Eileen Boylan – South of Nowhere

Q.  What are some of the recent projects that you’ve been working on?

A.  Well, I have a project that is still kind of in the works because it might get in the way with my schedule for this film I’m working on.  I’m actually in New York because of the film and will be going to Arizona on the 3rd. 

Q.  The new season of “South of Nowhere” begins in a few days.  Since you’re new to the show, what can you tell us about your character?

A. My character specifically goes through a lot of self-realizations.  I think my character comes from a rough spot and she was sort of, I guess, misunderstood in a lot of ways because of her life decisions before she came to LA and before she started to realize she could start over.  Because of that blank slate, she wants everything to be brand new, to have that way of discovering things because she was labeled as a certain a way before.  If you watch you’ll obviously understand a little bit more, I don’t want to give away too much.  With Ashley, realizing who her family really is and everything, and just really needing that acceptance and trying to help everybody figure out their way of life.  Wanting them to realize also that it’s not the best thing to sort of live in a bed of lies.  Which is pretty much what everybody is doing in the beginning of the season.  It’s living in these lies, so my character kind of allows that sense of truth to come through.  I help open the eyes for everyone else and it’s really hard for everyone to deal with at first.  Eventually, it comes across that I am not here as an enemy. 

Q.  What kind of breakdown were you given about your character for your audition?

A.  It was pretty vague for a couple of different reasons.  It was pretty much that I was the new girl in town and I was Ashley’s secret sister that she didn’t know even existed.  So, walking into that obviously has a lot of baggage underneath it.  I think that’s actually all that it said on there, that I was Ashley’s secret sister and I was the new girl in town.  I pretty much interpreted it that I had a lot lying underneath things and so that was pretty much it. 

Q.  What was it like for you to join a cast that has already known each other and has been working together for a year?

A.  I was concerned a little bit about it in the beginning, obviously you have some expectations of will they like me.  I was pretty much like everything with my character, not really necessarily, but I was the new girl.  It’s also like people are wondering “What is she going to bring to the table?”  There is this kind of responsibility you have to live up to with expectations.  Because you did book the job and they expect you to jump right in and be right there with them.  Even though you are new and all of that, but I think that everyone was really welcoming and really awesome.  It was really nice feeling that no one was really expecting unrealistic things from me.  Everyone was really cool and really open minded and awesome to work with.  You could not ask for a better situation to walk into for sure!

Q.  What is it about the show that made you want to be a part of it?

A.  A lot of it had to do with the storylines and the ground that it covers.  A lot of it is teenagers and people in general and society and how people really have a hard time accepting what is seen as ordinary.  Just knowing that it’s not a problem to be who you are and to identify yourself, it’s a discovery process and a lot of times people get hurt.  There are a lot of things, especially with family, that you go through at that age and deal with.  The things that you’re going to be for the rest of your life that you’re just now discovering.  It’s almost like you’re in a battle with yourself because you don’t necessarily know who you are and you don’t know how everyone else sees you.  At that age, you’re really concerned with how people perceive you.  So, I thought that knowing how my character will stay in the original storylines of Ashley and Spencer and everybody.  Even an inspirational family with Clay and The Carlins and how they live their life.  Being new to this new place, it has this sort of already pre-established way of living in Los Angeles.  Knowing that and knowing that what it would bring into people’s minds and eyes and allow them to see that it’s okay if you’re going through this.  It’s okay if you’re having problems with your parents and it’s okay that you’re having problems with who you are.  Just being in a battle with what is okay in your eyes at that age, or at any age really, to be in a battle with yourself is something that happens.  But, it really helps to have some thing or somebody to look to and pat you on the back and say it’s okay, you can be who you are.  I really identified with that, obviously, I have gone through it like everybody else and I’m still going through it.  There were so many things that drew me to it!

Q.  With the existing characters having such a big existing fanbase, do you feel like viewers will be open to your character?

A.  I think just like every other new character that has been introduced on a pre-established show, it will take a little time to get used to her.  I think that my role specifically fits in with the entire system of the “South of Nowhere” family.  Just the necessity for that role in that group of people, I think was really necessary.  I think that her being introduced is not necessarily a shock, it’s almost like a need.  I think eventually it grows on you and you realize, just like the people in the cast, within the storyline that I’m not there to be intrusive, I’m there to help.  I think that also correlates to the audience and they’ll see me as part of the family eventually because of the need that is brought by my character being introduced to everyone else.  So, I think that, if anything, is my assumption.  You can’t really tell, but I would only hope that they would like me as much as the original characters.  That’s not obviously something that I, as an actor, concern myself with.  Because, then I would freak out and I don’t think I’d be able to do my job accurately. 

Q.  So does that mean you’ll be staying away from all the message boards and fan chatter?

A.  Yeah, also, as an actor you’re putting yourself out there to be judged. Acting is something I do for the art form and I don’t necessarily want to concern myself with judgments.  I am putting myself out there for people to interpret and they’re going to interpret it how they’re going to interpret it.  I can only do so much, so it’s not worth it to look at that stuff and make myself feel insecure about it when that’s not why I do it anyway.  It would probably personally effect me if anything and I think that would rob me from enjoying it for myself and for what I want to do with it. 

Q.  Do you have a memorable moment from filming on the show?

A.  I have a lot of memorable moments, probably just hanging out with people and eating lunch with them.  I remember there is a scene where we have a pool party at Aiden’s house.  I remember that being so much fun because everybody was altogether and it was actually like a real party.  We were all swimming and having a really good time.  It was nice to be around people that you’re working with and seeing that they can have fun.  I remember that very specifically, I liked that a lot, that was a nice memory for me.

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

A.  In my spare time I really like acting, so that’s definitely one of my hobbies.  I like to study on top of also doing a role because it’s good, I actually really enjoy studying, I do that a lot.  I really like reading and anything creative.  I like drawing, even though I’m not really that good at it.  I like writing a lot, so I write a lot and I go to school and I actually enjoy doing that.  It sounds really funny, but I’m being so honest here it’s really sad.  I like hanging out with people and eating, I like to eat a lot.  That’s about it!

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

A.  I’ve been really into decorating my room, which is really sad, because I recently moved out of my house and into my own apartment.  So, having that sense of a place of your own, it’s really a work in progress.  As far as music goes, I’m really into this band called Explosions In The Sky.  It’s this band that doesn’t have a vocalist, it’s all instrumental.  It’s this soft kind of rock, I’m really obsessed with it right now. 

Q.  What would you like to say to the fans of the show?

A.  I would like to say open yourselves up to who you really are and be willing to accept it no matter what it is, no matter what external form and how you feel internally and really embrace it.  You only have one life to live and whatever you decide to become, or whoever you’re trying to become that you’re struggling with, and you’re still discovering, because eventually you’ll find that you’ll be amazing, beautiful and wonderful.  Be happy, we get one chance to make our mark on the world and it should be something that they really truly love.  That would be my message to everybody who watches “South of Nowhere,” I think that’s a lot of what the show is about.