Interview: Deanne Bray!

Hello everyone, and welcome to another Random Ramblings interview session! I've been having some issues on my end, so I'm sorry for any effect this may have on the site. Let me give you a little run-down:

Friday morning (of last week) when I got home from work, I decided to hang out in the living room (where the wireless router is, so the signal's strongest) and surf the net for a few. Talked to some people on AIM, browsed around the two forums I moderate, and that sort of thing. After a while, I closed out of the stuff I was in, and closed the laptop. I was gone for about 20 minutes or so, then grabbed my laptop and decided to go up to my room.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the laptop to find nothing but a gray screen. And not just a gray screen, but the computer being completely non-responsive to ANYTHING. I've determined that the laptop is going to be out of commission until I can get someone to look at it, which means at least a week, so like I said, sorry for any effect it might have on the site.

However, this technical difficulty and others, rampant as they are, isn't going to stop me from bringing you what Rambling goodness I can. And Heroes fans are in for a treat today: its the interview with the newest Heroes cast member, Deanne Bray!

Now as before, and as most interviews will probably be, this was done by email, so its more "question and answer" than anything else. And Deanne has some great answers to a lot of your questions, so let's get to it! Be warned though, spoilerphobes, there are some minor spoilers present!

Random Ramblings: (From HERO) How much do you know or understand about synesthesia in the real world?

Deanne Bray: I read an article about a woman who could hear explaining what she saw when she played the violin. Specific notes gave out specific colors. Pretty neat to know that some people actually have synesthesia*. I don't know of any deaf people who have synesthesia though.

RR: (from HERO) Do you get to provide any input on how the ability is displayed?


DB: I do email the writers some of my ideas. Sometimes they take them, and sometimes not. I'm having fun painting the character, Emma, as we go along.

RR: (HERO) What elements, like American Sign Language, would you like to see incorporated into your character's story?

DB: I would like Emma to wear two hearing aids so I can play her as a person I think she grew up to be. Right now she doesn't wear them because she is disconnected from the world for some time now, due to a tragedy she blames herself for.

RR: (Requiem191) Can you give us a quick rundown on how you see your character?

DB: Cut off from the world, and then later on going through self discovery and gets back on her feet again to provide much more than she realizes.

RR: (Requiem191) What made you want to play Emma?

DB: She is brilliant, fascinating, funny, and has a mind of her own. Dares to be different.

RR: (Teorwyn) How well do you know American Sign Language?

DB: I was exposed to ASL when I was 2 years old. I grew up fluently signing ASL.
RR: (Teorwyn) What is your opinion of where the show is headed?

DB: Before being cast on the show, I watched it religiously! I loved the scifi idea and the writing. Never did I know that I would be in it. I know that the ratings have dropped but I hope that it will turn around and be popular again like the first season.

RR: (LibraGrl304) How well can you read lips?

DB: With my hearing aid, I can read lips pretty well. Without them, not so great. It all depends on who I talk to. Milo... I can read his lips pretty well because he is expressive with his eyes and moves his lips enough for me to catch some words and then I figure it out. Masi... its a little hard to read his lips because he doesn't move them much.

Generally with people I meet the first time, I don't have the patience to read lips so I use an interpreter to break down communication barriers and reduce misunderstandings. "It depends on the weather."

RR: (LibraGrl304) What is it like working with Louise Fletcher?

DB: She's a sweetheart.

RR: (SaberProductions) In the episode "Hysterical Blindness", were you and Milo actually playing the piano together?

DB: Yes. We had rehearsal. We played the piano together and it was fun!

RR: (Alessandra) Do you know how popular your character is?**

DB: I have no idea. I just focus on what I need to do and make the best of it for Heroes. I am not only doing Heroes. I am a long term substitute teacher (what feels like full time) teaching English Literature, American Literature, and Reading. Have been teaching since September. My assignment is done after Thanksgiving with CDSR***. Currently, the students and I are excited about a field trip. I'm taking 30 students next year to see a play at DeafWest Theatre that has an impact on American Literature.

RR: (Alessandra) What is the most difficult part of playing your character?

DB: Reading the actors' lips. I try to add lines of playing Emma who doesn't catch everything a person says. For instance, if someone says "My name is Megan." Then I'd have Emma gesture for Megan to come closer so I can see her lips and say "Your name is..." Then the person would repeat "Megan". Little things like that. Sometimes the writers allow that. Of course, before doing it, I would ask the writers before the day we shoot the scene.



I'm happy to be working on an episode right now, 4x13, where one character understands my ASL and it will all be in subtitles. The character signs some as well. It's not Peter or Emma's mother, I can tell you that much.

RR: (Raekon) Do you think that your character will continue to change her opinion about keeping herself so closed off?

DB: I'm not sure where the writers are going to go with my character's emotions. I do know that Emma will be close friends with Peter (not a love interest) and grow to become a better person because of him, and I think he learns from her as well.

RR: (Raekon) In what way was the "Christopher" character connected or related to Emma?

DB: You'll see in episode 4x09. Christopher will be mentioned.

RR: (cLEmbeaR) Have you felt any tension or discomfort with the Heroes cast and crew? And amusing behind-the-scenes stories?

DB: No tension. After working hard with my students while teaching, I come on set feeling happy to be in a different setting to work. I love being at the studio. It's like being back home (I grew up hanging out at the studio while my dad worked as a crew member in many shows).

RR: Alright, now on to some questions from me, instead of all the awesome 9thWonders members whose questions are above. First off, I'm curious about the casting. Since I'm a spoiler-hound, I saw when the casting call went out for deaf actresses to play a new character. Did you have a lot of competition for the role?

DB: I don't know if its the same for hearing and deaf performers. There aren't very many deaf actresses, compared to hearing actresses. I am not sure how many auditioned for the role of Emma. But I'm glad to own her now!

RR: Other than Milo and Masi, have you worked with any of the other cast members? Maybe some of the carnival people?

DB: Yes, one of the carnival people. You'll see in November, I think.

RR: Who has been your favorite cast member to spend off-screen time with?

DB: Milo and Masi.

RR: Are you worried about your character's future in Heroes, with the "curse of Peter"? After all, female characters he gets close to don't exactly end up well off... *Laughs*

DB: I'm not worried.

RR: If you could play any role, nothing stopping you, what role would you choose?

DB:  Someone like Emma, but I would love for her to have the ability to read minds, because its so much easier than reading lips!

RR: I've noticed from your website that you have a Biology degree. Was there an original plan besides acting, or was that kind of a fallback in case acting didn't work?

DB: I have a Biology BA degree hoping to end up in some kind of medical school. My dad advised me not to become an actress when I was little and encouraged me to go to college. I did, but my path went right into the entertainment industry. I didn't take acting seriously when I was younger. I worked with DeafWest Theatre for a long time with many Deaf vets and grew into the actress I am today because of my journey with DeafWest productions. Also, my personal manager has guided me to television over the years. I am aiming to get my teaching credential this December so I can finish school. If things slow down with filming, then I will finish my Master's in Education.

RR: All right, well, I'd like to thank you again for doing this interview. It was a great process, and I look forward to seeing more of you on Heroes!




*I, The Rambler, have recently found out that one of my friends who I've known since high school has synesthesia, which I thought was cool. She and I have talked about it a few times now.
**In the opinion of one of my friends, Emma "could be what saves Heroes"
***California School for the Deaf, Riverside