What was it about The Originals that you believed would be able to mirror that ability to evoke an obsession?
The Originals is going to be an epic showdown of supernatural forces, and that was very evident in the pilot. I just wanted to be a part of that [laughs]. I am the human on the show, so I might be more of the observer than the warrior, but I loved the pilot script and since then I've watched The Vampire Diaries and just can't get enough. The love affairs, the enemies, the alliances, the politics -- it's so gripping. Plus, I like that The Originals skews a little older; it has more Game of Thrones elements to it.
Since you don't own a TV, I'll assume you were unaware of the massively passionate fanbase Julie Plec and The Vampire Diaries has. Who was the one who explained what you were getting yourself into?
Joseph Morgan, who plays Klaus sat me down when I first flew into Atlanta, and he told me that being on this show has completely changed his life. One of the things he pointed out is that he has charities that his fans have raised huge amounts of money for on Twitter. I really love that there's so much passion behind these fans. And now that we're picked up for a first season, I love the excitement from people on Twitter. I appreciate it so much.
Why did you want to play Cammy?
Cammy has so many layers. I was told by Julie that the reason she picked me for this role is that in the first audition she asked where I was from and said Pasadena. She asked if I was a Rose Princess, and I said, "No, I was a feminist." That sold her [laughs]. Cammy's also a really intelligent girl; she's studying psychology, she's interested in dark aspects of the brain but believes everyone is inherently good. She's not hiding from the bad parts of the world, but she still believes everyone is good and wants to bring that out in them. And who doesn't want to be more like that? I hope I can learn from her.
As the lone human in this world, how long do you think she could or should stay in the dark?
Yeah, it's like Cammy and the tourists wearing fannypacks ... and they're all definitely going to die, so it'll just be me [laughs]. As of now, she's working at a bar, owned by Sophie, who is a witch. So I can see them having a friendship. She also seems to be creating a friendship with Klaus and it sounds like Marcel is trying to groom her to be his queen; I don't know if someone will spill the beans or she will put two and two together, but she has no human friends, it can't take that long!
If she goes from human to supernatural creature during the series, which of the three would you prefer she become?
If that does happen, I hope there's a fight over what I become. "She's becoming a witch!" "She's becoming a werewolf!" "She's becoming a vampire!" [laughs] Maybe I'll be all three -- some super witchy hybrid thing! Yes! Let's do that! And if that happens, Cammy will be the first female president of the United States! Who'd run against her?
