'Emergence' stars Zabryna Guevara and Robert Bailey Jr. gush about co-star Allison Tolman: 'You can see her read the phonebook and be riveted'
If you're a 'Fargo' fan, there is no way you are missing ABC's latest show 'Emergence' because do you really want to miss the brilliance that is Allison Tolman's acting? She is returning to a small-town cop, but this time around she is the star of the show, and it is all the better for it.
Her co-star on 'Emergence', Zabryna Guevara, who portrays Dr. Abby, says that Tolman's 'Fargo' fans are going to be thrilled by this new role. Abby also happens to be Tolman's character Jo's best friend and says working with her and sharing the screen with her as much as she gets to is pure joy. "She's such a wonderful actor to watch. You can see her read the phonebook and be riveted. She's just so good," Guevara tells MEA WorldWide (MEAWW).
Robert Bailey Jr., who portrays Chris on the show, also corroborates. "Allison is incredible to work with. I can’t even begin to describe how lucky we are to have the lead of our show be not only an actor of her caliber but an incredible person as well. The warmth and humor she brings to set really resonates on screen. Her performance is so grounded in reality that it makes the world we are building believable for all of us," he tells MEAWW,
He too believes that Tolman's 'Fargo' fans, who already know how talented she is and are eager to follow her in whatever role she chooses, would be happy to see her hop back into the role of a small-town cop. They are in for a surprise when things get a "little magical," he promises.
Tolman is among those actors who have changed the perception of what it means to be a primetime protagonist, and the audiences are thankful for it. As Guevara points out, the brilliance of a show is measured by good writing and good performances, not by the star cast. That said, she believes that TV is at a stage where diversity is the norm and having someone like Tolman as the lead of a show is appreciated because of how talented she is, and how talented the rest of the cast and crew are, and not for her gender, her dress size, her complexion or her sexuality.
"A lot of your leads not being your 'typical lead' in all respect is just the new reality. I don't think it's a thing right now. I'm grateful to be part of a show that supports a new paradigm for what leads do, not what they look like. I'm already past that. I think the fans are too," explains Guevara.
You can watch new episodes of 'Emergence' on Tuesday nights at 10|9c on ABC.