GHOSTS: Nichole Sakura on the Fun (and Physical Challenge) of Playing Jessica

GHOSTS returns on Thursday, February 2, as Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) try to stop their new assistant, Freddie (Mike Lane), from discovering the manor is, well, haunted.

But that’s not the only problem the ghosts have to figure out: Freddie sells his car—which means the ghost who is tied to it, Jessica (Nichole Sakura), could be banished to wherever the new owner decides to take it.

For Sakura, who returns to the comedy for her third episode with “Ghost Hunter,” appearing on the CBS series felt like “worlds colliding”—GHOSTS creators Joe Port and Joe Wiseman are friends with her former SUPERSTORE and MAGGIE bosses; SUPERSTORE’s Kaliko Kauahi also guest starred on GHOSTS earlier this season.

“It felt like I was still within the same family, even though I [was new to the world],” she tells Give Me My Remote.

The role has been a fun challenge, she notes, given Jessica is fairly limited to where she can move.

“I’m a pretty physical actor, so it definitely took away that one element of expression,” she explains. “But me and Román [Zaragoza], who plays Sasappis, we had a very natural kind of friendship and it was really easy to work with him. So there was no discomfort [about the confined scenes in the car]…and honestly, sitting in a car all day—I mean, I can’t complain about that. I really had no complaints.”

A little more complex to navigate? Jessica’s head wound.

“I approached it kind of how the character approached it, which is that she would forget it was even there,” Sakura says with a laugh. “I didn’t put an emphasis on it…I gestured to it. I think it’s that first introductory scene where I touch it and I’m like, ‘Ouch. This hurts.’ So it was very clear to me that she wasn’t that aware of it. So I also chose to not be so aware of it.”

“Of course, the hair and makeup people were constantly fussing over it,” she continues. “It was always like falling down and it was a real fight to keep it perfectly balanced and always within continuity. But thankfully, that wasn’t my responsibility.”

And though Jessica and Sass’ newfound relationship is being threatened, Sakura has nothing but praise for her time working with Zaragoza.

“Over the course of my career, I’ve discovered I’m more method than I realized,” she says. “I just find that it’s essential if I’m going to play a love interest to someone, it’s important to find a point of connection. So we actually met for dinner one night beforehand with Mike, and we all had that bonding experience. And that was a really nice opportunity, because just getting to know people, getting a little bit familiar with them, having that initial meet and greet before you’re just thrown on the set is always really helpful.”

“And he’s so sweet,” she continues. “You don’t always know what you’re gonna get with your other actors, but he was very sweet. And, honestly, that whole cast is so welcoming that they made it a really comfortable environment.”

GHOSTS, Thursdays, 8:30/7:30c, CBS

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