Sometimes interviews take me for a loop. Why? It’s because even with all of the research that one does for an interview, there is always one thing that stops you in your tracks. You could prepare for the interview and know a piece of information, but something will make you forget it… for a moment.
With me, it was that FBI: Most Wanted actress Roxy Sternberg is British. Her accent immediately put me at ease as I heard it come across my zoom. The actress has a presence, even just by her voice that puts people at ease.
She instantly put me at ease.
With anything The FBI’s on CBS, I get nervous and excited. They are my comfort shows. They are my appointment television. I don’t know what it is about them as a collective, because they are all so different, but it’s also those differences that make it easier for me to keep them seperated.
Up until this season, Most Wanted was the only one that I couldn’t watch live. I had to watch it during the day time because it has scared the crap out of me. Maybe it’s that fear that made me feel as though they weren’t focusing much on the personal part of these agents lives.
PERSONAL LIVES
Now, I know that they have – to a point. I also know that I have felt that last season it was somewhat at a surface level for some characters. This season, Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, played by Sternberg, story has been front and center. We asked about their how she felt about the personal scenes and the personal stories. It can definitely be something that changes the dynamic of a show.
She said, “I personally live for these moments, these personal scenes, and these personal stories. I think that’s what’s really interesting. I think the audience loves the character development and the character scenes as well.”
She continued, “How has it changed the show? I think people are more invested in a show where they can relate to the character. I think it makes it more relatable, more real, more honest and more enjoyable, if I may say so.
And gave credit where credit is due, saying, “I think David Hudgens has been great at doing character development work. I think, along the six years, we have touched on our personal lives and our experiences. There is definitely more of it going on. I think David has done a great job at doing that. I find it more interesting to play as an actor and more interesting to watch as an audience.”
One thing that has stood out this season is Barnes separation and her exes relocation to Washington D.C. with their children. But how will it change Barnes as an agent?
A DIFFERENT KIND OF AGENT
She says, “I think that once you’ve lost your children and I can only imagine, thank God, but once your children have been taken away from you, that there is a sense of fearlessness that there’s nothing else that could possibly go wrong. I think as an agent already, she’s resilient and she’s fearless. I think now, it has strengthened her in a way that I could only imagine.”
This episode focused on Barnes, who after receiving what is a scam call, she tells the girl on the other end that she is an FBI Agent. The caller tells Barnes that she’s being held against her will and it hits Barnes.This means that she has to disregard Remy’s orders to hand the case over to missing persons.
When Roxy described Barnes “fearlessness” and to us it seemed like the perfect way to describe her. With this episode, her fearlessness and her instincts kicked into overdrive. There are so many parts to Barnes that make her a good agent. But what I think doesn’t matter to me, as much as what Roxy does.
She talks about what what she thinks makes her a good agent, “I think being a mother also gives her a sensitivity as well, as well as being fearless, which allows her to sympathize. She also has a behavioral psych degree. I think she’s able to connect with people on a deeper level.”
She continues, “I think she’s always been very sensitive and very resilient and very strong and fearless is the word that I use. I think now that she’s lost her children and her wife, I feel like she has gained a fearlessness on a new level and also a sensitivity on a new level, which I think will be a strength of hers going forward.”
THE REMY OF IT ALL
In watching this weeks episode, I do believe that all of these things have combined together to make her a better agent, but in a way gives her a different advantage from her team. It’s what makes her keep driving forward to solve cases – even ones that others may not see as their teams responsibility.
What I didn’t like, is that this season I have felt that Remy hasn’t necessarily understood Barnes or wanted to listen to her reasoning. It has felt – to me – that there have been passive aggressive jabs at Barnes.
Though I do think that part of is that the two are leaders, so is it leaders clashing? I asked.
She has insight that I don’t see as the viewer, and that’s part of the beautiful part of television and speaking to actors. She stops for a second and for a second, I think I have said the wrong things.
She says, “I think they have found a common ground, but I think if you’re working with someone in these close proximities, in these intense environments, that you’re only naturally going to clash heads now and again. I don’t think that it’s a constant thing. just think now and again they don’t see eye to eye, which is a very natural, normal thing. I can only imagine working with someone in these intense circumstances. You’re not going to always be agreeable with one another.”
She adds, “It makes good television as well I think. No one wants to see a team just smiling and skipping around and just getting on. It’s unrealistic. If you’re working with someone in intense environments day in, day out, you’re not always going to agree with one another.”
APPOINTMENT TELEVISION
I want to fangirl and tell her about my love for Tuesday nights on CBS. For me, and so many I know it is important television. I try to keep the fangirling under control. The FBI’s are appointment television because I am invested in these characters and their quest for justice. The shows have me invested in the way that all these characters genuinely care about the people that they are defending and finding justice for.
Being in the show, I asked her why she thinks that the FBI’s are something that people enjoy watching. Why is it appointment television?
Roxy says, “I think justice is being served in all three episodes. We want to see bad guys being locked up. In real life, unfortunately, it’s not always served. I think there’s something quite satisfying about seeing justice being served, and that’s what we certainly do on our TV show. We’re on the hunt for the worst of the worst. Also, I think it’s a great distraction from some of the– sometimes I don’t want to face my own problems, what’s going on in my life. I’d much sooner turn on a TV show and watch people dealing with their problems. I think there’s a great distraction of people don’t have to deal with their own problems.They watch us solving problems and justice being served. I think there’s a lot of satisfaction in catching bad people.”
She adds, “I think that’s why people enjoy FBI.“
I couldn’t agree with her more. It’s interviews like this and the openness that reminds me just why I love Tuesday nights and The FBI’s.
