‘Fire Country’ Star Stephanie Arcila On Leaving Show, Gabriela’s Future

SPOILER ALERT: The story contains particulars about two-part Season 3 finale of CBS‘ Fire Country, “A Change Within the Wild” and “I’d Do It Once more.”

EXCLUSIVE: The Season 3 finale of CBS’ Hearth Nation on Friday marked the final episode as a collection common for authentic forged member Stephanie Arcila, who performs firefighter and EMT Gabriela Perez. As Deadline reported based on sources, Arcila is one among two Hearth Nation OG actors, alongside Billy Burke, who’re leaving the hit firefighter drama after three seasons. Solely Arcila’s departure has been confirmed.

Gabriela’s stalker story arc was delivered to an in depth within the finale when crazed former love curiosity Finn (Blake Lee) tracked her down and tried to drive her to go along with him till he was shot within the chest by Audrey (Leven Rambin), Gabriela’s co-worker and budding love curiosity of Gabriela’s ex Bode (Max Thieriot). Gabriela’s dad Manny (Kevin Alejandro) got here to the rescue and helped stabilize and transport Finn. He additionally supplied to take the duty for the capturing when he initially thought (mistakenly) that it was Gabriela who had pulled the set off.

This might not be the final we’ve seen from Gabriela, whose on- and off- romantic relationship with Bode (Thieriot) has been a cornerstone of the present’s fan following.

In an unique interview with Deadline, which you can read here, Hearth Nation co-creators/govt producers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan and govt producer/showrunner Tia Napolitano revealed that the purpose is for Arcila to come back again as a visitor star, stressing that “the Bode-Gabriela story doesn’t finish right here, it goes on.”

In her personal interview with Deadline, Arcila responded to the invitation and shared how she received the information that she wouldn’t be persevering with as a collection common. She mirrored on Gabriela and Bode’s relationship, the stalker storyline and what she hopes Gabriela does subsequent. Arcila additionally talked concerning the pleasure of taking part in a Latina on TV, what occurred on set after her final scene and what she would take away from her time on Hearth Nation.

DEADLINE: When have been you informed that that you’ll not be a collection common on Hearth Nation? The producers talked about that it occurred through the filming of the finale.

ARCILA: Yeah, we have been filming. I truly received the information the day that we received renewed, so it was type of serendipitous as a result of I really like the facet of loss of life and rebirth. Not that I’m dying however what I imply, synonymously.

I consider in destiny and that we’re put the place we’re imagined to be. And that is the character of our enterprise, proper? That is what all of us join.

DEADLINE: It’s. Did the producers let you know on the time that they need you again?

ARCILA: They did. They did inform me that that is type of a break for Bode and Gabriela. He’s seeing another person proper now, so it is sensible that we’d take a breather.

DEADLINE: Would you return? Are you open to it?

ARCILA: I by no means say by no means. Life takes us via so many avenues, and Gabriela is such a present to me in my profession, personally and professionally. I’m so grateful to have performed a Latina on a present and a Latina the place they have been in a position to embrace a part of my tradition as nicely, a part of my Colombian background. It was actually thrilling.

DEADLINE: Did they do it for you? Did you’ve gotten enter in that ingredient of your character?

ARCILA: I did, so it was good. Kevin is Mexican. My mother’s Peruvian and my dad’s Colombian however I used to be born and raised in Miami, so that they allowed me to lean into my Colombian roots, which is so lovely, and the truth that I used to be in a position to additionally communicate Spanish on the present. Sure, I do know I used to be born within the U.S., however I’m first technology, so my first language is Spanish.

DEADLINE: Hearth Nation followers love Gabriela and Bode as a pair. What’s your tackle their on- and-off love story over the previous three years and what may lie forward for the 2 of them?

ARCILA: Once they met, they have been each going via their very own self-discovery and a lot change of their private lives that I believe that is a part of that breather, persevering with to develop individually and attending to know themselves individually, and seeing the place they’re of their lives proper now by way of their self price, their boundaries, their relationship life, their careers.

