Is Sinatra a straight-up scoundrel?
Or is she simply a misunderstood visionary?
What was it like when you first received the scripts forParadise?
Julianne Nicholson as Sinatra(Disney/Brian Roedel)
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JULIANNE NICHOLSONThere was definitely a shroud of secrecy around them.
Theres so much more here that you see at first glance.
And then I just loved episode two.
DEADLINE How much did the writers and actors strike interrupt production?
The strike ended and then we started.
We were so grateful to be working in Los Angeles.
Luckily, by the end of filming, there were more shows there and it was feeling alive again.
Youd be driving around looking and youd be late for your audition, sweating.
I love that Dan wants to continue working in Los Angeles.
Even though it costs more, its a big deal.
Its important to keep production in L.A.
DEADLINE Did you wonder about how this show would land given todays political climate?
NICHOLSONNo, not really.
I think I heard Dan say he started thinking about this story idea before This is Us.
So its been kicking around in his imagination for many, many years.
When we were making it, we never talked about politics.
It was pure imagination, pure thriller, and just about getting everybody on board.
For me, its more about the climate crisis and how things continue to erupt everywhere around us.
It does shine a light on that and we push it to the worst-case scenario.
DEADLINE Why was it important to show Sinatras backstory with your dead son?
Would your decisions have been different toward the underground city had he lived?
DEADLINE So Sinatra is to blame for creating this whole underground city.
NICHOLSONShe started the idea.
Shes the person who starts investigating, how can we do this?
But she doesnt have a title, for instance.
DEADLINE Did Dan explain why he chose to call you Sinatra?
NICHOLSONShes just kind of the boss.
His dad was probably in politics, and thats why Cal [James Marsden] is now the president.
They were in business together and now hes one of the most powerful men.
His son is now the president, so that was her actual entry into the world.
DEADLINE But that hasnt necessarily been established, right?
How it was financed?
NICHOLSONIt Its not revealed in the show, no.
But her money was definitely spent.
DEADLINE Did your character ever really like the president?
NICHOLSONI feel like there was a time where she appreciated him.
I feel like theres been other times where she tolerates him.
Its like, if youre not on my team, get out of the way.
DEADLINE At the end of episode seven, we hear you pose the question,am I a monster?
NICHOLSONHis thing was always how were not going to have any good guys or bad guys.
But its still going to be juicy, something fun to watch.
NICHOLSON Did Dan mean to have people misunderstand your characters intentions?
NICHOLSONI never thought that he was worrying about anyones understanding of Sinatra.
She just plays by her own rules.
NICHOLSONAre you looking for her heart of gold?
I dont know that youre going to find that.
The cliffhanger that we leave you with in episode eight will blow your mind.
Theres so much more to discover.
The season one finale ofParadisestreams March 4 on Hulu.
The series has already been renewed for a second season by Hulu.
