Ashida Hinds – Lone Ranger

Q.  What are some of the current projects that you’re working on?

A.  Some independent stuff actually, I am doing sort of an art house short film called Knewd.  Then I’m also developing a documentary that I would like to shoot for next summer. 

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

A.  Sure, “Invasion” takes place in Florida in a city called Homestead.  In the pilot episode a hurricane comes in and they show the devastation to this town of Homestead.  There is much more than just a little bit of architectural damage.  It shakes up the whole community, it’s really about survival and how the community treats people in the story.  You just survive in the aftermath of this hurricane and weird things start happening after this particular hurricane that has caused lots of people to ask deeper questions.

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

A.  You know it was one of the roles that wasn’t a detective, it was a park ranger which was much more interesting.  It took place in Florida which is where we were going to shoot, in Miami.  Obviously, Shaun Cassidy is somebody who I have always loved and respected, he was one of the Hardy Boys.  So, definitely I had a little teenage crush at one point.  Tommy Schlamme was somebody that I absolutely had the utmost respect for.  He actually directed for Whoopi Goldberg’s one woman show way back when which was a catalyst for my career.  If you can be able to identify someone or some story or someone telling a story that you know I could access.  I have been kind of following him and I have a tremendous amount of respect for his work.  It was an honor and a pleasure to work with him on the pilot project and the role of Mona sort of expanded from the pilot, it initially began as a guest star and moved into recurring.  They decided to make her a series regular which I was thrilled and excited about.  I was really, really happy to be working with Shaun, I think he’s such a talented and great guy, the concept for the show was really intriguing.  It was so different than anything I had read in pilot season last year so I was really excited.

Q.  Do you have a most memorable moment from filming “Invasion”?

A.  Probably it would be a toss up between an episode where we literally got down in the mud and rolled around.  So, we could dirty up our outfits, it looked like we really, really had some aftermath issues going on.  It would be that or the alligator that we had to dissect, Russell (played by Eddie Cibrian) and I dissected an alligator together a few episodes back.  This thing jumps out of the alligator, that was pretty intense. 

Q.  Why should viewers be taking the time to tune in to “Invasion”?

A.  It’s really, really conceptually an intriguing show.  It’s different from anything that has been on TV in its execution.  It’s so smart, so intelligent but so accessible still. The conflict, the tension between the family and everyone trying to vibe in the aftermath of this hurricane.  Yet, the tension and the conflict and not really knowing what is happening and going on.  The execution and the writers are doing a tremendous job, I think that you really see the art of the cliff hanger so you’re excited to watch as well.  Aside from being a part of the show I’m really hooked on the show myself.

Q.  When filming the show, do you feel like the cast has a lot of chemistry together?

A.  Definitely and I think that is something that happened from day one.  I was excited about it and I think Shaun and the rest of the team saw that specifically when we got on set.  I work mostly with Eddie because he plays my partner, my colleague, my coworker at the park facility, Everglades Park.  From day one we sort of hit it off and we have this very friendly and quirky camaraderie.  It’s great, everyone really is great.

Q.  When taking on a role how do you transform yourself into character?

A.  I think just really researching the world of the character, for me it would be very helpful having gone to school in Miami.  So, I kind of had sensibility about Florida and Southern Florida and hurricanes and nature.  A lot of it has to do with nature and biology and animals.  Just doing a lot of research about the psychology of the character, writing bios for their backgrounds, what their family life is like.  Talking to people who actually work in that environment and do that actual job and just try to gather as much information as you can.  Then marrying that with what the other actors bring to the table and just kind of responding off of what it is that they offer and bring to the table.  Bringing it together and bring a cohesiveness to it. 

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

A.  I write, I read, I watch “Invasion!” 

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

A.  You’re going to kill me but it really is “Invasion,” outside of that it is “Grey’s Anatomy.”  I stop the world to make sure that I watch “Grey’s Anatomy.”  I think it’s such a smart show.

Q.  Now that it is 2006, what are you most looking forward to this year?

A.  Continuing to build on what the resources that I’ve been given and the blessings that I’ve been bestowed.  Hopefully to get involved in more film projects, that’s a career goal, and to just definitely always be accessible and available to use the platform that I’ve been given to inspire other people.

“Invasion” airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC