Secret Agent Woman

For fans growing tired of the gang from Losts Oceanic Flight 815, the shows creator J.J. Abrams offered something equally compelling when he plane-crashed into prime time this fall with Fringe. In typical Abrams fashion, the show quickly introduced a dozen unrelated events and characters in as many minutes. Left to figure out the common thread? FBI agent Astrid Farnsworth, played by the adorable Jasika Nicole, whom you may recognize from her role in Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas. Nicole, a theater, voice, and dance major, relished the jump into the supernatural. I think that we as actors are as excited to get the scripts as people are to watch the show to see what happens. Usually when you start a project you have a pretty good idea of who your character is and how they fit into the story, but each episode I get a little more information about who I am. Its an ongoing practice in character development, she says. For Nicole, who lives in Brooklyn with her partner of more than three years, being in the closet was never an option: I came out about 3 years ago. When I went on my first date with a woman, it was so exciting that I wanted to share it more than anything because it was such a big deal to me, she recalls. So isnt prime time ready for an out lesbian detective already? Youre absolutely right. Who knows? Well need to see how that all plays out. I definitely want Astrids personal life to show up a little more. Send a letter to the editor about this article.