Kyra Zagorsky – Helix

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What can you tease is in store this season on “Helix” for your character

A) What is exciting is the writers give me some great obstacles this season and some challenges. They kind of put me on some adventures. What is great, I’m kind of on this isolated journey a bit and what it means to be immortal and to be a part of Ilaria. There are a lot of interesting things and new characters. It’s been a lot of fun! A lot creativity!

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

A) It’s kind of a collaboration because they will write certain things, but because I’m in her shoes I feel like what happened in the first season once I did episode three I felt like I was getting under her skin and figuring out who she was to me. Then, of course, she changes and evolves. She has really evolved this season. I kind of held on to a few core pieces of who I thought she was and how she would react to things. Anytime I felt like if I got something in a scene and it felt a bit off, I would have a conversation with Steve Maeda who is our show runner and he is really great to work with. I would just say, “This doesn’t feel like Julia. Can it go in this direction?” He was always great to work with me on that level. Of course, they were the ones that kind of threw Julia through the ringer this season and gave me all these crazy things to do. I kind of made decisions of who she was and how she handled things. It’s kind of working together on that.

Q) How does the cast continue to maintain such chemistry on screen?

A) I think what happens is you just go through something with people. Especially with our show being as dark, you really go through an experience with the actors you are working with and it kind of creates a connection. We have some new characters this season. We’ve also been quite lucky that everyone is really lovely to work with, genuinely. We enjoy spending time together and we work well together. Part of it is mutual respect and understanding what the person needs from you on that day and moment. It’s kind of the way to keep a show strong otherwise you see it in the scenes.

Q) Since you are a part of social media, do you enjoy the instant fan feedback it provides?

A) In some ways, but truthfully I kind of prefer and sit down to watch the show and then think about it later. If I have the opportunity…I have kids and the show airs at 7pm so they are not watching it with us. I can’t really jump on the social media bandwagon like that, but it is always pretty amazing to feel the dedication from the fans and their response is gratifying and fulfilling. It’s exciting they are taking to it.

Q) What do fans need to know about this second season of “Helix?”

A) This season we pick up the energy from last season as far as what we created and we have had to maximize it this season. The show is darker. It’s more provocative. There is a lot more twists and turns. It’s a real punch in the stomach. We have taken all of the best things and the best pieces for style as far as the way it is performed and the music and the way they shoot it. Now that we understand what our show is, we were able to run with it this season and go for it. It’s much more intense!