Spoiler Alert!
Jasika Nicole who portrays Astrid (what’s my name?) Farnsworth on the show, has been speaking to TV Guide about Fringe.
It’s a nice interview, among the things she talks about: how good it is working with John Noble, how Astrid might be having a meatier role in future episodes, her thoughts on who the elusive William Bell might be. Perhaps most interestingly to us, she also reveals that there was a reason why Astrid came back to the lab after Walter had drugged her and that we’ll find out why in a future episode. YIPPEE! Anyways, you can read the interview below:
TVGuide.com: So what’s coming up for Astrid? Will she have a larger role in future episodes?
Nicole: She’s always doing a lot of lab work, always doing a lot of filing and interjecting at appropriate moments. Episode 107 [which airs on Nov. 11] is really intense. Astrid has to commandeer this weird line that they’re crossing. It involves one of the members of the team directly, and then someone outside of the team, and they’re trying to bridge a gap. It’s similar to when Olivia was in the tank and she [communicated with John].
TVGuide.com: Do you have a backstory for Astrid?
Nicole: So far I’ve learned that she’s really, really smart, has a brain for science even though that isn’t what she studied. I found out recently that Astrid majored in music. I have a background in musical theater, and J.J. Abrams asked me about it once, and so now Astrid has it too. I was like, “Oh Lord, I’m going to be singing Broadway tunes.” John Noble and I have been planning that since Day 1. We’re so excited for that one.TVGuide.com: Tell me about working with John.
Nicole: John is the funniest guy. I thought he would be very serious, and I was intimidated when I first met him, and I’m pretty sure he made fun of me because, you know, he likes to keep the mood light. Seeing him work is fascinating; it’s like taking a master class. I just like to sit back and watch how he processes information and take notes. He’s able to do a scene a million different ways within the span of five minutes because he’s so able to connect with the artistic vision everyone has for this show.TVGuide.com: But why can’t Dr. Bishop ever remember Astrid’s name?
Nicole: I wonder if it just started out as one joke, and it just ended up being so charming and funny that they kept it going. It’s hard for me not to laugh; John’s reading on it is so funny. We have this running joke where we’re always trying to think of new names for Astrid. We were rehearsing a scene the other day and he called me “Afro,” and I died. I fell on the floor laughing. He’s also called me “Aspirin” and “Ostrich.”TVGuide.com: And when he finally does pay attention to her, he attacks and sedates her. Why do you think Astrid came back to the lab?
Nicole: At first, it was discouraging that they didn’t put anything in that told you why Astrid returned. But I think that it sets up something to happen later. You’re going to find out exactly why she came back. She is integral to helping the team save these people’s lives — to save the world. Her heart tells her to keep doing it even though her brain is saying, “You’ve got to get out of here.”TVGuide.com: Personally, I think that Astrid is much more than she appears, that maybe she has some kind of special skill or power that’s related to Dr. Bishop’s work.
Nicole: I think that is very, very possible. The best theory I heard so far is that I am William Bell.
Read entire interview here. Check out Jasika’s official website here.
I gotta say, it’s great to see that Jasika wasn’t best pleased with the fact that Astrid forgave Walter so soon and with no explanation as to why and how. It’s also nice that they asked her that question, as that’s exactly what we would have asked her. As for Astrid being William Bell, I think I’ll eat the Observer’s hat if that turns out to be the case. Astrid the undercover spy, yes. Astrid the owner of Massive Dynamic and former colleague of Walter, doubtful. Although, perhaps that could explain why he’s always forgetting her name, because she’s not one person, but two? Start the Twilight Zone music. *do do do do do do do do*
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