Listen to Dana Davis live on this weekend's (November 11, 2007) edition of MediaBLvd Magazine's Radio Show, The Two Doctors.
By Christina Radish
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Nichelle Nichols at the Spike TV Scream Awards held at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif. on October 19, 2007.
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The latest edition to the cast of the hit NBC television series Heroes, Dana Davis (The Nine) stars as Monica Dawson, a young woman with a newfound special ability to copy whatever she sees, and who would give up everything to help the people around her. She lives with her little brother, Damon (Carlon Jeffrey), and grandmother (Nichelle Nichols), along with her cousin Micah (Noah Gray-Cabey), in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Guest starring as Nana, Nichelle Nichols broke the stereotype barrier among African American actresses with her role as Uhura on the original Star Trek series, in 1966. As one of the first actresses that portrayed a character on a TV show and science fiction series that was treated as fairly as other races, Nichols set the standard for multiculturalism.
Nichols and Davis talk to MediaBlvd Magazine about working on the popular series.
MediaBlvd Magazine> Nichelle, how did you get involved in this show? Did they come to you, or did you just audition?
Nichelle Nichols> It was a magical moment, at a point in time that just stood still. I was passing through. I was doing a film in Denver, called The Torturer, and I came to LA to pick up some more clothes and go do another film. And, my agent said, “Oh, this is great. Since you’re here, you can meet with them.” I said, “But, I’m only going to be here two days. One day to pack and one day to leave,” and he said, “One of those days, they’ve asked for you to come out and interview for this role.” I said, “I can’t go,” and he said, “You have to go.” He’d never said anything like that before, but he said “I’m sending you the sides, and it’s for Heroes.” I’d only seen a couple of episodes of Heroes because I’d been traveling so much, but I knew that I really liked it. And so, I said, “Okay.” I thought they were just talking about me doing a guest appearance for a day, but I went to the studio and there were all these men and women, sitting there. I thought, “The last time I saw this many people, I got Star Trek.” They asked if I would do a scene while they filmed me, and they said that they were delighted. I left and got on a plane for Phoenix to do another movie, called This Bitter Earth, and it was quite wonderful when I get a call saying, “Surprise!” And then, they realized I thought it was just a one-time guest shot. My agent said, “No, sweetheart, you have a recurring role. You’re joining the cast.” I said, “Oh, my God!” I was delighted. That was a wonderful moment.
MediaBlvd> Dana, how well did you know the show before this opportunity came up? Were you a loyal viewer since the very beginning?
Dana Davis> I was a loyal viewer. I actually watched Heroes before anyone else. I got the pilot, because, as actors, we get these huge stacks of pilots from our agents, and I watched it over the summertime. And, I remember calling my friends and saying, “I have the newest hit.” So, they came over and we watched the DVD that I had, and it became a ritual, to watch the show together. It was just so surreal for me to join the cast of something I’m a huge fan of.
MediaBlvd> How excited are you to be working with Nichelle? And, how familiar were you with her work and her importance in television, in terms of breaking the race barrier?
Dana> I hate to admit this because I’d like to keep my game face on, but when I found out that Nichelle was joining the cast, one of the producers said, “Guess who’s playing Nana,” and I said, “Who?” And, he said, “Nichelle Nichols,” and I was like, “Shut up!” I remember punching him. I was so excited, I called like my manager, and they were like, “No way!” Everyone was so excited. My mom was more excited that I was working with Nichelle than the fact that I was on Heroes. She said, “Will you please tell Nichelle that I said hi?” And, I’m like “Mom, I can’t just say, ‘Hey, guess what, my mom said hi?’” But, it was so cool. It was surreal. She has so much grace and beauty, and I always joke that I’m totally upstaged by her because we’ll walk into a room and people will surround Nichelle, and I’m like, “Hi, I’m here, guys.” But, it’s great. It’s a real treat. I’m a big fan and I don’t get starstruck that often, so it’s cool to be in her presence.
Nichelle> Well, the moment I walked on the set and met Dana, I adopted her. She’s such a lovely lady and she’s so poised. I loved her from the first moment, and I said, “Yeah, this is my granddaughter.”
Dana> I always say I’m jealous of Monica because if I could pick a grandma, it would be Nichelle.
Nichelle> I am your Nana. I’m Nana Two.
Dana> I’ll take that.
MediaBlvd> There have been a lot of stories on Heroes that are focused on family. What is the importance of family?
