Elysia Rotaru plays a call girl in The CW’s upcoming iZombie pilot. Rotaru spoke with Hypable about meeting Rob Thomas, the media’s gore obsession, and her next big career moves.
Rotaru’s character was revealed on the iZombie writer’s Twitter account in a very telling bit of script from the pilot.
In honor of our 1 week countdown to #iZombie, here's a random out-of-context chunk of the pilot script: pic.twitter.com/aEZhV3nw03
— iZombie Writers Room (@iZombieWriters) March 10, 2015
The guest star Rotaru will play Tess, a call girl that Detective Clive has Liv on the hunt for. This excerpt from the script can be seen in the second trailer in this story around the :08 mark. From what we can see, it seems like Liv is searching for Tess in a hotel hallway.
In speaking with Hypable, Rotaru spoke of the fun she had working with Rob Thomas, the intense script he produces, and the awesome press the DC Comics adapted television show is already receiving.
On the pilot
“I think that the hype about the project from the comic is getting such good press and publicity all over the world. It’s gonna be a big reveal, that’s for sure. It’s gonna be a great show.”
On the concept of a gaining a dead person’s memories by eating their brain
“I’m sort of like an awesome horror sicko. Like, it’s my favorite genre. So, pun intended, I’ll eat anything up that comes my way about that stuff. I’m just like, ‘yeah, let’s go there!’ Everyone is just tuned into that stuff. It’s almost like this weird desensitized norm of what we’re watching.
Related: The CW’s ‘iZombie’ gets release date, takes over ‘Supernatural’ timeslot
I’m always a big fan of [horror], because I have been since I was a kid too. I feel like when I younger it was a little bit more underground, like, ‘hey, let’s go to your house and read those comics’ kind of thing. And now it’s like, 11-year-olds watching The Walking Dead for family night.
It does take you away from the normality of every day. Like, I don’t see anyone’s brains getting eaten on the side of the sidewalk, y’know?”
Page 2: Rotaru talks ‘Hellcats’ reunion, working with Rob Thomas
On a ‘Hellcats’ reunion with Aly Michalka on ‘iZombie’
“Let’s just say that we briefly met (laughs). I’ll just leave it at that for now.”
On working with Rob Thomas
“When I first met him… You know when somebody just radiates energy out of their face? (laughs) That was kind of what I felt like working with Rob and meeting him for the first time.
He was just all smiles, all the time. He has this beautiful face, this beautiful smile, and then was just on it. He was so supportive, and really encouraging. He had a clarity and he knew how to express himself, which I really value, being on the other side of the lens.”
On her dream TV show role
“My style of the craft definitely directs me and gears me toward aiming for shows like Banshee or Hell on Wheels, or even The Walking Dead, or anything that pushes beyond the limits of The CW, and goes more towards HBO. The raw, gritty, very uncensored… The material where I can come home after and have to have like a four hour shower from (laughs).
Related: iZombie key art reveals a darker, bloodier Liv
The CW is an amazing platform for me up here [Vancouver] to play and explore that. I mean yeah, Arrow, Flash, they’re on my list. They’re in my eyeline to get on, to work on. But even with those shows I would love to explore working on a role that has a little bit more longevity throughout the arc of the show.
I’m kind of aching to really have that lovely recurring character, where you can just keep jiving with the cast.”
On the fast paced script
“It was really fun working on the script of iZombie. It’s so beautifully written because it’s realistic enough that it makes sense to someone just tuning in. As an actor, putting that kind of language in your mouth is always challenging…
If you’re a slug in your speech, then coming up with that quick intensity and vigor and wit in your language is always going to be interesting. My character — I didn’t have that much of a challenge with my work for this role for that show, and you’ll see why when you tune in.”
On her first producer credit for ‘The Wall’
The synopsis for The Wall, which arrives in theaters this Summer and stars Rotaru, reveals a disparately dramatic plot.
When Jesse’s wife Brittany walks out on him after an explosive fight, he confides in his brother, Mark, about their troubled and unfaithful relation- ship. Brick by brick, Jesse and Mark piece together the nights’ prior in hopes of uncovering his wife’s whereabouts. In addition to producing the film, Elysia is starring in it as well.
Related: Liv is a zombie superhero in first iZombie trailer
“This is my first dive into this idea of producing anything, or being a part of the production team. It was nice, and safe, but also fun. It was just hard to wrap my head around being just an actor. Thinking outside of that box, it was a really cool challenge for my brain.”
On the option of becoming a zombie
“I would just really hope that one of my boobs doesn’t rot of in the process (laughs). That would just kill it for me.”
To contact Elysia Rotaru, follow her on her Twitter/Instagram @ElysiaRotaru, or catch her on her Facebook page.
iZombie will air its pilot on Tuesday, March 17 at 9 p.m. eastern on The CW.