Anastasia Antonia On Working With Justin Hartley And New Role In NBC’s ‘Quantum Leap’

One of our new favorite shows!

Anastasia Antonia is definitely an actress on the rise. You can now watch her shine as ‘Eva Sandoval’ in the upcoming reboot of ‘Quantum Leap’, which just released on NBC last week!

We had the amazing honor of talking to Anastasia on being a fan of sci-fi, winning her recent award, and more!

You are playing the role of Eva Sandoval, a bounty hunter, in the new reboot of Quantum
Leap. What do you hope this new series will do for the fans of the original 1989 show?

A: “I hope that this reboot speaks to the fans of the original series and delights them! It would be everything to me to have the original fans’ stamp of approval!”

What attracted you to Eva Sandoval and the show to make you want to audition for it?

A: “Eva Sandoval has so many aspects in her that live, or have lived, in me. For that  reason alone I wanted a shot at giving life to her my way. Working with Rachel Talalay,  of course, was also an appealing opportunity!”

Are you a fan of sci-fi?

A: “I am! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched Fifth Element!”

How did playing this character challenge you with your acting skills and how did you prepare
to play the role of a bounty hunter?

A: “I liked meditating to get into Eva. Now once I was on set I shared the role of Eva with Raymond Lee, so I had to be flexible and adjust her to Raymond. That would happen on the fly and was definitely a first for me. Raymond was very accommodating for that process.”

Your character is also the love interest of This Is Us’s Justin Hartley. How did you both make
sure the chemistry your characters have in the script was able to play out on screen?

A: “A lot of laughter! Funny story, I was acquainted with Sofia Pernas, Justin’s wife,  years ago. I’m not on social media or up to date with Hollywood gossip, so I really had no idea they were married. All I knew from day one is Justin told me he had a wife that’s “amazing”. Come day two, I was reintroduced to Sofia on set, and the three of us had the best time talking, catching up, and laughing! Those two are hysterical! It was from that level of comfortableness and mutual respect that created space for us to have chemistry on screen.”  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3I0SpwjVK8

Eva Sandoval is described as a “beautiful and confident bounty hunter…” Beauty is
something you have expertise in since you have a background in modeling. Are there times you
feel that modeling and acting intersect? If so, can you describe what model skills you use on
set?

A: “Acting in front of a camera is a different experience for me than modeling. I exercise more self-awareness as a model… knowing my angles, aware of how I’m lit, exuding a  chosen vibe… When I’m acting at my best, I’m lost in my performance. I surrender myself to the story I’m telling and put my full confidence in my assembled team. It’s not  my responsibility to look good anymore, it’s my job to authentically live out a story.” 

You won “Best Actress” at the Idyllwild International Film Festival for the film 86 Melrose
Avenue. What does it mean for you to be recognized and honored for that role?

A: “It means the world to me. I’m still grateful and in awe it happened. You know, I’m ethnically part Lebanese, and 86 Melrose Avenue was the first time in my life I had the opportunity to tell a Lebanese story as an actress. It’s an honor that’s hard to describe.”

How did you prepare for the role of Nadia and did you know the role would be so special that
you would win an award for Best Actress when you agreed to play it?

A: “I really channeled my Jido (grandfather in Arabic) and his stories to become Nadia.  He owned a barber shop, and when I was a kid, he’d come home with all kinds of war stories he’d heard from the men that came in to have their hair cut. These stories happened in Lebanon, his homeland he always yearned for. My Jido also had his own stories of war to share. Taking in these stories, and how he would tell them, impacted me greatly. I still can recall how those stories made me feel. I built Nadia starting there.  It was a beautiful evolution I jumped into without expectation. Paying homage to my  lineage was certainly enough for me, but to be recognized for my performance, made it  all the more special.”

You’ve acted in several different genres. Which are you most comfortable doing and which
are more difficult?

A: “I’d say I’m most comfortable with drama. Wearing my heart on my sleeve is natural  for me, and I’m deeply empathetic. Comedy is fun, but it’s a genre that is much more  complex than it gets credit for!”

What’s next for you? Are there any other projects you have coming out besides Quantum
Leap?

A: “I do have a couple exciting projects in the works but nothing I can speak about just  yet! When I can, I will be back!”

Janesha Jones– Movies/TV Show Editor– Janesha Jones is a pop culture and celebrity news freelance writer who is not only interviewed a few celebrities but has also worked in radio. She enjoys interviewing people to learn their stories and help their fans and listeners learn about them as well.