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Dana Davis at the premiere of "Raise Your Voice" held at Universal Citywalk Cinemas in Universal City, Calif. on October 3, 2004.
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Nichelle> Family is very important in Heroes, especially a New Orleans family. I’m feeling that it’s very similar to my own family. I come from a large family and we’re always there for one another. And, it’s a very loving, very diverse family. I find the same thing here. Nana Dawson has these two young grandchildren. She’s a strong woman who’s gone through an awful lot and has lost her daughter, and is now raising and providing a home for these two beautiful grandchildren. And, that’s the focus of her life now because they’ve gone through Katrina. They’ve survived, and she has established a really strong, safe environment for these beautiful children whom she’s very proud of.
Dana> Heroes really is about family. Sure, it’s this surreal story, and it’s about people with powers, but the story behind that story is a story of family. We saw it, all through season 1. And then, in season 2, with Monica joining the cast, she’s this girl who dropped out of college, after her mother died, to take care of her family and work this job. The central point in Heroes is that family is really important.
MediaBlvd> A lot of African American kids are being raised by grandparents, due to divorce or problems in the family with either parent. Do you feel gratified to be able to present a positive example of the relationship between a grandmother and her grandchildren on TV?
Nichelle> I feel rather honored to play it. I never thought of myself as lasting long enough to have a wonderful role as a grandmother because grandmothers are always the old lady. But, this is a new type of grandmother, who has the opportunity to raise her grandchildren and see them flourish. I never got to know my grandparents, on either side, but I saw my mother and father be great grandparents to all of their children’s offspring, and I really base Nana in honor of my mother.
Dana> Sometimes on TV, they give this image of the perfect little family with the white picket fence, and the mom and the dad, and everything is so great. And, Heroes shows you more of a reality. With the first season, I was so happy to see a bi-racial kid with a white mother because that’s reality. That is so real. And, it’s real that grandparents are raising their grandchildren. We can show something that’s real, and not make people upset.
MediaBlvd> Some people have felt that it’s exploitative for the show to have characters set in New Orleans. What do you make of that?
Nichelle> I think that’s silly. That’s as if to deny that it happened, or that what happened, happened, and that is a great tragedy. When something like that happens to one person in the United States, if you’re a citizen, it happens to us all. To acknowledge it and to bring it to Heroes is to do the honor that could be done even more in the re-building of that beautiful city and that beautiful state of New Orleans. What are you going to do, drop it off of the map? This country is too beautiful to write off as a place that can’t be saved. I’m an optimist and a rebuilder.
MediaBlvd> Has it been emotionally wrenching, playing these two survivors of Hurricane Katrina?
Dana> In the beginning, I watched some of the documentaries about Katrina. I’m the kind of person that, if I see someone else crying, I cry too. I take on that emotion. So, sometimes I run from it. But, when I got this part, I couldn’t run from it anymore. Watching a lot of the documentaries made it real to me. Heroes is so surreal and it’s fun, and bringing in this element of reality was hard for me, at first. And so, I just kind of keep that with me and find a way to put it in a box, so I can play this upbeat, fun character, but I think it makes the character more real.
Nichelle> I watched Katrina on television like a junkie. I couldn’t turn it off. And, I was at the crying stage daily, especially with the little children and the people losing their homes. I thought, “My God, this is the reality of what can happen.” It brings home just how delicate your existence can be, at any given time. So, to be able to play this role and to have this given circumstance already set out for you, I could relate to her so powerfully and relate to her house, and how she has stood tall and diffident. That either makes you or breaks you, and I could see that Nana was injured, but not broken. She has a reason to go on and stand tall, and to be a strong woman for her granddaughter and grandson.
MediaBlvd> What is working with Noah Gray-Cabey (Micah Sanders) and Carlon Jeffrey (Damon Dawson) like?
Dana> I love Noah. He is the little brother that I’ve never had. I love him to death. I have a little nephew who’s 12, and so, on the set, Noah and I just have fun. I’m the kind of actor who, when I get into a role, I really get into it. A lot of my characters have been sad and burdened, and now that I’m playing this fun loving character, Noah and I just laugh and talk, and get into so much trouble. It’s so fun to work with him. I must be 12 years old at heart because Noah is my best buddy now. And, I just love Carlon, who plays Damon. We’ll sit on the set and play with cars, and we’ll have arm wrestling fights. People are like, “Hey, Dana, how old are you?” I have a lot of fun working with those kids. I love them to death.
