Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Robb Klassen | Hair & Makeup: Kimberly Bragalone | Styling: Amanda Lim
We got to chat with actress Mandeep Dhillon who stars as Allie Rajan on CBS’ CSI: Vegas, about her active imagination growing up, her diverse projects, and Season 2 of CSI: Vegas, which premieres tonight on CBS.
Growing up, was it clear to your family that you would pursue acting?
I think so. I was quite annoying as a child. I would make my brother and sister watch films on repeat and then act them out. I had a very active imagination and would make stories up in my own little world all the time.
What drew you to CSI: Vegas, and how does it feel to be part of the CSI television legacy now?
Well, the fact that it was filming in LA was a huge plus as this is where I have wanted to live for a while now. Also, that it was already an established legacy was nice to be able to join that and bring my own spin to it. It’s a joy to be part of a huge show.
In the show, you play Allie Rajan. Are there similarities between you and your character?
There aren’t many things that are similar between Allie and me. Actually, almost every director we have on the show when they meet me is shocked that I’m nothing like Allie in real life. One thing Allie and I have in common is that we are both living in a foreign country without our families. Another thing is our love for fashion. Although our fashion is different, Allie likes to dress nice, and she has KILLER boots. I like to dress fly, a different kind of fly to Allie, but still, FLY.
With Season 2 on the horizon, what are you most excited for audiences to see this season?
I am most excited for audiences to be reunited with Catherine Willows, I love Marg, and it’s been so much fun working with her and getting to know her. We also have some wonderful new characters this season, which I think the audience will love. The story this season has a bit of an overall arc, so that will be something exciting for them too.
You were in After Life and Avoidance previously. Is there a different rhythm to working on a show like CSI: Vegas vs. something like After Life?
Absolutely!! On both After Life and Avoidance, the vibe is very chill and laid back. Also, they are both comedies, and just 6x30min, so it’s more of a short burst of work compared to CSI: Vegas which is a big machine, with 21 episodes and big crime scenes. CSI seems to go faster for me as there is so much to do and film. Whereas when I filmed Avoidance recently, it felt like time stood still for 7 weeks whilst we created this intimate piece of art. I personally love comedy, so this season I have been trying to add more comedy into CSI: Vegas, haha.
As someone who is a writer and an actress, do you often find yourself changing or editing scripts?
Not particularly. I am pretty good at being able to not add my own writers’ mind to a job that isn’t my creation. If it’s a matter of the odd word or phrase needing to be altered because of me being British, then I will ask the writers on CSI, and they are always happy to change things to suit Allie more. Also, it depends on the project, like on After Life or Avoidance, it was encouraged that we have fun with it and improvise, so then you are free to create and edit scripts but in real-time.
Does being a writer inform your acting in any particular way? Has writing been a helpful skill to have as an actress?
I think it helps to be an actor who is also a writer, as when I am writing my shows, I am acting the different characters out and know what feels organic coming out of my mouth. It also helps that I have read so many scripts and have experience being on set and working with directors and DOPs that I can write in a very visual way. I write as if I’m already in the edit.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
It’s all about the journey. The ups and the downs are all part of the experience of life in general. You would never listen to a song to just get to the end of it. You would listen to a song for all the different melodies and the journey of it. Acting is like that. It’s full of wonderful melodies, ups, and downs, fast moments, and slow moments. Enjoy every bit of it. Also, please believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in you, then no one will. You have to be your biggest champion and know deep within your being that you can achieve anything you wish to; you just have to decide that you are going to.. oh, and ENJOY IT!