Interviewed by Alex A. Kecskes for ACED Magazine.com on 1st October 2010.

So you literally lived on a Washington farm until you were 18. Did you dream of becoming an actress when you were young?

For as long as I can remember, acting is something I always wanted to do. I don't really know where that impulse came from. I was kind of secretive about it until my junior year in high school. I thought it was such a wild, outlandish goal to have.

What were you like in High School?

That's a good question. Most of the time, I was just waiting to go to college.  The area where I grew up was really fantastic, a wonderful place to be a child, but by the time I got to high school, I was ready to go to a big city and experience different cultures, study acting, basically, enjoy all the things a big city has to offer. I wasn't that great in sports and that was really a big thing where I grew up. So there were some awkward years with me trying to be an athlete. My high school was too small to have a drama class, so I had to wait until college.

You worked as a hostess at Morton’s in Burbank where you met J.J. Abrams who helped get you on Alias. How did that help your career as an actress?

It gave me my first TV credit, which is not a small thing when you're starting out. It's a Catch 22 if you're looking for work. It was a great experience being on Alias and I'm forever grateful to J.J. for that. That first credit does set the wheels in motion.

You thought you didn't get the role of Lorena after your fist audition. Was it because you thought you should have dressed "evil" for the read?

When I read the scene, which was a great one where we first meet Lorena. She struck me as a sad, lonely character. And I thought it would be so much more effective if you saw that side or her. So when she reveals herself as this powerful, scary vampire, it's that much more jolting. And so I dressed as innocently as possible—with sweet little curls, almost no makeup, and light pink and beige outfits. Some of the other girls showed up in dyed black hair, heavy makeup and sexy outfits. Fortunately, my gamble worked.

Did you always have this fascination with vampires? Is there something that draws you to them?

I was a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I enjoyed a lot of the mythology, but I wouldn't call myself a diehard vampire fan. I'm drawn to duplicitous characters more than anything--characters that are complex and more than they seem at first glance.  I think that drew me more to Lorena than her being a vampire. That said, it's a lot of fun to play a super powerful character.

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What went through your head when you sliced Bill open with that scalpel?

You know, so many people have brought up the torture scene. Did everyone forget the things Bill did to me at the beginning of the season? He lit me on fire, he broke my neck, he punched me in the face. I thought it fitting that she sliced him up a little bit. That was a really fun scene—because the dialog was so great. The characters actually had some real moments they'd never shared before. It was just so sad and so revealing. It actually was a bit nerve wracking to slice him open because we only had one or two of those fake chests. And I had to be careful not to cut too deep.

What can you tell us about Season 4? Are they going to bring you back?

You never know. They have ways of bringing people back. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if she shows up in a flashback. But so far, I don't think she's coming back soon. The next season is all about the witches.

So what's next for you?

I'm back to reading scripts and trying to choose the next project, which is fun but difficult. I try to be thoughtful about it. And look for something far away from the Lorena character, to be challenged and stay fresh.

Are you looking for a comedy or action film?

Just something not so stylized and more reality based.  And I'd like to play something other than a villain.

Film or TV?

I would love to do more film. That said, some of the best stuff out there is on TV right now.

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