Interview: Workin’ Moms Tennille Read

If you are a NiceGirl then chances are you have seen Tennille Read, whether it be in an episode of Schitt’s Creek or The Good Witch. We were lucky enough to chat with Tennille who will be in Workin’ Moms coming to Netflix on February 22nd.

What can you tell us about your character Bianca in Workin’ Moms?
Let’s see, I can tell you Bianca is a friend of Frankie’s who is taking the big leap to become a solo parent. She’s an easy going, big hearted gal, which I think is why Frankie and her hit it off so well. Frankie kind of takes her under her wing with all the baby stuff. I think Bianca is pretty courageous in taking this big step alone, and I think people can relate to her “growing pains.”

How was working on a Netflix show? Does that differ than working on a weekly show like Good Witch?
I guess the biggest shift between working on a Netflix show compared to working on a weekly show, is that you can shoot episodes out of order. I think it makes things easier in a lot of ways for production. We did the majority of the scenes that take place at Frankie’s house in one week and it simplified things because production didn’t have to shift equipment and trailers and people around too much until most of the coverage at that house was finished. The challenge for the actor in this case is keeping your story straight and knowing where you are in your story arc. Sometimes one day could look like shooting scenes from episodes 8, 6, 10, and then back to 4, and you need to know what came just before for your character and what she knows or doesn’t know, so that the scene you’re shooting is properly informed. I don’t mind shooting this way. It can require some puzzling, but it keeps things interesting. I feel for the person who has to design the shooting schedule! That’s a much bigger puzzle to solve than the one I have.

You also do theater work, co-founding a theater company. Do you have any upcoming projects?
Yes, I co-founded a theatre collective with three terrific ladies, called Theatre Inamorata. Our biggest production was an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novel a Picture of Dorian Gray. It was called Gray and our writer Kris VanSoelen changed the lead character to a woman, and made 90% of the other characters female-identified. It was the most diverse cast I’ve ever had the chance to work with and that was a priority that Theatre Inamorata made. I played Dorian. It was a feast of a role.

We are currently deciding what will be next for the collective. Every year we hold an event for our own productions, workshops or Co-productions. It’s called “Virgin Burlesque: You Never Forget Your First Time.” The event usually happens in June, so that might be next for us. We invite three people who have never done burlesque before to create their own act and perform it on the night along with a variety of other performers. It’s a blast. It brings a lot of wildly creative people together. It raises good money. And yes, I was one of the first “virgins” the first year we did it.

Is there something you worked on that you wish more people had seen? Something we could put more eyes on?
What a supportive question. I did a short called I Lost My Mind with an incredible cast and crew. It screened at a bunch of festivals and I wish more people could’ve seen it because it was put together with a lot of heart, spear-headed by the multi-talented and good human being, writer/director Michael Tobin.

I have to ask – were you named for Toni Tennille? We love names at NiceGirls and always find them so interesting.
I was! I didn’t have a name for a while after I was born because nothing seemed to fit, according to my parents. But then my Dad and grandma really loved the name Tennille, after singer/songwriter Toni Tennille. They tried it out, and it stuck. It’s pretty unique. Especially this specific spelling of it. My parents took it a step further and named our Golden Retriever “Captain.” Cue laugh track and groans.

Do you have a charity you support that we could tell our readers about?
I have been going to this one place in Costa Rica for the last five years and I donate to a non-profit Refuge For Wildlife in Nosara. They rescue all animals in need, but especially the Howler Monkeys that are getting electrocuted by uncovered electrical lines and transformers. The monkeys just think the wires are another vine or tree limb to swing from. The refuge is doing a legit job saving these animals from the lines, treating burns, and nurturing the babies that get abandoned. There’s very little human contact at the refuge and visitors are educated from a distance so that when the animals are released they don’t have an attachment to people. It’s one way I feel I can give back to such a beautiful place and their wildlife. A link to their site can be found here.