6 of 9

Photographed by Eric T. White.

Where did Nina learn to manipulate people?

"She had extensive training before she showed up in America. You don't really learn until you're out [in the field]. She's gotten this far because they saw something in her ability, and I guess the test is whether you can actually do it. They touched on the training with Phillip. He had to sleep with all these people. 'Can you make it real?' That's the big test. How good are you at making things real for yourself? It's not just acting; you have to believe in that world. You have to sexually, physically, spiritually connect yourself with whomever you're with."



Was that what it was really like for KGB operatives in the U.S.?

"Joe Weisberg [who created the show] worked for the CIA. Our scripts are checked by the CIA and by Russia. They check on what we write about them because it's based on historical events."



When season 3 begins, Nina's situation has changed yet again. She's now imprisoned in Russia.

"I had my ideas that I'd go to Russia, but I didn't know how much it changes you as a person if you go to prison for four months or five months. What it does to you. It's crazy to do that kind of work in a confined little room."





