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Spying an opportunity
Spoilers saison 5
4 octobre 2005
Spying an opportunity
Saturday, October 01, 2005 - Bangor Daily News
 Rachel Nichols must be doing something right.
The Augusta native has had a rollercoaster introduction to acting in network TV. First her Fox drama "The Inside," 18 months in the making, died in six short weeks this summer. But within a month, she had earned a supporting role on the ABC cult hit "Alias," which airs at 8 p.m. Thursdays on ABC.
"I’ve been extremely, extremely fortunate," said Nichols by cell phone on her way home from the gym.
Nichols’ first starring role on a TV series was a brief one. The ’98 Cony High School graduate was attached to "The Inside" as it evolved from a "21 Jump Street" undercover-cop series to a dark psychological drama.
"The Inside" was quickly gone from the Fox schedule in favor of lighter summer fare such as longer "So You Think You Can Dance" episodes.
"I didn’t want to tell my parents," said Nichols, 25. "I’d been working on it for a year and a half."
She held off and soon she had good news to tell them. Nichols had auditioned for "Mission Impossible 3," to be directed by "Alias" creator J.J. Abrams. The rising producer remembered her and told her agent about a new role on "Alias" for a young superspy in training.
This was in the works even before the show’s star, Jennifer Garner, let it be known that she was pregnant and her character, Sydney Bristow, suddenly was expecting as well.
Was Nichols aware of "Alias" ? OH MY GOD, YES !
"I was a huge fan of ’Alias,’" she said. "I had seen every episode in the first three seasons and became addicted with the show. I was extremely excited, because it’s one of the best shows for women on TV."
At her meeting with "Alias" producers, "I tried to play it really cool," the graduate of Columbia University said. "I didn’t want to come off as a crazy, demented fan. Only after the deal was signed did I ask for the boxed set of Season 4, which I’d missed while filming ’The Inside.’"
Still, despite her knowledge of all things "Alias," Nichols was anxious about how she would be received by such an established cast.
"You never know what you’re going to get when you arrive on the set," she said. "On the first day, I met Jen, (co-stars) Victor (Garber) and Kevin (Weisman). Jen was so welcoming and sweet. She said, ’I’m pregnant. You can wear the bikini.’ Everyone was so happy for me to be here. It’s a very cohesive unit, but everyone was amenable to opening it up and welcoming new cast members."
After working long, 18-hour days as the star of "The Inside," Nichols has been pleasantly surprised to see how things run on "Alias."
"The actors have worked with each other for so long that things move so fluidly," she said. "A 12-hour day doesn’t seem that long."
Nichols’ character is Rachel Gibson, a young analyst who is tabbed for spy training.
"The producers had planned to bring on a young female to show how people are trained to become a superspy. At first, Rachel is very green, very much an analyst. Sydney takes her under her wing and starts to train her."
Nichols is in the background for the first two episodes and then comes more to the fore.
"By episode four, I have started to do more undercover work with some costumes and get to learn languages and accents," she said. "The audience and I get to learn the process at the same time."
A former model, Nichols can figuratively fit into the lithe Garner’s wardrobe. But a spy needs muscle as well, hence the trips to the gym.
"I get a personal trainer, which is the biggest perk ever," she said. "I’m going to have some guns when I come home for Thanksgiving."
Contractually, Nichols can’t say much about what is going to happen this season. But it’s a year of transition on "Alias," with Garner and Michael Vartan headed off to act in films and Nichols, Elodie Bouchez and Balthazar Getty joining the cast. With the series already in syndication, is there a future for "Alias" ?
"That’s why they have brought in new characters while Jen and Michael are still on the show," Nichols said. "They want to keep it going. They’re asking viewers, ’Will you give these people a chance or not ?’"
Source : Bangordailynews.com
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