Marta Milans – Killer Woman

Q) What kind of feedback did you receive about the premiere of “Killer Women?”

A) It was exciting! It was great to see it with a bunch of family and friends and I hope to keep going. It’s hard nowadays since there are so many shows being offered out there for audiences. I am just crossing my fingers and we’ll see. It was just so interesting and the moment Sofia Vergara started tweeting we all started to get into it. I’m a newbie on Twitter so I had to call ABC Publicity to get a tutorial on how to live tweet. I practiced before the show started though! The responses were really encouraging. For me, the best things to read are what your fans send you because there is a lot of meanness out there. All we got from fans were all so positive that I just want to read those. I know they are biased, but it was great to get this live sensation of people watching it while you are watching it and commenting on it.

Q) How did you get involved with the show?

A) I was in Los Angeles last year for pilot season and I auditioned for the show. I got the script and read it. I am from Spain originally so every time I get Latina parts I get thrown back because I don’t specifically look Latina. I’m pale and have green eyes. I thought, “There is no way I am going to get cast! People are not going to see me like that.” I remember talking to my manager and asking why was I going to go because it would be a waste of time for everybody. While reading the script though, I was like, “I get this woman. I actually get here. I don’t know how they are viewing her or imagine her, but I get this character. Whether, physically, if I’m what they are looking for, that is out of my hands.” I just went in and did the take I had on Becca for them and they obviously liked it and it went forward. Now, I feel like it is part of me so closely that I feel like I’ve been involved with this for a very long time when it has just been months.

Q) What did you bring to the character that may not necessarily have been in the script?

A) When I auditioned for it, the original script was very different than what ended up being the pilot and even since the pilot to what was shown. They have even changed my profession and they changed my name. So, it’s been a rollercoaster! But from the original material that I got, what I thought of her was a very strong personality of a Latina woman. By that, it is not necessarily this stereotype of the loud, brassy, over the top sexy character that we are tired of seeing portrayed on TV and film. That’s what I always think people think when they imagine a Latina woman, like with Sofia Vergara’s character on “Modern Family.” I think that’s what people envision nowadays. So, I was taking a step away from that and (of course) incorporating the sexiness and all the flavor of the essence to that because it is a part of it. What I envisioned was a woman that is not from here, but has that same strength, drive and intense personality who just happens to be from a Spanish speaking country. I brought that side of myself, being a Spanish speaking and having that movement with my body that maybe a stronger expression in my hands and face. We really, as Latin people, have physically and bodily more expressions than Americans generally. That’s what I brought into the room and I don’t know if that is what convinced them, but that was my take on her and so far it has worked.

Q) Sofia Vergara is one of the Executive Producers on the show. How hands on has she been with “Killer Women?”

A) She was one of the originators of the program and bringing the concept from Argentina to Hollywood. From the get-go, she was really involved. Sofia is so busy with her show that her partner, Luis Zea, has been on set more. So, we haven’t seen much of her. But as far as the concept and pitching it to ABC I know her team sat down with them at the beginning and developing this idea with the studio. I know this has been very important with my character because they have been trying to stand behind and give importance to a Latin character in mainstream America. They want to make sure that this character can be considered as serious and as believable as everybody else on the show. In that regard, Sofia and her team have been deeply involved. I’m very grateful for that because I get to play her.

Q) What have you found challenging about portraying Becca?

A) I think from the beginning the whole process of changing my character before we started shooting the character in Albuquerque. I went from originally being a hairdresser and owning a salon to being a manager of a local band. That was related because I, myself, sing. The creator wanted to incorporate me singing on the show at some point. So, related to that and wanting to bring music to the show, they decided me being a music manager would be a better idea. All of those things have been challenging for me in having to change different preparations and the background work I did as an actor to be Becca. Also, it is being different from me because I am not from America. I’ve lived here eleven years, but I was born and raised in Europe. So, culturally it’s been very different for me. But it’s wonderful! I’ve been treated like a princess. Everybody has been supportive of me and all the other cast membersare much more experienced than I am in the TV world and in Hollywood. They have always been super protective, especially Michael Trucco who plays my husband and I’ve worked with him the most. I only have amazing words to describe him because I felt completely nurtured and as an actress, being with people I look up to and think are fantastic actors has only improved the quality of my work. I feel very blessed and lucky because of that.

Q) Why will people want to take their time to tune in to the show?

A) Having beautiful women play dangerous roles (that are coming up) is one thing that will be really attractive for upcoming episodes. Also, it is seeing the Parker family become more and more involved in the Molly side of the story. I won’t be more specific because I don’t want to ruin upcoming episodes, but the Parker family becomes more and more involved in Molly’s job and that starts getting really exciting and complicated (in a good way). I hope people will tune in to the upcoming episodes and enjoy it!