Dana Davis and Nichelle Nichols: New "Heroes"

Fans were thrilled to see a TV icon pop up on "Heroes". Nichelle Nichols, the original Uhura on the classic, groundbreaking "Star Trek" TV series, is playing Nana, a feisty grandma raising kids in post-Katrina New Orleans. Nichelle has the honor of being the first African-American woman to have a starring role in a TV series. Nana's granddaughter Monica, a burger-flipping gal just learning that she has the power to copy anything that she sees, is played by Dana Davis, whom we've seen on "Veronica Mars", "Gilmore Girls", "Boston Public" and she played Raven's rival Jasmine on "That's So Raven". Dana was Hilary Duff's roomie in Raise Your Voice and you can see her next year in the frightfest Prom Night.

We got on the phone with these classy, talented ladies to learn all about their new roles on "Heroes" and what else is up in their busy lives.

TeenTelevision: Nichelle, we've seen a lot of focus on family in the series so far and then you come on as the grandmother character. So could you just talk about the importance of family?

Nichelle: Family is very important in 'Heroes' and especially a New Orleans family. I'm feeling that it's very similar to my own family. I come from a large family and we're always at each other's backs, you know, there for one another. And it's a very loving family. And a very diverse family. And I find the same thing here. [Nana is] a strong woman who's gone through an awful lot with Katrina and has lost her daughter. And now is raising and providing a home for these two beautiful grandchildren.

Dana: Yeah. I think that 'Heroes' really is about family. I mean, sure it's this surreal story and it's about people with powers. But, you know, [family is] the story behind that story. Monica is this girl who dropped out of college to work this job to take care of her family.

TeenTelevision: A lot of African-American kids are being raised by grandparents due to divorce or problems in the family and I wonder if both of you feel gratified to be able to present a positive example of the grandmom and grandkids relationship on TV?

Nichelle: I feel rather honored to play it. I never thought of my career as lasting long enough to have a wonderful role as a grandmother but this is a new type of grandmother. I never got to know my grandparents on either side but I saw my mother and father be great-grandparents to all of their children's offspring and I really base Nana in honor of my mother [Lishia].

Dana: 'Heroes' shows you more of a reality. I was so happy to see a little bi-racial kid with a white mother because that's reality and, just like you said, it's real that grandparents are raising their grandchildren or sisters are having to raise little brothers.

TeenTelevision: Dana, Monica's powers are actually very cool. She's able to watch something, then, do it. How much training have you had to do to learn all these different skills?

Dana: I was kind of thrown into it, just like I showed up for work and they were like, 'guess what Dana, we're doing this'. And so it was really hard on me because I'm like out of shape. I don't even work out. I had to do a lot of physical things right away, like the double-dutching and doing a lot of the karate. I spent a lot of my weeks really, really sore at first. I have a stunt double who works with me. And we're starting to work out.

TeenTelevision: Nichelle, what's the story of how you got this role on "Heroes"?

Nichelle: It was a magical moment I'd say, in a point in time that just stood still. I was passing through. I was doing a film in Denver called The Torturer and I came to LA to pass through, pick up some more clothes and go to another film and my agent [sent me in]. I thought they were talking about a guest appearance for a day. I came to the studio and there sat all these men and women. And then I went 'uh-oh, the last time I saw this many people out, I got 'Star Trek'.

TeenTelevision: Wow. So you were excited?

Nichelle: It was quite wonderful when I got a call saying 'surprise, you're going to be on Heroes'. You have a recurring role. You're joining the cast'. I was all 'oh my God'. And I was delighted. So that was a wonderful, wonderful moment.

TeenTelevision: Dana, how excited are you to be working with Nichelle? And how familiar were you with her work, and with her importance in television in terms of breaking that whole race barrier that she did back in the sixties with the original "Star Trek"?

Dana: When I found out that Nichelle was joining the cast, I was like 'shut up'. And I remember I punched him. I was so excited. My mom was more excited that I was working with Nichelle than that I got the job on 'Heroes'. She was like 'will you please tell Nichelle that I said hi'. She has so much grace and beauty, and I always joke that I'm totally upstaged by her. I'm a big fan and I don't get star struck that often so it's cool to be in her presence even.

