Lily Tyler
Throughout the season, Laura Allen will be responding to questions submitted by viewers like you. Visit Laura's Ask the Cast page to submit your question now. Then be sure to return to this page to see if your question got answered - new questions and answers will be posted throughout the season!
Q: I read that you are were sociology major and a former NYPD domestic violence counselor. What made you take the leap from that to acting?
- Fabian, California
LA: Until I started working part-time at New York City off-Broadway theaters such as Blue Man Group and MCC Theater in the late '90s, I had always thought I would be a domestic violence counselor or advocate in the courts. My first job out of school was with the NYPD as a social worker. But I kept theater in my life at night, and read all the trade papers for auditions. I took acting classes, but wore a bulletproof vest to work. And although New York had so many possibilities for an aspiring actress, usually acting required waitressing jobs, and I wanted to use my skills as a crisis intervention counselor. But finally, theater won out, and I've put away the social work for the time being. I took some cocktail waitressing jobs at jazz clubs, some temp jobs, and finally booked "All My Children" in 2000. That was my beginning of this journey...
Q: Are you surprised by the success of The 4400?
- Laura, Fresno, California
LA: No, I was never surprised by the success of "The 4400" because I remember first reading the script for the pilot episode and finding it so special. Mr. Scott Peters was always a mastermind. What has surprised me, however, is that while we are running around in the woods in Canada, people know about it, people are really watching! Going to work each day is a joy. Our crew, our fantastic extra players and stunt doubles and stand-ins - we are blessed with a community of hard-working players. As a cast member, I feel incredibly indebted to our executive producers, Scott, Ira Behr, Maira Suro, and our team of writers. But I am equally grateful to the fans who keep watching. It is a critical element to the success of a show, and so far we have tremendous support.
Q: What are you finding to be the most challenging aspect of the role of Lily, and what is the most rewarding aspect?
- Marta, California
LA: Lily and Richard have such a ride! We are confronted with conflict that is sometimes much larger than us, and still we keep running. We don't know who to trust. We just want to love each other and our special baby. The biggest challenge for me with Lily is keeping her strong and yet lovable. The first season explored the vulnerability of a group of people who wake up in a new world. This season is about our survival and desire for normalcy. The reward comes to me when I think about how these are themes in our lives in general. However paranormal or supernatural the circumstances in "The 4400," at the core Lily and Richard are very real people handling things the best they know how.
Q: I love the romance story between your character and Richard. Have you gotten positive feedback from this interracial romance?
- Edie Flores, Picayune, Mississippi
LA: The interracial aspect of the relationship is fascinating for me, because people have responded to it with such generosity. Maybe they see that larger than the racial differences between Richard and Lily are the odd similarities they share as 4400s, with Lily's grandmother, and now this remarkable baby that they are handling as best they can. Richard has a beautiful authority to him, and an innocence too, and I think Lily is devoted.
Q: What has been your favorite Richard and Lily scene so far?
- Demelza, New Zealand
LA: My favorite Richard and Lily scene may be one that we shot this year for the fourth episode that aired this season,"Suffer the Children." It's a scene between us at a mini-mart gas stop while we are on the run. NTAC, Jordan Collier, and the police may stop Richard and Lily at any turn, and take away their baby Isabelle. No words are said in this scene, but as the cops drive up to the mini-mart, and Lily is in the driver's seat, Richard's name is called out. In that moment he looks at her through the glass door and pleads with her to leave. Take the baby and drive away from him, perhaps for good.
