The Strain Q&A: Samantha Mathis on NYC, Politicians, and Del Toro Effects

When you first got a taste of the makeup effects, what was it like on set seeing that for the first time?

Samantha: Really disgusting and disturbing.  Disturbing.  There’s nothing subtle about what the character Justine was showing to the world in that scene.  They were strung up.

It was pretty gross and pretty graphic, and I think really speaks to who she is.  She’s got a message, and she’s shouting it from the rafters.  She’s got a zero tolerance, and she means business.

As a person, and as an actor, as a human being, it’s pretty disgusting, and I think that they do graphic makeup effects and visual effects on the show tremendously well.  As a person, it’s sort of disgusting.  As an artist, I have tremendous respect and awe for what they accomplish.

That moment where Justine reveals the hanging vampires is an incredibly striking signal to put out there in public.  Yet, there is so much growing for the character left to be done.  

Do you feel this is kind of a defining moment for audiences to really have an understanding of where she’s coming from and what she’s willing to do?  Can you maybe tell us how that scene came about and what it’s like filming it with the disgusting effects?  

Samantha: I am working with people who are tremendous visionaries and had conceived of, certainly, that part of the show far before I came along.  What I really appreciate is a visual that is so strong and shows the depths of her seriousness of the situation and I think also her anger.  And that she will do anything to protect her people.

As I spoke about earlier, having a history of feeling that Staten Island hasn’t been protected, and that she’s very dedicated.  Her constituents, who are predominantly first responders, make up a huge part of the citizens of Staten Island.  She is not messing around.

I just got on board.  I’m along for their creative ride, but I thought that it spoke wonders as to how strong she is and brash, one could say, perhaps a little brazen, not the most subtle of politicians.  But when you’re playing with the big boys in New York City, you can’t be timid.  Justine’s a lot of things.  She ain’t timid.

As a New York native and with the show taking place in New York, an amazing city.  It’s been through the best and the worst.  Do you think that New York will be able to fight this kind of apocalypse better than any other city?  

Samantha: I don’t want to speak about what other cities would do.  I don’t know. I will say I’ve lived in both California and New York.  What I really love about New Yorkers is, as brash and rude as people can be, when push comes to shove, and people are in danger, they have each other’s back.  They really look out for each other.

I’d like to say some other things, but I’m not going to swear.  Some stories that would exemplify that, but I’ll just say that New Yorkers get a reputation for being really impatient and really loud and obnoxious, but the truth is when something happens, when there is a disaster, they don’t mess around and they look out for each other and they take care of each other.

I think this band of vampire fighters that you see at the core of the show really does show you, is exemplary of how you can have people from all walks of life in New York.  But when the sh** goes down, they will come together and they will unify to protect each other and protect the people of New York City.