An Interview with Pallavi Sastry from ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’

Photo Courtesy of Pallavi Sastry.

Pallavi Sastry is a talented actor that has appeared in some big-name shows over the years, such as Blue Bloods and Last Week with John Oliver. Currently, she stars as Nina in The Walking Dead: Dead City, and we were fortunate enough to sit down with Nina to discuss her latest role.
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John Betancourt: How did you find your way into the TWD Universe as both a fan and a cast member?

Pallavi Sastry: I'm not shy in saying that, like, I get scared really easily. So, I actually didn't watch it right off the bat. But I started watching Fear the Walking Dead first. Because Karen David is one of my best friends. And so, because of that, you know, we all support each other, we watch our stuff. And so, started watching that, and then I realized, I was like, “Oh! It's like there's, there's some blood and guts and gore as comes with the territory. But it's actually really good filmmaking, and it's really good writing.” And then I got this job. And I started watching the original from the beginning so that I could get the context of everything, and Maggie and Negan history and all that stuff.

John Betancourt: What did your audition process look like?

Pallavi Sastry: So, like any other audition situation, since the pandemic happened, we've all been like, sort of making audition tapes in a vacuum, you know, kind of send it out into the ether, you don't know what's going to happen. And this is one of those that just felt like, I was just, you know, this is like one of the easiest ones I've done. So, when that happens, I'm just like, I don't even think about it. And then, like, you know, this one felt so good. Or, like, it felt so easy, I should say, like, seamless for me. And so that's when I'm like, “Yeah, that one's not gonna work.” It's, you know what I mean, it wasn't difficult. I wasn’t struggling through it. But yeah, so yeah, that it just really worked out. Like, I mean, I think it just, like clicked right off the bat. So, I'm really happy that like, Eli (Jorné), was a fan and, and hired me.

John Betancourt: What attracted you to the character of Nina?

Pallavi Sastry: So, there's a lot to discover, actually, like, there wasn't any context that I was given, there wasn't a lot of background that I was given, nothing like that. I think what I'm excited to find out is like, how, you know, she sort of ended up…  it kind of feels like to me, like, you know, some of the background work that we did, I was like, I just asked questions to Eli. Like, “How old is she? How long has she known Maggie?” Like, how, you know what I mean? Like, that kind of stuff. So, I think that's what I'm having fun with really, is that it's sort of going to be, what I bring is what's going to happen. And that's exciting. Because it's like a reinvention of the franchise, right? So, you know, they want it to move forward, they want it to expand, that's what's cool about this franchise is that there's always room for expansion. And so, the fact that I'm there, I think it's like really my job to like, give them things to play with. So, I think what I like about her is that she's very much a caretaker. She's very much a community person. She's very, she knows, she knows everybody's name. She recognizes everybody. And so, she… it feels like, you know, she's very much a protector. And so, I'm excited to see where that goes.

John Betancourt: So, you were basically able to create Nina from the ground up.
Pallavi Sastry: Yeah.

John Betancourt: Does that happen often as an actor?

Pallavi Sastry: No! (Laughter) It doesn’t. I mean, what's funny, though, is that, you know, I've had a couple of really great jobs in the last year, and one of them I was a producer, on which, obviously, I created the character that I played in that film, too. So, outside of 2022, you know, I haven't really had a lot of situations where, like, you know, they're like, “Okay. What do you think? Where do you think she comes from? Where do you think she's gonna go?” And you know, just kind of like letting me be me. That's a such a gift.

John Betancourt: Now to expand a little further. You mentioned she’s something of a guardian and positive light in this story, how did you get into that mindset of someone who is a positive influence in a world where very grim things have happened?

Pallavi Sastry: Yeah, good question. So, I leaned on, for the time that I spent on the show. I feel like I leaned on Lauren (Cohan) a bit. Because that's where all the history is, right? Is with her character and with Negan's character, but in terms of I think, like, she's really collaborative, like she's a really kind person, Lauren as an actor and as a person. And so, she would like, every so often she would just like check in with her with me as a scene partner like, and again, like we didn't spend a ton of time together. But I learned a lot from her, in that time. I remember there was one time where we're watching Ginny and Negan in that first episode, and there's like, you know, there's things that are cut, obviously, there's like, not everything that we shoot, like, makes it into the episode, but there's, there's always, like, our presence is there. And she was asking me, she asked me like, “What are you going to be doing? While that's happening?” And, and it forced me to think like, “Oh, all of these people are always in survival mode, even if they're by themselves, they may not be by themselves.” And so, I think that's where the sort of dichotomy comes in is like, I can be a protector, and I can be like somewhat of a positive, you know, presence. But I always have to check my perimeter. I always have to make sure I'm on alert. And so maybe it's like, you know, I'm trying to like always… maybe, that's how she calms herself. But this is all she knows, right? Like, this is all she knows, like, maybe she grew up at hilltop, who knows? Like, we're trying to figure it out.

