FALLING SKIES: Exclusive Interview with Seychelle Gabriel

With a resume that includes a lead role on the hit TNT series Falling Skies and voice over work on the popular anime series The Legend of Korra, most people know Seychelle Gabriel as one of Hollywood’s hottest rising stars. But what might people not know about the actress? “I’m really into the blues, and I play harmonica and guitar,” the actress shares. Does that mean we’ll get to see more of her musical talents this season? Well… “Not really this year – there was a little last season, but there’s no more time to really sit around and play the piano.”

It’s a response that’s not too surprising considering that since its premiere; Falling Skies has hit the ground running with a budding romance as well as a pretty significant character death. So what’s next for the alien invasion drama? Nice Girls TV recently talked with the always charming Seychelle about the current season, what we can look forward to from Lourdes, and more.

NGTV: First of all, congrats on the second season and on becoming more of a regular. I’m so excited we’re going to be seeing more of you!

SG: Aw, thank you! Me too.

NGTV: Lourdes really is taking center stage so in light of that, what can we expect to look forward to?

SG: Well, there’s what we’ve already seen – a little bit of romance with that new relationship that’s going to be budding. And in this next week is Lourdes kind of reconnecting with her roots – her Mexican roots and her family.

NGTV: That must be really fun to play. One of the things I love about the show is that aside from all the “alien stuff” there are all these relationships and emotional moments and characters connecting with their pasts, and I think that’s something that people can really relate to.

SG: Me too. It’s kind of what makes our show “our show” – it’s about a family, and that’s really showcased.

NGTV: Speaking of family – how will your relationship with Anne (Moon Bloodgood) evolve this season? Is there anything you’d really like to see between the two characters in terms of emotional moments or conversations?

SG: They definitely hit some roadblocks together, which kind of tests their relationship in a sense and it just kind of shows that they’re really there for each other. But rifts happen, and crazy stuff happens, and you just have to learn how to respect each others space and basically be there for  one another.

NGTV: Especially with aliens running around…I’m sure that helps! So what’s your technique for memorizing lines? I’d imagine all that medical dialogue gets a bit tongue-tying after awhile, but you make it look so easy.

SG: Thank you! I’ve always been really good with memorization. I’ve always been good with math and I don’t know if that relates to it, but it’s just kind of repeating it over and over. I have an acting teacher that said once “when you learn lines, don’t just say the words, you’ve got to learn them with the intention of them and with the understanding of them.” And if you understand what it means, it just kind of comes out naturally.

NGTV: One of the perks of filming up in Canada is that there’s a lot less scrutiny than filming in Los Angeles. Do you find there’s a difference in terms of privacy and not always being recognized?

SG: It’s funny, a lot of my projects haven’t even been in LA so I don’t really have the strongest comparison…but there’s a lot less madness. There’s also a lot of shooting up in Canada, so they’re pretty used to that industry being prevalent.

NGTV: On that note, how is it working with the cast? You guys seem to have such a good rapport outside of shooting.

SG: We most definitely hang out. I’m really close with Moon as well as a lot of the cast and we all get together every now and then. Like the night before the premiere, we went out to this cool little studio and we all just ate there together.

NGTV: You’ve had quite the variety of roles in your career so far, including your current voice work on The Legend of Korra. Do you find voice work easier or more challenging than acting in front of the camera?

SG: I think it’s about the same in certain senses. Voice acting seems for me a little easier, just because it’s not about that aspect of being seen and body language. There’s so much in acting about physicality and action, and you don’t have to focus on that when you’re doing voice acting. But, you do have to make it known.

NGTV: Right. I’m sure it’s challenging in both senses.

SG: Definitely!

NGTV: What’s your schedule like? You probably can’t talk about a “typical day” because there’s so much going on but I’d imagine there’s a lot of night shooting.

SG: We do a lot of night shootings. A lot of nights into early mornings, and sometimes it just depends. I can be in and out really quickly one day, or I can be sitting around and waiting to go out because my scene is last. It’s kind of funny. I’d have a big scene that’s last on the call sheet and I’d be sitting in my trailer, trying to stay awake, and I’d fall asleep. And then at one in the morning I’d get a knock on the trailer and be jolted.

NGTV: At Nice Girls, we love strong women that we can identify with and Lourdes is definitely someone who falls into that category. What do you think makes her so relatable? Is there a certain aspect of her character that you think makes her stand out more than anything else?

SG: I think inevitably it’s the adolescence – her coming of age. Everyone can really relate to that. But the whole cast of characters is coming of age, really, and Lourdes is a student, a young girl who just has to rise to the occasion. I relate a lot to her in terms of going through school and what that’s like.

NGTV: One of the most interesting things I’ve learned in doing interviews that every actress has a “wish list” – is there any type of character you’d love to play that you haven’t had a chance to? Or any show you’d love to be a part of if given the chance?

SG: What I always say, which is completely true, is that I want to do a period piece in the 1960’s – young America, that whole hippie revolution. That’s my favorite. And then I always think playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet would be amazing. Or Ophelia.

NGTV: That would be awesome. Come to New York and do Shakespeare in the Park!

SG: Yeah, definitely!

NGTV: Are you going to make the trip out to Comic Con in a few weeks?

SG: I am! I’ll be there for The Legend of Korra!

NGTV: Well, we can’t wait to see you! And by the way, I know we won’t be seeing much music this year on the show, but tell them if they ever decide they want to put that back in we’d be happy to see it.

SG: [laughs] I’d be happy to see it! They know it’s there. Moon and I are singing on set all the time. She has a beautiful voice, as do Sara and Jessy, all the girls.

Falling Skies airs Sunday nights at 9pm on TNT. And if you’re heading to Comic Con, be sure to check out both the Falling Skies panel at 4:30pm in Room 6BCF and The Legend of Korra panel at 11:15am in Ballroom 20, both on Friday, July 13!

(photo credit: Andrew McLeod)