Aylesworth Teases “Lost” Role — A TV Guide On-Line Interview

Reiko Aylesworth, who played Michelle for several seasons on Fox’s “24,” joins “Lost” tonight for a multi-episode recurring role.  Aylesworth talked to our sister site, TV Guide On-Line about the role and what fans can expect.

TVGuide.com: So first things first: Who is Amy?
Aylesworth: Good question. I’m trying to think of how I can describe her without giving anything away… . You come upon Amy in the midst of the biggest crisis of her life. Actually, two of the most intense moments in her life are in this first episode.

TVGuide.com: When is Amy?
Aylesworth: I was told I’m not supposed to reveal that, even though it’s the worst-kept secret. You could probably tell me.

TVGuide.com: Well, the photos would suggest the 1970s. And she seems quite clearly to be having a baby. True?
Aylesworth: Yes.

TVGuide.com: Do we know who the father is?
Aylesworth: Following that [first episode], you do find out who the father is.

TVGuide.com: Might Amy be giving birth to someone… “special”?
Aylesworth: I will say yes, it’s a special person. And you eventually find out who — but not in that first episode.

TVGuide.com: Might the castaways not want Amy to give birth to this person?
Aylesworth: They don’t know at this point who… well, what the stakes are. My character really draws them into a new world, I will say that. That’s mainly what she is for, taking them to that point where they have to decide [about interfering with the past].

TVGuide.com: This week is a Sawyer-centric episode. How so?
Aylesworth: Most of my interaction is with Sawyer. Throughout the episode, all the characters at this point in time debate about whether to interfere with the past or not — and what the consequences might be.

TVGuide.com: Josh Holloway is shaven in these new episodes. Does Sawyer clean up upon seeing pretty Amy?
Aylesworth: Ha! Um, OK, that’s a loaded question. No… It’s something a little more unexpected. This episode’s really exciting because it takes many unexpected turns. The end of this episode is really cool. [I say that] just having read it; I don’t know how they filmed it.

TVGuide.com: Does the ending involve the hooded woman Sawyer uncovers in the promo?
Aylesworth: No, that’s not at the end. There are so many reveals in this. This episode opens up many cans of worms. [The hooded woman] leads into the whole shift in the storyline. But then the end is very cool, too. It widens the scope of the show even more, which is hard to believe! It’s game-changing.

TVGuide.com: Team Darlton told me that an “interesting” romance is on the horizon for two island characters. Could Amy be one of them?
Aylesworth: Hmm… Actually, there’s a very interesting romance. I think I’m kind of a red herring when it comes to that, though. I do work mostly with Josh and Elizabeth [Mitchell, Juliet].

TVGuide.com: You were a fan of Lost before this. What’s your theory on who’s the bad guy here — Ben or Widmore?
Aylesworth: I’m leaning towards Widmore, but Ben… I just want to know why he did what he did with the massacre.

TVGuide.com: We have you for four episodes?
Aylesworth: So far. That I know of.

TVGuide.com: Have you shot the fourth?
Aylesworth: I have not.

TVGuide.com: I understand that 24‘s Michelle was one of your favorite roles.
Aylesworth: It is. At the time, there weren’t a lot of roles where you could be strong and at the top of your game and be compassionate. There was this idea you had to be hard to get ahead.

TVGuide.com: This season, it was revealed that Tony grieved Michelle’s death so much he became treasonous. How touched are you?
Aylesworth: [Laughs] It’s great. My mere lack of presence is propelling a whole story! And to think you only got to see a few days of our relationship. I was only bummed with how I went out; I wanted it to be in a hail of bullets.

TVGuide.com: Michelle could come back from dead as the villain for next season. Forget how mad Tony was; Michelle was the deader one, so she’s really miffed!
Aylesworth: [Laughs] Yeah, I’m really mad! That’s when the show jumps the shark.