Interview: Natalie Zea on exploring new territory in season 2 of ‘La Brea’ and the many great roles she’s had [VIDEO]

NBC’s time-traveling adventure series La Brea returns next week for its second season, and among its best characters is Eve, who puts her maternal and organizational skills to good use helping her group of mysteriously transported Angelenos trapped thousand years in the past. Natalie Zea brings her signature grace and energy to the role of Eve in her first science-fiction outing.

Zea has been a regular presence on TV for more than a decade. Unfortunately, some of her shows, including Eyes, Dirty Sexy Money, and The Rebels, didn’t last long, but we enjoyed the chance to reflect on those formative parts and imagine what they might have been like had they done better in the ratings. We also discussed her shorter stints on series like Californication and two of her biggest hits to date, Justified and The Detour.

Season two of La Brea premieres Tuesday, September 27 at 9pm on NBC.

Photo: Ben King/NBC