CBR spoke to Savre ahead of her debut to discuss what it was like to move on from her long-running Station 19 role into a completely opposite kind of character. She also spoke about how she sees Heather and Heather’s interactions with Found‘s heroes, and how much she wanted to know about the series going in. Plus, what did she gain from working on the show?
CBR: You spent years playing Maya Bishop in Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy. Found is your first network TV role since then, so what was it like to step away from Maya and into Heather’s shoes?
Danielle Savre: A little intimidating, actually. Heather is quite a drastic shift from Maya Bishop. I was worried it may prove to be difficult to get cast as characters so different than Maya after seven seasons, so it was rewarding for multiple reasons. I am excited for the fans to meet her, and I hope that they have as much fun getting to know her as I had playing her.
What was it about this show that made you interested about coming aboard?
The writing. It hooked me immediately. It left me with more questions than answers, which forced me to fill in the blanks. That type of challenge is so creatively fulfilling, and got me excited to get to unravel such a nuanced character.
Absolutely. The cleaner the slate the better. It gives you more freedom but also more responsibility, which I love. I enjoyed trusting the words on the page and relying solely on my instincts, as scary as that can be. It’s exhilarating to come into something with so many unknowns. You’re not really sure if you’re hitting the mark until it airs. So fingers crossed I actually got it right!
She’s written to be a very mysterious character that the audience will have to figure out in future Found Season 2 episodes. How do you not give away too much about her, but reveal enough that the fans care about or pay attention to Heather?
I feel as if the mystery that is woven into the expertly-written dialogue allows me to not have to hold back. The mystery is what she isn’t saying. That is what makes her so interesting to watch. For Heather, the interactions with the team are pretty nuanced. Each scene Heather is in, is loaded with dialogue that lends itself to more questions than answers.
As for my experiences as an actor with the cast and crew, it was nothing short of amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome. My scene partners challenged me and kept me on my toes, in the best way. We all got to play and have a blast. I have never danced around and sang between takes more than on Found! Each actor has so much passion and respect for the show and all of those involved. Honestly, it was quite beautiful to be a part of.
How much information were you given about who Heather was and where she was going, or did you find out organically like the viewers are about to?
