Date of publishing: 4th
April 2013
Nicole Muñoz is a multi-talented young beauty
whose on screen presence speaks volumes in regards
to her ability. At a very young age, Nicole is a talent
making her mark. The Vancouver born and raised actress
is a veteran of the film & television industry,
starting her career at the tender age of four. With
over ten years of experience, Nicole has over 40 film
and TV credits to her name. Nicole is not only a talented
actress, but also a gifted dancer and started her
love affair with dance as a child. She has honed her
skills in jazz, hip-hop, ballet and contemporary.
Nicole’s skills have made her a three-year Canadian
representative for the Los Angeles International
Convention, Dance Excellence and winner of “Best
Partnering” at the New York City Dance Alliance.
Her success in dance has helped with her acting career
as well, leading her to a role in the dance film Centre
Stage: Turn It Up. Nicole has landed numerous roles
on such films as the action adventure Fantastic Four,
the family sci-fi film The Last Mimzy and comedies
Tooth Fairy and Marmaduke. Nicole has guest starred
on hit shows such as The CW’s Supernatural,
SyFy’s Sanctuary (In "Pavor Nocturnus"
as Jessica Mitchell), Stargate: Atlantis (In "Epiphany"
as Hedda) and had a recurring role on the ABC series
Defying Gravity. Recently Nicole not only graduated
high school with honors, she secured a lead role in
SyFy’s new series Defiance premiering April
15th. She will also appear in the American horror/thriller
television series for Netflix Hemlock Grove which
premieres April 19th and as a recurring character
as Trina in the comedy pilot Rita for Bravo. Nicole
recently wrapped on the MOW Scarecrow which will premiere
on the SyFy Network in 2013.
Gilles
Nuytens: Hello,
and nice to meet you! I see you started acting at
a very young age. How has this "adventure"
started?
Nicole Muñoz: Hi! It’s
great to meet you too. When I was four years old I
had gone to my very first audition, it was for a laundry
detergent and I ended up booking that roll. I was
having so much fun on set and was enjoying doing auditions
that I just kept on going. Now, here I am!
Gilles Nuytens: What
do you like the most in acting?
Nicole Muñoz: Story telling.
Being able to transform into something different and
conveying a message to the audience. Also having the
creative ability to bring life to words on a page.
Gilles Nuytens: You've
done this job since this very young age, so would
you imagine doing something else in the future, and
what would that be?
Nicole Muñoz: I have been
doing this for over ten years! It feels odd to say
seeing as I am only 18, but this is honestly what
I see myself doing for the rest of my life. I do want
to go to university though, either for political science
or sociology, I am still deciding.
Gilles Nuytens: What
kind of roles do you like the most? Any preferences?
Any roles you haven't done yet that you'd really want
to do?
Nicole Muñoz: I enjoy roles
that have an interesting story, plot or something
with a lot of substance. I like to keep an open mind
when it comes to my future roles, I enjoy the challenge
of transformation.
Gilles
Nuytens: Generally,
before playing a character, how do you prepare yourself
mentally to be in the role?
Nicole Muñoz: Every actor
has their ways, I have many, it really depends on
the role. I find that doing my research on the character,
the style, the tone, the storyline etc. helps a lot.
Gilles Nuytens: Which
actresses (their work, play, etc) have influenced
you so far? Anyone in particular that is a model to
you?
Nicole Muñoz: Jodie Foster
and Natalie Portman are the two actresses that influence
me the most. Not only with their talent, their dedication,
their skill and their heart but also the fact that
they have both managed to go to post secondary education
and still be successful female actors.
Gilles Nuytens: As
an actress, what is the part of the job you are the
less at ease with? And what is the one you are the
most at ease with?
Nicole Muñoz: In this industry
you are always learning new things everyday, I am
always on my feet and ready. There is nothing really
that I am “not at ease” or “at ease”
with, if anything I find some things challenging and
try my best to conquer them. Some things I find routine,
like memorization and the whole audition process.
This is a fast paced industry and you have to be willing
to jump over a few hurdles in order to move forward.
Gilles Nuytens: What
is the role you preferred to play at this point, the
best one, the one that most marked you?
Nicole Muñoz: My role in “The
Gwen Araujo Story”. It is not necessarily the
role I preferred to play, nor is it my biggest role
but it was a story I felt that was important to tell
and as I had mentioned earlier, storytelling is why
I love acting.
Gilles
Nuytens: So, Defiance,
how was the casting, did you get the job easily?
Nicole Muñoz: When I read
the script I was ecstatic to be able to audition for
the role of Christie McCawley. I fell in love with
her, and with the plot. I had sent in an audition
tape from Vancouver and waited patiently to hear back.
