One of the few bright spots this season on “Heroes” has been the storyline of Hiro and his new nemesis, the speedy Daphne.
Played by actress Bea Grant, who was spotted by producers during her multi-episode run on “Friday Night Light,” Daphne has proved to be the yin to Hero’s yang this year. The speedy Daphne has, so far, thwarted Hiro at every turn, stealing both halves of a vital formula, all while mocking Hiro’s desire to be a hero.
“It’s been really fun to play out the comedy, in that he thinks he’s a hero and she’s not having it,” Grant told USA Today.
The actress has been signed on for thirteen episodes this season, ensuring that fans will get to see more of the speedy lady. Grant told USA Today that future episodes would reveal who Daphne works for and a bit more about her past.
“Daphne gets a little more serious, but she’s still sort of spacey and funny,” says Grant, who is on board for at least 13 episodes. “She definitely has to deal with a lot more drama. This is ‘Heroes’, after all.”
Fans can also look forward to finding out how her future intertwines with Matt Parkman. Last week, Parkman saw a potential future in which he and Daphne could end up together and with a baby. Does this mean Parkman goes bad or does it mean Daphne will give up her life of crime?
Daphne’s character is part of producer Tim Kring’s stated objective of returning “Heroes” to what worked in season one. Kring said that Daphne was an example of creating a new character who could quickly be incorporated into an existing hero’s storyline, thus giving audiences the chance to connect with the character.
“Because we had Hiro on this quest to find this formula, we thought we would give him an arch-nemesis because he speaks in such comic-book terms,” Kring said. “We came up with the idea of somebody who could move fast enough that if Hiro stopped time, (she) could still move at regular speed, slowed down enough so the two could have scenes together.”
And Kring says this role was created with Grant in mind.
“We wanted an attractive actress, but somebody who stood out a little bit. There’s the quirky quality of her looks and a spunky energy to her,” Kring said. “There’s also an instant likability (and) a kind of vulnerability. We knew we were going to end up with someone who was not evil at heart.”
Grant is pleased with the power of speed, which she calls “one of the best abilities. You’d never be late.”
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