By Christina Radish
Staring out as the new girl on an already successful television series would be daunting for any actress. But, 23-year-old South Carolina native Jaimie Alexander says that was definitely not the case with the welcoming cast of the ABC Family Channel hit, Kyle XY.
Having grown up in Texas, Alexander admits that she tried theater in high school, but quickly got kicked out. After meeting someone who thought she should reconsider acting, she decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue it, at the age of 18. Admitting to an appreciation for films, Alexander says that acting wasn’t what she originally planned on doing with her life, so she hasn’t really had much training, instead just learning as she goes.
In season two of Kyle XY, Alexander plays Jessi XX, a teenaged female character who was conceived in much the same way as Kyle (played by Matt Dallas). It’s what has happened to her after she woke up that has made her different. In an exclusive interview, Alexander tells MediaBlvd Magazine why she wanted to become a part of the ABC Family Channel’s most successful original series.
MediaBlvd Magazine> How did you come to be a part of Kyle XY? Was it through the regular auditioning process, or did they asked you to come in?
Jaimie Alexander> It was a little of both because I had been called in for a woman who had cast me in something before. And, I’m playing younger than I am, which is really rare because I usually play older than I am. I thought about it and I said, “I don’t know if I can play 17. My voice is a little deep and I’m 5'9".” I just thought about all the things against me. And then, I said, “You know what? She knows what she’s doing. She cast me before, to play 18, so I’m going to go in.” She had already had me in mind, but I had to show up and read for the role. And then, immediately, I just fell in love with the producers, and some of the writers, that were in there. They were just such a good group of people. I thought, “Man, if anything, how lucky would it be to get a job that is this interesting, character wise, and then have really nice people to work with?” It’s rare. I was just hoping for it. Then, I screen tested and it just happened. I was so happy, too. Usually, with jobs, I really don’t know if I’m going to get them or not, but I had a weird sense about this one, that I was supposed to have something to do with the show, even before I got the audition. I would pass a billboard and be like, “There’s something about that show.” I felt like I had a premonition that I was supposed to do something with it, and that was like a year ago. Fast forward to a year later, and I’m on it, which is so weird.
MediaBlvd> Was there anything specific about the show, or this character, that made you want to be a part of it?
Jaimie> I find that characters that are written a bit more dark or evil don’t usually have a lot of vulnerability. They’re written that way, but I think people choose to play them more strong than vulnerable. I was like, “Man, this is going to be hard,” because Jessi goes back and forth from being programmed and then being herself. As I read it, I thought, “Oh, it’s right up my alley. It’s a strong female character that has a little bit of a super-human side.” I’ve always played the strong female characters with weird abilities. Also, a part of me was thinking about how it reaches a young audience as well, and there’s a lot of things that I want to do with helping young women with their body image, and things like that. There were lots of little factors that I thought about, when I was auditioning for the role. And then, when I got it, I thought, “Yeah, this is what I’m supposed to be doing.
MediaBlvd> Did you do anything specific to get back into the mind-set of being a teenager?
Jaimie> We have some kids on our show that are actually in high school. They’re 16. And, it’s fun because when we’re all together on set, it feels like we’re in high school, especially when we’re filming at a high school. I didn’t really have to do too much, at first. I’m surrounded by all these young actors that are anywhere from 16 to 25 or 26, so it felt like we were in this weird high school. And, of course, the kids that are 16 actually have school at work, so then, I’ll help Jean-Luc on his math sometimes, and things like that. I just fall into it, pretty easy. And then, you’ve got the clothes and the backpack. The more I’m dressed like a high school kid and the more I’m carrying around textbooks, and things like that, the easier it is. I don’t really want to go back to those days. I leave that alone. I still get zits, so I figure, if I get zits, I can still play high school.