MediaBlvd> Monica has the ability to watch something and then be able to do it. How much training have you had to do to learn all of the different things that she can do?
Dana> I was thrown into it. I just showed up for work, and they were like, “Guess what Dana? We’re doing this.” And so, it was really hard on me because I was out of shape. I’m an actor, and I don’t work out. My idea of working out is going upstairs in my apartment. And, I had to do a lot of physical things right away, like the double-dutching and the karate. I spent a lot of my weeks really sore, at first. But, I’ve gotten into it now, and I have a stunt double who works with me. We’re starting to work out, and they’re starting me with some karate training. It’s gotten a little bit easier.
Nichelle> She’s in beautiful shape, but I can appreciate that she’s sore.
Dana> No, looks can be deceiving. I’m not in good shape.
MediaBlvd> When you were cast, did you know that your character had powers?
Dana> I did. I came into it knowing what my power was.
Nichelle> And, that it was developing. All that I keep hearing is that we will see what we will see. So, that remains to be seen. Or, maybe they just haven’t decided yet, or maybe they’re planning it and they really don’t want anyone to know, including me.
MediaBlvd> Dana, if Monica sees someone use their powers, like Peter, are you able to copy those as well, or is it just simply physical things, like being able to copy a fighting style or something, that her powers are limited to?
Dana> The heroes’ powers have a way of evolving throughout the season. Right now, my power is that whatever I see, I can do. It’s limited to physical ability. They already have that element of the supernatural who can do everything, with Peter and with Sylar. I think they wanted to capitalize on the amazing abilities of human beings. Human beings are so amazing, and I think they wanted to bring that element, in a supernatural way, to Heroes, with Monica.
MediaBlvd> If you had your character’s power what would you look at and really want to copy?
Dana> I would want to join the NBA. I’ve always wanted to slam dunk, and impress the boys in my family. I’ve got a little nephew, too, and he loves NBA. I’m fascinated with their athletic ability, so I’d definitely get that.
MediaBlvd> Is there anything that either of you have had in your life, that operates the way that Monica’s power does, where you’ve had something that you observed and just intuitively picked up?
Dana> Not really. If I see someone crying, I cry too, but that’s about it.
Nichelle> There have been phenomenas in my family, so I’ve just grown up thinking that what people refer to as powers are natural extension of our lives and our abilities, hidden somewhere in that 90% of our brain that even Einstein hadn’t used. So, I believe in a higher power and, if there’s a higher power, I’m part of that.
MediaBlvd> In what ways has your family exhibited abilities or phenomena?
Nichelle> Well, my mother was a genuine psychic. She never got into business for it, but she could interpret dreams and sensory things. If I walked into the house and something was bothering me, and I was always the kind to shelter my loved ones from my problems, my mother would say, “Okay, sit down and tell me what’s the matter,” and I’d burst out crying. She knew when people were in trouble and she knew when people were pregnant before they did, sometimes. I grew up with that as a natural thing. It was not a phenomena to me until I grew up and people reacted to it, and I realized that it was something that not everyone has.
MediaBlvd> Dana, being that your powers are very physical and you’re a fighter, can we expect to see any kind of knockdown, drag out fight scenes with other characters, like maybe Kristin Bell’s character, in the future?
Dana> Monica gets pretty tough. As far as whether she will be with any other heroes in some cool fights, we can only hope. I really can’t say right now. But, I can say that you will see a lot of her fighting. It gets pretty exciting.
MediaBlvd> Many of the characters on Heroes accept their powers begrudgingly, feeling cursed instead of blessed, but Monica seems to enjoy her powers, so far. If you were in a position like that in your real life, are you the type of person who would view it as a blessing or as a curse?
Nichelle> I don’t think anything God-given is a curse. But, it is a little disconcerting when you realize that you’re different from other people, or other people view you as different.
Dana> Yeah, absolutely. In the beginning, the producer sat down with me and they said, “Dana, most of the heroes on the show are burdened by their powers and we want to bring back the excitement, like with Hiro, in the beginning, who was so excited about his powers.” They wanted to bring that back a little bit with Monica, which is refreshing and fun. I’ve done a lot of drama in my career, and I’ve played a lot of burdened, sad characters, so it’s fun for me to play Monica. If I had a superpower, I’d be the one who’d be on the news, saying, “Guess what everybody? I have a superpower!” I would announce it to the world because it would be so awesome. I’m really excited to play somebody who is excited about their power.
