Get Into "The Glades": A Talk With Kiele Sanchez & Giveaway

I recently got the chance to meet Kiele Sanchez, who stars in the hit Sunday night A&E crime drama, "The Glades," which recently returned for it's second season.  Kiele portrays Callie Cargill, a single mom with a 12 year old who works as a forensics nurse who helps (easy on the eyes) Matt Passmore solve murders in the sleepy, middle-of-nowhere town of Palm Glade, outside of the Florida Everglades.

Kiele and I hit it off right from the start as she took time out of her production schedule to chat with me about the behind-the-scenes antics on set, her favorite books, summer movies and even her getaway plans.  Since this is the "Me Time" section, let's get right down to it and get to know Kiele Sanchez!

***Post a comment below and you'll be entered to win "The Glades: The Complete First Season" signed by Matt Passmore and a $100 gift card! Click here for rules. ***

Beth:  Even though “The Glades” is a crime drama, are there ever any laughs on set?  What don’t we see behind the scenes?

Kiele:  The thing you’re not seeing is that we laugh all the time.  When Matt and I do a scene - the more serious the scene is, the more ridiculous we are between takes.  We can go into it and turn it off - to stay that heightened and dramatic in any way is really hard and I think we would burn out.  As it is, I feel like sometimes you’ve been Callie more in a week than you’ve been yourself, I can’t imagine not being able to turn that off.  I would go crazy.  A lot of times, we play danger games.  He’ll do something to make me laugh and break (my concentration).  (If they showed a blooper reel) mine is going to be filled with obscenities and inappropriate gestures. 

Beth:  Have you ever gone on a ride along with forensics expert?  

Kiele:  I have a feeling I’ve been training for forensics for the last 10 years.  I’m a reality TV junkie and "City Confidential" is one of my favorite shows on earth - it’s about real crimes that take place in small cities and tells you how it became a city and then reveals how a murder took place and shook this town. It’s like watching “Dateline.”  And then my mom is a nurse so she's sort of been my consultant on anything related to nursing.  We also have a medic on set. 

Beth:  What do you do love most about working in Florida?  (The Glades films on location in Miami).

Kiele:  I have to say I like the people here.  We have an amazing crew and most of them are from Florida and are local hires, and they’re warm, awesome funny people.  

Beth:  What do you like least?

Kiele:  The thing I like the least is the heat.  We shoot in the summer, need I say more?

Beth: With all that heat and humidity, your hair always looks amazing (and frizz free)...what’s your secret???

Kiele:  For makeup, not to make me looklike a melting candle and for hair, to not make me look like a troll from the 70’s, is an amazing feat.  We use a lot of products and even if the humidity is not as bad - it’s still awful - so that’s really attributed to our hair and make-up team - they work miracles.  Both are locals from Florida. 

Beth:  What job did you have before you got discovered?

Kiele:  It’s really funny because my boyfriend says all the time that I say “I had a job once doing that.” I really kind have been working since I was nine - helping my stepmom’s dad - I used to take things to the flea market. I'd work every Saturday and would wake up really early.  My dad was a jockey when I was growing up and sometimes I’d go to work with him and clean a barn or walk a horse.  There isn't a job that I haven't had except I didn’t wait tables.  I think I’d be terrible at it - I can’t remember if somebody asked me for ketchup.  I worked at a Diesel store once and they almost fired me because I would tell the truth about whether people looked good in jeans.  We worked on commission and my boss asked me, "What are you not getting?"  I’m not gonna lie!

Beth:  What are your favorite summer books?

Kiele:  I’m a big reader.  I just picked up Birds of America by Lorrie Moore and it’s a book of short stories on loneliness which is probably not the best book to pick up since I’m working in Miami and my boyfriend is in New York and I’m alone most of the time.  Union Atlantic is the next book I’m going to read. 

Beth:  What’s your favorite summer movie? 

Kiele:  "Bridesmaids" was the best.  I literally looked like one of those cartoons where the tears were spurting out of your eyes.  It was hysterical!  

Beth: What’s your favorite thing to do in your down time?  

Kiele:  I don’t live near the beach when I’m in L.A. and  I live right on the beach in Florida - I love to go in the water every day that I have off - it’s one of the things I try to do.  I run along the beach and then I sit and read on the beach.  I live outdoors as much as possible because it’s not something I have in L.A. - when you to get to live on the water it’s a beautiful thing.

Beth:  What music are you listening to on your ipod?

Kiele:  Psychic City by Yacht - from 2006 - it’s not a current thing - it’s a very catchy kind of ridiculous song and I really like The Kills album.

Beth:  Are you planning any fun summer getaways? 

Kiele: I’m hoping that on one of my long weekends I can visit Asheville, North Carolina and then take another long weekend to Nevis.  I feel like since I’m in Miami, I kind of want to explore the caribbean.  

To find out more about Kiele Sanchez and the entire cast of "The Glades," check out the show's website and make sure you watch the crime drama every Sunday at 10 pm ET/9 PM CT on the A&E Television Network.

***Post a comment below and you'll be entered to win "The Glades: The Complete First Season" signed by Matt Passmore and a $100 gift card! Click here for rules. ***