John Betancourt: So, you mentioned you’re a fan of the saga as well, what is it like to step into the world of TWD Universe as a fan and now an actor?

Pallavi Sastry: Um, well, I mean, no pressure, I guess. (Laughter) Yeah, I mean, it's honestly, it's cool. This is what this is what actors hope for, you know, they hope to book a franchise show like this. Because again, like, the possibilities are endless. Like, I mean, I hate to bring this into… not hate to, but like, I sort of anecdotally want to bring in the fact that, like, our industry is like, sort of on strike in a lot of ways, right? Like, the writers are on strike, SAG might be on strike. But these are the types of jobs that like, put food on the table for us, you know, like, it’s like these franchises that always give life to the characters that can take them in different places that can like, you know, be beloved for many, many years. Like, I mean, this is the kind of stuff that we hope for that's, you know, creatively fulfilling, and also taking care of us. So, I think I'm just really grateful for this. And I'm excited to see where this goes. And I'm, you know, I'm hoping that, that whatever I did bring in whatever I, you know, I can continue to bring. Because I hear that reviews are good. And the viewership is good. So, we can only hope that that means more, right?

John Betancourt: Yes, more please! Now, was there any pressure as an actor because of the prestigious nature of this universe?

Pallavi Sastry: I've been a recurring character before. So, I think really the job when you're doing that is you're walking into somebody's world already. And so, you have to match the game, you have to you have to rise to the occasion and make sure that you're not making it about you. And you're not making it… you're trying to serve the story at hand. And the story at hand is Maggie and Negan trying to figure out how to get Herschel back. And how do they get over their stuff? And so, everything is serving that at the moment. And so, it's always… I think the pressure is really just to like, not get ahead of myself in any way. If that makes sense.

John Betancourt: That makes total sense. Now, what do you hope people take away from Nina’s journey?

Pallavi Sastry: Um, I think it sort of comes back to what we were talking about earlier, right? It's like there's not a lot of good stuff that happens here. But it seems like she's probably a positive presence, a positive influence and somebody who tries to you know, sees the silver lining sort of person. That's what I'm hoping. And, and I think I tried to find moments where like, you could see the intensity even if there wasn't like a ton on the page. It's like the cameras shooting a certain way or like, you know, we're doing something, it might not even be verbal, but it's like, all of a sudden, like, you see, like, all of a sudden, she gets like, “Oh shit, like she's intense.” You know that sort of thing. So, like, I'm really hoping that like that's the questions that people walk away with about her. I wanted to bring a sense of “What is up with her? What is up with her!? I need to know more!” That's the goal. Is to make people want more. And so, if most of the time, she's like a pleasant person, and that's how she gets along with people, which is important in this world, right? Because it's all about survival. But then at the same time, you got to see that fighter energy.

John Betancourt: What are you most excited for audiences to experience in the remainder of season one, without spoilers?

Pallavi Sastry: Um, I think, hmm. Without spoiling anything. What's really cool, I feel like, and it has actually doesn't have a ton to do with me at all. It's like, I just think it's a really, like, fascinating choice to have a completely nonverbal character like Ginny. I think, to allow a child to… because children in this world, they're, like, forced to grow up so fast, right? Because they have to survive. So that plus like, somebody who doesn't shut up, like Negan, (Laughter) I think like, how did that happen? Like how, I think that's what's gonna be really fun to watch, and also heartbreaking at the same time to see like that relationship unfold and to watch this kid, like, over and over again, be either in really heightened situations or be continually disappointed. I just, I think Mahina (Anne Marie Napoleon) did a great job on this. And I think that's something to watch.

John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to your work on the show this season?

Pallavi Sastry: Um, I just love that… I think I'm part of a show where people want to be there. it's a show that you know, always is looking towards, like trying for a sense of hope, like, you know, like, because obviously, you know, it's a zombie apocalypse, but like, we're also like, the world is going through stuff too. And I think it's really enlightening that people want to watch stuff like this in order to feel… like you know, watch people survive, watch people fight, watch people get along with one another figure out their differences. I think there's a lot to be said there about humanity. And I just didn't know that that's what this this franchise or the storytelling or this Walking Dead World would bring. And I'm really happy to be part of that.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.  

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Pallavi Sastry as Nina and Mahina Anne Marie Napoleon as Ginny in Episode 102 of ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ – ‘Who’s There?’ (Photo Courtesy of Peter Kramer/AMC.)