient and knows there is no emotional leeway here. They don’t really get under the surface with her and I really liked that. So, I dressed the part.

Q) Do you often get that much input with your character’s appearance?

A) It’s a collaboration always because they have to approve. My hair guy, Carl, worked together with me on “Profiler.” I said I wanted her to be meaner and they agreed with it. It was a fun collaboration and we’ll see how it goes.

Q) What do you think it is about “Colony” that has been so quick to draw in viewers?

A) Sarah and Josh are amazing! It’s because it is fresh. It is out of the box. There are very few stories or genres that haven’t been done and this is a really nice blend. It is like a combination of what happened in Germany in World War 2 and what could happen – science fiction. I think it is a fabulous idea and I really love the guys who did it. I think they are doing a great job. It is a good, young energy and a good, young writer. It’s a fresh idea. They are taking something that really happened and applying it to a different system, which is really exciting. You learn about humanity and how people respond to fear, terror and difficult times. It’s really interesting. It’s a great study! Like “Lost,” it’s a very fresh idea! Original ideas aren’t a dime a dozen and I love it! I think they have put forth a very intriguing puzzle.

Q) What else would you like us make sure to mention to fans?

A) I really want people to go see Sex, Death and Bowling. It’s hard to get a little film made for nothing. Adrian Grenier has never been better. It has Selma Blair and Drea De Matteo. It’s getting really good feedback from people. It’s not a big film so it didn’t get pushed. I know it is on iTunes and Amazon Prime!