Alysia Reiner – Orange is the New Black

Q) With all the buzz that surrounds “Orange Is The New Black,” are you hoping there will be an award coming its way?

A) I think as an actor, you just do your darndest not to think about things like that and do your work. You just feel grateful that you have a job and hope that you’ll get another one. God willing, this will have a nice long run. And, God willing, you have longevity after that. I just try not to get hooked into “What if I get a cool award?” or “What if the show gets a cool award?” For me, I can’t go there. I love the homemade awards I get like the one I received from my daughter that says, “Mommy, I love you.” That’s really all I need.

Q) How do you juggle family and acting?

A) It’s a one day at a time thing. When I first found out I was going to be doing the show and my husband (David Alan Basche) was doing his show, we knew we would have to spend a good four months apart. Kyra Sedgwick is a real mentor of mine and I asked her, “How do you do it?!” She said, “You do it a day or a week at a time. Don’t really think too much into the future.” It’s been really great advice for me and really what works.

Q) You often participated in the international online “visiting hours” for “Orange Is The New Black.” How do you feel about receiving so much attention from various countries?

A) I think it is such beautiful thing. This show has been able to tap into a real truth for a lot of people. I think it represents things we have never seen on television and that’s a magical thing! I just feel lucky to be a part of such amazing writing, directing and creation. I just feel really lucky!

Q) What kind of feedback have you gotten to Fig?

A) Luckily, if they don’t like her, they don’t tell me. Most of the people that talk to me love the show  and love my character. Maybe it’s partly because they love to hate her. And I love that! They are complex people. They are not one note people. Every character has an amazing depth to them. So, hopefully, you’ll love and hate them all at the same time.

Q) How do you get into the character’s mindset?

A) Fig is that part of me when I dig deep when you are having a really bad day, you are under-slept and you are too hungry. Everyone around you seems so frickin’ stupid and you just don’t understand how people don’t understand what you are talking about. I think it can happen to anyone when you’ve had a day.

Q) We last left off with us discovering Fig’s misuse of funds. Is there anything you can tease about what is to come for her and/or the show?

A) If I tell you anything I will end up in orange, myself. What I can tell you is that every time I read a script I go, “No way! Oh my God!” and I laugh out loud. All of those things happen!

Q) Where do things stand between the rivalry with Fig and Caputo?

A) That is something that we’ve had since the beginning of television. You love watching people fight in that way. It’s almost like “The Honeymooners,” where they bicker with each other. To me, it’s kind of cool that she happens to be his boss. It’s kind of a fun thing.

Q) Have you picked up any of the “OITNB” merchandise they have out now?

A) I have not bought anything. I have been very lucky that a fan made me a fantastic fake t-shirt. Anything that anybody sent me, I would definitely use. I promise that! I have not bought any of the merchandise yet. I have not looked, myself.

Q) We have seen a number of amazing backstories on the characters. As a fan of the show, is there someone you’d like to see highlighted this coming season?

A) I want to know about everybody! There is not one character. I still want to know about every character from Black Cindy to Wanda, the P.O. How did she become a P.O.? Even Red! We don’t really know that much about Red and Norma, who doesn’t speak. I want to know about everybody! There is not a character that I am not curious about who they are and how they got there, from the people who work there to the people who are in there.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan of “Orange Is The New Black?”

A) I will say, first and foremost, thank you for being such a fan of the show! To get through the waiting, someone has to start an “Orange Is The New Black” app game. If you make it, I will play it!