How did you find out about this role and how did you get involved in the project?

My agent sent me the script; I had been doing pilot season in L.A. and I had read so many scripts, so many pilots, and I went round to my best friend’s house and I said, “You have to read this script. It is amazing.” Then about two weeks later, I auditioned for it. Then it was so quick. I went in there with all the producers and Kevin (Williamson) and Liz (Craft) and, about three weeks later, I got the role. I was in a juice bar and I screamed – I was so excited, because I genuinely wanted this role so badly; regardless of what character I was going to play, I wanted to be part of this story and this show.

Why were you so adamant you wanted to be a part of this?

Because it’s written really well and it’s that idea that they are just normal teenagers but then there’s this added element of magic and power struggles, and I think that is what is cool to play with. You get to do a bit of both worlds.

And how does it feel being part of this big new show?

It’s cool that there’s such a buzz about it.

Faye seems to be a hard character to understand. Do you see her as a villain or as someone who is misunderstood?

I think she is also misguided. I think she is very unpredictable. I think what is going to be fun throughout the series is seeing Faye go from one end to the other. I think Faye has the potential to be really good as well. I don’t think she necessarily wants to hurt people, she is just kind of bored. And instead of going out and partying, which is what teenagers normally do, she just wants to do really bad magic. That’s her vibe.

Can you explain the popularity of witches? They are a plotline on True Blood this season, and now with your show, they seem to be popular again. Can you understand that?

I think it’s the idea that magic is infinite and that there are not many rules, which is what’s cool. There is no end to this, like where vampires can’t go outside in the sun, witches can do anything. I think that’s where the moral dilemma comes in: if we have this incredible power, how far do we take it and do we use it for good or do we use it for bad? Or, do we not use it? There’s always that question. 

All the teenagers seem to have really great chemistry in the pilot. Did you work on that?

Not really. We’re just really lucky. I live with Brittany (Robertson, who plays Cassie) – that’s how close we all are. We all met and we have all got the same sort of wicked sense of humour and we all just get along so well, and when you do get along so well with your cast-mates, it shows on screen. Even though, on the show, we are not meant to be getting along, you still have to have a rapport with people.

Had you, or have you now, read the books?

Yeah, I read them during the pilot.

So, when you were reading about Faye, did you think about staying true to the book, or is she different?

Yeah, but the thing is that they are different mediums. You can put something in a book that may not necessarily convey that well on a show. And also, this is kind of Kevin’s vision, so even if I had read the books as reference, at the end of the day, it is Andrew (Miller) and Kevin’s vision and that’s what I play to.

Did you have any interest in the supernatural at all when you were growing up, or even just before this series?

I was on a show for three years playing a mermaid, so I have always been in this magic world – I’m getting typecast, so I’ll be a fairy next! But yeah, I am such a fan of those kind of shows, I’m a big True Blood fan, and of The Vampire Diaries, so it’s cool to be on a show like this. And I am such a Buffy fan: Buffy was the best.

Can you talk a little about how you think you are going to see the characters interact with one another as the series progresses? How does the coven develop?

Yeah, I think at the moment Diana (Shelley Hennig) is very much the leader of the pack, and I think that is going to change. I think the dynamic of who is leading and who is following is going to change, and I think there will be sides, and I think people will swap sides. I think there is potential for Faye to be good, and for some of the other characters that are, at the moment, good, to do some bad things. I think everyone is going to change a lot throughout the series.

You have some great actors and actresses playing the adults on the show. What’s that like to act with them?

It’s amazing. I think the whole show is, and sometimes I have to pinch myself because I feel so lucky. I mean, Natasha (Henstridge) is amazing, and she plays my mum – that’s just ridiculous. She looks like my sister. But it’s just such an honour to be surrounded by all these incredibly talented, incredibly creative and passionate people, so I am a lucky girl.

So, they have just announced that they have cast Logan Browning as Sally, and in the books there was a little thing between Sally and Faye, and a lot of friction there. How much do you know about what is going to happen between you and Sally?

I don’t know how much I can get away with, but I don’t think Faye really likes anyone but herself, so any new character Faye is going to have troubles with.

If you could be a witch in real life and cast just one spell, what would you like to be able to do?

Oh God, this is my ‘world peace’ answer! I don’t know. Well, I really hate flying so if I could make myself get to places without having to get on a plane, that would be my very selfish spell.

This is your first role on American television right?

Yeah, it is. I went into the audition as an American, just because, as I am obviously Australian, I didn’t want them to have any reason not to cast me, so I went in as an American, just in an American accent, “Hey, I’m Phoebe, how are ya?” That kind of thing. But it’s really cool. I hope that it’s on in Australia, so my mum can watch it. It’s either that or DVDs.