Q: Can you draw from your bad girl role as Neely Capshaw for the part of superhero Sheena?

A: Sheena is a good woman, but she also can be very vicious. She has animal instincts and will do whatever it takes to protect her family. She will even kill. So, in a way, I can kind of bring a little bit of what I learned on'Baywatch' to this show, and a little of myself too. I think Sheena is a very innocent girl. She is very real to herself and to the people around her because she hasn't really been tarnished. She's sort of untouched.

Q: Have you ever been to Africa?

A: No, and that is one thing I've always wanted to do. Be careful what you wish for!

Q: Do you have a big love for animals?

A: Oh yes! I have always been crazy about dogs, cats, anything. Whatever it is that's living and has fur, I'm crazy about.

Q: What's it like working with the exotic animals featured on'Sheena'?

A: The chimps are hysterical! They're incredible! They're like little people, and they will remind you of your toddler. I'm fine with snakes, but spiders are really tough for me, so I have them (production) get tarantulas and other things I'm freaked out about, and I handle them. I'm going to push it, because I just want to get through it. If there's something on the set or in the script that they want me to do, I want to have that comfort level. But, it's fun. I can't believe that I am getting paid to do this sort of adventure.

Q: The role is physically demanding. What kind of training are you doing for the show?

A: I'm doing my own thing. I'm doing spinning and kickboxing every day, and I meet three days a week with a movement trainer. He teaches me animal instinct kind of fighting - it's technique. I have to move almost like a cat. I can morph into these animals, and I have to be able to make this look as real as possible. As far as fighting goes, when I do it myself, I have to be very quick and savage-like.

Q: If Sheena and Xena were in a fight, who would win?

A: I'd like to say Sheena, but seniority seems to rule. Xena has had a few more years of training than I have. Give me a little while, and then I'll answer that question.

Q: Were you familiar with previous versions of the Sheena character?

A: No, because it was way back. But I did my homework as soon as I committed to this. I looked up Irish McCalla, the original Sheena. She sent me her diaries of everything she went through during the two years that she was on air, and it was incredible. My time spent with her, talking with her, was incredible. I'm so happy that I did that.