A new episode of Roswell New Mexico titled “Missing My Baby” airs tonight (August 1) at 8PM ET/PT on The CW, and to promote this week’s episode, we were able to speak with actress Rekha Sharma who plays Dr. Shivani Sen in the current season. Sharma is no stranger to TV audiences, especially fans of genre television, having been seen on such series as Smallville, Supernatural, Star Trek: Discovery, Battlestar Galactica, V, and The 100; she was also recently seen on Showtime’s Yellowjackets and is in the upcoming series The Imperfects.
“Missing My Baby” aims to be a big one for her character of Shivani and you can read our interview below.
KSITETV’S CRAIG BYRNE: Would you say that tonight’s episode of Roswell New Mexico is where Shivani is finally out with it about why she is in Roswell working with Liz?
REKHA SHARMA: It does seem like she’s much more open, and certainly, it has the most exciting moments that we’ve had so far, in terms of making this discovery and acquiring this technology.
How much of Shivani’s story arc was laid out for you when you signed on?
I had a really rough sketch of the whole thing, and I was looking forward to seeing the specifics on how it unfolded as we went along. These scripts are so fun.
Is it rewarding as an actor to play a role that can see through other people’s BS?
She does! She really looks, and listens, and sees where people are coming from, I think.
You’ve been in so many acclaimed TV programs. What made this show and this character special for you?
There was something about it that just leapt off the page for me when I got the audition. This woman is so full of life. She felt like a female Tony Stark to me, with all the money and the intelligence and the desire to help forward humanity by working with incredibly intelligent people. And she’s just got a drive to her and a wit. That’s really fun. I hope that all comes across.
For those unfamiliar with Shivani, what has she done in the current season of Roswell New Mexico so far?
She has made a an alliance with with Liz that was not welcome at first, but she has through her sincerity and her ability to listen, and her warmth and kindness, been able to forge a real connection and some trust, even though she’s doing some strange things and riling people up a little bit.
How frustrating is it for her that with all of her money and connections, there are certain things that she cannot save?
Absolutely heartbreaking. I think it’s part of her wisdom and her intelligence, but it’s her blind spot all at once, if that makes any sense. That’s life. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, there are things you can’t change, and certainly not with money. You might be able to change more with other things.
How far would she go to save her daughter?
I think she’s willing to go further than she even knows.
Would she possibly put the aliens in danger to save her?
I think she has a true enough heart that she would never choose anything like that on purpose. But in her her heartache, grief is intense… the possibility of losing somebody you love is absolutely blinding, and I think she might miss some things.
What was it like to film in New Mexico?
I loved it. It was challenging with the the elevation and the lack of humidity, so climate wise, it was quite an adjustment coming from Vancouver. The people in the town of Santa Fe are so lovely. I did a lot of hiking; the nature there is gorgeous, and I’m definitely a nature-oriented person. The crews on this show, and the cast… everyone was just such a breath of fresh air. Really authentic, warm people. It was a really special time.
Will we see Shivani’s wife again before the series is over?
You’ll have to wait and see!
Roswell New Mexico airs Mondays on The CW. You can see photos from “Missing My Baby” below.
Roswell, New Mexico
MYSTERIES AND SECRETS – With missing friends and mysteries abound, Liz (Jeanine Mason) returns to fringe science, but in working alongside her new mentor, she’s confronted with an unsettling revelation and a difficult choice, meanwhile, Maria (Heather Hemmens) uncovers the truth behind the “messages” she’s been receiving. Elsewhere, the bond between brothers is tested when Max (Nathan Dean) keeps an explosive secret from Michael (Michael Vlamis), putting them at odds during a critical moment. Lastly, Isobel (Lily Cowles) tries to pull answers out of Tezca (guest star Brigitte Kali Canales), only to discover that the villain in her story is not as clear-cut as she may seem. The series also stars Tyler Blackburn, Michael Trevino and Amber Midthunder. Antonio Negret directed the episode written by Ariana Quiñónez & Danny Tolli (408). Original Airdate 8/1/2022. Every episode of ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO will be available to stream on The CW App and CWTV.com the day after broadcast for free and without a subscription, log-in or authentication required.