MediaBlvd> Had you been aware of, or seen the show, prior to auditioning? Jaimie> My work has been primarily sci-fi, just by a series of events. I really do like sci-fi. When the show originally aired, I saw the first two episodes, but then I was started working on something else, so I couldn’t watch a lot of TV. I just remember thinking, “I wish my roommate would TiVo Kyle XY,” but it came on at the same time as something else. So, when I got the part, I got the first season on DVD, and I really enjoyed the entire season. It’s got good morals and good values, but at the same time, it’s exciting. And, this season is just incredible. It’s intense. Had I not gotten the part, I still would have watched this show. It’s got elements that reach kids that could be in middle school, and then you’ve got people in their 40's that absolutely love it. They hit on every mark. It reminds me of how Buffy, the Vampire Slayer just reached so many age ranges because it was such an interesting story. They had all these interesting things happen and, at the same time, it dealt with issues that happen at high school, but it wasn’t cheesy about it. It was more like, “Hey, this is what it’s really like there. Now, this is what message we have, but we’re not going to be corn-balls about it.” That’s what I like about Kyle XY. It’s not trying to push a certain message onto somebody. It’s just saying, “Hey, this is our opinion. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it.” If you watch the show, it’s not cheesy. It’s an interesting show and, this year, it’s definitely going to be a lot spicier with a lot more fight sequences and stunt work. The best thing about it is that I don’t find out about the world like Kyle did, so it’s not going to be this whole replica of what happened last year. It’s completely different, which I think is so important. Things happen very differently for Jessi than they did with Kyle.
MediaBlvd> How will things be different this season?
Jaimie> I think people can expect a lot more spice. There’s a lot more intensity. There’s a whole other physical side of the show that’s going to be happening this year, that people didn’t see a lot of last year. There will be lots of interesting stunt work and locations. People will be making decisions about whether they’re going to be allies, or if they’re going to be enemies. It’s just a whole whirlpool. Each episode is something new. They are no filler episodes, like you sometimes find with shows. Every single episode has a twist and turn that people are not going to expect, but it still remains true to the innocence that the show had last year. It still has that backbone. They didn’t try to make it Smallville, or something like that. Everybody grew up a little bit, but they’re still the same.
MediaBlvd> How does Jessi XX fit into the story?
Jaimie> Jessi brings a whole other perspective, of seeing the world for the first time, except that Jessi is born in a very bad manner. Kyle woke up in the sunshine. It was warm. He met a really nice family that took him in. When Jessi wakes up, it’s pitch black and freezing outside. She’s born in a huge, fiery explosion and she is captured. Everything that has to do with this character is sad. She’s so vulnerable, she’s verbally abused, she’s mistreated, she’s cast aside, she’s an outcast, she’s always alone. So, the question is, is she really bad or evil or dark, or was it just because that’s all she’s experienced? Are you born a certain way, or is it your surroundings that make you who you are? That’s a huge thing. And, of course, Kyle and Jessi end up having some really great scenes together. They share a really special connection. Jessi has many different interactions with all the main cast members. It’s neat and interesting, how she’s incorporated into the Trager family.
MediaBlvd> How many episodes will you be doing this season?
Jaimie> I started at the end of the first episode for season two, and I continue all the way through episode 23. Jessi plays a huge part in finding out who certain people are. I’ll use the Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel thing as a comparison. Where Kyle would be Buffy, Jessi would be Angel. There was something wrong with Angel, and he tried so hard not to be bad because Buffy made him want to be good. He would lock himself away and try everything he could, but he would still turn into something evil, every now and then, and he just couldn’t help it. This has the same kind of feel. We use that comparison a lot, when we’re talking about the characters.
MediaBlvd> Were you told at all how much your character would be growing over the course of the season, or do you find that out with each script?
Jaimie> We find it out with each script. Sometimes, we can get it out of the producers, if they’re not paying attention. They’re sort of figuring it out, as they go. They do have a main outline for the entire series, but how they go about getting to certain points in the series is up to them. We never know ahead of time. There’s always rumors, but we never know. We’re just like the audience. We say, “I wonder what she’s going to do,” or “I wonder when, or if, that’s going to happen.” We find out pretty late in the game. I think that’s wise, though, because otherwise, I’d be telling everybody.
MediaBlvd> Once you were cast on the show, did you do anything to get to know the other cast members better, or did you want to keep your distance because of the mystery of your character?
