Did the changes in showrunner early on affect you at all?

It affected me in the sense that I knew it was happening and I knew it was a decision that everyone felt was best, so I had to support it. I was surprised. I had a great time with Bryan Fuller before we got started – he was my first introduction into this world. He and I had a sit-down and I was quite inspired by his vision. So when he left, like I said I knew it was what everyone decided was best so I had to trust that, I really loved that we were continuing on with his vision. That was very important to Aaron and Gretchen [J. Berg]. So we just banded together and said ‘the show must go on, this is our blueprint and we’re going to keep going’.

One of my favorite things about the show so far is the friendship with Tilly – female friendships like that are still quite rare on television, was that refreshing to play?

Very much so. I’m very grateful to the writers for everything they’ve given me, and especially for that relationship. I love the female relationships that are in the show. I love the relationship between Georgiou and Michael as well, and I love that those relationships are built on trust and mutual respect, empathy and love. It’s very important for us to see females in positions of leadership having relationships like that, and not being in competitive conflict with each other. I really appreciate that isn’t the case with the female relationships on the show.

With Tilly and I, what I really like is that these two women are both on the outskirts. When we first meet Tilly, she isn’t allowed a roommate, she seems to have this social awkwardness, and they see one another in themselves. I appreciate how much they’ve taken to each other. A big moment that happened for me with Michael, where I really understood her and recognised her was when Tilly says she’s going to be captain one day. I see that same unabashed ambition that I have and I that was one of the first keys that linked us together. Mary Wiseman is brilliant – I described her before as a firework – she’s absolutely gorgeous inside and out, on-screen and off, so I really appreciate that dynamic we have.