‘Revenge’ Exit Interview: Emily VanCamp, Nick Wechsler Giggle A Lot, Josh Bowman Is a Prankster and Most Beloved Actor Revealed
In new edition of TheWrap’s series, “Revenge” cast shares on-set memories, job perks and why shooting the ABC series is like therapy
Linda Ge | May 10, 2015 @ 12:55 PM
Last Updated: May 11, 2015 @ 9:21 AM
As Emily Thorne comes to the end of her quest for vengeance and ABC closes the chapter on “Revenge,” cast members including Emily Van Camp, Nick Weschler and Christa B. Allen got a little nostalgic as they looked back on their five years on the show.
Ahead of Sunday’s series finale, the TheWrap caught up with a few Hamptons residents as they close out the beach season. What was the biggest job perk? Which cast member was universally beloved? Why was filming “Revenge” like therapy for its actors?
See those answers and more here in new edition of TheWrap’s “Exit Interview.”
Emily Van Camp (Amanda Clarke)
Describe your workplace environment..
To have the opportunity to go to work with your friends everyday for 4 years is incredible. It was perfect in so many ways. I learned a lot.
What are your favorite and least favorite pieces of wardrobe worn on the show?
I personally loved it all from the glamorous looks down to the black hoodie. Each costume was so well thought out and served its purpose for the character. Our costume designer Jill never ceased to amaze me.
If you could spare any of Emily’s victims, who would it be?
Probably those who were collateral damage in the grand scheme of things. Declan, the real Emily Thorne, Aiden, Daniel etc. Other than that I feel like she was justified in most of what she did as crazy as it was. I always loved her sense of justice and her determination.
Did you take any memorabilia or tokens from set?
I was going to take the infinity carving on the porch but it disappeared.
Which costar was the biggest distraction?
I’d have to say Nick [Wechsler] just because we are constantly laughing. We both have a strange sense of humor. It was a lot of collecting ourselves before takes but a welcome distraction on an otherwise very serious show.
During shooting was there anything that you were told to do but couldn’t necessarily pull off?
Not in the way you might be thinking, but I felt like I had failed myself a lot throughout the show. I always told myself I wanted to be able to get to this certain level and I didn’t get it there and that’s on me. While people might have seen it and liked it, I thought it could’ve been better.
Most of the time, I thought I was failing myself. There are times when I didn’t though, like when Sam died, when I had to confront Amanda about the tapes in the hotel room, when Amanda died and I’m in the hospital… I felt really good about that stuff and the end of Season 2. I try to keep in mind that it’s not for me, it’s for the audience.
Did you take any memorabilia or tokens from the set when the show wrapped?
No, I didn’t. I heard that Emily wanted to keep the infinity carving on the porch. If I did, it would be some cocktail shaker or something. There are certain items of clothing that I thought we’re cool. I’m OK, I just want to take the friendships and the confidence I got from doing that stuff.
What is next for you? It sucks because I want to play the game where I get asked that and my response is, “I got this and this.” But my conscience tells me to just tell the truth. The truth is that it’s back to trying to get a job. I’m not in a position to have anything lined up. I have to prove myself again. I’m going in with confidence so that’s huge for me. It’s just hitting the bricks again.
Any summer plans?
I’m going to go on a little vacation, go to see family. I am also going to ATX Television Festival at the beginning of June. I’ll going to see some friends in Sweden and hit it hard.
Were your own expectations of the job met? How?
This show exceeded my expectations in every way- starting with the shock of the pilot getting picked up. Not that I didn’t think it would, Philip Noyce’s pilot was outstanding. I just couldn’t believe my luck to be involved!
Was your Wi-Fi signal sufficient?
Never! Not even on location. I’m convinced the producers had a device to interrupt the wifi in order to minimize distractions!! Kidding of course, but it was very frustrating.
Did you take any memorabilia or tokens from set?
I was very grateful to be gifted a beautiful dress from Charlotte’s wardrobe.
Best job perk?
This was the first job I’ve had with my name on a parking space. I found that incredibly luxurious… We all know the parking woes of a life in LA!
What co-star do you wish you could’ve shared a scene with?
I wish I had mores scenes with Gabriel Mann. He is a wonderful human and a joy to be around.
Did you meet your own expectations of the job? If yes, how? If not, what would you do differently?
No, I did not meet my own expectations. I was really trying for a Jamaican accent but I just couldn’t get it to work.
What scene do you wish you could’ve played on “Revenge,” and with which costar?
I have no regrets. My favorite scene was going back to the beach house four years later, and reliving the memories of shooting there when Emily was young. And working with Madeleine was magical. All of the cast became like my family.
What costar was the biggest distraction? Joking, tweeting, goofing, etc
The funniest and prankiest was Josh Bowman (Daniel Grayson). The guy is really hilarious. He’s nonstop. And Nick Wechsler was our rhythm and soul. While Gabriel Mann’s Nolan Ross was the hardest character to beat up in my career, Gabriel is all heart. All three of them are tied for totally awesome.
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NBC
"Crowded" (NBC): Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner executive-produced “Crowded.” The show features empty nesters Mike (Patrick Warburton) and Martina (Carrie Preston). After 20 years of parenting, they are finally reclaiming their wild side. But when both of their grown daughters unexpectedly move back in, they are forced to scratch their plans to move to Florida.
