Francia Raisa stars as
Adrian in ABC Family’s high-school drama, The Secret Life of an American Teenager. Her character is the bad girl on the show, and the (sort of) girlfriend of Ricky, the father of Amy’s baby. But F says her character has a deeper past that will be explored as the show progresses.
Francia recently stopped by TV Talk, just after the first episode aired, to talk about the series and her character.
Shaun> Are you surprised at how much the show has taken off? ABC Family seems to be dancing on air over the ratings of the first few shows. You’ve been doing a great job of playing the… I’m not sure what to call your character?
Francia> From what the critics have been calling me, I think the word is skank!
Shaun> I don’t know about that. I think maybe she has some problems that we’re going to find out about down the road, what do you think?
Francia> Well, I think you’re on to something actually.
Shaun> The show digs beneath the surface. With Ricky, we see him sleeping around with everybody, and then through his therapy sessions, we learn that he was abused as a child, and this is a manifestation of that. I think with your character, some kind of abuse or neglect is going to come up, so you’ve turned to this.
Francia> Like I said before, you are on to something. There’s a back story to everyone’s character, and to why they act the way they do, and there’s definitely one with mine. So you’re really on to something. You’re thinking right.
Shaun> She’s determined though. After the scene at the dance, when she is telling the guy not to pull the Christian card after what he did, she’s very determined. What do you think?
Francia> Yeah, she’s definitely very determined. Like I said before, my character knows what she wants, and she gets it when she wants it. She likes to have fun and she knows what she wants in life, and she knows what she wants to do while she’s in high school.
Shaun> What’s it like playing this character? Do you have to pull something out of your darker side to do this role so well?
Francia> It’s so much fun doing this role, and honestly, everyone is a flirt and I’m not that different that anyone else. I’m a huge flirt apparently, and in life and in high school it’s really hard to show your flirty side, because then you get called a skank, like they see Adrian as. So it wasn’t that hard for me. It was hard for me in the sense of thinking of my character as this girl that just sleeps around and who doesn’t think of the consequences. But as far as the flirting, and the determination that she has, that wasn’t hard at all.
Shaun> Were you surprised by the ratings success of the show, and what a huge success it’s been?
Francia> Oh my God, it’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it. I’m still going crazy and the cast and I talk about it all the time. Actually I went on iTunes the other day to buy music, and if you go on top rated shows, the shows number one on there too. I’m like, “No way!”. It’s just ridiculous how well the show’s doing and we’re all just excited and waiting to see what happens next.
Shaun> I think the ratings are going to be the same or even higher. A lot of people thought it was going to be some preachy show, but it’s not like that. It’s a Brenda Hampton show, and the woman knows how to create a good TV series. She’s not going to be preachy, but just tell you the consequences of people’s actions. It’s got to be a thrill for all of you. A TV show success like this doesn’t come around all the time.
Francia> No, it doesn’t, and when I first got the show it wasn’t just a pilot, it was a picked up series for ABC Family. We already had 10 episodes. So that in itself was incredible, and the fact that Brenda Hampton was writing it. I’m like, “Whoa, there’s no reason this show shouldn’t be a hit.” Actually we got picked up for 2 more episodes now, and the writings just incredible. And you’re right; it’s not a preachy show. I think Brenda just wanted to get out of that element of the whole Christian life and get back to reality and what’s going on.
Shaun> When you’re reading your scripts, how is that reading these lines where you’re laughing one minute then diving in and doing this character?
Francia> It’s not really different. Mostly when I read my lines, I start laughing. I love my character so much, and because I know it’s not real, I just have fun with it. We all just have fun with it. It’s to the point now where I can switch it on and off. When the cameras rolling and they say action I’m so into my character. When I’m doing my scene I have no idea what’s going on, I just go into it. I deliver my lines and when they say cut, I’m back to normal. It’s just this little switch that happens. It’s fun though, and everyone’s like that now.
Shaun> I think it’s fascinating how this show is telling so many different stories in the same episode.
Francia> There’s so many stories. We’re filming episode nine right now, and up to episode nine, it’s really emotional and so different. You’re right, it takes away from the whole pregnancy storyline, and that’s what the story is evolving around right now. But everyone has their own backstory, and there’s drama with everyone’s character. Even with Ben’s best friends, just wait till you see what happens with them. I think that’s what makes the show even more interesting. You’re going to be so shocked when you see what happens with Ben’s friends. I was shocked when I heard. You’re going to have to watch it.
Shaun> No spoilers?
Francia> No, I’m not going to spoil it. All I’ll tell you is that you’re definitely going to see a different side to my character. Episode one was really to introduce everyone’s character, and that’s not me the whole time. In episode three you see a totally different side to Adrian, and you’ll understand why she acts the way she acts and why character is the way they are.
Shaun> We actually have a call for you, caller go ahead?
Caller>I was looking at your resume and you have a tendency to play bad ass girls. On Cutting Edge you were a bad ass hockey player, and on Bring it On you were a bad ass cheerleader. Are you ever going to play any softer or gentler roles?
