Collider: When this came your way, did you know from the beginning what the twist would be?
They sent out episodes five and six, and then seven and eight.
Other times, I only wanna know exactly what my character knows.
With this one, the scripts were just so damn good.
At the end of two, I just hungered for more.
With this one, I read everything.
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It was like putting together the pieces of a puzzle.
It helped me know exactly where things fit into the bigger picture.
So, thats not always what I do, but that is what I did on this one.
Image via Hulu
The things that Im attracted to when I take a job all comes from a character perspective.
I have to recognize a piece of myself.
Political conspiracies, lies, and the human heart collide in Brown and Dan Fogelman’s reunion effort.
How did you view your character?
How does she see herself, compared to how everyone else in the community sees her?
SHAHI: Pretty much almost every character on the show is not who they present to be.
There are many skeletons in their closets.
She is this very hopeful, very optimistic person in this dark world.
Shes this light whos the person trying to unify everyone.
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She tells both Xavier and Sinatra Youre both family people.
You both want the same thing.
Shes trying to unify.
Its interesting to play someone who has a softness about them in this very tough world.
SHAHI: I think it happened before that.
I dont think she was always like that.
Theres such an interesting contrast between your character and Julianne Nicholsons character.
How do you see their dynamic?
What was it like to figure their relationship out?
What you see is almost a codependency between the two of them.
They need the other person.
Theres a lot of admiration there.
Theyre very different people.
Theres such a strong mutual respect, I feel, between the two women.
“You think you’re the only person here who knows how to shoot a gun?”
SHAHI: Yes, exactly.
Everyone fears her, and Im the one thats taking care of the people who fear her.
Theres so much there.
Just wait until episode eight.
What was it like to find that with him and to do those scenes together?
SHAHI: Sterling is such a giving and present actor.
He locks in when hes in a scene, and the only thing that exists is that moment.
Thats why you become an actor.
When you are fortunate enough to work with someone like him, then everything just becomes play.
It almost becomes like a free fall.
I was just pinching myself for the moment that I found myself in.
I was very lucky.
Brown also says, “The first three episodes of [Season 2] slap.”
What are the most challenging aspects of having to shoot a shower scene while also doing dialogue?
SHAHI:I had a no nudity clause.I was like, Im not showing anything this time.
There was a lot to juggle.
It was a shower scene.
Sterling is such a brilliant sparring partner.
We rehearsed the scene with an intimacy coordinator and discussed how the clothes were coming off.
I think the audience appreciates a tease, so we definitely built some of that in there.
It gets everybodys attention.
Youre like, Oh, Ive figured this out.
I also thought the music choice for that scene was brilliant.
Theres just so much that he does right.
What was your reaction to reading the finale script?
What did you think about where everything gets left?
SHAHI: The thing that I enjoyed about the finale is thatyou do find out who the killer is.
That itch gets scratched.
The problem is, youve now got more itches.
Thats a weird metaphor, I know.
Dan does such a brilliant job of setting up other things.
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Cast
Paradiseis available to stream on Hulu.
Check out the trailer:
