After the mid-season finale of Season 2 of Fear The Walking Dead, Nick (Frank Dillane) left his family to go off on a vision quest and he ended up in La Colonia. La Colonia is a community of survivors in or near Tijuana led by Luciana (Danay Garcia) and Alejandro (Alejandro Nunez). La Colonia get some supplies, notably water, from the Los Hermanos gang who are within a 1/2 day’s walk of the community. They trade drugs for supplies – leveraging Alejandro’s medical knowledge and Nick’s experience as a drug user. It’s guarded by armed residents using watch towers, as well as having sections protected by a chain link fence. It contains a hospital/medical center, market, several houses and a fenced off area (accessed by a bus) that is full of Infected. This is known as the Wall, a barrier to deter attackers. When Season 2 ended, Nick, Luciana and the rest of La Colonia survivors were attacked by masked gunmen. I recently spoke with Luciana herself, Danay Garcia, about joining the cast of the popular show.

You joined the cast during the second season. Was there more or less pressure joining a series that was already established?

Danay: I wasn’t under pressure because the series was already established. It was more because it was an apocalyptic world. I was thinking, ‘I’m put in this position and I have to survive this.’ I was pressured to emerge in this world and be present in it and the rest would take care of itself. I watched a couple episodes to get the tone of the show and get to know them a little bit. Whatever wasn’t on the page I wanted to create and add layers to it and be a team player. There was no pressure actually. It was energy and adrenaline. I just wanted to blend in. It was fun.

I’ve read that when people read for a part for The Walking Dead or Fear The Walking Dead, you have really no idea what you’re really reading for. Was that the case with you?

I didn’t know the nuances of Luciana. I didn’t know about La Colonia. I knew she was a survivor. I knew she lost her family. I knew she was part of La Colonia but I didn’t know much about La Colonia. I only knew a little bit about Alejandro’s character. I didn’t know much about how I found Nick. I basically went in the energy that this is an apocalypse. I went into the audition with a sense of urgency. She’s a responsible woman and she’s in charge. She’s on top of her game. She puts her life out there for the good of all. That’s how I looked at the character in the beginning. It’s a big responsibility.

It is, but if you’re going to survive in Fear The Walking Dead, then you better be a leader.

Exactly. If I’m going to survive, I better have some skills. You have to find a way, find solutions, investigate. You’re constantly thinking, constantly trying to survive.

Speaking of skills, have you developed any skills since joining Fear The Walking Dead?

It’s funny. You go from your normal, chill home in Los Angeles and then have to transition into this world. It can be so physical. You’re surrounded by blood and death and zombies. It’s a lot to take in compared to sunny Santa Monica all year. I come from a dancing background so I’ve worked out my whole life. You have to be in touch with your body. You have to make sure you get enough sleep so you can recharge. It’s almost like you’re living in the apocalypse because, as an actor, you have to deliver. I didn’t really learn that, but I had to get back in that routine physically and mentally.

You mentioned recharging. Were there ever days when you had a particularly grueling shoot and you couldn’t shake it off when you got home? Or are you able to shake it off once you leave the set?

I have a tendency to meditate. I’d eat my lunch and recharge. I sort of recharge as I go along. I have to tell you that at the beginning, I had to confront like a hundred Infected. It’s like Halloween with all these people made up like zombies and you have to get used to it. When you go to makeup, it’s not makeup for girls. It’s putting blood on your face. The first couple days, I’d get home and look in the mirror and see blood on my face and think, ‘thank God we’re not in the apocalypse.’ That transition was challenging.

At the press junket for Season 2, we asked the cast who their dream guest stars would be. Who would some of your dream guest stars be to work with on Fear the Walking Dead?

Anybody?

Anybody.

I could say something crazy right now.

Say something crazy.

I would love Meryl Streep to be the queen of a La Colonia in America and she would be my mentor.

I would love to see Meryl Streep kill a zombie.

Bonus Features for the Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray:
• Audio Commentaries
• Deleted Scenes
• Flight 462 Webisodes
• Q&A with Cast and Creative Team from PaleyFest LA 2016
• Inside Fear the Walking Dead
• The Making of Fear the Walking Dead