MediaBlvd> Nichelle, how much more of you will we see on the show? How many episodes are you signed for?
Nichelle> Right now, it’s a recurring role and it keeps growing. And, I’m liking it very much. I don’t know how many more episodes I’m doing because it continues to extend. The scenes keep growing. I’m just interested in watching it and letting them know what my schedule is, so that I can come and do their bidding, and become Nana. It’s an absolutely lovely match.
MediaBlvd> If they do give you a power, what are you hoping to get?
Nichelle> I’m going to keep that under my belt. I don’t want to jinx it.
MediaBlvd> Heroes sometimes shoots three episodes at once, meaning that you can work with three different directors in one day. How is that for you?
Dana> When I first came into the show, I started on episode 4. And then, the next day, I was on episode 5. Then, the day after that, I was back on episode 4. It was crazy. I’d never done that before and it’s very stressful for the actor, but you get used to it. At first it was really hard, but now I kind of enjoy it. It’s fun. There’s never a dull moment on the set.
Nichelle> And, I can attest to that. I’m really delighted to hear that Dana did have that difficulty because, when I first came in, we were shooting one scene, and then, we did a scene where it was four months earlier and I wasn’t sure what took place. It was very stressful. Once I understood it, it was wonderful. I learned to make that adjustment and now it’s fun.
MediaBlvd> Who have you most enjoyed having scenes with so far?
Nichelle> I have enjoyed Noah and Carlon so much. They are the exact opposite of the characters that they’re playing. Carlon plays this little demon that can’t stand his cousin. He’s so good at it, you believe he’s this little monster. But, the moment they say cut, the two of them are laughing and falling into each others arms, wrestling and playing games. And, Noah is a phenomenal artist and pianist. His music is amazing. I thought he was playing the player piano, but it was him. They are both so charming and captivating. I just enjoy them so much. And, I’ve never really worked with anyone quite so poised, talented and beautiful as Dana, and I’m really proud to be working with her.
Dana> Noah and Carlon’s relationship is so adorable. The other day, I caught them making a secret handshake and I thought, “Oh, this is so cute!” But, I’ve also had a chance to work with Sendhil, who plays Mohinder, and he’s an amazing guy. He looks like he should be a GQ model, and you think he’d be a Hollywood-type guy, but he’s really just a sweet family man with this heart of gold, who talks about his family and his child. With the whole Heroes cast, I have never met such down to earth people. I thought I would be going into this with these stars who have big heads, like you hear about in Hollywood, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Nichelle> Yes, I agree with that. I haven’t met the whole cast, but some of them have walked up to me, and grabbed and hugged me, saying, “Oh, it is so good to have you joining us.” I’m really enjoying the actors that I’m working with.
MediaBlvd> Who are each of you looking forward to having scenes with in upcoming episodes?
Nichelle> Anybody who will have me. I’ve been to awards shows and I see how beautiful they are with one another, and how they have treated me, so I can only hope that they might come to New Orleans, or I might come up there where they are.
Dana> You feel isolated from the cast because the stories stand on their own so well. So, I look forward to the moments when we all work together. It’ll be fun. Even when we’re just in the trailers, it’s a blast. We laugh when we’re in the make-up trailer. I just can’t wait for that to be brought into the work element, too.
MediaBlvd> Dana, are you still finding time to play music, or are you just super busy, training for the fight scenes and such?
Dana> I am really busy with the show and I haven’t had a lot of time to devote to anything else. Before I joined the cast of Heroes, I was an insomniac. I have suffered from insomnia for so long. Now that I’m on the show, I sleep like a baby. I’m so tired all the time. Lately, I haven’t been able to devote any time to music. It’s unfortunate, but hopefully I’ll get back to it.
MediaBlvd> Do you think they are going to let you use your musical abilities on the show, in future?
Dana> They’re talking about it. You never know. But, they are talking about it, so we’ll see.
MediaBlvd> Nichelle, it seems like Heroes is becoming a place for the Star Trek cast to come back to television, with both you and George Takei on the show. Do you think that anyone else from the show is watching and might join as well?
Nichelle> I have no idea. Oddly enough, I was traveling so much that I was not aware that George had been on. I found out just before I signed on, and I thought that was just amazing. And, of course, then I got the first season box of DVDs, and it was so much fun to watch.
MediaBlvd> What’s it like working on a regular TV show again, as opposed to back when you worked on the original Star Trek series? Have a lot of things changed?
