4400 Interview with Autumn Best (Mildred)

The Season 1 finale of 4400 titled “Present is Prologue” airs tonight (February 14) on The CW, and we can safely assume that we’ll get some answers to some mysteries as well as some hints of what’s to come from a possible second season. To promote the finale, KSiteTV spoke with the talented Autumn Best who plays “Mildred” who has telekenetic powers. Last week’s episode showed a bit of her backstory, so that is where we’re starting this interview.

KSITETV’s CRAIG BYRNE: How much of Mildred’s backstory were you told about when you started with this role?

AUTUMN BEST: I was told absolutely nothing, going into it, and the few things that they did tell me about the backstory actually ended up changing. So, I also didn’t know it was happening until I had the script for 12 in my hand. I knew a little bit about the fact that I had a sister. I think they told me that I had a sister when we were filming Episode 5, so I really was in the dark there for a while.

How excited were you when you found out that they were going to be exploring your backstory?

I was super excited, because there are just so many things you can explore with the 70’s era. And I was really excited to see what they would do with with everything. And I also was so excited to hear that they had cast Patty [Patrick Flueger] too, because I had no idea how he was going to fit into all of it.

On that note, how did it make you feel when you found out that people involved with the original 4400 series would be a part of your backstory episode?

I was so excited, because I really like the original series. I think it’s a lot of fun. Wen they told me that the creator [Scott Peters] was going to come and work on it, I was stoked, and then I was on set getting a COVID test one day, and I bumped into Scott in the hallway, and he was like “I’m so excited to meet you as excited to work with you on this episode!” And I was like, “oh my gosh, stop! I’m excited to meet you – this is incredible and wonderful!” He was such a good director. He was he really knew how to communicate with actors, and really made me feel like confident and safe to explore the character. It was really great and exciting to work with everybody on that.

Is Mildred disappointed in how Hayden has kind of turned his back on her a bit?

Definitely. That’s one of the big reasonsw hy she has the idea to kind of go back to Claudette and leave the Bois Blanc in Episode 12. It’s mostly because of Hayden. She really trusts Hayden, and nd if he doesn’t believe her and doesn’t believe in her, then I think she kind of feels lost and feels like she can’t really trust anybody else. I think that was a huge motivator for her throughout the entire episode.

What was your reaction when you read the script for the season finale?

I was blown away. I think it’s honestly my favorite episode of the entire season and really sets the stage for the entire story. Everyone’s just gonna lose their minds when they watch it.

Is it safe to say that we might find out for sure what happened to Rev?

I don’t think I can say, but definitely keep an eye on it, is what I will say.

Between her history and with the other people in the 4400, does Mildred even know what a normal family situation would be?

I really don’t think so. I mean, every every family looks different, obviously, but I I don’t think Mildred has any sort of firsthand experience with a nuclear family structure. She lost her mom at a really young age and was part of the cult, and then immediately was taken and was a part of the 4400. I feel like her community that she made was really close to that. I think even more so than that, staying with Claudette was probably one of the closest times in her life that she had to being in a stable, safe environment with an adult that she trusted. I think that that was a really important moment for her character.

Was there a particular shock or surprise that got to you the most in Season 1?

My biggest shock would probably be when they took my powers away. That was crazy. That was probably the biggest shock to me, because they wouldn’t me they were ever gonna give them back! So it was a very stressful situation.

Were there any particular cast members that you really connected with the most in filming Season One?

That is the hardest question that everyone asks me. I feel like we’re all we’re all just so close and best friends. I think probably Khailah [Johnson, who plays LaDonna] is the one that I hang out with the most. And then also Brittany [Adebumola] and I got really, really close. But honestly, all of us are just best friends, and I’ve been so lucky to learn from all of them.

How did it make you feel to see Mildred change up her look in the later episodes of the season?

It was so fun. I haven’t cut my hair in years, because I’ve been growing out my hair for a really long time, and I also don’t dye my hair or anything like that, so it was so fun to get to do the wig and experience all of that. A simple physical transformation can really affect the character and like what the character is doing internally. It was super fun.

What would you like to see happen for Mildred in the future?

She’s had a lot of growth with owning her power and her strength, so I think I would probably love to see a little bit more of like a softer emotional side to her as well, and see how she grows as a person in her relationships. Not just as a leader, if that makes sense.

Is there hope that she can ever mend a relationship with Millicent?

I think I think we always have to hope that our family members are going to support us in the end, so I don’t think she’ll just gonna give up on her sister anytime soon.

Is there a dream show or franchise you’d like to appear on someday?

I would love to be in Sex Education. I love that show so much – that show’s my favorite. But I also would love to work on a show that I have some kind of hand in producing, or writing, or directing… anything on the creative side. That’s kind of my main goal, to be able to be on the creative side of things and create roles for myself, but also create roles for other actors with disabilities and help to tell their stories. That’s what I hope to do.

Do you have any creative plans for the hiatus between seasons?

Yes, I’m actually writing a movie with my friend, do I’m working on that during the hiatus. And I’m just back to auditioning, and I have an acting studio in Chicago that I might join… I’m just really focused on getting back to that audition grind, and focusing on the craft and practicing. doing my best to be a creative, and not just sit around and wait for an opportunity to fall into my lap, if that makes sense.

And do you have any final words to say to the fans who will be reading this interview?

I just want to say thanks! I really hope that we get to do a Season 2 so we can keep doing what we love for you guys!

The 4400 season finale airs at 9PM ET/PT TONIGHT (February 14) on The CW.