Fear the Walking Dead Exclusive Interview: Alexa Nisenson

Alexa Nisenson as Charlie – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 4, Episode 15 – Photo Credit: Ryan Green/AMC

Is there anything you can tease without getting in trouble?

Umm, I really, really wish I could. I will tell you that it’s super exciting. And it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. And you won’t want to miss it. So make sure to tune in. [Laughs.]

All right, that was pretty good. [Laughs.] 

Thank you. [Laughs.]

So this is a bit random, but I really like music and soundtracks. If you could’ve added one song to the season four soundtrack, any genre, what would it’ve been?

I love music, too. So, I think it would be the song “How to Save a Life” by the Fray.

I love that song!

Really? Oh my gosh. [Laughs.] I love that song, too. It’s great. There’s a great line in the song. I think it’s, ‘between the lines of fear and blame, you begin to wonder why you came.’

Yes!

I think it totally fits the characters and the stories and the show. And I also just think it’s a great song. [Laughs.]

All right, nice answer. [Laughs.] So, this is more focusing on your life as an actress, outside of the show itself. Social media, obviously it’s been a big part of our world for a while, but it’s getting more attention now because of toxic relationships between actors and fans that have been coming to light with Millie Bobby Brown, Ruby Rose, Kelly Marie Tran, among others.

Yeah.

And you are, like Millie, you’re very young, and it’s a lot to handle. But it’s also a great platform and a way to get yourself established. So how do you kind of navigate that?

Well, you know, I talk to a lot of people about social media, and everyone seems to really have this love-hate relationship going on with it. But, like you said, it really can be so great. I love following people in the business that I look up to, and people that I am friends with and have personal relationships with, [I love] following their journey and supporting them.

But yeah, it can also be a little hard on your self-esteem, too. Everyone posts these amazing pictures of themselves and they’re not always real. You know, we do have apps like Photoshop and Facetune and filters, and people definitely take advantage of them. I’ll admit I definitely have, you know, smoothed out zits for photos. [Laughs.] 

But I think people look at those photos and compare themselves, and that’s not always what people look like in real life… You just have to really love yourself and remind yourself that everybody has their own journey and everybody looks different and that’s okay.

I love my life and journey, and I also have amazing parents to kind of guide me through this and put everything in its right perspective. I’m really grateful to everyone who follows my journey and supports me on social media. I always see people make fan accounts and that really just makes me so happy, and I feel so lucky to be able to have people who support me like that.

Nice! Are there any upcoming projects that you want to talk about or can talk about?

Yeah, well, I love that I get to do different things and different types of work. So I recently got my first ever voiceover job, and I’m really excited about it.

Cool!

Yeah, it’s a show called Summer Camp Island, and it’s on the Cartoon Network. I actually play a superhuman character named Alexa. [Laughs.] And the first season just came out, so if any Fear fans have young kids or you just like cartoons [laughs] definitely check it out. It’s really fun.

Nice! All right, so this is outside of Fear, but I’m a Will & Grace fan as well, and you were great as young Karen. Very funny. 

Thank you.

So do you think there’s any chance that you’re gonna be back for my flashbacks? 

Oh my gosh, I would love that. That would be a dream come true. Honestly, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I had so much fun. Watching all the people work, it was just such a great learning experience. And I would really love it.

All right, so NBC if you’re [reading this]…

Definitely. [Laughs.]

If you could guest star on any two TV shows, one old show that’s not on the air anymore and one current show, what would your picks be?

Oh gosh, that’s a good question because I love so many shows. [Laughs.] One show that is not on the air anymore would definitely be Gossip Girl. I think I’ve seen every season, like over six times.

Nice. [Laughs.]

It’s like literally my go-to show. And a show currently that I’d love to be on right now would have to be Riverdale. I’m obsessed with that show.

Alexa Nisenson as Charlie – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 4, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Ryan Green/AMC

Sweet, me too. [Laughs.] So, my last thing here is a bit of a “this or that” type game that I thought might fun.

Okay.

Okay, so I am 23. So I’m about ten years older than you. I was 12 in 2008, back in the day.

Right. [Laughs.]

So I’m gonna list a few things — one from 2008 [or before] and one from now that is more popular among teens — and you can say which one you like better. Neither is also fine, or you can throw out a totally different answer. First up is Twilight or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before?

Oh, definitely, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. That’s the best!

All right, good call. [Laughs.] Taylor Swift’s Fearless album or her Reputation album?

Oh gosh, I think Fearless.

Okay, nice, nice. This one might be pretty tricky for you. I wrote this with no prior knowledge of what you would say, but Gossip Girl or Riverdale? [Laughs.]

Oh my god! Okay, umm… Gossip Girl.

Who’s your favorite character? 

Blair Waldorf, definitely. I love her. [Laughs.]

Nice. [Laughs.] Silly bandz or fidget spinners?

Oh, I think, fidget spinners. [Laughs.]

Okay, nice. Blockbuster or Netflix?

Uh, Netflix. [Laughs.]

Have you ever been to a Blockbuster? [Laughs.]

No, never. [Laughs.] 

Yeah, all right.

But I know what it is.

Okay, that’s sad but also understandable. [Laughs.] All right, the “Single Ladies” dance from that Beyoncé video or flossing?

Uh… “Single Ladies.”

Nice. Okay, iTunes or Spotify?

iTunes… I don’t actually use Spotify, but…

All right, I just got into it. It is actually pretty cool, but…

Okay, okay, I’ll check it out.

Okay, the first Iron Man movie or Avengers: Infinity War?

Avengers: Infinity War.

All right, nice, who’s your favorite character in that? 

Ooh, umm… Gamora!

Oh, nice! I love Gamora.

Yeah? [Laughs.]

Okay, taking photos with your friend in a photo booth in a movie theater or a mall or sending them a selfie on Snapchat? 

Selfie on Snapchat. [Laughs.]

All right and, lastly, since I am a musical theater nerd, Wicked or Hamilton?

Oh, that’s not fair! [Laughs.] Umm… I think Hamilton. I love both, though!

Be sure to catch Nisenson as Charlie in the final two episodes from the fourth season of Fear the Walking Dead, airing Sundays at 9 pm EST. Check out our latest recap for Fear the Walking Dead here!

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.