Jaimie> I got to know them pretty well. We film in Vancouver and a lot of us don’t really have any friends there, so we all bonded together. I never take any outside experiences for my character. I’m not a method actor. I believe it’s dangerous because then you’re becoming somebody else and, sometimes, that can really have a bad affect on your life. I try to make those two things very different. Matt Dallas and April Matson are roommates, so they have a house, and we usually all get together and have barbecues or go on a boat or go to a spa, or just anything like that. We are each other’s friends. And, they were just very accepting. I was like, “Man, I’m coming into a cast that is really tight knit.” They hung out all the time on hiatus, and traveled together. They’re just very close to each other, and so, I was really nervous. And then, when I came in, it was just like I had always been there. It didn’t feel like I was the new girl, at all. It’s pretty amazing. I’ve never worked on a show like this before, where everybody’s just loved each other so much and appreciated each other. And, they’re always so careful about not hurting each other’s feelings about anything. We have these great, deep talks at 2 am, and I think it really shows. If you’re happy with what you’re doing, and you enjoy your workplace, it’s going to show in your work. It hasn’t been too hard, that’s for sure.
MediaBlvd> What has working with Matt Dallas been like?Jamie> I don’t pick favorites, but he is definitely the one that I find I’m most connected to, which is very strange because of the whole Jessi and Kyle thing. He and I will do press things together and we just have the best time. We’re just the goofiest people. He’s such a geek at heart, it’s unbelievable. We’ll be on airplanes and we’ll take pictures of people sleeping, and then we’ll say, “If they wake up, they’re going to be so angry.” He’s just such a nice guy. It doesn’t matter how stressful work is, or how many hours they make him work during a week, which is far more than any of us work. He’s just happy. He is one of the happiest, nicest people I’ve ever met. And, it’s important for people to see that he is so much of Kyle, it’s ridiculous. He’s always very concerned, and he always cares so much about people. He’s got this little lost boy look in his eyes, all the time. You just don’t want him to ever be hurt. You’re like, “We have to protect Matt. Matt’s so sweet.” We forget that he’s a 24-year-old grown man because we treat him like he’s a little kid. We’re very protective of Matt. I love working with him. He’s just a sweet guy, and such a hard worker. I couldn’t think of one bad thing to say about the guy.
MediaBlvd> Do you think you’re prepared for the amount of attention you might get now because of the success of the show?
Jaimie> I never thought about it before. I was in L.A. and I glanced up and there was a billboard, and I was like, “Woah, somebody gave me boobs! Where did those come from?” And, I had six-pac abs. It’s been a little weird. I got some fan mail about Kyle XY before my episodes even started to air, just form the promos on YouTube. I’m so happy that it reaches so many different age groups. I’m excited about it, but I have no idea what to expect. I have no clue. I’m pretty sure I’ll handle it well. I’m just going to be very grateful for whatever happens in the future. And, of course, we’re in Vancouver, so it takes us out of Hollywood. We don’t realize what’s going on, while we’re working. We’re just up here, focusing on work and having barbecues. And then, when we go back down to Hollywood, it’s like, “Oh, woah, I didn’t realize all this is going on here.” It’s good because it keeps us less distracted, but I’m sure it’s going to be a bit insane for a little while, especially because they’re also airing us on ABC. Not everybody has cable, so I’m glad that they’re doing that, just for that purpose.
MediaBlvd> What has been the most challenging aspect of doing this show, and was it what you expected would be the most challenging?
Jaimie> When you have a new character on a show that’s already been on the air, everybody sees her very differently -- producers, directors, etc. -- so, it’s really hard to find a common ground on what people like and what they want to see. Most of the time, when I’m shooting scenes, we’ll do it about four different ways. There are some people that wanted to see her very much like the Terminator, and then there were other people that were like, “No, she’s a girl. She’s 17, 18 years old. She’s young. She’s really vulnerable. She’s just like any other girl, except that she has these abilities that a lot of kids don’t have.” So, it’s just finding that happy medium to make everyone happy at the network. It’s been difficult, but we are slowly figuring out who Jessi is, and I’ve fallen into her pretty well. I’m excited about that, but it’s challenging. I’m definitely learning a lot by doing it.
MediaBlvd> Had you had experience doing stunts before, or was that a new experience for you?
