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Jeri Ryan in LEVERAGE - Season 2 - The Lost Heir Job
Television:
Exclusive Interview: JERI RYAN CLEARS THE 'HEIR' WITH THE 'LEVERAGE' SEASON 2 SUMMER FINALE
With 'The Lost Heir Job,' the former STAR TREK: VOYAGER begins her run on the show as a new recurring character. The episode airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. on TNT
By CARL CORTEZ, Contributing Editor
Published 9/9/2009
On “The Lost Heir Job,” tonight’s summer finale of LEVERAGE (airing at 9:00 p.m. on TNT), Jeri Ryan (STAR TREK: VOYAGER) makes her first appearance as Tara – a new recurring character that mixes things up for the Leverage team.
While mystery shrouds Tara, iF was still able to nab an exclusive interview with Ryan shortly after her first week of shooting early this summer to discuss her new role.
Here’s what she had to say …
iF MAGAZINE: How did you get involved with LEVERAGE?
JERI RYAN: I had gone in to meet with Michael Wright, the head of TNT, who of course is a huge, huge fan of the show. They had this role coming up [on LEVERAGE] and he told me about it and the series. I had seen a couple of episodes and it was a really fun show. And I was talking to [executive producer] Dean [Devlin] and he screened some of this seasons episodes so I could catch up on what the characters have been doing. And that was it – so I came aboard.
iF: How far into shooting are you?
RYAN: This is the end of my first week of shooting. This is the character’s second episode [but isn’t the first to air]. We’re shooting out of order. Next we’ll shoot my character’s introduction.
iF: How does the team react to your appearance?
RYAN: Of course they’re all hesitant. They’re not welcoming Tara with open arms, so she has to prove herself to everybody and goes one step at a time.
iF: Are you enjoying the twists and turns when you get the scripts?
RYAN: The writing is really great and the actors are all terrific, in addition to being fun people to work with.
iF: LEVERAGE is yet another show where you've come in later in the run to mix things up.
RYAN: I’ve been the designated pitch-hitter for most of my career. I think SHARK is the first series I was on, that I was on from the beginning. I think every series I’ve ever done, I was added mid-way through. DARK SKIES, my first show, it only ran one season, I was added to the second half of the season. STAR TREK: VOYAGER I came in Season 4. BOSTON PUBLIC, I was added at the beginning of Season 2.
iF: I loved DARK SKIES, it was a shame it didn’t continue.
RYAN: It was a great show and a great premise. I think NBC just threw it to the wolves, which was unfortunate.
iF: What is the big difference working on LEVERAGE versus other shows you’ve been on?
RYAN: It’s a really ambitious show and schedule. The scripts are really complex stories, with a lot of action that you normally wouldn’t see on an hour TV show. They are doing some pretty amazing work, on a pretty tight schedule. It’s pretty amazing.
iF: This show also affords actors to literally play different characters each week too, which must be fun.
RYAN: For an actor it’s so much fun, you open a script and go “who am I this week?” It’s really fun. I’m looking forward to getting more into this character and I’ve already had a lot of fun with her already.
CLICK HERE FOR iF MAGAZINE'S 'LEVERAGE' ARCHIVES FEATURING EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS, FEATURES, CLIPS, PHOTOS AND NEWS!!!
ALSO - CHECK OUT THE VIRAL VIDEO THAT PUTS YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS INSIDE A "LEVERAGE" CON
Reader Comments
G from East Coast sez....
Love having Jeri on Leverage. She is is such a great addition to any cast. Would love tosee her front a series of her own.
9/22/2009 6:57:42 AM
CandyMaize from usually in front of computer sez....
Thanks for the interview with Jeri. I really liked her in "The Lost Heir Job" .. so I'm looking forward to seeing Jeri/Tara return in January. Don't get me wrong .. I love Gina/Sophie and look forward to having her back in Season 3 .. but it does look like they found a good actress/character to "keep her chair warm" and I will enjoy them in the meantime :-D
9/11/2009 3:37:36 PM
Liz from Detroit sez....
I'm really looking forward to tonight's episode, particularly to see how a new player affects the team's dynamic. But I'm definitely not looking forward to the summer season being over! I need my Leverage fix! :-)
9/9/2009 2:08:50 PM
CindyD from Baton Rouge, Louisiana sez....
ooh, my security code is orange-too bad this is not a Hardison story!
Although we will be missing lots of Sophie/Gina, I can't wait to see how Tara/Ryan shakes up the team and fan support for this character seems to be 100% supportive! So welcome, Jeri, to the Leverage family!
9/9/2009 9:10:21 AM
Larry Fleming from Atlanta Georgia sez....
RYAN: For an actor it’s so much fun, you open a script and go “who am I this week?”
This is why we like the show too! Looking forward to your entry into this disfunctional family. Just like all families, when it gets tough, they pull together.
9/9/2009 8:45:20 AM
