NBC dramedy “The Mysteries of Laura” begins its sophomore season tonight at 8 p.m., and fans are looking forward to the strange new cases NYPD Homicide Detective Laura Diamond (Debra Messing) and her team need to figure out, as well as the resolve to many of the personal issues each character was dealing with in the Season 1 finale — especially what will happen next for Meredith Bose (Janina Gavankar) and Billy Soto (Laz Alonso) who finally kissed after many flirtatious encounters.
“I can tell you that they definitely like each other,” Gavankar told Headlines & Global News during an exclusive interview one week before the show’s Sept. 23 return. The 34-year-old actress was on her lunch break while shooting the series at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, N.Y. The cast already filmed six episodes of the hour-long program at the time of our chat, having come back to work after the Fourth of July. “We’re chugging right along,” she said.
Gavankar came to “The Mysteries of Laura” after successful roles on television shows like “The L Word,” “The Gates,” “Arrow,” “True Blood,” “The League” and “The Vampire Diaries.” In addition to acting, she also has a passion for music. “I’m a percussionist and a pianist and I produce all my own vocals,” explained the bubbly Joliet, Illinois, native.
You’re in the 2016 movie “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.” How did that come about?
It’s the coolest thing ever! I did a very interesting short film [2013’s “The Final Moments of Karl Brant”] with Paul [Reubens] a few years ago. We became friends then. I happened to be in L.A. doing a pilot, and he texted me. I went to go visit him and Joe Manganiello, who’s working on it as well. It was nice to catch up with them. Then, the next week, he texted me: “Are you still in town? I figured out a way to put you in my movie.” I went and did a very quick, but very fun little cameo.
What is Paul Reubens, aka Pee-wee Herman, like as a person?
Paul is just the sweetest guy. He sends the best Christmas cards and, if you’re lucky enough to become friends with him, you’ll get the best Happy Birthday texts that you ever did see — these amazing, awkward birthday photos of people just having awkward birthday moments. He will just send them rapid-fire throughout the day to you on your birthday, and it will just make you giggle the entire day. He’s just lovely, and he’s got a weird artist brain — just like the rest of us weirdos who are attracted to this weird industry. You got to be weird to be in this industry. People call you crazy until you make it, then they call you eccentric.
How is your music career going?
I played Carnegie Hall this year with my best friend, who I know as Ahmir, but most people know as Questlove of The Roots. He asked me to play a duet with him, which was amazing. I played vibraphone and he was on drums, and we played a very jazzy rendition of Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls.” That was incredible! I chose to be an actor and, when I did, I sort of had to say to myself, “I’m never going to play Carnegie Hall as a percussionist.” So I was kind of walking around New York in a dream-like state going, “Holy cow! I’m about to play Carnegie Hall!” It was wild! We loved it. It was such a great, emotional experience.
Are you still working with Randy Jackson?
If I release something original again, I’ll probably still do it on Randy’s label. The last piece I put out, [“Don’t Look Down”], had a drum line, a 50-person drum core, as well as a drone in the music video, and I produced the whole thing between “Cut” and “Action” on “The Mysteries of Laura” set. It was the most complicated, difficult thing I’ve ever made in my life, and I’m so glad I did it! I just have to find the brain space to do it. Right now, I’m making smaller, shorter on-camera pieces like the “unauthorized spinoff.” I’m constantly making something. I can’t stop. Everybody here makes fun of me. “She just can’t do just one thing — she’s got to do more than one thing at the same time!” There’s always something interesting going on in my life. If you want to keep up with whatever crazy thing falls out of my head, you can follow me on all of the social media channels.
For more information of Janina Gavankar, visit her official website or follow her on Twitter or Instagram.
