Gina Torres

Near the top of Hollywood’s "Where Do I Know Them From?" game lies Gina Torres. The esteemed actress has appeared on "Law & Order," "NYPD Blue," "Dark Angel," "Xena," "Profiler," "The Shield," "24," "Without a Trace," "Alias," "Bones," "Criminal Minds," "Eli Stone," "Boston Legal," "FlashForward," "Pushing Daisies," "Gossip Girl," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "The Vampire Diaries" ... to name a few.

Arguably her most beloved work came when she boarded Joss Whedon’s "Firefly" in 2002 as Zoe, the best right hand man anyone could hope for. Since Serenity was grounded in 2005, Gina has hopped from show to show, hoping to find another home to call her own.

She appears to have finally found it in "Huge," ABC Family’s new dramedy set at Camp Victory, a weight loss camp for teens that Gina’s Dr. Dorothy Rand runs. Much like all the other superior ABCF offerings, "Huge" doesn’t only cater to kids — Gina has been given her fair share of heavy lifting to do on screen, and according to the actress, Dorothy’s just getting started.

In addition to finding out what’s coming up on "Huge," Gina looked back on her impressive resume: revisiting her favorite role, revealing the role that took time to appreciate and explaining where her most beloved creation is today!

PopWrap: Were you looking to get back into weekly television?

Gina Torres:I’m always looking to get back into weekly television [laughs] and get on a show that actually has a life. I’m developing a twitch from being on all these fabulous critically acclaimed show that never see the light of day. Knock on wood, I think this is going to be different.

PW: What makes a script pop for you?

Gina: You look for a script that inspires you, makes you go “wow” and offers you the chance to bring something to the table. You want that good marriage and I was just struck by how smart "Huge" was. How funny it was without being precious, which was refreshing. And then there was this character who wasn’t the centerpiece, but potentially so complex.

PW: So there are big things in the words for Dr. Rand?

Gina: [The creators] said, "we have plans for her – she’s ultimately the voice of the show." But I still thought, "I’m not 18, this is ABC Family, what do you mean?" As she’s evolved, they’ve stayed true to their word.

PW: What do you love about this character?

Gina: I just love that she’s a flesh and bone realization of: if you don’t handle your stuff early, it won’t go away. And it’s not just about losing the weight, it’s about what is going on inside, what’s driving you, what’s unnerving you and for most of us, that’s a lifelong process that has to be managed.

PW: So obviously her parental issues will continue to evolve.

Gina: A lot more – there’s some very, very hard stuff coming up with Rand & her father. They were very difficult to shoot because I love Paul Dooley beyond reason, so it was very difficult. Those were hard days.

PW: Rand’s relationship with Will is by far my favorite — what do you make of it?

Gina: There’s symmetry to it. Rand & Will mirror one another in a very interesting way. Because Rand can be quite pissy too, as we’ve seen with Wayne [laughs]! I suspect that as much as Rand is the director and in charge, she has a tremendous amount of respect for Will’s ability to be loud in the face of everyone telling you “you’re wrong.” She says, “no, I am of value. I am a real person and I am to be heard.” What’s interesting is whether or not Will believes it herself.

PW: Although the show does drama very well, it’s also really funny — like the talent show episode. Did you participate in talent shows growing up?

Gina: I did not. I knew I could sing and then I got my chance to in a school play, that’s when I got bitten. “Applause? Ooh, how can I get me some of that all the time [laughs]?” That sort of unleashed the performer. I see my daughter do it now, and I can’t fault her for it because god knows she comes by it honestly. It’s the family business after all.

PW: Would you encourage her to become an actor?

Gina: No because it’s so hard [laughs] It’s so hard. I want to save her from all heartbreak – like me, if she must, I understand that pull. She will have my support.

PW: Speaking of heartbreak, I was an enormous "Firefly/Serenity" fan — and I’m curious what that whole saga taught you?

Gina: It just really teaches you to value and enjoy the work when it comes your way and to be in the moment. You can’t rely on the fickle nature of the industry or the audience. So I always try to just enjoy what I’m doing and go balls to the walls – commit fully and love the people I’m with and surrounded by and take that with me.

PW: Over your career you’ve been on almost every show imaginable ...

Gina: I never came out of the "Lost" jungle though, I almost begged JJ [Abrams] when I ran into him. “Dude, the other half of the plane – I could be on that!” [laughs]

PW: If given the chance to revisit one, who would it be?

Gina: All of them!

PW: Sybil-style: just go in and out of Zoe, Anna Espinoza & Julia Milliken?

Gina: Oh, poor Julia [laughs] I have to say, that was one of my favorite arcs [on season three of "24"] because when you look at it, I went from being the queen of my castle to offing myself — and someone else — within 12 hours [laughs]! That was insane! But I occasionally do have the “where are they now moments?” Like where is Hell, wonder what she’s doing. Did she settle down? Did the world come to an end? I don’t know.

PW: I like that you still give thought to "Cleopatra 2525!"

Gina: Absolutely. That was something that I had to come around to appreciating more. The more distance I get on "Cleopatra," the more fun it is for me. The more esteem I can hold it in. Quite frankly, while all the was happening, "Galaxy Quest" was in theaters and I was Alan Rickman’s character. I would sit there while putting on my plastic gauntlets, thinking, “I’ve done classical theater, I’ve worked with Tony Award winning directors, and I’m running around in a bra and rubber hot pants saving the world.” But I love it now.

PW: What about Zoe — where is she now that Wash has died?

Gina: I will tell you my fantasy: Zoe was pregnant when all that went down [her husband died] and she’s got this little beige, curly red headed baby running around the ship. Jayne’s trying to teach him about Vera [laughs] and he and I fight because I think the kid should learn about guns from me. Kaylie & Simon are very happy. It’s a better-verse. And Mal, well, Mal’s still just a little twisted. His communication skills have not improved. But he’s a good uncle Mal and I just think we’re all still flying. I’m by his side. That’s Zoe.

PW: I love when actor’s create fan-fiction for their own character!

Gina: It’s true, we do! We absolutely do. When you live for a while in someone else’s skin – which is the gift of television – there’s quite a mourning process [after a show ends]. I’ve often thought that if ["Firefly" had] gone another season, or two, we were so human and so beautifully flawed that all of these things were possible.

"Huge" airs Mondays at 9pm on ABC Family