I didn’t think there would be much chance of
me booking it, there were a lot of teen girls auditioning
for this role. The day my agent called me to tell
me that I had booked it, I think it is safe to say
that I was one of the happiest girls alive.
Gilles Nuytens: How
was the whole experience on that show?
Nicole Muñoz: Incredible.
The cast became a family instantly and the set was
astonishing. Everyone was so professional and friendly
which created such a pleasant working environment.
Gilles Nuytens: Similar
question as before, but specifically for Defiance,
how did you prepare for the role of Christie?
Nicole Muñoz: Christie is
a strong, loyal, loving, family-oriented girl but
she is at the point in her life where she is ready
to spread her wings and create her own path in this
new world. To prepare for this role I studied the
character, learnt everything about her, and allowed
myself to become her.
Gilles Nuytens: Your
character, it's a little like Romeo & Juliet into
sci-fi! And you're Juliet! Every little girls dreams
to be Juliet! How do you feel about that?
Nicole Muñoz: Christie is
such a wonderful role to play and she is quite like
Juliet! I love the Romeo and Juliet-with-a-twist plot
line Christie has. It is so much fun to play around
in and explore!
Gilles Nuytens: Which
parts of your own personality did you put in Christie,
and how close is she from you?
Nicole Muñoz: Christie and
I are quite similar especially when it comes to our
sense of adventure. We are both around the same age
but she has grown up in a whole different world than
I have. I do see a lot of me in her, but she is much
more brave… I don’t think I could ever
stand up to a hellbug…
Gilles
Nuytens: Each experience
is a whole new opportunity to learn things. What did
you learn from your experience in Defiance?
Nicole Muñoz: Defiance was
my first big recurring as a series, and I really learnt
a lot about acting as an art and as a job. I was surrounded
my incredible mentors like Graham Greene, Kevin Murphy,
Michael Nankin, and the whole cast.
Gilles Nuytens: What
was the most challenging thing you had to do on Defiance?
Nicole Muñoz: Working with
the green screen. I had done work with it before,
but this was on such a larger scale. It takes a lot
of imagination and coordination.
Gilles Nuytens: Graham
Greene is a legendary actor, how was it to work with
him?
Nicole Muñoz: To say that
I play his daughter is such an amazing thing. He is
truly a legend. He is so kind, and full of knowledge.
We would sit together at our cast chairs and discuss
our scenes and run lines before we filmed. And that
is probably one of my favorite memories from being
on set.
Gilles Nuytens: Could
you share some nice or funny anecdotes from the sets?
Nicole Muñoz: The circus,
where all the trailers are, also doubled as a dog
kennel. Jaime and Julie sometimes brought their dogs,
Lulu, Bamboo & Sugar and Mia would sometimes bring
hers, Rainbow. I loved it. I would take them out for
walks between scenes or on our lunch break.
Gilles
Nuytens: There's
also a video game, have you been involved in any way
on it?
Nicole Muñoz: I have not.
Though it is a really interesting concept, the game
influences the show and vice-versa. Grant and Stephanie
had quite a big role in the making of the video game.
Gilles Nuytens: FREE
QUESTION
Nicole Muñoz: "What
is next on your agenda?" I just finished
filming a pilot called “Rita” it is an
absolutely hilarious comedy. I am also currently filming
a TV movie called “Baby Sellers” I am
very excited for people to be introduced to my character
in that project.
Gilles Nuytens: Je
vois que vous parlez français couramment, alors
je me permet de vous remercier en français
pour cette interview et pour le temps que vous avez
consacré à y répondre! Très
belle interprétation de votre personnage dans
Defiance, je suis impatient de vous retrouver dans
les prochains épisodes! Je suis ravis d'avoir
fait votre connaissance et je vous souhaite bonne
chance pour la suite! A bientôt peut-être!
(Note: The question
and answer were in French, here is the translation.)
I
see that you can speak French, so I would like to
thank you in French for this interview and for the
time you spent answering it! Great job on your character
in Defiance, I look forward to see you again in the
next episodes! I'm glad to have met you and I wish
you good luck for the rest! See you soon maybe!
Nicole Muñoz: Merci beaucoup
Gilles, j’ai bien aimé vos questions!
J'ai hâte que vous et les lecteurs puissiez
voir les autres episodes et j’espere pouvoir
vous parler encore. De plus, je vous remercie et a
bientôt!
Thank
you very much Gilles, I liked your questions! I can't
wait that you and the readers could watch the next
episodes and I hope to be able to speak to you again.
And I thank you, see you soon!
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