One of the hardest things about being a fan of something is knowing that things have to end. With them comes something new, and in today’s climate, you have to ask yourself – do you want to watch a new show? To be honest, I am always afraid of starting a new show, because I don’t want to be disappointed. I don’t think that CIA will let us down.
We all heard about CIA what feels so long ago, and at first, I was not thrilled. Cancelling FBI: International seemed to be a slap in the face. But as time has gone on, one thing that I have realized is that things end, but with good casting comes a show that you can be excited for.
And this girl is excited for CIA.
CIA will focus “on two unlikely partners – a fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon CIA case officer (Tom Ellis), and a by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent (Nick Gehlfuss) who believes in the rule of law. When this odd couple is assigned to work out of CIA’s New York Station, they must learn to work together to investigate cases and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, finding that their differences may actually be their strength.”
Part of the excitement around CIA is the casting ofTom Ellis and Nick Gahlfuss. I get it, but I also think that we need to remember that CIA is led by some pretty strong women, too. One of those is Necar Zadegan.
The actress is no stranger to procedurals – having been on NCIS: New Orleans. She’s also starred in Mayor of Kingstown – which we also love. Her casting made this writer even more excited for CIA.
Talking to her, I was star-struck. She’s been an actor who has commanded the screen and has been one that has shown that women can lead, be strong, and don’t have to back down. She’s strong and fierce.
And speaking for Fangirlish, we’re excited to see her on CIA.
Erin: I’m really excited about CIA. How important was it to you to be involved in this project, and what actually made you want to be involved in this project? And also, can you tell us a little bit about the character of Nikki?
Necar Zadegan: Yes! You know, I think these kinds of stories, this kind of classic American storytelling, is really successful because it’s really fun, you know, and I grew up watching them.
And, I hadn’t really kind of stepped foot in this particular type of programming before in the Wolf universe to this extent. I thought there were a lot of opportunities – for the sake of the show, in that it shoots in New York, and what that can give to the show, and that it was CIA, and there was that international kind of vibe about it, and where we could take the stories.
The actors will be coming to the show because we’re in New York, so I just thought there was a lot of opportunity for a really fun show that we could do.
Erin: I have to… I have to admit that part of my trepidation about the show faded when you got cast, because I’ve, like, I loved you in NCIS,
We are huge NCIS fans, and when you got cast, I was like, oh my god, like, everything is making sense now, and now I can’t wait to watch it, so…
Necar Zadegan: Oh, that makes me so happy. Thank you.
Erin: I also love that it’s in New York.
Necar Zadegan: I know, I know. I’m here.
Erin: How do you like shooting in New York? And, like, what… what does the city bring to the show?
Necar Zadegan: New York is famously one of the greatest cities in the world. Everybody knows that. And every location is iconic.
Not only that, but the wealth of wonderful actors we have, and we get to choose from in New York, that are just here. I was talking to somebody earlier about Law & Order and you know how all the actors have Law & Order on their reel. Everybody’s done Law & Order at one point in their career, you know. If we, you know, kind of get the opportunity to have that type of excitement around our show, where it becomes kind of a… just a staple on somebody’s reel.
We get a lot of opportunities from being in New York. It’s also so close to… the rest of the world. I’m from California, and it really is far away, you know what I mean? It really is. But, New York… a lot of people love to live in New York because it’s so close to London, it’s so close, you know what I mean?
Because the show is titled CIA, and it has that kind of international opportunity. I think that I will get so much more of that opportunity fulfilled just by being in New York. Also, I love living in New York. It’s really, you know, it’s an exciting city in what it offers you. It invites you so, so… Immediately.
Erin: I agree. Not this weekend, though. Stay inside.
Necar Zadegan: February in New York is also, like, a secret. A lot of people don’t come to town because it’s so cold, and it is so cold, and it’s funny because I don’t think anybody hates the cold more than people who live in the cold.
Erin: 100%.
Necar Zadegan: Because you’re, like, over it. But there’s something so lovely about making use of your overcoats. In fact. I’ve been on a number of other shows that we don’t shoot in a place like New York. Often in a costume fitting or something, we’ll put something on, like a beautiful, sexy overcoat that’s just this wonderful material, and immediately the costume designers will say, ‘that’s too New York’, it’s too chic. But we are in New York, so we can wear all the clothes. Which is great.
Erin: I love that there’s, like, this mystery around CIA. We know that it’s a task force; we know that the FBI and CIA are joining forces for this task force. The task force and the office are led by women. With your character being the leader, what are her strengths, what are her weaknesses, and how does she change throughout the season?
Necar Zadegan: Well, we’re gonna see she’s come to this job from a position that she’s had, you know, in the field. When people make career shifts, there are always personal reasons to make a decision like that. I’m sure we’ll find out what those reasons are, but there is a push and pull with her. Just like anybody, the idea of, ‘did I make the right decision, is this really the life for me’. Do I really want to do this? This will come up for her, and we’ll get to see her kind of pulled back into the field a number of times for different reasons. I don’t know if I’m supposed to say that.
And, there are a couple of upcoming episodes that we have yet to shoot where that’ll happen, where she suddenly pulls herself back into the field. And that’s because of her constant uncertainty about this life. Because it’s so different, you know, from what she’s used to.
So, you know, we’ll get to see that unfold. And the characters – all will change, certainly, as we go forward, and their relationships will develop. But, inside of the station where they’re working, specifically, Nikki and Gina, like you said, yes, the women are there, working.
It’s really so cool for me, because I really, really love working with women. I love the company of women, and I prefer it all the time. And I… and I love to watch actresses. I prefer projects that are, that have actresses in them. I get bored sometimes if there’s not a woman in the project. You know, I kind of have to walk away a little bit, go to the bathroom.
Storytelling is… women in the roles where they’re… they’re leading the story forward, they’re pushing the story forward.
Just the relationship, not only between Gina and Nikki, but the relationships between Nikki and Colin and Bill will be so ripe for story. Because of the differences between them, just for the sake of their coming to this work as a woman or as a man.
In my opening scene between myself and Colin, we have this wonderful opportunity to kind of sell the story from a certain relationship, and then we see, oh, they have another relationship – just the relationship dynamic. You know, by virtue of that. So… so I think it’s ripe for a story, all of that.
Erin: I think everything happens for a reason, and, like, you know, whatever it took to get CIA here, I think, from what I at least see online, people are very excited about it, myself included.
Necar Zadegan: Thank you
Erin: My last question for you, because you just said she’s out in the field. One day, I was watching FBI film out my window, and I saw Missy, like, running like no tomorrow, and I was like I could never be in a procedural, because, like, my cardio game is not that strong. It just ain’t happening. So, are you going to be doing a lot of running, and is your cardio game strong?
Necar Zadegan: My cardio game is strong. I… I, get nervous about slipping on the ice in New York. I actually… I think about it every day when I’m walking, taking careful steps. I do feel like there’s something super stealth about the CIA. Super, like, you know, walking quiet like a cat. You don’t know they’re there. FBI does feel like, you know, paced that way more, more so than we do. It’s exciting. We’re more like ducking behind walls, like, peering, you know, staking out.
Erin: Thank you so much for your time. I really can’t wait for the show, and I’m so excited that you’re in it. I’m sure it’s gonna be phenomenal. Thank you.
CIA premieres tonight on CBS.
