Samira Wiley – Orange Is The New Black

By starrymag | June 7, 2014

Q) What are the recent projects you have been working on?

A) Really I have just been enjoying the time off between Season 2 and Season 3. I’ve been auditioning and just getting ready to go back to work soon.

Q) What is new this season on “Orange Is The New Black” and with your character Poussey?

A) I think that this season you can really, really see Poussey’s journey. In the first season, she’s such a great sidekick to Tasty and such a loyal friend, someone you want around. In Season 2, we’ll see more of who she is and where her morals are. You’ll see more of her journey in the present.

Q) Lots of fans are supporters of Tasty’s and Poussey’s friendship. Who came up with their amazing handshake?

A) We did together! We were like, “We should have a handshake!” I’m really close friends with Danielle [Brooks] so we plan things out together pretty organically.

Q) Can you tease anything about what we will be learning about Poussey’s backstory?

A) I’m super excited to have everyone see it. We get to see where she comes from. Poussey seems like a grounded person and I think in her backstory we get to see where all that comes from.

Q) Will we get to see you interact with more of the characters we haven’t seen you in scenes with before?

A) Yeah! I really wanted to do a scene with Natasha [Lyonne] so we got one in there. We’ll get to see me talking to other people I maybe haven’t talked to. I was excited about that scene with Natasha and she is one of my best friends from the show. I’m excited for everybody to see that.

Q) Is there anyone you haven’t had scenes with you’d like to shoot with in Season 3?

A) I am not sure I’ve had any one-on-one scenes with Red (Kate Mulgrew) yet. That’d be cool!

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

A) Her mannerisms and the way she walks. How she sits in a chair. Just things that I felt like were uniquely mine that I was able to add to the character. Most of it, as an actor, you get your clues from the script. I think the writers are doing an amazing job as well.

Q) Since you are a part of social networking sites, are you looking forward to the instant feedback from fans you’ll be receiving after Season 2 premieres?

A) I’m excited and nervous. I feel a lot of things because it is such a unique thing that Netflix has done, this model of releasing all the episodes at once so that viewers have a choice to view it how they want to. So many people are choosing to view it in one day or view it in over the weekend. One day no one has seen it and the next day they have seen everything it has taken you months to film. So, it’s a little terrifying and a little exciting. All of those things!

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming Season 2 of “Orange Is The New Black?”

A) I really had a great time working with Lorraine Toussaint who plays the character Vee in Season 2. We have a lot of scenes together and any time I was on set with her I felt was a learning experience because she’s just a veteran. That was probably the most exciting thing for me.

Q) What do you think it is  about the show that made it such a fast fan favorite?

A) I think that the writers on our show and all of the cast really don’t have that many famous people that came to the show and it was just a lot of a raw talent that wanted to show the truth. It’s human beings showing the hilarity of the situation and all of the colors of what life in prison can be. It can be funny, sad, heartbreaking, fun and all of these shades. I think the show was not afraid of shying away from lots of things that maybe other shows were, having all different shapes and sizes of women and having that many women. It’s just so innovative and I’m so honored to be a part of it.

Q) Who have been some of your favorite directors you’ve gotten to work with on the show?

A) I’m such a fan of Jodie Foster. Working with her I was probably star struck, but it was great! Andrew McCarthy has been to direct multiple times and I really like working with him. He’s so fun!

Q) Many celebrities have expressed interest in guest starring. Who would you like to see in Season 3?

A) Ellen Page! She’s cool.

Q) How does it feel knowing there is “Orange Is The New Black” merchandise with your face on it?

A) There is merchandise with my face on it?! I didn’t know that! I think that’s awesome. I think the fan enthusiasm is amazing.

Q) Do you enjoy getting to participate in fan events like Visiting Hours?

A) That’s great! I really like being able to interact with the fans and I think of myself as trained in theater. Film and television are still new to me. I’m still used to having that immediate one-on-one connection with the audience. Having the Ask Orange events on Twitter really help to bridge that gap. That just makes me feel more at home being able to one-on-one connect with fans.

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

A) Thank you so, so much for just being open and accepting. The love is so mutual!