Azie Tesfai – Jane The Virgin

Q) What are the recent projects that you have been working on?

A) I just did a reoccurrence on “Franklin and Bash.” Then, I did an awesome indie film called Me Him Her, which is coming out soon. I’ve been doing “Jane The Virgin” for the last couple months.

Q) How was your character Nadine Hansan originally described to you?

A) I remember this quote from the breakdown, “She’s a sexy, ball busting detective who comes in as a huge rival for Michael (played by Brett Dier).” That’s all I really knew and it’s grown into something incredible since then.

Q) What was it about the show or the role that made you want to be a part of it?

A) I got the audition at one o’clock and it was for four thirty in the afternoon that same day. I didn’t really know much about the show then. I found out the next morning that I got it and then an hour later I was doing the table read at six o’clock in the morning. So, I had no idea the good fortune I was falling into. Once I shot my first episode, I watched the pilot and fell in love. I realized I was lucky enough to be a part of something magical. I felt lucky. I became a fan after I shot my first episode.

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

A) This is my first time playing a detective and she is a very, very strong capable woman. When you meet her, she is trying to prove herself and her intelligence. The agency is all men. For me, I wanted her to not be an unlikable character. I wanted her to be strong and very capable. Brett’s character and I fight and yell a lot at each other. I wanted it to make sense and her not just be an angry woman. I wanted her to prove herself that she was a talented detective. Her yelling wasn’t out of anger, but her proving her worth. That was something I wanted to do. I wanted to make her likable among all of that.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you’ll receive when episodes premiere?

A) It’s funny because I recently joined Twitter. My castmates have been teaching me how to use it. I swore I would never be on it so I’m nervous. I’ll learn from watching them do it how Twitter works. I do know it is a huge part of shows doing well and I’m excited what people have to say. I have never had that experience before. So, I’m excited to see what people think. This show is such a rollercoaster. Every episode is such a rollercoaster and so many things happen that I am looking forward to certain episodes to see how fans react. Social media is scary and exciting.

Q) You do film most of your scenes with costar Brett Dier. What is it like working with him?

A) I joke with him that he is the little brother that I never asked for. He is so funny. He is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I had to go back in after lunch one day to hair and makeup and they were like, “Have you been crying?! Are you okay?” I said, “No, I just spent the last hour hanging out with Brett.” I was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face from watching him do the behind the scenes filming for the show. He is not only hysterical, but as you will see later on in the show most of my scenes are with him. He is so considerate and kind. It’s such a collaboration with us of making our scenes interesting and it’s nice to have an actor that cares so much about the show that they want to make it look good, but also makes it really fun to to come to work. It’s pretty amazing!

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming “Jane The Virgin?”

A) The table reads are pretty incredible because a lot of us don’t read the episodes before because we are in the middle of the prior episode. Getting to see everyone’s reaction to the brilliant writing…It is based on a telenovela, but the writing is so incredibly done and grounded in the acting and the acting is grounded. You hear people running around the room and screaming and crying. The table read has become the joy of my week. It’s so exciting and so funny. We’re all pointing and yelling at each other because we can’t believe what our characters are going through. It’s pretty remarkable. I know Justin Baldoni who plays Rafael has been shooting behind the scenes footage with his awesome production company. They have been shooting footage of our table reads and I can’t wait for people to see it because it is pretty amazing to see people who have been doing the show get just as crazy and excited each week when reading it. The other part would be hanging out with everyone between takes. They are just the nicest group of people I’ve ever met on set. I’m not quite sure how they were able to get such incredibly kind and talented people, but I stumbled across people who are so grateful to have a job (which is so rare in this town). I came in as a reoccurring and I walked in my dressing room the first day and they had a book of The War of Art and it was signed by all of the cast. It had a beautiful note in it. That’s rare and really special. I think the table reads and spending time with these people are my favorite moments.

Q) What do you think it is about the show that has made it such a fast fan favorite?

A) It’s so charming! It’s so well done. The writing is so well done and the storyline is so out there. A lot of the times when you try to explain the storylines it is so out there, but it is grounded in this beautiful acting. You can’t help fall in love with the actors. I fall in love with them and I know them. I watched the second episode with my castmates and I was crying and laughing at the same time. It’s so beautifully done and Gina Rodriguez who plays Jane is light encompassed in one woman. She is so talented. I told her I watched her on “Letterman “and thinking I would want this girl to be my friend and I already know her! She is as incredible on the show as she is in real life. You just get so charmed by these people and the stories. There are so many twists and turns. I just think that people will be obsessed with the show and the storylines.