Francia> Yeah, definitely. Especially being Latina, it’s hard getting into those roles but the Cutting Edge role, my character was tough in the beginning of it, but as you watch the movie you see the softer side of her and the family and nicer side of her. That was probably the most genuine character I’ve played. But I definitely see myself playing more characters than just this tough sexy bad girl.
Caller>Do you think that’s going to happen in this series where we get to a point where we see a softer side of your character?
Francia> Oh definitely. By episode three you definitely see a different side to her and why she acts the way she does. There’s a huge backstory to her character, and her personality. Episode three and episode nine, you are going to see a totally different girl.
Caller>You worked with Hayden in Bring it On. What’s it like seeing her have similar successes.
Francia> I’m happy for her. I’m happy for everyone. It’s great to know actors in this industry that actually make it, because it’s really, really hard. Especially Hayden, because she’s been working in this industry since she was really, really little, like five or something. So to finally see her being successful at the age of 18, I‘m so proud of her and I’m so happy for her. I know she just wrapped another movie, and I hope she keeps going and I wish her the best.
Caller>One last question, what’s it like working with a legend like Molly Ringwald?
Francia> I haven’t had a scene with her yet, but I did get to hang out with her once and I was actually watching I Love Lucy in my trailer one time, and she came in to watch it with me. It was the Vita-Veeta-Vegimin thing, and we were in there chilling and watching the show, and I was like, “I have Molly Ringwald in my trailer!” But other than that, I haven’t had a scene with her yet.
Caller>Do you hope too eventually?
Francia> Yes, I have a scene with her husband, so I’m hoping to have scenes with her next.
Shaun> Is
Adrian going to get involved with Amy at all?
Francia> That’s something that you guys are going to have to find out when the show keeps going. I can’t say anything because I’d kill it for you guys.
Shaun> I don’t think they’ve even crossed paths yet. They haven’t even come face to face have they?
Francia> Remember what I said,
Adrian is really determined. So how do you think she will react when she finds out that the guy that she is in love with got some other girl pregnant? That’s all I’m going to say.
Shaun> You’re all going to be on the cover of all of these magazines. I think that ABC Family said awhile back that they wanted to be the new version of The WB of old. I think they’ve really done it. I hope you’re ready for all of the attention you’re going to get from this series.
Francia> It hasn’t hit us at all. We’re just all really excited and Brenda Hampton keeps telling us that by the end of the summer we won’t even be able to walk outside. I’m like, “No, that’s not going to happen.” It’s been a little crazy already. The guy playing Ricky got recognized at dinner and mind you, this is his first job ever in this industry, so for him it was ridiculous. We’re just like, “We met yesterday and now our shows out, what’s going on?”
Shaun> How many episodes are there this season, they are filming two extras? Is the season going to end on a cliffhanger?
Francia> Yes, and I don’t even know the cliffhanger yet. But the writers tell us briefly, but we don’t get the scripts till a couple of days before we start filming. I know there’s a huge cliffhanger, but I don’t know what it is yet.
Shaun> How do you feel when you get these scripts and start reading them? Out here in radio land, it feels like this show is just bubbling up, and you won’t even be able to get your hair done by the end of the season.
Francia> I can’t even imagine that. I just love acting and doing my job and if people enjoy it and show their appreciation, hey go for it, I don’t mind.
Shaun> When you get your script, do you ever look to the end to make sure your character is still alive?
Francia> Every time I get the script I’m like, “Am I still in it, am I still in it?” I booked the show a month before we started filming, and through out that month I was just a wreck and having nervous breakdowns. I thought they were going to find someone better, and when we started filming I’d read through the script and I’m like, “Oh, I’m in the next episode!”
Shaun> Have you thought of your character’s own background, did you feel her out for yourself before you started the role?
Francia> Oh yeah, my job as an actress is to figure out my characters background way before we start filming. The moment I got the pilot, I discovered so many things about her with just the dialogue that she delivered. In the first episode when I’m talking to Jack and he said, “I’m sorry, I took advantage of you.” I snap at him and said, “Nope, no one takes advantage of me. Once I read that line I knew something had happened to her.
Because she’s been through some stuff, she’s very emotional. I can’t say a lot, but that line was just really strong for her. I’m trying not to say so much.
Shaun> Are there any plans to introduce your characters parents on the show?
Francia> Yes, you’ll meet my parents in a really interesting way!
Shaun> We have another caller, caller go ahead?
Caller> What’s it like doing a show with such a heavy plot line like the pregnancy?
Francia> I’m very happy they’re finally doing a show like this. As I said before, high school wasn’t that long ago for me, so I think it was very important for a show like this to finally come up. Parents do not talk about sex with their kids sometimes, and those are usually the kids who end up pregnant or end up promiscuous. I personally appreciate the fact that I’m a part of this show and that I’m playing the character that I am, and I appreciate the fact that there is a girl who is pregnant and there are the characters that there are. I know it sends a message to parents and teenagers, and teenagers can really relate to it. Sometimes you don’t relate to a situation till you see it happening to someone else and I hope that this show does that for other kids. That way they don’t always have to run to their parents, because the parents can even picture their kids having sex or even knowing what sex is.