Nichelle: Oh that is beautiful. Well you know, the moment I walked on the set and met Dana, I adopted her. I mean, she's such a lovely lady and she's so poised. And I loved her from the moment and I said yeah this is my granddaughter.

TeenTelevision: About the upcoming 'Star Trek' movie. Have you spoken to Zoe Saldana, who is going to be playing the young Uhura?

Nichelle: I'm looking forward to meeting Zoe and I'd say, as Trekkers have said, 'Star Trek' lives and they can just say now 'Star Trek lives on and on'.

TeenTelevision: Dana, I was wondering if you had your character's power, what skill would you look at once and really want to copy?

Dana: I would want to join the NBA! I've always wanted to slam dunk and I've always wanted to impress the boys in my family. I've got a little nephew, too, and he loves NBA. And I'm fascinated with their athletic ability, so I'd definitely get that.

TeenTelevision: Dana, your musical abilities are amazing. So are they going to let you use that talent on the show?

Dana: Well, they're talking about it so we'll see.

TeenTelevision: Dana, your powers are very physical. Can we expect to see any kind of knockdown, drag out fight scenes with other characters, like maybe Kristin Bell's character in the future?

Dana: You're going to see a lot. Monica gets pretty tough. As far as will she be with any other heroes in some cool fights, we can only hope but you'll see a lot of Monica fighting. It gets pretty exciting.

TeenTelevision: Nichelle, Zachary Quinto who plays Sylar will be playing the young Mr. Spock in the upcoming Star Trek movie. Has he come to talk to you, kind of pick your brain about Star Trek?

Nichelle: No, but I know that Zach has talked with Leonard [Nimoy] and he is very, very excited. He himself is a Trekker and you can imagine how excited he is to be chosen to play the young Spock. I gave him my best wishes. They did a brilliant job in casting him.

TeenTelevision: For both of you, I'm wondering if it's sort of emotionally wrenching playing these two survivors of Hurricane Katrina?

Dana: I'll have to say in the beginning it was because when I did my research and I watched some of the documentaries about Katrina, if I see someone else crying, I cry too. I take on that emotion. When I got this part, I couldn't run from it anymore. It made it real to me. I mean, because, you know, "Heroes" is so surreal and it's fun, bringing in this element of reality - it was hard for me at first.

Nichelle: I watched Katrina on television like a junkie. I couldn't turn it off and I was at the crying stage daily, especially with the little children and the people losing their homes. It brings home just how delicate your existence can be at any given time. To be able to play this role, I could relate to her so powerfully and relate to her house, you know. And how she has stood tall and defiant. It either makes you or breaks you. I could see that Nana was not broken, injured but not broken.

TeenTelevision: Dana, many of the characters on 'Heroes', they accept their powers begrudgingly, like they're cursed instead of blessed. Monica seems to enjoy her powers so far. What do you think about that?

Dana: In the beginning the producer sat down with me and they said 'Dana, all the heroes on the show are burdened by their powers and we want to bring, back the excitement of when Masi in the beginning was so excited about his powers. It is refreshing, it's fun. I've played a lot of burdened sad characters, so it's fun for me to play Monica.

TeenTelevision: Will Monica end up a super hero cleaning up New Orleans?

Dana: I can say that that's a good guess. Also, Monica is going to go a place that no NBC hero has gone before you know, it's going to be really fun to see Monica's story unfold because it's something that's not been done on "Heroes" yet, so it'll be very fun.

TeenTelevision: Nichelle, have you seen any similarities between die hard 'Heroes' fans and die hard Trekkers?

Nichelle: Die-hard Trek fans are die-hard 'Heroes' fans. I was in Las Vegas before 30,000 people and a couple of weeks later in Atlanta before 40,000 people. When I got permission to say 'I can confirm the rumor that I will be joining cast of 'Heroes', that place came apart, like you absolutely could not believe, it was thunderous. It was amazing and it went on for a good four or five minutes!

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.