Danay Garcia – Fear the Walking Dead

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) How will the loss of Alejandro and the fall of La Colonia effect Luciana?

A) It’s like she has lost everything she knows. On top of being in apocalypse, it’s a huge adjustment! She lost everything she knows and all the people she had a reason to fight for and live for and confront this apocalypse. The moment they wiped them out, it’s like my entire heart is gone and I’m just left with this body – and wounded, too. I feel like she was left with nothing, except for nick, who is a new person who has touched parts of her. It is a new reason to keep going. But it was a hard loss. Imagine one person, but it’s an entire colonia – an entire world for her. It’s devastating!

Q) We last found Luciana in such a dark place after losing so much. What can you tease is in store for her this season?

A) Obviously, starting from this high intensity situation and this huge problem she has been through it’s kind of her putting herself back together and putting herself back together in this new world. She’s ending up meeting new people. She has Nick by her side, but she has to adjust to new rules and a new world that we’ll be arriving to. It has crazy surprises for you guys, but she is starting from the bottom of the bottom. We’re going to have to see a Luciana in pain – not just physical pain, but emotional pain. It’s what you are going to get at the beginning, which is interesting because when we first saw Luciana she was so on top of her game. She really knew how to deal with anybody – the new, the zombies, the Colonia, the walkers, etc. She just knew how to do it. This time around she will really have to start from scratch, which is exciting.

Q) Luciana is with Nick, but she has never met his family. How do you think this new dynamic will effect the two of them?

A) First, I think the dynamic is already cracked once I lost my entire family, my Colonia friends and everybody. Adjusting to my new version of him with the family, I don’t think will effect the relationship. I think it’s always constantly flowing and changing. She has had to adjust to that. She’s getting to see Nick (Frank Dillane) for the first time as a son, a brother and as a friend of Travis. It’s like learning different sides of him and that’s an adjustment. And his family has to adjust to her, too. So far, it’s just been Luciana and Nick of the apocalypse. Then, all of a sudden he’s not anymore, but I am. That’s going to be an adjustment for the relationship, for sure.

Q) There is such great chemistry between you and Frank Dillane. Did you have much time to build that chemistry or did it take some time to develop?

A) We were thrown into the zombie world! I got there and said, “Hi, nice to meet you. Okay. Who should we kill right now?” We were like, “We’re shooting now. Let’s talk later.” It was kind of that beautiful bond. It was a trust on the spot. I very much put myself out there and he was right there to grab my trust, protect it and nurture. And I was right there, too. I’m so grateful because sometimes it doesn’t work. If you just come from LA and get thrown into Mexico. It’s acting in this intense world that is physical and mental. Then, you come here and it is hard to adjust to a new place and all of that. Frank is so giving and so present and so there that the new fresh face was like, “It’s time for to do this.” And it was alright. It is really impressive. It was really nice. I’m so grateful and I told him, too! He said, “Thank you for trusting me to kill zombies with you. Let’s do an entire season like that! That would be great!”

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming “Fear The Walking Dead?”

A) There are so many! I’ll tell you the little story of how I had to kill my first zombie. I never had to kill anything on screen or in life (of course). I had barely shot a gun before and never kicked anyone or seen blood in front of me. When the next script showed up I saw this fighting sequence and I was like, “Oh! This is Luciana…” I kind of gently the producers, “Am I doing this?” They were like, “Yeah! We have stunt people waiting for you right now and you’re going to rehearse.” This was the day before we shot the scene. I told the stunt people, “I’ve never fought before on camera. My background is ballet. I have a classical background. I grew up watching my son do jiu-jitsu, but that’s as far as it goes. It’s uncomfortable to see him choke kids. I don’t think I could…Well, let’s give if it a shot – of course. But if I’m too classical just know this is my background.” They said, “No, it’s great that you’ve danced before! It means that you are flexible and you can kick!” I said, “I don’t know. This course that you want me to do, I don’t know if I have it in me.” The moment they started showing me I didn’t look at it as violence. I looked at it as choreography because that is how my mind registered it. I was like, “I think I can do this!” They were like, “Grab this knife. Grab the other knife. Then, just do this choreography.” I did all of that and they were taping me on this little video tape for me to look at. It looked so badass! I was like, “Oh my God!” It was a very cool revelation of myself. Then, from discovering that about myself to the screen where you put a zombie with blood…I had no idea! I had only danced ballet before. Then, the blood starts squirting and everything starts falling apart. I was like, “Oh my gosh! What did I do? I’m going to be doing this for the rest of the year!” [laughs] I remember I was so shocked about it. I told my mom, “You won’t believe what just happened!” Of course, my son is very proud. That was pretty epic.

Q) You were also a part of the series “Prison Break” and now you are on the show “Fear the Walking Dead.” What has it been like for you to be a part of such iconic franchises?

A) When I found out that “Prison Break” was coming back I called two of my friends from the show and I could not be more excited. I was calling them actually to hear if they were a part of the show since they said the show was coming back, but didn’t reveal the characters who were coming back. I said, “Please tell me you’re coming back!” They said, “Yes, I am.” Oh my God! It was so nice! I felt like when we finished the show in Season Four, everyone on the shoot kept saying, “Why is it over? Why is it done?” That’s when I really got to know the fanbase of “Prison Break” because when you’re working on it you’re just on set. For years it would go by and people kept requesting it. I actually sat down with Dominic Purcell (who played Lincoln) I said, “I’m not surprised.” For years, people would look at me with this huge reaction and he was like, “Yeah, me too.” Then, all of a sudden we realized all of us had been getting for years. It’s such an honor for me to…First of all, to find out that “Prison Break” is coming back is so well deserved. And for me being a part of these two amazing worlds and shows that inspire people and feel so connected to these characters – and they are completely different shows, too! One is a zombie show and the other is escaping prison. So, it’s a completely different dynamic. I feel so honored and so inspired. I feel so humbled by it too and I can’t wait to see what is coming next. [laughs] And I can’t wait for you guys to see what is coming next with the show. I’m just living in a constant state of gratitude every day from the show and the journey that it has been for me. It’s just really incredible.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I wanted to say that I am forever grateful they keep following me on this journey. Today I’m killing zombies and I don’t know what I’m going to do next. [laughs] It’s just been an absolute honor to have had this fanbase who has followed my path. I just hope that I am inspiring them. I hope I am inspiring little girls out there to be this badass like Luciana who thinks she can only dance ballet and ends up being all kinds of stuff at the same time. I hope to keep inspiring this young generation, too. I even have a lot of children who are fans of Luciana. It’s just really humbling and I just want to say I am forever grateful for the love and support from day one.