Photography by Dane Clark
We had the ultimate delight in interviewing Tennille Read who stars in Workin’ Moms. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Tennille! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your role as Bianca in Workin’ Moms. What should the audience expect to see?
Thanks for having me! Audiences can expect to see Bianca taking some big steps towards having a child on her own. They’ll also see her and Frankie becoming closer friends with lots of moments of support and humor.
Tell us about Bianca. Who is she? What is her personality like?
Bianca is warm, big-hearted, and fairly easy-going. But she has an incredibly courageous side too. Deciding to be a single-parent is an admirable feat.
What role does Bianca play in the series?
I think Bianca’s role relates to audience members who are trying to get pregnant or who are doing it alone. It can be a frustrating, scary process, no matter what the scenario, but especially when you don’t have a partner to lean on, the responsibilities are all on your own shoulders. I like how the show explores the idea of family and the untraditional forms of what a family can be.
Was it a challenge to play Bianca?
I think the main challenge of playing Bianca was figuring out who she was. I didn’t have all the episodes to read before I began shooting, so I didn’t have that many clues about who she was. But I kind of liked not knowing. It was a clean slate to build on. It meant that I could just discover her a little more scene to scene using clues in the script, in how other characters treated me, and in my own impulses that popped up while playing the scene.
How did you get the role?
I originally auditioned for the role in 2017 and it was for one episode in Season 2. It was the hottest day of summer and I rode my bicycle across town to casting. I remember the cleavage sweat showing through my dress all too well. But we played the scene a few times, and it kind of worked that I was a bit of a mess. It made me super present in the kind of way you want to be in the audition room. I got the role and it was mentioned that my character may reoccur for Season 3. I think production really liked the chemistry between Juno (who plays Frankie) and I, and they wrote me into eight more episodes.
The subject matter of the series is heartfelt. How does the storyline bring something new to similar stories?
I think Bianca’s storyline reveals a different route to becoming a mother that the show hasn’t explored before. Bianca is approaching motherhood with singlehood. Even though she hasn’t found the right partner yet, she’s going to take control of her situation and move forward however she can. But also, she’s reaching out for support, and Frankie has that to offer her. It’s also new that Frankie is in a place where she can take someone under her wing and help.
What is going to surprise people about Bianca?
Well, I can’t really say anything too specific without giving away the element of surprise, but there’s a side to Bianca that comes out later in the season that definitely caught me by surprise. It’s a bold choice, and it’s explored with the same kind of heart and humor that the show excels at.
Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite scene and why?
There’s a fun scene with Frankie and Juniper that made me laugh out loud when I first read it. When we were shooting it, Juno who plays Frankie and Aviva who plays Juniper gave me a run for my money to keep a straight face.
When looking back on the production, what resonated with you the most and why?
I think what resonated with me the most is the idea that “family” can consist of a non-typical group of people, yet still have all the qualities that really matter in nurturing one another.
What do you enjoy most about your character and role?
I enjoyed the gradual development of Bianca’s and Frankie’s friendship. It felt real to me. I guess I just like to take things slow. [haha]
Do you have anything else you would like to share about the series?
I had a great time working with the cast and crew of this series. Everyone was hugely supportive. Plus, there were so many women working not only in front but also behind the camera. That’s groundbreaking and awesome. Catherine Reitman is a force of intelligence, talent, and action, who is bringing together so many amazing people, telling relevant stories, and exploring storylines and characters we don’t typically see on tv. All of that is setting a higher bar for shows in the future.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
You can find me on Instagram @tennilleread.
Feature Image Credit: Dane Clark.
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