Carly Chaikin is currently playing Dalia Royce on new series “Suburgatory”, which premieres on ABC on 9/28 at 8:30/7:30c. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Carly about her new role and what we can expect from the season.
Mike Gencarelli: Tell us what you like most about playing Dalia Royce on “Suburgatory”?
Carly Chaikin: The most exciting thing for me is that I have never played a character like this before. She is a legitimate character for me. I actually have to step into her, wear different clothes, put on fake nails and become her. I think that is the art of acting and that is why I enjoy it so much. I get to explore that and become someone else entirely.
MG: This is your first TV series, how do you feel it differs than working on film?
CC: It is my first anything TV and it took me by surprise that my career has landed me in the TV world. I think what is so exciting about doing a TV show vs. doing a film is that you have 13 episodes where you get to build and develop your character more and more. I get to go on the journey with her oppose to just having this one start line that we all know which we do for two months and it is done. I think it is also saying with TV we have no idea what is going to happen next. Today I just read the script for episode seven and I have never seen it before. It is just as exciting every time we get a new script.
MG: Since the show is a comedy, how do you prepare for your character?
CC: I am working with such amazing comedians that the second you set onto set you are already in that comedy vibe. For me my character is so comedic based on the things she wears, her facial experiences and the simplicity of who she is. For me the second I get into my wardrobe, put on my fake nails, get my hair straightened and my eye lashes on…I immediately step into the character and I am ready to go.
MG: Tell us about working with the rest of the cast i.e. Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines and Alan Tudyk?
CC: Working with them has been a dream. Cheryl and I are so incredibly close. I am sure you hear this all the time when you are working with people on set you kind of become a family. I started calling Cheryl mom off screen a lot [laughs]. Alan is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my entire life. Jeremy is an amazing person. In between takes when we are just hanging around we just have so much fun together. It is very natural and fun. I really do enjoy doing to work everyday because I get to see these people.
MG: How do you feel the show will stand out amongst new shows this Fall?
CC: I so firmly believe in our show. I think it is incredibly written and genuinely funny. I think it is an easy watch. It is fresh and new and something that people haven’t really seen. It is the kind of show that if I wasn’t in…I would want to watch. People that have seen the pilot all want to see what happens next and that is what makes the show important and good.
MG: How many episodes have you filmed so far this season?
CC: We just finished episode 5, which was our Halloween episode. Yeah as of right now we have 13 episodes. We are averaging about one episode per week in production.
MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “Escapee”?
CC: It was my first horror film that I have ever done. We filmed in Alexandria, Louisiana, which was definitely an experience especially from growing up in Los Angeles [laughs]. It is a fun and really good scary movie. It has been released in Alexandria and did incredibly well at the box office. Hopefully it will expand…so fingers crossed. It is definitely something I would like everyone to see.
