‘Brave’ character
Sofia Pernas enjoys strong role in NM-filmed series
In Hollywood, finding a strong role for a woman is difficult.
Which is why Sofia Pernas gravitated toward Hannah Rivera on NBC’s “The Brave.”
“As an actress, you hope to get a role like this,” Pernas says. “You always get a role that is an objectification. (Show creator) Dean (Georgaris) wrote three amazingly strong women for the show. They all have their tragedies, and they have to put them aside for people they love.”
The NBC series has been averaging about 7 million viewers a week since its debut in September. The series is filmed in Albuquerque and airs at 9 p.m. Mondays.
“The Brave” is the journey into the complex world of America’s elite undercover military heroes and the working relationship with the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Deputy Director Patricia Campbell, played by Anne Heche, oversees the daily operations of DIA. Her team of analysts include veterans Cultural Specialist Noah Morgenthal, played by Ellington, and Mission Coordinator Hannah Rivera, played by Pernas, as they wield the world’s most advanced surveillance technology from headquarters in D.C.
A few episodes have aired and, with each episode, the character’s backstory is told.
Pernas says Archer has a lot of resilience and gumption.
“Hannah was a former operator in the field,” she says. “She was cut up in the pilot. That’s why I loved her so much. She’s cut up and tossed aside. She’s put herself back together. It’s like getting bitten by the shark and going back into the water. That’s what is great about the show. We’re not a procedural. The viewer gets to see bits and pieces into the lives of everyone.”
The pilot episode was filmed in Morocco, where Pernas was raised.
“Being Moroccan, the coincidence wasn’t lost on me,” she says. “I got to go back to my hometown. I had never been to Rabat. It was nice because I got to show my cast mates around. I got to be the boss.”
Since the series moved to Albuquerque, Pernas has been impressed with the Land of Enchantment.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” she says. “It’s beautiful, and the nature here is on another level. I come from SoCal, and you’ll see buildings and grass. We have our beaches, and that’s awesome. It doesn’t compare. The bipolar weather is crazy. What I love is driving and seeing lightning strike the ground. I’ve walked along the Rio Grande, which was beautiful. I still want to go to Taos and Ojo Caliente. I don’t want to stay in my house. I want to say that I filmed here and I immersed myself in the community.”
If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.