Heather Hemmens – Roswell, NM

By starrymag | January 29, 2019

By: Maggie Stankiewicz

 

 

Q) With the success of “Roswell, NM,” how are you handling the fan engagement and reactions from social media?

 

A) Well, we’ve been really lucky that the fan engagement and the reactions have been amazing. The feedback was very positive and generous. I think the people fell in love with the characters right away, so the cast and I are over the moon about the reception. Obviously, we love the show dearly and it’s really nice to hear it was received well.

 

Q) You play Maria DeLuca, the former best friend of Liz Parker (now Liz Ortecho). What are some traits about Maria and her relationships with the other characters that drew you to her?

 

A) Maria is somebody who is not afraid to speak her mind and that is something I’ve always loved playing in a character because they’re always upfront about how they’re feeling, they’re going to call you out on your B.S. right away and you never have to guess what she’s feeling because she always speaks her mind. That’s the first thing that I really loved about her and I love the layers that she has. She comes off as somebody who is just really tough and handles herself, but as we go on through the season, we find out that she’s struggling on the inside with a lot of things, a couple secrets that are weighing her down.

 

Q) Was it intimidating stepping into the updated shoes of such an iconic character?

 

A) Not at all because I protected myself in the way that I didn’t watch the other series and I haven’t read the books. I kind of missed that moment in pop culture so I had my own vision of Maria. I wasn’t trying to emulate anyone else’s performance or idea of the character. I did my own thing with her. We’re really based on the book. We didn’t go from the other series. They’re not connected at all, so the main difference is that we’re adult now, we’re not playing high school age. The similarities between the Marias are few and far between, I think.

 

Q) “Roswell, NM” uses extraordinary and extraterrestrial characters to tell stories about the human condition. From immigration parallels to racism – the pilot didn’t shy away from these kinds of topics. What stories are you most excited to tell while you inhabit the role of Maria?

 

A) I really like that Maria is not pigeon-holed by her brown skin. It’s really a side note in the journey that she’s on. Her storyline is not focused on her struggling with being black even though she is one of the only people of color in such a small town. I think it’s something she’s dealt with her whole life and so it has just become a given that she’s going to have to fight a little harder, be a little smarter and work to earn her place in the community that’s not always so open to outsiders – whether they be aliens or anyone who seems different. The thing that I love about our show is that we do touch upon immigration. We do touch upon this outsiders’ concept and I like that we do it in the way that we just ask the question. We tell it through the characters’ experiences, so we’re not saying what is right or wrong, we’re not trying to shape any view point. We are just simply asking the questions and exploring the topics.

 

Q) You mentioned that you didn’t read the Roswell High books or watch the original series, but did you do anything to get into the mindset of your character?

 

A) What I like about Maria is that she’s very spiritual and she is borderline psychic. She really has a strong intuition, but she is right now kind of playing a game with it. As we see in the pilot, she is kind of monetizing these gifts that she has and as we go further. We see that she really, really has a talent. We can call this her extraterrestrial talent, I guess. Even though she’s not an alien there is something going on with her psychic abilities that we can’t really explain. As we explore that, I had to get into my own psyche and my own intuition, which is something I’ve always been curious about. In studying to play Maria, I wanted to connect with her psychic ability in a grounded way. I didn’t want it to be a fluffy, laughable talent that she has. I did a lot of my own research and my own meditation in spirituality to find a way to connect to Maria’s world that she lives in.

 

Q) What’s in store for us in the first season of “Roswell,” other than fantastic music choices?

 

A) The music is so good! I love it. It brings back so many great 90’s memories. We have a lot in store. I love that in the pilot we get into the secrets right away. There’s no room for, “Oh, we’re going to sit on this for six episodes and not tell the audience what’s going on.” We don’t do that. We get right into it. That allows us throughout the season to steamroll this alien thing. You’re going to see so many of their secrets unravel. You’re going to see Maria’s talents taking over and controlling her life a little bit. You’re going to see love stories that crash and burn and you’re going to see love stories that ignite and are going to move the audience.

 

Q) Everyone in Roswell’s sleepy little town seems to have a secret. Is there more to Maria than meets the eye beyond her strengthened intuition?

 

A) Yes! A few episodes in we see that she’s dealing with some family issues. She starts off as a support system for Liz (Jeanine Mason), but we quickly realize that Maria has struggles of her own. It goes deeper than her intuition. It’s really tangible. We see why she’s working so hard and why she has all these odd jobs from her psychic readings to her bartending. She owns the bar so she’s really hustling with that and we start to see the reasons why. I think that will really resonate with the audience.

 

Q) If you could switch roles with any other character for one episode, who would it be and why?

 

A) Oh, I like that question! I think I would switch roles with Grant Green (Peter Diseth), the alien talk-show guy. He is really funny, and I am such a fan of alien conspiracies. I think I’d have a lot of fun preparing for that role and just being completely crazy on my hypothesis about aliens.

 

Q) If you were to meet an alien who had just crashed down on earth, what is one thing you’d want them to experience before returning to their home planet?

 

A) Cheese! I think one of earth’s greatest creations is cheese. I would offer them some pizza or maybe a nice cheese place with wine. Then, hopefully, some good conversation.

 

Q) “Roswell, NM”’s cast is one of the most diverse out there right now. How does it feel to be among those pioneering for a more inclusive entertainment experience?

 

A) It feels great. My only experience is with diverse shows because if I’m on it, I guess that’s a little diversity. It’s not really new to me and I don’t find that it’s new with The CW either. The CW shows are very diverse. Warner Brothers has made lots of efforts to be inclusive with their shows so we’re seeing it more and more and I think it’s the norm now. It’s a good thing that it’s the norm. It means that change has come and is starting to become accepted in a way that it’s just everyday life. It doesn’t have to be such a big deal now.

 

Q) You’ve been in a few shows known for their cult following – from “Grey’s Anatomy” to “The Vampire Diaries.” Did those roles prepare you for another cult-worthy series this time around?

 

A) I do hope that this becomes cult-worthy. I absolutely think that we’re headed that way. It’s very fun. I think nothing prepares you for that. You do your work and you hope that people like it and when they do it’s a blessing. It’s a relief. There are so many nerves involved when you’re being creative and when you see something one way and have to share it with the world, you hope that they get the vision that you’re going for. I think that we’re very lucky that people like it at all and if it gets to conventions and all that stuff with the cult following, that would be an extra bonus.

 

Q) Are you currently working on any other projects?

 

A) Yes. I just finished another show that I’ve been on for five years and that is going to start airing February 27th on Oprah Winfrey network called “If Loving You is Wrong.” I was able to finish that show before I started “Roswell” and they’re going to be airing kind of at the same time. So, I’m very fortunate that I’ve been working steady for a few years now.

 

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

 

A) Wow. Well, first of all, thank you for watching me grow. These past few years have been a learning curve for me and I am at a place now where I feel like I am doing work that is true to the career that I want and true to the person that I am. I appreciate everyone sticking with me from “Hellcats” until “Roswell.” It’s been a fun ride and I’ve got a lot more fun in store. Stay tuned!