Shamier Anderson – Wynonna Earp

By starrymag | June 27, 2016

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

Q) Where do we pick things up between the battle that is brewing?

A) The season finale is so complex. Pay very close attention to the ending. Have a very, very good eye. It’s jaw dropping.

Q) What was your first reaction to the series when you first found out about it?

A) What drew me to the show, personally, is that I really fell in love…First of all, I’m telling everybody this, I actually didn’t say “yes” the first time I got the script. It wasn’t because of the content; I just didn’t want to be acting at that moment in time. I was going through somethings at the time, but my agent really pushed me to check it out and give him my thoughts. I read it on a Saturday and was like, “Holy Moly! That’s crazy!” I played a Black Badge secret service badass cop Tom Hardy/Idris Elba fusion. I was like, “Sign me up!” I auditioned for the part and met Emily [Andras] in Toronto. She actually had no notes for me. She said, “That was perfect!” Usually, the producer will try to slice you up and mold you, but she said, “No. That’s it. Perfect.’ Then, I got a call saying they wanted me to fly to LA to meet with the rest of the gang. I was the only one there competing for Dolls. I was there along with Melanie. The rest was history!

Q) Was your chemistry with Melanie Scrofano organic?

A) Melanie is a lovely actress, first and foremost. She is very well trained and experienced. When you have someone who is equipped and passionate about the craft, it makes everything easy. She gets me off scree and on screen. I think that made the entire process easy. She’s also not a diva, which she has every right to be given her talent. The fact of that, we just clicked right off the bat. I’ll tell you something funny that a lot of people know, but on my way to the airport for the initial screen test Melanie and I took the same limo together. We were on the same flight with the same driver. We just hit it off right away. So, we were friends before we became lovers essentially. [laughs] It was right off the bat. I was like, “I could do four or six seasons with this girl.” She was great. It just kind of worked its way into the show and apparently people are loving it!

Q) What do you think do you think it is about Wynonna and Dolls’ relationship that they complement each other so well?

A) They are both very fiery person In their own way. Wynonna is a very fiery, sometimes drunk alcoholic. Dolls is a fiery, ex-military Black Badge member. They are both very stubborn, which is why they butt heads so often. Dolls is like, “My way is the right way,” and Wynonna is like, “My way is the right way.” So, I think that is something that is really cool between the both of them. I think besides being opposites, they attract. I think because they are so opposite they attract each other closer. I think because she challenges him that’s a bit of a turn on. I think whether Dolls knows that or not it kind of keeps him going and the fire alive. If she was a boring person, no one would watch the show and she wouldn’t be there.

Q) Was that kiss brewing for them or just something bubbling under the surface?

A) Character wise, that is something that was brewing underneath. You could just tell that something was probably going to happen. He is saving her and she is saving him. They make each other life. I’m not psychic, but I think it was brewing. Aside from it being the TV world, I think it was bound to happen. But I think it happened in such an organic way that it didn’t seem forced. It just happened so spontaneously.

Q) Dolls seems to have been the original WayHaught shipper.

A) Dolls knows what’s up. He’s been a Black Badge member for a number of years and is ex-military. He has very good hindsight. He kind of knows what is going on. I think that he definitely had a hunch. But as Dolls knows, he doesn’t do relationships. That’s across the board. As he told her in episode two, “I can’t give you advice on this situation. I don’t know. I don’t do relationships.” So, he may know what is going, but it is just none of his business. He’s been trained not to have any physical connection, but clearly that was broken. That is so cool why we need to renew “Wynonna Earp.” It will be interesting to see the new dynamic between Dolls and Wynonna. He broke his first rule so it will be so cool to see what happens next season.

Q) What has been your favorite part of Dolls’ character development?

A) The fact that we don’t know what he is and he is becoming a big ugly. He has to fight those urges to remain human, essentially. I think that’s a cool extra thing that Emily threw in. I think that was a super cool element so people would be like, “Oo, we want to know what is going on with Dolls!” He is not just a secret service, Black Badge cop. There is actually something going on there. That can answer a lot of questions about Agent Mercado and why he has been in town. There are so many conversations that can be happen from that arc. I think that’s the coolest part. I’m really, really thankful to come to set every day and read these scripts. Just like the fans, I was like, “What can happen next?” I’m genuinely excited!

Q) The cast seems like such an incredible extended family. You even have these tweet parties for the series. Are your Hawaiian shirts just something you throw on or is there a meaning behind them?

A) To be honest, I had an audition where I had to wear a Hawaiian shirt and I just had come back from the audition. [laughs] I happened to be running late for the live tweet and I had bought the shirt at Walmart. So, I didn’t have time to change. I don’t really wear Hawaiian shirts. It just happened to stick and the fans love it. I kept the shirt and added it to my collection of wardrobe.

Q) What have been some of your favorite behind the scenes moments?

A) Dominique is a wicked hip-hop dancer! She does it really well and would come over to my house where I would DJ. I’m a DJ and she would come over and do all of these crazy moves. Then, Tim and I are jokesters. He’s a prankster so he and I have some side jokes. I love that because he’s the only guy on set. We have our “bromantic” moments. Melanie is a sweetheart. She has a lovely family and sometimes she brings them to set. Katherine Barrell is an incredible director! She writes her own stuff and produces her own stuff. She is very creative! We definitely get along on that level and she supports me in my other endeavors. I really admire her work and she is going to be a very strong, strong female director. The guest stars are super cool. We just genuinely all like each other very much. Emily is right up there in the mix! As the Executive Producer, she is our boss in some senses of the word. She gets down and dirty and has wine with us and eats with us and goes out with us. We have a great time!

Q) Well, the fans really appreciate how active and interactive you all are on social media.

A) It’s not something we feel like we have to do. It’s not a part of the job. It’s something we want to do and love doing. I can speak on behalf of the cast, but we are so grateful to have some of the most incredible fans. You guys are so amazing! It’s incredible! We feel like we have such a wonderful social family. Next Friday, I’m like, “What am I going to do?!” You guys are incredible. We’ve got a little surprise for you guys as a little thank you. We genuinely love all of you and what you guys do for us, spreading the awareness. We’re just a genuine big family.

Q) And hopefully we will get a Season Two!

A) Keep campaigning and blowing up Syfy’s Twitter feed!

Q) There is some wonderful fan art for the series. Are you aware of the fan creations and what are some of your favorites?

A) I don’t have any favorites, to be honest, because that would be unfair. They really, really are amazing and we are so shocked that people take the time to do that. To make these for me and draw them, I’m very grateful and it’s really humbling.

Q) What do you hope fans take away from watching “Wynonna Earp?”

A) It’s a very good question and so complex. There are so many things I want them to take away from it, down to the fact of the relationship between WayHaught. It’s being proud of who you are and loving who you are. Especially with the recent events in Orlando, it’s understanding that you don’t have to hide who you are. The other aspect of this is the sci-fi element and just enjoying the show. There is something cool about everyone coming together every Friday night rather than going out and doing negative things. As long as someone is happy from the show, I’m happy. If I could sum it up, to each their own and as long as you are watching “Wynonna Earp” we are good to go!