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Tell us a little about your childhood and when you started acting.
“I grew up in Queens and then I moved to Long Island. I guess I came out of the womb like this. I was always entertaining my family and singing and dancing. I was always in the dance class or in the chorus or in a high school play. When I was 12, I told my parents, ‘I want to be a Broadway actress, and I want to go to TISCH School of the Arts at NYU.’ And, I applied early decision when I was 17, and I got in, and that’s when I got my first agent. I was in a main-stage play there and got signed and started auditioning during my lunch periods for commercials or little, one-line things here and there.”

So, it seems like success came relatively fast for you?
“I mean, yeah, but I’ve had my fair share of a million terrible jobs. I definitely waitressed, ran a catering department, was a wedding planner’s assistant, and then a personal assistant, a nanny — all of those things. But, yeah, I just kind of kept my eye on the prize. And, I was auditioning the whole time. I would be nannying and covered in poop, and then throwing on a business suit, and running to a Cold Case guest star audition.”

We read on Wikipedia that your middle name is actually Quinn! They must’ve changed your character’s name to Quinn after you were hired, right?
“No! It was a total coincidence! Quinn is my real middle name. That’s what’s so crazy about this whole magical experience. When I auditioned for the role, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, if this could please be fate or a sign that I’m going to get this part! That would be the best thing!'”

It’s pretty clear that there’s a lot you don’t have in common with Quinn — i.e. murderous tendencies, sneaky behavior, etc. But, is there any part of yourself that you see in Quinn, too? 
“Yes! You know, I think what’s cool is that Quinn and I have had kind of parallel trajectories — meaning that when Quinn came to Olivia Pope and Associates, she was sort of new to the job and new to the world, and Olivia Pope was her idol and her mentor. And, I kind of felt like that on set when I first got the part. I had never had this incredible of an acting job, where you’re surrounded by such heavy-hitting, amazing talent, and I felt that way about Kerry Washington in real life. She became a mentor to me very quickly and inspires me as an actress, as a leader. So, then the more that Quinn grew — and sort of grew a pair — and got more grounded in who she was, I felt that similarly was happening to me as a professional actress. Although, you know, now Quinn is really dark and tortuous evil. So, I think now that similar trajectory has stopped!”

Are you ever jealous of Olivia’s wardrobe on set?
“Yes! I mean, who isn’t? The girl’s wardrobe is amazing. Lyn Paolo [the costume designer onScandal is incredible, and she does an amazing job for all of our characters. In the first two seasons, when I put on Quinn’s pencil skirt and her button-downs from Theory, it’s was like, I’m done — I am the character! Now, the things that Quinn is getting to wear now, I love. I can’t wait for you to see. But, Olivia, because she’s so powerful, and she has her name on the door — I mean, those suits are just phenomenal. The jackets, the bags, the gloves, the shoes, the gowns — it’s crazy.”

How would you describe your style?
“You know, it’s great because my style is kind of evolving. In my real life, I’m very casual. I’m definitely like your jeans and T-shirt, the more comfortable the better, hippie girl. Like, long, curly hair, John Lennon sunglasses, a kick-ass scarf, some awesome special-edition sneakers, and I’m out the door. But, because of Scandal, I go to all the events and red-carpet stuff where everyone gets so dressed up. What’s been really cool though is getting to know all of these awesome stylists and designers, and figuring out what brands I like and what doesn’t work for me so well.”

If you had to have an affair with a U.S. president, dead or alive, who would you pick?
“Oh my god. I really love Bill Clinton, I’m not gonna lie — I love Bill Clinton. I would totally be into that. And, I kind of have a weird John Adams thing. I know he wasn’t attractive, but I just love reading his letters to Abigail and vice versa. I don’t know, I have a historical turn-on for that guy.”

When you’re filming an episode, do you already know what’s going to transpire in the next few episodes?
“Not at all. We get the scripts — and we do a cold read. And, that’s all we have until we get a script for the table read. So, like for example, yesterday we had a table read for episode 313, and I just found out what I’m doing, and I do it tomorrow. Then I don’t know what comes down the pipe for the next episode. So, it’s like a really crazy, fun ride. And, it’s really intense sometimes, but you know, you just have the utmost trust because it’s Shonda Rhimes and our Scandal writers who are coming up with the most incredible things. So, you just kind of sit back and you’re like, ‘Okay, let’s see what you got for me in the next one.’”

Who in the cast are you closest to in real life?
“Ugh, I know it’s so cliche, but I have to say, we’re all really tight. The whole cast gets together every other Sunday, and we will watch the episodes together at Jeff Perry’s house, who plays Cyrus. We all get together to prewatch the episodes, that way we can plan out tweets for Thursday night. The episodes are only like 42 minutes, but we end up hanging out at Jeff Perry’s for like five hours. It’s so nice. Honestly, from the moment I took this job, it has been pure magic — I’m not even kidding.”

Who on the show do you think Quinn’s most afraid of?
“I think Quinn is most afraid of — god, that’s a great question — it’s gotta be Huck. He is the only person in her world that’s better at what she does than herself, you know? As much as we love Huck, and the country loves Huck, he’s damaged — at the end of the day, he’s a killer.”

And, who in the cast are you most afraid of in real life?
“In real life, it would definitely be Josh Malina. He is the worst prankster — that’s what he’s known for. Literally, he’s ruthless. He comes from a long line of pranksters, like his dad probably did that a lot to him when he was a kid. So, he’s just no-holds-barred. He’s cutthroat. So, in the beginning when he was pranking me, I would get him back — but it’s just not worth the wrath. His line is so much further than mine, so I just don’t even go there with him. He’s scary.”

Where do you like to shop?
“I love Rag and Bone. I love Madewell. I love Ella Moss. Splendid makes the most comfortable things ever. Oh, and I love Steven Alan and A.P.C.”

What’s been the most challenging scene or episode for you so far?
“Definitely ‘YOLO,’ which was when Quinn was tortured. Guillermo and I are very, very close friends in real life, and our significant others are very close. And, that’s just not normal stuff you do with your friends! But, it was also hard in that I was naked and duck-taped to the floor for 14 hours with men and women just surrounding me and touching me. And, you know, Guillermo was licking my face, and pulling a tooth out — and all the scenes back to back in one day! And, then, the day ends with the scene where George Newbern, who plays Charlie, and I have sex. That has got to be the craziest, hardest day ever! In one way it was the most hardest, challenging day, and on the other side, it was the most exciting, rewarding day because everyone on set just held me up and supported me all day. And, I was pretty happy with how it turned out. I mean, it was pretty messed up! I watched it once, and I’ll never watch it again.”

Are you too traumatized now to go to the dentist?
“Oh my god, I just came back from the Christmas holidays, and the running joke with my entire family was my teeth! I had people literally looking inside my mouth and at my teeth and saying things like, ‘What did he do to you? Do you have all your teeth? We paid so much for your braces!’”

Is it ever hard for you to get into character, or has Quinn become second nature to you?
“I think she’s so complicated. I think she’s one of the most complicated, complex, layered parts I’ll probably ever get to play. But, I just love her. I just love her so much. She’s one of those characters that comes from a really messed up childhood life, has a little bit of daddy issues, and got into some really big trouble. But, she’s really, really sweet and has a loyal, almost naïve heart — but there’s a really, really dark messed up corner of it. And, as an actress, that’s just like the most fun thing to play ever. And, when Shonda Rhimes asks you to go to these crazy dark places of your mind that, for the most part, you don’t allow yourself to go to — that’s really the best job ever.”