October 4, 2015 by The Sumter Item

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THE SUMTER ITEM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2015

Alexander isn’t to Fightdrama ‘Blindspot’ is Afraid a character full of mystery, action www.theitem.com

at my school to create an opporthrough the U.S. armed forces,” he says, and then laughs. “I’m kind of tunity to learn self defense for the young women in my grade and the familiar with each one. When action fans found out NBC grade below mine, and it just kind “It was pretty easy to step into was picking up a pilot that had of started as a thing,” Alexander playing I’veAnd Jaimie Alexander (Lady Sif, “Marvel said, definitely shaped me,this intocharacter, who I amsince today. By Candace Havens says. “I’ve always been sort of anthat I went donethrough so manymakes like this.it Ipossible mean, tofor Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Thor”) and everything FYI Television activist in pro equality, it was a characters. draw a weapon, pretty much the meand to play these And I it’s take influences Sullivan Stapleton (“Strike Back”) skillpicking set thatup I knew from I couldmy advance past, for sure. ” across the board. Playing a foundsighs out NBC was same in When it, thereaction had tofans be happy is learning about herself week, no aaround pilot that had Jaimie Alexander so“Marvel I wanted to start Jane the team. As U.S. Navy SEAL,each they’ve got and a differthe world. “Blindspot,” airing(Ladyin,Sif, one is more surprised than she is when sheweapons. can Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,”“Thor”) and Sullivan Stapleton for my brothers and growing up in ent style of holding their Monday at 10 p.m. on NBC, is the take down a man twice (“Strike Back”) in it, there had to be happy sighs Texas, they definitelyspeak helpeda foreign build language So, thator was kind of fun to learn, show, and actors have some size. For the actress, this means constant chalaround thethe world. “Blindspot, ” airing Monday at 10 I haveher the backbone today that and learning how” Alexander to hold my breath serious lenges. “I take it one step at a time, says. p.m. on chemistry. NBC, is the show, and the actors have some definitely makes it possible for me under water for a long time. Alexander plays Jane Doe, who “We have great dialect coaches, and I just drillThat it and serious chemistry. to play characters like this. was funeverything. to learn.” I’m game for it drill it and drill it. I expect Alexander plays JaneofDoe, up in the wakes up in the middle Timeswho wakes “I mean, it’s funny all. because I used ” middle Times Square except for the tatWhile Weller and Jane are running Square of naked, except for naked, the tattoos think thatHe I was maydoing be fromaround Australia, but Stapleton has toos all over her body, who sheeverything is or chasing clues, this isn’t all over her body, with nowith ideanoofidea of to played just about every kind of American law enwhy she’s there. One of those tattoos had name whenthe I was young was absolutely necessarily a villain-of-the-week who is or why she’s there. Onewho takes on the forcement“And specialist or military hero there is. He was of FBIshe Special Agent Kurt Weller, normal,” continues Alexander. kind of show. “It’s a character of those tattoos had the of Delta Special on “Strike Back” and just fincuriosity that is Jane andname her treasure map a to Hollywood then Iofcame and Forcesdrama, firstaand foremost,” says FBI Special Agentthey’re Kurt Weller, ished a film where he played Navy SEAL. “I’m pretbody. Together, tryingwho to figurepeople out who she were like, ‘Wow, that’s so executive producer Gero. ty much working my way through theMartin U.S. armed is, while crimes and stopping terrorist attakes onsolving the curiosity that is Jane abnormal.’ But, again, my childhood, forces,” he says, and“It’s then laughs. “I’m of familiar tacks. a procedural forkind people who and her treasure map of a body. likeno I said, definitely shaped me,one. into with each The rolethey’re is physically more so don’t like procedurals, and it’s a Together, trying todemanding, figure out but I am today. that easy to step into playing this char“It was pretty than many of the others Alexander haswho played. She And everything character drama for people who who she is, while solving crimes I went it possible for done so many like this. I mean, to acter, since I’ve did come up with a specific style for her newthrough charac-makes don’t like character dramas. There’s and“Istopping terrorist attacks. draw a weapon, it’s pretty much the same across the ter. have a huge fight background,” she says, “so my me to play these characters. And an