As a counterbalance to some of the dark elements of Superman & Lois Season 3, especially involving Lana’s health, the Season 3 premiere gave audiences a bit of a surprise… Chrissy Beppo (Sofia Hasmik) and Lana’s ex Kyle Cushing (Erik Valdez) are hooking up! This adds new wrinkles to Chrissy’s job at the Smallville Gazette and a bit of that comes to a head in tonight’s new episode of the show which is titled “Of Sound Mind.”
KryptonSite’s Craig Byrne was able to speak with actress Sofia Hasmik on the phone for updates on these new developments for the character. You can find the interview below!
KRYPTONSITE: What was your reaction upon reading the script for the season premiere and finding out that Chrissy and Kyle were doing what they were doing?
SOFIA HASMIK: I was given a bit of a heads up before the season started, but reading it, holding a tangible script, and seeing the words, and seeing the interaction… oh, man. I got really excited. I really did. It went from shock and surprise very quickly. to “oh, man, I can’t wait to be doing this!”
This also kind of opens things up to interacting with more people than Clark and Lois, right?
Yeah, definitely. It’s been one of my favorite things this season, and it was really getting to work with Erik [Valdez]. We all [in the cast] have built this bond and friendship, and to get to work with him on professional level… it’s been so much fun. He’s such a great actor.
Did Chrissy grow up in Smallville?
She did.
Did she know Kyle for a long time before this?
No. I mean, there’s a little bit of an age gap. I feel like everybody knows everybody on some level, but no. There really wasn’t much interaction. I mean, we went to the same high school, but totally different years.
How awkward is it for Chrissy that she’s handling all the city matters for the Gazette, and now she has to interact with Lana?
So awkward [sighs]. I love getting to work with Emmanuelle [Chriqui] and having those characters interact. Pre-Season 3, it was always so much fun. Now, every time I have worked with her this past season, there was always that underlying thing of “when is she going to know? When is she gonna find out? It’s written all over my face!” There’s always a bit of that, because she also really believes in the work that Mayor Lang is doing, and she respects Lana, but there is this other this other human side of it, obviously.
In general, how good is Chrissy at keeping secrets?
She’s really good at keeping secrets, but I feel like she has a tiny bit of a tell. I don’t know how tiny it is. When she’s flustered, she just can’t stop talking, and it’ll turn into a full-on ramble when she’s excited, when she’s trying to hide something… and I feel like she overcompensates, but I really do think that with very important matters, she does know how to keep a tight lid.
Is the entire management of the Gazette falling on Chrissy now, since Clark and Lois are otherwise occupied?
No. I think it’s kind of amazing that [they have this] sort of thing where everybody kind of knows what theyre’re doing, they do it, and then we can gather back together and review our notes. I don’t know that all of the work is falling on Chrissy’s shoulders, but I do think that there is a sense of responsibility, in terms of the support that they’re offering each other. Chrissy is very well aware of everything that Lois is going through, and she knows the big secret with Clark, so it’s not so much that it’s falling off her shoulders. It’s that everyone is assuming what responsibility they can.
When you were younger, did you work on your school newspaper or anything like that?
No, I wasn’t. I did volleyball in grade school. I did a lot of sports, and I figure skated my whole life. Figure skating was so storytelling, so it’s been fun to see how that translates into this. I think that journalism is so important, so I feel really honored to be playing this role.
What are the chances we’ll see any of Chrissy’s family this season?
Tune in to find out. I think we’re seeing a lot of growth in the character development of Chrissy Marie Beppo, especially her being in Smallville, so why not?
What is something you haven’t gotten to do on the show yet that you’d like to do?
Last year, I got to sort of fly… but you know what I haven’t gotten to do? I haven’t gotten to work with Wolé [Parks], and I would love for there to be some scenario where our characters interact. He is such a joy, and we have so much fun together… I would love to see what a scene with those two characters would look like. That’s what I would love to see!
How excited were you when you heard that Lex Luthor was coming to the show?
So excited, because there was that like little bit of tease in Season 1, and I’m really beyond stoked for everyone to to see this character come to life in such an incredible way. What an iconic character.
Were you a Superman fan before you got this show?
It’s not that I wasn’t a fan; I just wasn’t really involved in that world. Getting to learn more and more about it, I felt encouraged, and incredibly grateful and honored to be a part of this incredible story. I’ve said it before, but Superman really is a beacon of hope, and I fully believe in that message, so being a part of this grand story… it’s been my greatest honor.
Some of your costars have made appearances at fan conventions. Is that something you’d ever be interested in doing?
I would absolutely love to do that. I really love it. We can make the show and it could be amazing, but it’s in a vacuum if the fans aren’t there and if the audience isn’t there to watch and and take it in. This show is really built for everybody who loves these characters and who loves Superman, and I would love to be a part of that. So, yes. Of course.
How good do you feel about the potential of there being a Season 4?
I feel good about it, but I also know that we’ve all done such amazing work… everybody… cast, crew, writers, our showrunners… we’ve all put so much love and heart into it. So, I’ve been just really good about just staying in the present of that, watching every week and just being so proud. We’ll see what happens.
Do you have any projects scheduled for the hiatus?
Not as of now. I’ve just been catching up with being home and spending time with my family and my dog as much as I can. And I’m finally putting furniture in my place after so much time spent in Vancouver. I finally got a dresser! That’s been my biggest news so far.
Do you have anything else you’d like to say the fans will be reading this?
I feel like it might sound cheesy, but “thank you” from the bottom of my heart for not only welcoming the show into your homes every single week and showing your love, but also, I feel like so welcomed into this incredible community. So honestly, just thank you.