Jaimie> I did a lot of my own stunts in the films Rest Stop and Hallowed Ground. With this show, because we work so much and we don’t really have a normal hiatus, they have us doubled a lot with stunt doubles, for insurance purposes. Also, if Matt broke his leg, we’d be in big trouble. The show would be in a lot of trouble. But, they do let us do some of our own stuff. I just worked on a harness, recently. I’ve gotten to do some of the fight stuff on my own. We train with our stunt doubles. They coordinate everything, and then we mimic them, and they inter-cut both of us doing stuff together. If we’re up high, or something like that, then they take the safe route, even though we want to do it ourselves. I enjoy doing stunts. It’s probably one of my favorite parts of the job.
MediaBlvd> Do you consider the show a sci-fi show, or do you prefer to think of it as a family drama that has sci-fi elements to it?
Jaimie> There are so many sci-fi aspects to her, it’s ridiculous, but they seem to tie in both sides so well that I’d have to say it’s an even tie. I wouldn’t say it’s one or the other. I’d just have to say it’s both. It’s most certainly a family drama, but it’s glamorized because it has a sci-fi side. If I was playing one of the Trager kids, I’d say it’s more of a family drama with sci-fi elements.
MediaBlvd> When you get ranked in Penthouse Magazine’s poll of the Top 20 Hottest Up-and-Coming Stars, is that daunting to live up to, or does that motivate you to want to prove them right about you?
Jaimie> Because of the nature of the magazine, I was a little hesitant to take part in that poll, but then, I realized that it’s just a poll. Somebody thinks I’m doing well with myself, and it has nothing to do with whatever else that magazine has in it. It was cool to think that I ranked higher than some of the girls I really look up to in young Hollywood. That was one of my first little press things, so I said, “If I can make one person happier, and one person likes my work, then that’s worth it to me. Why not?” It’s a little bit to live up to because you’re thinking, “Crap, man, I hope I don’t suck.” I haven’t had a lot of training, so sometimes I find that I don’t know what I’m doing, but it just comes across good. I get lucky. So, lately, I’ve really been trying to work a little harder on understanding more about what style this show is, where it’s going, where it’s been. I’m looking into it and analyzing it a little bit more, instead of just flying by the seat of my pants, like I always have. When people are looking for a career, it should be the one thing that, for some reason, you don’t know why, but you can do it well, it feels good and it’s easy. Usually, your first instincts are right. If you’re playing a character, whether it’s comedy or a superhero type of character, like mine, you have to add that little extra something. That’s why you’ve got to work at it, just a little bit. Half of Jessi is programmed, and half of her is just her being herself, so I have to make up these two different characters. You respond in whatever way feels natural for you because you were cast for a reason and you’ve got to bring that to the table. It’s like being yourself, with a little spice added to it. I always try to get people to explore what kinds of things they really like to do. You can make a living out of something that you’re good at, that you find easy and that you enjoy, it’s just harder because it’s more of a leap of faith than a 9 to 5 job. It’s a little harder because it’s unreliable.
MediaBlvd> Can you talk a little bit more about Hallowed Ground, and who you play in that?
Jaimie> Hallowed Ground is a movie I finished this past year for the Weinstein’s indie label. It’s a horror flick/sci-fi thriller. The whole movie has scenes that are dedicated to really famous horror movies, like The Exorcist, Halloween, Evil Dead, all of that stuff. I play a girl who had a tragedy happen in her life. She has a military background. She leaves the area where she is and makes her way west, and stops in a small town, where she is pretty much engulfed by a cult that controls this town, and she has to battle this cult while trying to save the lives of the people there. It’s the strong heroine character again, but it’s an interesting flick..
MediaBlvd> When you’re looking for projects that you want to be involved with, are there specific things that you look for? What do you use to determine what projects you want to be involved with?
Jaimie> I always read the script first. I don’t care who’s doing the film, I want to know what the script is, and I have to make sure that I like the script and that it’s well written. Then, I look at who’s backing the film or TV show, and then I look at the line of things that they’ve done in the past and I judge from that, how good or bad the project could turn out. Character wise, I always look for strong female characters. I really like vulnerable characters with special abilities. By special abilities, I don’t mean super-powers, but more like somebody who’s got to save the day. I like the hero characters. But, I also have this new thing for playing dark and evil characters. Jessi is kind of a mix of both. I love superheroes. I would love to do Wonder Woman, or something like that. I like stuff with a sci-fi or supernatural element. Those roles are always fun to play. You don’t see that in everyday life, so it’s an adventure, each time you do something like that.
