Tina Majorino – Wiz Kid

Q.  What are some of the recent projects that you’ve been working on?

A.  Mostly right now it’s been “Veronica Mars,” I’ve been working on the second season, and “Big Love” for HBO.  The most recent film that I did was a movie about Darby Crash, who was the lead singer of The Germs.  It’s the band that pretty much started the whole punk era in the late 70’s.

Q.  You’ve been guest starring as Mac on “Veronica Mars.”  The character has a big fan base; did you ever expect her to have such a following?

A.  I did, actually, because I’m really good friends with the creator of the show, Rob Thomas.  I’ve known him since I was fourteen.  We always promised each other we were going to work together and when he created the show he wrote the part of Mac for me, which I thought was really awesome and nice. I was honored to be a part of something that he was doing because I’m a big fan of his.  I had no expectations going in for a fan base or anything, I just really loved the role and the show and Rob is an incredible writer, so I was happy to be a part of it.

Q.  Mac and Veronica have such wonderful chemistry and banter together.  What do you think it is about the two that allows them to click so well?

A.  Kristen and I get along really well off-screen and I think that helps on-screen when you have to be close as characters.  I also think the writing is just fantastic.  Mac and Veronica aren’t your typical everyday high school girls.  Part of the reason we have such chemistry is because Veronica doesn’t really have a lot of girl friends, and she and Mac, for different reasons, are both social outcasts.  So they connect very well on that level.  They’ve both been through different situations that have pushed them to be a little bit more mature then your average high school student.  So, I think they have that really good connection on those levels that gives them that comfort to talk to each other the way that they do, to joke around and be there for each other and support each other. It’s really good to see because there are not a lot of shows that showcase strong female relationships.  There is always that competition or rivalry and I think it’s really cool that Mac and Veronica don’t have any of that.  They are just there for each other and are good friends.

Q.  As Mac, you have incredible comedic timing, as you have had in may other roles.  Is it something that comes naturally to you or are you constantly working at it? 

A.  I think as an actor you are constantly working at your craft.  I think you always try to work hard at whatever it is you’re working on.  I’ve been really blessed since I started working again after taking five years off that people have actually given me the opportunity to be funny and be silly and kind of go off that side of my personality, because when I was younger I did mostly dramatic roles.  I would walk into a room and they wouldn’t even want to see me be silly or funny. They didn’t want to give me the opportunity to play lighter roles.  It comes pretty naturally to me because I am very much so this kind of silly person.  So, it’s fun that I get to be fun and a little more light and airy on “Veronica Mars.”

Q.  Since fans are so drawn to Mac, would you ever want to be a permanent fixture on the show?

A.  I think that is completely up to the people on “Veronica Mars” and I love working with everyone, so of course that would be awesome.  I just really enjoy working with Kristen a lot, it’s nice to be able to work with a female actress who is really sweet and knows her stuff.  We have a lot of fun on the set.

Q.  Do you have a most memorable moment from working on the show?

A.  That’s a hard one because the fun part about doing television is that every week you’re doing a new episode and something new is happening.  I think there are so many fun memories on the show and on the set because we’ve been given opportunities to kind of relive moments we all had in high school.  We just finished a prom episode where we got dressed up and went through all of those awkward moments again. I think all of those things are really memorable and everyone on the crew is so much fun and so nice that it just makes every trip down to San Diego very memorable to me.

Q.  What is it about the show “Veronica Mars” that you think continues to keep viewers drawn in?

A.  I think that there are so many storylines that are happening constantly that it gets you hooked.  Regardless of whether Veronica is solving one case or another, there is so much going on in her personal life as well that you have to know what happens.  The writing is so fantastic that you relate to the characters and it makes you want to watch more and you want to see these characters do well and you want to see what they’re going through.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  In my spare time, I’m pretty active.  I like surfing and running and hanging out with my friends. I’m a big movie buff so I like going to the movies and doing that stuff.  I’m kind of a homebody too.  Right now, we’re waiting to hear if they order a second season of a series I did called “Big Love” on HBO, so we’re crossing our fingers that it gets picked up.

Q.  Do you have a latest obsession?  Are you into any particular book, music group, sport or activity?

A.  One of my big obsessions right now is Harry Potter.  I know that sounds super silly but I’ve been reading those books like crazy.  I’m on the sixth book, so I’m kind of being obsessed with that one.  I love Harry Potter, I love the movies and I love the books.  I’m like a fifth grader when it comes to Harry Potter.  The writing is so good, the books are awesome, and just to see how well they are put on the screen is awesome.  I’ve seen movie versions of good books that are just not the same.  I am never disappointed with the Harry Potter movies.  They are awesome!

Q.  What would you like to say to all of your fans and supporters?

A.  I would just like to say thank you, I think I’m so lucky and so blessed to be able to get up and be able to do what I do every single day.  I am so happy that people enjoy my work and watch what I do. I think it’s very awesome.