You probably know her as steaming hot L Word DJ Carmen who was
left at the altar when Shane did a runner.
Speaking with a deep, sexy voice, Sarah Shahi has DIVA's Bella
Qvist sweating on the other side of the phone as she rings up to
talk about lesbian sex scenes, strong women and what it is like to
kiss Katherine Moennig.
Five years after leaving The L Word the 31-year-old plays Kate,
a high-powered mediator in the funny American drama series, Fairly
Legal. Her new role sees the Texas-born actor running around the
streets of San Francisco in pencil skirts and high heels, dealing
with clients in a comical Ally McBeal kind of way.
There is one common factor that draws Sarah to her roles: she
likes the idea of portraying strong yet troubled women.
"With [my character] Kate and with the last role that I did on a
show called Life, they are both women who, even though they worked
in very male dominated worlds, were struggling with a lot of their
own demons and were pushed on what they should do."
Kate is a straight character with men on her mind but Sarah
admits she prefers getting down and dirty with women. On camera at
least.
"When it's girl on girl it's actually a little bit more
comfortable because as women we understand each others bodily
issues," she says and stops as if to think back at a particular
moment.
"If I needed to have Katherine Moennig cover a breast or cling
on top of me in a way to hide something from the camera, there was
no issue asking about it. With men it gets a little tricky because
if they get excited, you know," she laughs, probably blushing a
little.
And seeing as she's already mentioned her name, the following
question is inevitable. What is it like kissing Katherine
Moennig?
Sarah laughs; now she really is embarrassed.
"It's what men and women dream of," she says before changing her
tone of voice, sounding as if she is quoting a love poem as she
continues.
"She has lips as luscious as a peach and a golden ripe petal on
a summer day, dripping with sweet nectar."
"You can actually describe it like that," she says, speaking in
her normal voice again.
With such kisses, there is no wonder Shane broke hearts.
It seems Sarah needs a moment after that thought (who wouldn't?)
and she takes her time before answering what she thinks about my
next question: what did Carmen go on to do after she was left at
the altar?
"For all I'm feeling she is probably still doing the same thing,
still pining over Shane. I don't know if she will ever love the way
she loved Shane and I think that there is a place in her mind that
still hopes that Shane comes back."
Sarah admits she gets a very strong connection to the characters
she plays. She puts herself into them and becomes intertwined with
them to the extent where she thinks about them even when is not on
set.
"I think Carmen had a sadness to her… she never really was able
to come out under her family," she says at one point, sounding
genuinely thoughtful.
The fact that people obsess about her old role doesn't bother
her.
"[The L Word] was a cultural phenomenon, it made history and in
a way I was able to be a part of that… I'm very proud that I was a
part of that and that people still talk about it."
Indeed, despite Shahi marrying a man, people have often
questioned her sexuality.
"I think for a while the girls were definitely convinced that I
was gay," she laughs.
"But I'm pretty sure they've all got the message that I'm
straight by now."
Sadly, yes.
Fairly Legal is out on DVD on 18th July, courtesy of
Universal Playback