Nichelle> On Heroes, it’s quite different. You can do flashbacks, and you have to adjust to what your emotion was and who you were. On Star Trek, we were going forth in peaceful exploration and meeting any difficulties that we might have, head on. But, I find such a correlation between the two, in terms of the human dignity within us, and that is inspiring. No matter if there is an evil situation, there is a counter good. I’m finding that the adjustment from one to the other is very natural.
MediaBlvd> What do you make of the fact that they’re revamping the Star Trek franchise with a new film? Have you spoken to Zoe Saldana, who is going to be playing Uhura?
Nichelle> I think it’s just terrific to know that Gene Roddenberry’s legacy shall not only live in what was there when he was here, but that it’s going on in that same image and like. And, I think that, in J.J. Abrams’ hands, all the respect and all of the wonderful characteristics that made Star Trek what it was will be honored, but I think he will also take it to even new heights, as Gene would have loved. I know that he’s up in heaven going, “Right on!” I’m delighted and I’m looking forward to meeting Zoe and J.J. I talked with him and he was a delightful man, although I had met him before. It was just a joy to know that he’s taking the helm for Star Trek.
MediaBlvd> Do you have any thoughts for what you would like to see Uhura do in the new Star Trek movie?
Nichelle> I do have some, but I don’t want to discuss them yet because I am going to meet with Zoe and let her pick my brain, if she wants to. I would like to hold that in abeyance because she’s such a lovely, creative actress. I’d love to wait and see what she brings to it, so that I can get to see what qualities Nyota Uhura had that qualified her to go on that first five-year mission, where no man or woman had gone before. I think Zoe might bring some interesting new qualities to the character.
MediaBlvd> Has Zachary Quinto (Sylar) picked your brain about Star Trek, to get any tips for his upcoming role as Spock in the movie?
Nichelle> No. I know that he has talked with Leonard, and he is very excited. He, himself, is a Trekkie, so you can imagine how excited he is to be chosen to play the young Spock. I give him my best wishes. When I first came to Heroes, all I had seen of Zach were some pictures in the make-up room. I saw him in one of the episodes and I said, “Oh, my God, what an actor.” And then, when I met him in person, I said, “This is the young Spock.” So, they did a brilliant job in casting him.
MediaBlvd> Any chance of you having a cameo role in the new Star Trek movie?
Nichelle> Wouldn’t that be nice? I will be blasting it all over the world, if and when that should happen. I think that would be so wonderful.
MediaBlvd> Dana, what can you say about your upcoming film project Prom Night?
Dana> Prom Night is a slasher movie. It’s a teenage slasher movie with the backdrop of the most awesome prom you can imagine. There’s a slasher on the loose, and there’s blood. It’s just pure fun. I got a chance to see a rough cut and it turned out pretty good. I’m really proud of it. It is what it is, but I had a lot of fun doing it. It comes out next year.
MediaBlvd> Did you always want to be an actress while you were growing up, or did you have other professions in mind?
Dana> My mom took me to the theater, for the first time, when I was six years old, and I was just amazed by it. I said, “Hey, Mom can I do this too?” And so, she signed me up for little theater classes, and I remember my first audition for a play, when I was seven years old. It was for The Thankful Elf. And, my first audition, I booked the lead, and I’ve been acting ever since. When I was 10 years old, I asked my mom if we could move to L.A. I’m from the Midwest and I would look in the Chicago Times for auditions and be like, “Mom, there’s an audition in Chicago, can you take me?” But, we just didn’t have the financial resources for me to do that. And so, I waited until I was 18, but I knew what I wanted to do when I was just a little girl.
MediaBlvd> Nichelle, what has made a career in this industry rewarding for you, so far?
Nichelle> Accomplishment. The most rewarding thing about it, for me, is being able to make my living doing the thing that I love the most, and would probably do for free. I would have done it, anyway. I grew up dreaming of Broadway. And, on my way to theater, Star Trek interrupted my career and changed my life, and I’ve never looked back. I’ve never been more happy in my life.
MediaBlvd> Can either of you throw the fans a bone about what’s going to happen with your characters?
Dana> Monica is going to go to a place that no hero has gone before. It’s going to be really fun to see her story unfold because it’s something that’s not been done on Heroes yet. It’ll be very fun. I wish I could say. We’re sworn to secrecy. Sometimes spoilers get out, but we try to keep as much secret as possible.
