Actor Rose McIver says she had no clue about zombies before being a part of this supernatural series on TV. Excerpts
What went through your mind when you first heard about iZombieIJ
When I looked at the title, I assumed it would be a show similar to The Walking Dead. It was a big surprise when I read it and discovered it’s a bizarre zombie comedy procedural. We jam in as many genres as we can!
Are you a fan of the zombie genreIJ
Before I joined the show, I had seen zombie movies and I enjoyed the genre — but I was by no means an avid fan. Diane Ruggiero-Wright has been my counsel. She knows everything about zombies — down to how our contact lenses are designed and which movies we are referencing in certain scenes. She’s incredibly well versed in zombie lore, so I go to her with any questions.
How well versed in zombie lore are you nowIJ
Honestly, it’s like opening Pandora’s box. It’s like time travel… I didn't know a whole lot about it beforehand, but I know much more now. I love it.
What's it like to play oneIJ
Playing a zombie is fun, but playing a medical student is hard. That’s the part I’m struggling to get my head around.
What’s fun about this character is that she’s still trying to be a human.
How tough is it to play a zombie with human emotionsIJ
I get to work with an amazing team for the stunt sequences, the zombie elements and the prosthetics and make-up, so I focus on making sure she's a grounded character. I’m trying to keep her as human as possible. That’s my aim. I hope it works.
When liv eats the brain of a dead person, she gets their memories. How do you portray that on the showIJ
liv explains it as though it feels like being on somebody else's acid trip. She gets little glimpses of memories, but she doesn't get whole experiences. That works really well for the unraveling of a mystery in the procedural element of the show.
Tell us about the first few episodes of the showIJ What is the audience going to discoverIJ
One of the most exciting things for me as an actor playing this character is the fact that each time liv eats a brain, she see the memories of that
person & inherits some of their characteristics.
How squeamish are you when it comes to blood and goreIJ
I’m getting less squeamish the more I’m around these poor people dressed as cadavers in the show.
(The show airs on Colors Infinity at 9pm, every Saturday)