Mariana Klaveno – Stalker

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

A) I am busy with “Stalker” right now. That pretty much monopolized my time for the last few months. I also have a movie coming out that I did last year called West of Redemption that is just finishing and headed to hopefully festivals this next year. Fingers crossed for that!

Q) How was your character, Janice Lawrence, originally described to you?

A) That’s an interesting question because she started out quite different than who she is now. When I first read the description, it was kind of crazy and sort of all over the place. It was sort of clear to me that it had gone through several revisions, which is pretty common especially during pilot season. Originally, she was supposed to be a Southern Belle, kind of a beauty queen. I didn’t expect her to be so smart and good at her job. But I don’t know, something about the way she was written in the first couple scenes for the audition (which were in the pilot, but were written for the audition) pointed me in a completely different direction. I just saw her as closer to my personality, which is snarky and cool. She’s far cooler than I am in real life, but she is just confident, not afraid to speak her mind and kind of brazen. She is great at what she does and not afraid to be funny. That’s really what I latched on to and luckily producers responded as well.

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

A) I do think that she did change a bit. I kind of came in with a version that I wanted to do and luckily they responded to that. That doesn’t always happen, but it is really lovely when it does. You feel like it is truly a collaborative experience.

Q) You have such great chemistry with Dylan McDermott. Did that connection come instantly or did you spend some time to bond?

A) I kind of like “Jank” or “Janky,” but Maggie [Q] and I do really call ourselves “Jeth.” Victor [Rasuk] and I really call ourselves “Jenice.” Those are real names. But I’m glad the fans think we have chemistry. He is such a fun guy and funny. We have a lot of fun on set. I think I liked Dylan immediately, but it takes a little while any time you are working on a project. I think it was more so getting into character and getting the flow of the show than getting comfortable with each other. With me (I don’t know about Dylan), I think it was feeling more and more comfortable with Janice and with the way the stories were being written and the way her character was becoming solidified. Once that sort of felt more effortless it was much easier to interact with the other characters.

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming?

A) I really loved the stuff I got to do with Maggie in the episode two weeks ago. That was so lovely to have those real, intimate moments and I love that they have written sort of a female bonding relationship between the two of us. It was kind of unexpected for me and I loved getting to do that. Maggie and I are really close and she just played it so beautifully. She showed such layers of vulnerability and it was a pleasure getting to do that with her. And it was different. So often we are talking about catching the bad guys, stalker psychology and interviewing suspects. Sometimes you really want those scenes that are much more of a human connection. So, that was a real treat. The other thing that stands out are my scenes from last week with Perry, played by the amazing Erik Stocklin, who I just adore. We have some amazing things coming up!

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

A) I think Kevin Williamson is kind of a genius when it comes to finding ways to keep audiences on the hook. I think people love to be scared and I think he does it in a really stylistic way that audiences just want more and more of. I think he created really nice characters, really complex layered characters that are the backbone of the show. On top off that, you get terrific horror movie moments peppered in.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you enjoying the instant fan feedback you receive when episodes premiere?

A) I do! I am not that great with social media, I have to admit. Maybe it is because I’m a little bit older than the younger folks who live by it. It’s not second nature to me because I’m much more of a private person so it is difficult for me to share things. So, I have a push/pull relationship with it. I’ll go through phases where I will share some things and then I will cocoon and won’t share anything. I feel like I’m too boring, quite honestly. Most days I don’t feel I have anything to share, but having said that there are wonderful aspects to social media. It’s really nice to get that connection to audiences and know exactly what they are referring to and how they are liking things. That certainly has changed in the last few things. I don’t think actors got to interact with their fans this way before.

Q) Many fans do remember you from  your time on “True Blood.” What do you hope the legacy is for the show?

A) I think the show speaks for itself. I think the legacy will be that it is so beloved and kind of trailblazing in a lot of ways. I don’t think there has been anything like that on television. I don’t know if anything will come close necessarily to that any time soon. It was such a special, lightening-in-a-bottle show where something is as good as it is popular. It’s a rare thing and I was so honored to be a part of it. I loved every minute of that show and I miss the other actors. I keep in touch with the actors here and there. I loved it. I loved my character. She was so kind of an actor’s dream to play something like that and do the flashbacks and dress up in these beautiful period costumes and be vulnerable and then viscous and monstrous rolled up into one. It was just a gift!

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

A) I just really appreciate you guys and I hope I keep entertaining you and telling you stories that you want to see and hear.