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"Supergirl" (CBS): The series, from Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, will revolve around Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist), who escaped Krypton amid its destruction years ago, and has been hiding the powers she shares with her famous cousin, Superman, since arriving on Earth. But now at age 24, she decides to embrace her superhuman abilities and become the hero she was always meant to be.
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NBC
"Chicago Med" (NBC): “Chicago Med”, revolves around the day-to-day chaos of the city’s most explosive hospital and the courageous team of doctors who hold it together. They will tackle unique new cases inspired by topical events, forging fiery relationships in the pulse-pounding pandemonium of the emergency room, and through it all, familiar faces from the Chicago police and fire departments will intertwine as this third team of Chicago heroes hits the ground running.
Elizabeth Morris/NBC
"Heartbreaker" (NBC): The show, based on the real life and achievements of Dr. Kathy Magliato, is a character-driven medical drama that follows Dr. Alex Panttiere (George), an outspoken world-renowned heart-transplant surgeon and one of the few women in her field.
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"Coach" (NBC): The new offering picks up 18 years after the original ABC series went off the air, with Nelson’s Fox in the present day and retired from coaching. However, he is called back to become assistant coach to his own grown son, who is the new head coach at an Ivy league school in Pennsylvania that is just starting up a new team.
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ABC
"Grandfathered" (NBC): John Stamos stars as longtime bachelor whose life is upended when he discovers he's a father — and a grandfather. Catch "Grandfathered" Tuesdays at 8EST on FOX.
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"The Catch" (ABC): This new Shondaland thriller follows a woman about to get married and about to get conned. Unbeknownst to her slippery fiancé, our heroine (Mireille Enos) — who investigates fraud for a living — is not all she claims to be. When the fiancé’s expertly planned con collides with her perfectly constructed lies, they plunge into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Based on the novel from Kate Atkinson.
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"Lookinglass" (Fox): The drama follows the morally corrupt and retired cop Ray Pritchard (Rob Kazinsky) given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead. He’ll have to choose between his old lifestyle and new sense of purpose while navigating the complicated relationship with his “creators”: an antisocial Internet billionaire and his bio-engineer twin sister.
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FOX
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ABC
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ABC
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"Rush Hour" (CBS): A reimagining of the hit feature film franchise, this new buddy-cop drama follows maverick LAPD detective Carter and by-the-book Hong Kong detective and master martial artist Lee, who knock heads when they are forced to partner together in Los Angeles.
"Life in Pieces" (CBS): This new single camera comedy follows one big happy family and their sometimes awkward, often hilarious and ultimately beautiful milestone moments as told by its various members. "Life in Pieces" airs Mondays at 8:30EST on CBS.
"Angel From Hell" (CBS): A comedy about Amy (Jane Lynch), a colorful, brassy woman, who insinuates herself into Allison’s organized and seemingly perfect life, claiming to be her "guardian angel." "Angel from Hell" premieres November 5 on CBS.
CBS
"Limitless" (CBS): Based on the feature film, the new drama follows Brian Finch, who discovers the brain-boosting power of the mysterious drug NZT, and is coerced by the FBI into using his extraordinary cognitive abilities to solve complex cases for them. Catch "Limitless" Tuesdays at 10EST on CBS.
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CW
"Legends of Tomorrow" (CW): DC's “Legends of Tomorrow” stars Victor Garber, Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller, all reprising superhero or supervillain roles they first played on “Arrow” or “The Flash,” along with newcomers Arthur Darvill, Franz Drameh and Ciara Renee.
"Scream Queens" (Fox): The anthology series revolves around a college campus grappling with a series of murders and the sorority girls wrapped up in the chaos. Ryan Murphy, creator of "Glee" and "American Horror Story," writes and produces. "Scream Queens" airs Tuesdays at 9EST on Fox.
FOX
"Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" (NBC): Neil Patrick Harris hosts his own variety show that will feature sketches, musical numbers, mini game shows, hidden camera pranks and celebrity appearances.
"Bordertown" (Fox): Mark Hentemann and Seth MacFarlane's new animated comedy is about two families living in a Southwest desert town on the U.S. - Mexico border.
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"Shades of Blue" (NBC): Jennifer Lopez stars alongside Ray Liotta in this police drama about a detective (Lopez) who begins working with the FBI to combat corruption in her department.
"You, Me, and the Apocalypse" (NBC): Rob Lowe leads a group of misfits to safety after news breaks that a comet is headed for earth in this apocalyptic comedy.
NBC
"Emerald City" (NBC): In this modern retelling of "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy Gale is whisked away to the mystical land of Oz with her K9 police dog.
"Hot and Bothered" (NBC): Eva Longoria leads this comedy about the crazy mishaps behind the scenes of of telenovela.
NBC
"Game of Silence" (NBC): The new drama follows a successful Atlanta attorney (David Lyons) whose long-lost childhood friends unexpectedly reappear after 25 years.
"Heroes Reborn" (NBC): This limited series reboot of the hit NBC show is about ordinary people who discover they have incredible superpowers. Catch "Heroes Reborn" Thursdays at 8EST on NBC.