Now once again in possession of her son, Zach, the strigoi version of Kelly (played by Natalie Brown) has a tight grip on Eph's heartstrings in the third season of The Strain. With the series premiering on FX this Sunday night, I had the chance to speak with Brown about embracing Kelly's strigoi side this season, exploring her unbreakable bond with Zach, and more.
I've really enjoyed how much of a role Kelly has played this season. With you coming back to play the strigoi version of Kelly, are you a bit more comfortable this time around? Did it take a little getting used to while transitioning into that role?
Natalie Brown: It took some getting used to, to transition into playing the no-nonsense strigoi, which was a much more physical performance—less reliance on dialogue and more on physicality. In season 3, after having gotten used to that, I then had to find new ways of layering on some of the attributes that Kelly had, some of the emotional palette that she is now given access to without being able to rely on the prosthetic makeups that I had gotten accustomed to. It took some adjusting to, in season 3, not being able to rely on the hard work of the makeup artist and the Feelers, she has less of them to rely on this season and a lot more responsibility is placed on Kelly's shoulders and mine as an actor portraying her.
The feelers were almost the substitute for Zach, but now she has her real son back. It's really been interesting to see that dynamic, with Kelly trying to reconnect with her son and act human around him. What have those scenes been like for you, to tap back into the humanity of Kelly, but then at the same time, you have these little tweaks showing that she's really obviously not the loving mother that she once was, yet she still has feelings for her son?
Natalie Brown: It's not necessarily this lust to feed, because she can do that whenever she wants. It's the need to turn him that is so great. Season 3 is nothing but a lesson in restraint and serving a higher order. Also, she wants to protect her son and this is the only the way she knows how. In a sense, the original essence of Kelly still shines through, because ultimately she wants what she feels is best for her son. Whether it was divorcing Eph in the first season or whether is was to turn him in the third season, it's still ultimately what she feels is going to be the best for her son given the current situation. As things go by the way of the vampires, then eternal life and being a part of this new world order would definitely be in his best interest.
Another thing that's been interesting this season is the flashbacks. Eph's experiencing his alcoholism and he has these dreams, these glimpses into your previous life. It's been real interesting to see Kelly as a human again. Has it been nice to mix it up a little as an actress, and to go back to that normal version of Kelly in season 3?
Natalie Brown: Absolutely. One of our stand-ins said what he finds the most interesting is every time he would see me on set, it was in a different incarnation of Kelly. One day I'd show up as full strigoi, other days I'd show up as human-looking Kelly with a wig, and another day I showed up as Kelly in a flashback when everything was happy and grand and giving birth. That scene in episode 3 was one of my favorite scenes, because it was also one of the most informative flashbacks in the books that really informed, not only Kelly's character, but also that unbreakable bond that she has with Zach that is beyond simply mother and son.
What's really interesting is showing the "caul birth" and having researched the meaning of the "caul birth," and also the books elaborate a little bit on some the mythology on why a caul baby is so rare and so special. Some people believe that caul babies go on to be vampires. In their next life, they have special psychic abilities and powers. Actually the Dalai Lama, when choosing who is to become the next Dalai Lama, also has to be born in full caul, which is really rare. I thought that mythology was really interesting and being able to show that connection that she's had from the very first moment that she gets to meet Zach, they are tethered and always connected very deeply. I was thrilled that they used one of those flashbacks in the series to inform that unbreakable bond that she has to Zach.
Eichorst has really looked after Kelly and shown her the ropes of how to disguise herself as a human since she turned. Does she view Eichorst or trust him as much as she does The Master? Or do you think there's a part of her that doesn't trust Eichorst because he can be a bit sneaky?
Natalie Brown: Eichorst, for her, is a mentor. He's the closest thing she may have to a partner in crime. Richard Sammel compared our relationship to Bonnie and Clyde. Whether it's partners in crime or student and teacher or mentor, it's definitely a partnership that Kelly needs, someone to guide her in this new realm. Also, personally I love having Richard Sammel on set—so much research and insight into playing a vampire disguised as a human, and he's such a joy to work with, such an extraordinary actor who brings so much to his performance that Natalie got as much working with Richard as Kelly gets from partnering with Eichorst.
What are you the most excited for fans see this season? It really feels like a new chapter in this universe.
Natalie Brown: All of it. There are so many things running through my mind right now, some of which I can't disclose. I'll just say that given that season 3 is ten episodes and you can already feel in the first three how the intensity is ratcheted up, season 3 is one wild ride episode by episode. I'm excited for everybody to see all of it.
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The Strain Season 3 debuts on Sunday, August 28th at 10:00pm EST on FX. In case you missed it, check out our exclusive interview with Samantha Mathis:
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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