There are easily two types of headlines that dominate news today, and those are superheroes and politics. In fact, both topics are so prominent in our culture that every trending news feed has at least three updates on each subject. So, when you’re a beautiful and talented young actress and you have a recurring role on one of the hottest superhero shows and are now set to appear on TV’s most buzz-worthy new show that is set in the world of politics, it’s easy to say that your career is going places. Welcome to the life of Italia Ricci.
Possessing a soft humility off-screen and vibrant, refreshing talent on screen, Ricci is easily poised for stardom in a versatile way that makes her able to show that she could very well be the next Demi Moore- sweet enough to be America’s Sweetheart for a light romantic comedy, tough enough to be an action star, sexy enough to be desired by all, and capable enough to be taken seriously as an actress with true gravitas. Like Moore, Ricci has already proved herself successful while pursuing all avenues, already acquiring quite a fan-base from both Chasing Life and Supergirl, two roles which the actress beautifully is able to find commonalities in as she points out the important message that “Not all heroes wear capes,” and that her character on Chasing Life that was battling cancer was just as big of a hero as any other caped crusader- if not more so.
And with a powerful message like that, Ricci seems perfect to enter into the universe of one of the most talked about new shows of the fall; Designated Survivor as it takes place in Washington D.C.- and if there is any place where the world is currently looking for a hero, that’s where it would be. Based on the real idea in the government of a Designated Survivor, the ABC show tells the story of a lower level cabinet member; The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development [Kiefer Sutherland] whom is made President when he is appointed the Designated Survivor- a person moved to a remote location in case something happens to all higher officials at one time. Ricci plays not only his chief of staff, but also his moral compass- and to hear the words “moral” and “politics” put into the same character bio you can immediately know that the captivating actress will be giving the world yet another hero worth rooting for.
Surrounded by a top-tier cast for her new show, Ricci blends right in with flying colors as she instantly rises to the occasion and manages to never fade into the background. Always highly compelling to watch, the twinkly-eyed actress has the perfect heart-shaped doll face that looks just exotic enough to make you wonder where she might be from- which Ricci will always gladly tell fans; while born of Italian descent, she hails from Richmond Hill, Ontario and has tons of Canadian pride, seeking to hopefully work one day with some of the other great Canadian actors of the industry.
And with her career so fast on the rise, Ricci will undoubtedly get her wish. In the meantime however, she took some time to sit down and talk about her new show Designated Survivor, her character Emily Rhodes, her phenomenal cast, what it was like working on Supergirl and what she would love to do in the future!
Your new show Designated Survivor has plenty of buzz around it, and in a such a political year it is sure to be a hit. Tell fans what that is about and what your role is like.
It’s very exciting and I can’t wait for people to see it! It’s about a lower level cabinet member played by Kiefer Sutherland. He is The Secretary Of Housing and Urban Development, and he is the Designated Survivor during the State of the Union address- which is a real thing where a lower level cabinet member would be selected and taken to a remote location if God forbid something happens to the Capital and the government’s top leaders are gathered in a single location, then the Designated Survivor would become the President- and that’s what happens on the show. And I play Emily Rhodes, Kiefer’s character’s chief of staff when he is the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, so when he becomes President she also gets thrust into The White House and she is immediately trying to learn alongside him how to fit in with the big dogs and what her role is. She sort of keeps Kiefer’s character grounded and true to who he was before he got granted all this power. We’re only three episodes in, so I don’t know quite where she’s going to go yet, but I’m having a great time playing her!
And the cast here is nothing to sneeze at- everyone is so talented! You have Kiefer Sutherland, Maggie Q, and the astonishing Natasha McElhone! How has it been working with them?
Oh, they’ve all just been so fantastic. Every time I’m sitting there and I just look around I think to myself; “How did I get here? This is too good to be true!” They are all such brilliant people and so fascinating to watch when the cameras are rolling. I’m learning so much from them- and it’s very surreal. I feel very lucky to be in the company that I’m in on this show.
And can you touch on how being that this is such a political year and that everyone is in such a frenzy over politics how this show might really reach out to the average man that might really have been looking to see the government shaken up a bit on screen, and how someone on the lower level could be that person to disrupt it and make their way to the top?
Well, it’s not really about someone working their way up from the lower level. What makes this story really interesting and what will touch people is that it’s very much an ordinary man being thrust into an extraordinary circumstance and how he deals with that. And it’s not so much a political show- it’s not as much about the politics of Washington D.C., it’s more about the drama and his family, and there’s a bit of a conspiracy/thriller aspect with Maggie’s [Q] side of it. It’s just more about a man trying to become a respected leader when he became president on a technicality.
With one of the biggest shows on the fall slate and such a quickly rising career, what other roles are you looking to play, and who else would you love to work with?
Ooh! That’s a tough one! I’m really not opposed to playing anything as long as it’s a story that I want to tell. But, I would love to do a period drama, or maybe some super epic love story- or maybe even a major action movie. See? I want to do everything, I can never decide on one occupation! [Cracks up.] I would love to work with Ryan Reynolds- I think he is hilarious and talented, and also Seth Rogen. I respect so many Canadian actors and comedians- I don’t know if I’m funny, but I would love to try more of my hand at comedy. I also love Rose Byrne, who’s not Canadian, but I really enjoy her. There are so many amazing directors I would love to work with like Christopher Nolan, who is a total pipe dream. But, I also just feel so blessed to be working with the people I am working with now, I really feel like pinching myself every day- I almost don’t want to wish for any more!
And of course, fans love you on Supergirl where your character Siobhan took a bit of a dark turn last season. Do you prefer playing the character now that she has become more of a villain?
I had such a good time on Supergirl. I had never played a villain before and when playing that role it really gives an actor the chance to throw every inhibition they have out the window. You are magically six years old and playing pretend with your friends again, and everything that was once in your imagination is now a reality. After spending five hours in the make-up chair and digital effects, it was really such a cool world to play pretend in. I really loved being a part of that show, I would certainly love to come back anytime for season two as I respect the cast, crew and writers so much... except maybe not for the musical episode, because I promise you that fans do not want to hear me sing! [Giggles a bit.]
Supergirl is the first network show that features a female superhero lead, and really focuses on predominantly women’s stories and a female cast. Talk about the importance of that a bit, and how little girls and teenage girls need this and how great it is that the show came back for a second season.
Well, as much as I love Supergirl and admire that the show featured the first comic book superhero female to be put on television, I always think that you don’t have to wear a cape to be someone heroic that little girls can look up to in a positive way. I feel like April Carver in the show I did before, Chasing Life, was very much a superhero as she was someone who was so strong through her battle with cancer. She was just so inspiring for people, and that really meant a lot to me. And being on the set of Supergirl and seeing these little kids all wide-eyed after seeing that girls could be tough too, and that they could be strong and powerful- I love that. And I love that they allow Melissa [Benoist] to be goofy and awkward and emotional and sensitive, but still tough and honest- she’s such a good, wholesome and fully-developed human. And that’s so important for me that we show the world that you don’t need to be perfect to be a superhero, you just have to be honest and true.
And beyond being beautiful and talented, if Ricci comes across as anything it’s sincere. She certainly might be on to something with her statement on how not all superheroes wear capes. In her latest role on Designated Survivor as a trustworthy female working in politics, the dynamic actress might just give little girls the best superhero to look up to yet.
Designated Survivor premieres Wednesday, September 21st at 10/9c on ABC.