Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Interview with actress Pascale Armand

With the airing of the fourth episode of Marvel‘s Agents of SHIELD, we present an interview with the actress Pascale Armand, guest star in the role of Akela Amador. Pascale has appeared previously in other TV series among Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial By Jury and My America.

Hi Pascale, we are very happy that you accepted to grant us this interview. May you introduce yourself and your career to our reader?
I graduated from the Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. I have been primarily a theatrical actress, working regionally in the U.S. I have done some work on tv and in film.

How you get involved in Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD? Did you attend to an audition?
I live in New York and was asked by my agent to put myself on tape for an audition for the show in Los Angeles. I emailed my audition by the deadline that was set and about a week later, I was told I booked the role.

May you talk us about the character you play, Akela Amador? What did you do to prepare yourself to play that role?
I wasn’t given the script until the evening before I left for Los Angeles, California. I read the script for my episode on the plane ride. I made some preliminary decisions about Akela and her relationship with Agent Coulson, but wanted to wait until I met with Roxann Dawson [the director] and Clark Gregg to be definitive about what I was thinking. I watched The Avengers movie (I hadn’t seen it before) and took some classes at a gym not too far from my hotel in order to prepare for my fighting scene with Ming-Na Wen!

Movie Rings (2017)

The series is just at its fourth episode, but fans are waiting it anxiously since months. To be part of something so expected put some pressure on you?
I knew it was going to be a show on ABC, but I had no idea how anticipated it was. The pressure is always on for me to do my best work, no matter what I do. That’s just who I am. It started to seep in just how big this show was while I was working on the set, when I went to Stockholm, Sweden and coming back home to NYC. EVERYONE was talking about the show and there were posters everywhere advertising it.

How it be to work with the rest of the cast? Do you want to say something about them?
Everyone was so very nice. And they work so hard, but have a good time doing it. Clark Gregg is awesome – a real gentleman who makes sure that he makes his scene partner look her best. His professionalism is all encompassing. It was great to finally meet Ming-Na! I have seen so much of her work. Iain and Elizabeth were so very careful, it was adorable. It was great working with everyone.

There’s something special that you want to tell us about your experience on the set? Which are the advices that the director, Roxann Dawson, gave to you?
My experience on set was pretty spectacular. It was my first time on a set that big, having such a sizable role. I really have nothing to compare it to. All I can say is that I had a great time and learned so much. Roxann was great to work with. I appreciate a director who knows how to get the best out of her actors. I feel she was able to do that with me.

There’s a moment that impresses you during the shooting of the episode? If yes, why?
I would have to say that the whole process impressed me because I was able to see firsthand everything what goes into the hour of a show that I watch on tv. It’s a lot of work! It’s also a different process from theatre, which is what I am used to. The CGI stuff was fascinating. Some of that needed to be explained to me because I didn’t know what I was looking at or what the final image was supposed to be. I guess we’re all waiting to see that! That’s part of the excitement around this show. The visuals are so stunning that you don’t know what to expect to see!

Which are your plans and projects for the future?
I am back at home in New York right now. A few things are happening, but they are still hanging in the balance and it is too early to talk about them. I am just grateful for the attention the show has brought me and I’m soaking it all up.