To the viciously loyal legion of fans who fought tooth and nail to keep Chuck on NBC last season, Yvonne Strahovski is the most badass blonde on television these days. The Australian actress plays Sarah Walker, the skilled secret agent assigned to protecting Chuck (Zachary Levi) after he accidentally inherited top-secret government knowledge two seasons ago. Strahovski easily has the most fun on the show, alternating disguises, weapons and languages to guard her on-again, off-again love interest. In anticipation of this Sunday's two-hour premiere, Movieline spoke to Strahovski yesterday about Sarah's relationship with Chuck, her ability to kick ass and where you might be able to find her on a Friday night.
[Beware: The mildest of spoilers lay ahead about the direction of Season 3]
NBC made a lot of people happy by renewing Chuck. Had you mentally prepared for the show to end after the second season?
Yes, I mean, we were all worried for a bit of time. It was kind of a really nice surprise to hear that we were coming back for a third season and I think collectively, the whole cast was grateful to our fans for being dedicated. They were pretty much the ones that really fought for it, along with the whole Subway thing. [Ed.: Subway restaurants covered production costs in exchange for frequent mentions on the show.] This season is even more exciting, I think, because we feel like we've been through a battle and we hope that everyone really likes it.
Do you find yourself eating more Subway these days?
[Laughs] I actually haven't been lately, but I am a fan.
Last season, Chuck received a new intersect that gave him fighting skills. Is Zach adapting well to the stunt choreography?
Oh yeah, he's got a knack for physical stuff. I think he really enjoys doing that stuff and it's fun to have him be part of it as well because we get to do a lot of action sequences together. He gets to do things on his own and he's pretty savvy with that too. He's got quite some rhythm in his body. He loves to dance a lot, like I do, so we remember choreography quite well.
How long does it typically take to learn the action sequences?
Initially, for me, we'd spend a good couple of hours learning them and rehearsing them, but now we're to the point where it takes me about five minutes. The stunt guys will show me what the sequence is and how it works and then I go off and rehearse it and that's it. I go over it by myself and memorize it but that's it. Then we shoot.
Any injuries yet this season?
No, I'm knocking on wood right now. We've been pretty good so far.
Do you think there is something about being an Aussie or New Zealander female that makes you particularly suited for ass-kicking, what with you Lucy Lawless, Zoe Bell and Peta Wilson?
[Laughs] I don't know, maybe there's something in the water.
There are so many great Australian actors and actresses in Hollywood now. Have you formed any kind of secret society yet with Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts and the Aussie gang?
[Laughs] I would really like that if there was a secret club where I could talk to Naomi Watts. I haven't met a whole bunch of Aussies out here, but I know that there is a group of Aussies that generally hang out and we have Australian meetings. Like, we have a group called Australians in Film and they'll screen films that have an Australian in them or have been produced or directed by an Australian and usually they'll follow up with a Q&A with the starring Australians. Whenever I have a change to go to those, they're great because I always meet people.
So there's a newsletter?
It's an email thing. They email you about upcoming screenings but the unfortunate thing is that I usually cannot go because I'm shooting.
When you're playing a character involved in a will-they-won't-they relationship, like Sarah and Chuck, do you ever find yourself growing as impatient as the viewers?
I find that when I watch the episodes I get excited, like any other fans following the will-they-won't-they dynamics between Sarah and Chuck. I remember back when I was really young and would watch TV shows and be crying because I thought it was so heartbreaking when these characters that I loved would not get together, so I can completely understand how people get like that when they watch Chuck and Sarah. And I as well, when I watch some of the episodes, I find myself getting a little too involved. As a viewer, I can remove myself from the work aspect of it.
[Creator] Josh Schwartz has said that Chuck's arc this season is that he has finally become a man, and now he becomes a spy. What is Sarah's arc this season?
Her arc is emotionally based. I think she's becoming more raw. In the previous season, she was very reserved and she's not used to talking about her feelings, but because of Chuck, who is the complete opposite of her, he brings it out of her and Sarah begins to wear her heart on her sleeve.
Captain Awesome now knows about Chuck's double life. Will any other characters find out about his work as a spy this season?
I don't know how much I can tell, but somebody else does find out.
Will there be more Jeffster?
[Cryptically] I don't know, but I think there might. [Laughs]
Which guest stars can we expect to see?
We have Angie Harmon coming on and she plays a spy, and Brandon Routh returns and there is kind of a bit of love interest between my character and his character. And we have Kristin Kreuk who plays the character of Hannah. Chuck meets Hannah in one of the episodes, so there's another whole dynamic going on with that.
Do you think Chuck will ever do another 3-D episode?
I'm not sure. I know there was discussion about it but it was definitely hard to do only because of our time restraints. We have to shoot a certain number of episodes in a limited amount of time and the 3-D episodes are more complicated in the type of camera and the technology and making sure that the focus is perfect. I don't think they would with the current time restraints but certainly, if we had all the time in the world, I'm sure they would do more.
You do a fair share of your stunt work in sexy disguises and uniforms. Do you have veto power over those wardrobes sometimes, if you can't quite do a roundhouse in that skin-tight Lederhosen?
[Laughs] No, I'm pretty okay with most of the outfits. Believe me, a lot of the high heels and the outfits are uncomfortable, but I do what I have to do in a four-inch high heel.