over-arching mythology the The role is physically demanding, board. Playing got to a differown skill set, aside from my character’s, definitely in- from I take influences my past, for a U.S. Navy SEAL, they’ve to week. but no more than many ofand themakes itsure.” ent style of holdingshow, theirweek weapons. So, And thatthe wasgreat kind fluences my so performance possible. I of fun to learn, learning was a wrestler growing up. Lady moves are abouthow thisto is hold even ifmy thebreath cases others Alexander has played. She Sif, herJane is learning about herself each andthing under water for a long time.out That was funthere to learn. very fancy,upgraceful, big and glittery, in a way. And do come of tattoos, are ” did come with a specific style and effino one is more surprised While Weller andstill Jane are running around chasthis character’s hand to handacombat –week, brutally big personal stakes for the for her new character. “I have than she is when sheing canclues, speakthis a isn’t necessarily a villain-of-the-week cient, quick and realistic.” characters. Unlike a regular huge fight background,” she says, language take down a “It’s amain of show. character drama, first and foreThose rough moves are somethingforeign she learned at or kind procedural that is all Gero. about“It’s getting “so my own skill set, aside from my man twice her size. most, For the” says actress, executive producer Martin a a young age as the only female in a house with four the bad andlike stuffprocedurals, like that. But character’s, definitely influences my wrestling whoguy don’t brothers. She even started a female team this means constantprocedural challenges.for people investigate haslike to performance and makes it’s aAlexcharactereverything drama for they people who don’t at her Texas high school.it“Ipossible. started the “I female take itteam one step atand a time,” character dramas. There’s an over-arching mytholoat my aschool to create to learn self I was wrestler growinganup.opportunity Lady do directly with why is Kurt Weller’s ander says. “We have great dialect gy to the show, week to week. thing defense for theare young women in my grade and the Sif, her moves very fancy, on her And back.the Andgreat who is Jane, coaches, and I just drill it and drill it name about this is even ifand thewho cases do come out of tatgrade below mine, and it just kind of started as a graceful, big and glittery, in a way. did this to her? and drill it. I expect everything. I’m thing,” Alexander says. “I’ve always been sort of an toos, there are still big personal stakes for the main And this character’s hand to hand “For me,procedural this came out ofisa all bunch for itI all.” characters. Unlike a regular activist in pro equality, and it was a skillgame set that that combat – brutally efficient, of things,” continues Gero. loveevmaythe be from Australia, but Sta-the bad knew I could advance in, soquick I wanted toHe start about getting guy and stuff like that.“I But and realistic.” mysteries. love has played just about every team. As for my brothers and growingpleton up in Texas, erything they investigate hasI to dopuzzles. directlyI love with Those rough moves something they definitely helpedarebuild the backbone I have is Kurt Weller’streasure name on her and back. And maps stuff likewho that.is kind of American lawwhy enforcement today that definitely possiblespecialist for me toorplay this I’ve to her? she learned at a youngmakes age asitthe been trying to figure out militaryJane, hero and therewho did And characters me,on this came of aa bunch of this things, only femalelike in athis. house with four howout to do show like that” conkind is. He was Delta Special“For Forces “I mean, it’s funny because I used to think everytinues Gero. “I love mysteries. I love puzzles. I love brothers. She even started a female “Strike Back” and just finished a of has audience engagement, where thing that I was doing when I was young was absotreasure maps and stuff like that. And I’ve been trywrestling team” continues at her TexasAlexander. high filmthen whereI he playeding a Navy SEAL.out how theytofeel they like can this solvethat along lutely normal, “And to figure dolike a show kind school. “I started the female team “I’m pretty much working my way engagement, with the show.” came to Hollywood and people were like, ‘Wow, of has audience where they feel like By Candace Havens FYI Television

Sunday, October 4 - 10, 2015

Jaimie Alexander and Sullivan Stapleton star on the action-adventure drama “Blindspot,” airing Monday at 10 p.m. on NBC.

that’s so abnormal.’ But, again, my childhood, like I

they can solve along with the show.”

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