Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Blindspot’s Audrey Esparza

Actress Audrey Esparza has kept audiences on the edge of their seats as FBI Special Agent Natasha Zapata in NBC’s action-packed adventure series Blindspot. With the show in its fifth and final season, Audrey reflects on her journey with the series and the lessons she’s learned, and she teases what’s ahead for her character after the shocking loss of her partner in crime.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Audrey: That’s a good question. I stumbled on it by mistake. I came from a small city that didn’t have an acting school. I dance, which I love. During summer camp one year, I took an acting class. I went from that to taking classes more seriously whenever I could over the summer. I kept putting one foot in front of the other without thinking too much about it.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Audrey: I was very lucky, when I first started working, to get some guest starring roles with some really established actors that I love and respect. Two experiences that come to mind are Madam Secretary and The Americans. Their leads were so incredibly gracious, kind, and prepared. It taught me how I want to be on set, and it really set me up to continue on this path.

PC: You also have a theater background. What’s that tradition been like for you going from the stage to this screen?
Audrey: It wasn’t too big of a transition, to be honest. I love theater. I was just told to do it quieter. [laughs]

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Audrey: That’s so nice of you to say. It’s really hard for me to answer because I’m always excited about the next thing. There’s so much that I want to do, see, and experience that I don’t really look at my career in terms of being successful. I feel like I have so much still to do.

Blindspot

PC: Season 5 of Blindspot just started airing. What can fans expect from this final season? What can you tease about Tasha’s arc?
Audrey: The first episode just aired and there’s a huge blow to my character, Tasha. Her partner and love of her life, Reade, has died, beautifully played by Rob Brown. Blindspot fans can expect an action-packed season. But for Tasha specifically, there’s going to be some big surprises on the horizon. Her arc is really dealing with the loss of Reade.

PC: You’ve been a part of Blindspot since 2015. What’s been the biggest takeaway from this experience?
Audrey: I feel lucky any time that I have a job. The biggest takeaway from this whole experience is that I’m capable of doing this with my life. I haven’t looked back and said, “Uh oh. I should’ve gone to law school.” [laughs]

PC: Which of Tasha’s relationships has been your favorite to explore? Has that changed season to season?
Audrey: Two come to mind! Definitely Tasha’s relationship with Reade has been the most exciting to explore. It’s these two terrified, unemotional people that have all kinds of feelings about each other that they had no interest in exploring. Then this season, my character has a really contentious relationship with Rich Dotcom, who Ennis Esmer plays. You’ll see a sweet friendship develop between these two adversaries.

PC: That’s a great teaser. When you look back at this journey, what stands out?
Audrey: The cast and the crew is such a family. We see each other more than we see our own families. I didn’t expect to love everybody so much.

PC: With this being the final season, if you could share some parting words with Tasha, what would they be?
Audrey: Chin up, girl. It’s going to be all right.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Audrey: I will never say it’s guilty. I am a big proponent of this pleasure, and it is any and all things: Real Housewives.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Audrey: We’ve been on a real old movie kick at home—anything Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, Vivien Leigh. But guilty? I don’t feel guilty about anything I watch, especially right now.

PC: Favorite book?
Audrey: My favorite book is I Know This Much Is True, Wally Lamb’s book. Also, A Little Life. It is so beautiful. I’m going to just, like, give you a little synopsis. It’s this group of male friends in New York City. I lived there, so it’s, like, really fun when books are in New York. So there is this group of friends, and they really love each other, and they have these really complicated, fragile relationships. There’s this one incredibly tortured character that if you are not totally in love with him, you have no soul. So please read it.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Audrey: I love all things Tennessee Williams. Oh, I love Fool For Love [Sam Shepard], Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? [Edward Albee]. I like plays where people yell. [laughs] Those are my favorites.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Audrey: I grew up with a lot of pop in Spanish, so there’s a lot of nineties pop. Old school Shakira is always there. Yesterday, my fiancé introduced me to a band called Arizona from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. I think they’re great.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Audrey: She’s not born yet, but she’s fabulous.

To keep up with Audrey, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Catch new episodes of Blindspot every Thursday at 9/8c on NBC.

Photo Credit: Matthias Clamer/NBC