Abby Brammell stars on CBS’sThe Unit as Tiffy Gerhardt. Though she was trained in theater (did you know she attended college with Zachary Quinto), Abby makes quite a bang with her role on The Unit, which you can tune into Tuesdays at 9pm EST.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us about your role on The Unit.
ABBY BRAMMELL:
The Unit is a military drama, and it looks at the secret society that exists among the elite kind of soldier who is beyond uniform and is beyond even awards for honor. They’re like, beyond recognition. It looks at their lives and some of them have wives. That’s the character I play, is the wife of one of these guys, and how we relate to this very secretive society that we have to create in order to maintain their alias, kind of. My character was a teacher, and she and her husband are having trouble in their marriage, and they’re in the process of getting a divorce, and so she’s going to a different job option. She’s looking at trying to dance for money. Strip for money.
THE STAR SCOOP:
How did you prepare for this course of change?
ABBY BRAMMELL:
I didn’t really. I didn’t do any kind of research or take any classes or anything like that. I know they exist, and apparently they’re fantastic. I just kind of looked inside. I think everyone has their own kind of inner stripper. I think we can all access that wild and fantastic energy. So that’s basically what I did.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Why do you think The Unit has been so popular?
ABBY BRAMMELL:
That’s a good question. I think everybody really responds to the secret society aspect. This idea that you have to remain anonymous, and yet at the same time, you’re kind of saving the world. I think a lot of people feel like they may not get the recognition that they deserve, but that they can still kind of maintain and do good, and there’s a kind of quiet satisfaction in not being recognized for stuff. These guys, they portray people like that on a grand scale, obviously. They’re kind of like heroes. I think people like the feminine quality, too, that’s embodied in the wives’ story line. You can get too heavy on the masculine side of things with all of the action, but then we’ve got a really nice balance going on when you go home and look at the wives’ story lines and what’s going on on the home front. I think people really respond to that balance of masculine and feminine.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Do you think The Unit appeals to a wide range of ages [among viewers]?
ABBY BRAMMELL:
Yeah, that’s another good question. I wouldn’t say younger kids, because of the violence. We do get pretty violent in the men’s side of things. It’s probably targeted to 16-55 or, even up into — it’s great from 18 to 80, because my grandparents watch it, and they veterans of World War II, and they love it, and they’re like, 84. It’s got a big range, and for some weird reason, it does seem like a family show, because there are families. They do look at the men and the women together. It’s kind of an interesting genre.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Have you taken away any lessons from being part of The Unit?
ABBY BRAMMELL:
Just as an actor, as a technical aspect. I was trained in the theater, so I really learned a lot about how to work with the camera, just technically speaking, it’s been an amazing learning curve. The theater and film, they’re like two completely different mediums. I’ve felt really lucky to be held in such a good way with the crew and with the camera people. They really look out for me. They tell me how to find my light, and keep my eyes open [laughs], really simple stuff, but it’s been huge in terms of my learning how to work with the camera. Also, just being more aware of these roles that the feminine plays in, [and] I don’t want to sound too romantic or anything, but in battle, in war. It’s not just a masculine thing. There is something definitely about the women who are behind the men. It’s really kind of sunk into my psyche.
THE STAR SCOOP:
You said you were trained in theater. How did you end up in television?
ABBY BRAMMELL:
Yeah, I was trained at a conservatory school, and they usher you into the business by giving you a showcase. I was so lucky that I met with an agent, and he sent me on an audition for a TV pilot, and I happened to book it. It was like complete luck that it happened. To any aspiring actor, go and train yourself. You need to tune your instrument, which is your body and your mind, and your soul. There’s nothing like a good conservatory drama school to really get you ready for the work force.
THE STAR SCOOP:
Was your goal to do TV? Are you living out your goals now?
ABBY BRAMMELL:
Yeah, I mean, absolutely. I never really said I wanted to be a TV star, when I was a kid. I always said I want to be on Broadway or I want to be in the movies, but I feel like this is definitely a stepping stone to both of those things, and a training ground. I really feel like, in a way, I’m still in training in this new medium. It definitely feels like a dream come true for sure.
THE STAR SCOOP:
What are you planning to work on in the future?
ABBY BRAMMELL:
I’m pretty locked into The Unit. I can audition for other things, but people have to be willing to work with the scheduling of the TV world. A lot of people kind of want to wait until you’re off a show before they book you into a movie. So I’ve just been relaxing in this pattern of being on a network TV show. I’d love to do some theater.
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