Check out our exclusive interviews with Megalyn Echikunwoke and Victoria Cartagena on the pilot premiere of ‘Almost Family’!
Poster for the new FOX series, “Almost Family”
After discovering the controversy surrounding her father and his fertility research, an only child finds out that she has hundreds of half siblings. From the producer of “Friday Night Lights” and “Parenthood” and the writer from “About a Boy” and “Desperate Housewives”, “Almost Family” is the story of an unusual family formed through extreme odds. The show tackles issues on identity, human connection, and what defines a real family. Can the lies and secrets of one man affect the new relationship of these newly found siblings?
Best known for her roles in “24” and “90210”, and more recently, “Night School”and “Late Night”, Megalyn Echikunwoke now stars in “Almost Family” as Edie Palmer. Victoria Cartagena, best known for her role in “Gotham” also stars in “Almost Family” as Amanda Doherty. We got a chance to speak with both of them bout the premiere of the pilot episode of “Almost Family”!
Megalyn Echikunwoke Interview
The Knockturnal: So tell me what was your initial impression of the script when you got it
Megalyn Echikunwoke: The script, I thought it was really well written, and I was really impressed with the amount of drama and levity that was in one episode at once. I’m a really big fan of Annie [Weisman] and Jason [Katims] so, I was really excited to get that script. It was definitely the best thing that I’ve read in a while.
The Knockturnal: And Jason’s such a legendary showrunner and creator. What was it like meeting him?
Megalyn Echikunwoke: He’s so lovely and so gracious and so collaborative. I really have gotten the sense, just shooting the pilot, that everyone really believes in us and believes in our ideas. So that’s really heartening to know when going into a show that your ideas and what you think about your character really matters.
The Knockturnal: And how was it working with the ensemble? You have Emily, and you have, Brittney. How was working with them?
Megalyn Echikunwoke: We are so lucky we all really like each other. We have really good chemistry on screen, and I think they’re both really funny. We get along really well, so it’s very lucky.
Megalyn Echikunwoke starring in the new FOX series “Almost Family”!
The Knockturnal: How was working with Mo? He said he really enjoyed doing scene work with you.
Megalyn Echikunwoke: Oh I love Mo. Mo is, I mean, what more could you want from a TV Husband?
The Knockturnal: The show is about finding family and family. Can you speak a little about your family or your parents and how they impact you?
Megalyn Echikunwoke: Sure, yeah. Well the parallels between my character Edie and I are that we both grew up without dads. My dad died when I was four years old. Yeah so, I grew up with a single mom and me and my brothers, you know, we had our mom so, just like Edie she thought she was fatherless and so I definitely don’t have that revelation at 30 years old that I’ve known my father my whole life. That would actually be nice or weird. That would be complicated, but, yeah she definitely has a complicated family thing and I think, who doesn’t, honestly?
The Knockturnal: Were there any challenges while working on this project? Are you new to New York or have you worked in New York before?
Megalyn Echikunwoke: I’ve worked in NY before, this’ll be like third or fourth series shooting in NY so I am familiar and I’ve worked with all those studios in Brooklyn, but I will say, this show I’m most excited about.
The Knockturnal: It was really really a fun pilot. I was definitely like ‘Where’s it going? What’s gonna happen?’ anything else you’d like to share? Any other independent films or other projects you’re working on?
Megalyn Echikunwoke: I have a movie in theaters right now called ‘Late Night’ that I have a tiny part in but I think it’s a really good movie.
Victoria Cartagena Interview
The Knockturnal: How do you get involved?
Victoria Cartagena: I auditioned during pilot season like every other actress here, and I was lucky enough because they called me back and I got the part! So here we are!
The Knockturnal: What did you love about story?
Victoria Cartagena: I love that there were so many women involved in front and behind the camera. You know I’ve been in this business for about 15 years or so and I’ve never worked with so many women. Directors especially. And it’s special and I think it’s just great to be a part of that and I really was attracted by that.
The Knockturnal: How was working with the ensemble, everyone seems so cool!
Victoria Cartagena: They are really cool. I only got to work really with Megalyn, I didn’t get to start working until the final couple days. So, I haven’t gotten to work with everyone, but I met them behind the scenes and they’re really lovely and I look forward to hopefully working with all of them, we’ll see.
Victoria Cartagena stars in the new FOX series “
Almost Family”
Picture Credit: IMDb
The Knockturnal: How is working with Megalyn?
Victoria Cartagena: She’s funny! She’s just funny and she’s so quirky that I had to remind myself “ok don’t laugh. Don’t’ laugh!” But yeah, she totally captures that whole character and the sort of awkwardness of it. She’s a lot of fun.
The Knockturnal: Is it exciting to film in New York?
Victoria Cartagena: Always, always. I don’t have to move anywhere. I think I’m the only one in the cast who’s actually living in New York. I was like, “win, yes!”
The Knockturnal: The drama’s going escalate based on the pilot. How was playing out all those dramatic scenes?
Victoria Cartagena: That’s always fun because I’m sort of playing on the other side of it – not really a villain. But that’s always more exciting. So, I mean I have no idea where it’s going… I have an idea, a little hunch. But it’s always fun to play on the other side.
The Knockturnal: And tell me about how did you get your start in acting? What drew you to acting originally?
Victoria Cartagena: I was a teacher first for a couple months and after college. And I studied to be a teacher and I decided my whole life I always wanted to try being an actress … filled out an application to AMDA – the American Music Dramatic Academy. I was like “I’m never gonna get in!”… they were like “come in for the audition,” and the rest is history.
The Knockturnal: Is there anything else you like to add, any upcoming independent films or projects?
Victoria Cartagena: Yeah I have I’m very excited about this. I have 21 Bridges with Chadwick Boseman. I think it’s his first film since Black Panther. So, I get to work with him. Actually, I didn’t really get to work with him, but I did get to meet him, so he was lovely. When you watch the film, it looks like I have scenes with him but I acted all my scenes on a green scene. But it’s action-packed. It’s going to be a really great film. He’s basically a cop who’s hunting down these cop killers and I’m his eyes because they shut down the whole entire city. There are around 20 thousand cameras, maybe more or less in Manhattan and I’m sort of his eyes on there and helping him.
Check out the trailer for “Almost Family” below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL-gvYvyWgA
