Pop-Culturalist.com

Stephanie Nogueras is a gifted storyteller who is best known for the dramatic roles she’s brought to life in projects including Switched at Birth, Unfriended: Dark Web, The Myth of Control, American Diablo, and The Good Fight.

This spring, she makes her comedy debut in Killing It, starring opposite Craig Robinson. The laugh-out-loud series is about class, capitalism, and one man’s quest to achieve the American dream. And also about hunting really big snakes.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Stephanie about Killing It Season 1, diving into the genre, the cast’s chemistry, and her character’s arc.

PC: Could you introduce us to Killing It and your character in the series?
Stephanie: It’s a very unique television show. Killing It is a story about people chasing the American Dream, figuring out a way to make quick money, and doing it by killing snakes. But it’s not really just that. It’s about a family and how the tension and stress between Craig and his ex-wife play out in Craig’s attempt to make money.

My character Camille is very interesting. She’s Craig’s ex-wife. She has a lot of responsibilities regarding supporting the family while Craig is out there struggling to fulfill his dreams. She’s supporting their daughter. Craig is trying to overcome his doubt and figure out how to create this business of his. It’s hilarious. It’s really hilarious, and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to it because it’s about the American Dream. However, it could bring into question whether the American Dream is all about money!

PC: You’re best known for the dramatic roles that you’ve brought to life on screen. With this being your first major venture into the comedy genre, did anything surprise you about the experience? How different are those two disciplines?
Stephanie: They’re definitely different from what I’m used to. This is my first time in a comedy. I definitely had to get out of my comfort zone. I’ve always been comfortable playing drama or horror. That seems easy to me. I’m very familiar with that genre. Being in a comedy, I’m like, “Wait, how am I supposed to portray this? What am I supposed to do?” But it was great to get the feedback that, “No, no, no. Your character brings balance to this environment, so continue to be yourself.” That was really helpful for me. I learned quite a bit about how to work on a comedy. In terms of the storyline, I would be like, “Wait, really? People think this is funny?” But hearing humor and deaf humor are quite different, so it’s been an interesting experience. I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to add this to my range of acting abilities.

PC: One of your passions in life is to mentor young children. Jet Miller plays your daughter in this series, and she’s just starting off in her career. Did you share any words of wisdom with her?
Stephanie: It’s important for you to believe in yourself, especially for deaf young ones. There’s this doubt of, “Can I do it? Will I have a good future?” Of course, it’s a common concern in general for young people, but for deaf children especially. They’ve heard, “No, no, no” for so much of their lives, but it’s important for them to resist that and say, “No, I can do whatever I want. I can be whatever I want.” You can do it. That’s important to remember.

PC: There are so many moments that are going to stay with audiences after the episodes air. They’ll be laughing out loud. Is there a particular scene that you’re really excited for your fans to see?
Stephanie: I’m excited for them to see what happens in the very last episode. There is a cliffhanger. Camille has some things that might be a bit unexpected. That’s all I can say. I’m excited for them to see that.

PC: That’s a great teaser. I’ve got one final question for you. There’s such great chemistry that comes off the screen between you and the rest of the cast. How were you all able to build that while filming during a pandemic?
Stephanie: There were definitely challenges with filming. We didn’t have a lot of time to see each other because we needed to remain as safe as possible. I had an ASL interpreter on set. Everyone had to wear masks, which was difficult for a deaf person when it comes to looking at facial expressions and possibly reading lips. We had the interpreter present to help me connect with each person and develop those relationships. That helps with the dynamic and creates a better team. We had such a short time to make it happen, but we did it. We all like each other. Despite the challenges, we made it work.

To keep up with Stephanie, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Killing It on Peacock today.

Photo Credit: Elaine Torres