Gabriela jumped in from being an Olympic diver and having such a solitary life to being thrown into this small city out of selection the place everybody is aware of everybody, everybody is aware of everybody’s enterprise, and all people dates, and Bode simply received out of his firefighter program as nicely and is creating a special life. So I believe the truth that they’ve this area to develop individually is actually lovely.

As for the long run, I’ve realized that these writers at all times shock me, and I’ve no expectations, simply pleasure.

DEADLINE: What would you need for Gabriela? What do you assume she ought to do subsequent? Would she keep in firefighting, would she do the rest? Will she ever be in a wholesome relationship?

ARCILA: I believe she is going to. I believe Gabriela is somebody who’s endlessly evolving and studying. I believe she is somebody that feels, if she’s not evolving, she may as nicely be useless. It’s life, proper? We proceed rising, we proceed studying, and if we put the trouble in individually, it’s magical.

So I believe that she may proceed as a firefighter, I believe that she may proceed as an EMT, however I positively assume she is going to by no means cease studying and rising. And as of what I might love for her, I might love for her to — inside all of that progress — simply personal her stuff and save herself. All people’s at all times saving her, and she or he’s at all times making an attempt to avoid wasting everybody. So I might love for the tables to show and for her to stand up because the extremely resilient, sensible lady that she is and save herself.

DEADLINE: That’s an excellent segue, as a result of I needed to speak about Gabriela’s stalker storyline the place she was saved once more, this time by Audrey. Have you ever had any private expertise — hopefully not as creepy — that you would draw from?

ARCILA: I believe all of us have had, to a point, some kind of trauma, whether or not that’s with a accomplice, whether or not that’s with a member of the family or good friend or one thing, and that’s the place we develop and we be taught boundaries, and we be taught to learn the indicators, and we be taught to ask for assist, and we be taught to accumulate the instruments that we’d like for circumstances like this.

And I believe it’s nice that that is coming to mild inside this present, simply in order that it could actually convey consciousness to it, as a result of there’s so many individuals which can be so good at placing on a masks, and there’s lots of people that genuinely wish to see the great in others. However there’s a time of taking it gradual and genuinely attending to know somebody earlier than you allow them to into your area and your private life.

DEADLINE: Had been you shocked that Gabriela was not the one who pulled the set off?

ARCILA: I used to be, that is why I would like her to avoid wasting herself at one level. I used to be, however the writers know what they’re doing. Yeah, after I learn it, I believed the entire time that it was going to be Gabriela, and after I learn it, I used to be shocked.

All of the stunt work additionally in these scenes was so nice and enjoyable to do. And Blake, after each single take, is like, “Are you okay? You okay? Are you? Sure, okay, let’s go.”

DEADLINE: There was this second when Manny comes, finds Finn shot and rallies everybody to deal with him like a standard affected person. With Gabriela, there was a second of hesitation earlier than she joined her father in saving her stalker. Why was that?

ARCILA: I believe Gabriela has been via a lot in her life that I don’t know if it was hesitation greater than trauma shock, when somebody freezes in a traumatic state of affairs, and as quickly as she snaps out of it, she goes straight into work.

DEADLINE: Speak concerning the complicated relationship between Manny and Gabriela and the shut bond they share that may hopefully proceed even after Gabriela leaves Edgewater.

ARCILA: I believe the way in which that the writers did it was nice within the sense of, households aren’t excellent, and shadows at all times come up, and generally we’re immune to taking good care of the problems that come up simply because, perhaps we really feel like we will’t communicate up inside our household.

So the truth that they gave them that chance to separate in their very own frustrations with one another, however come again and present what a powerful bond they do have, it doesn’t matter what, they know that they’re there for one another. I additionally assume that Gabriela simply needed to determine issues out on her personal and cease having everybody inform her what to do or easy methods to do it. Generally we do have to take a seat with our feelings and with our shadows to find what we truly do want for our therapeutic.

DEADLINE: Talking once more of Gabriela at all times being saved, for a second, Manny thought that Gabriela had shot Finn so he instantly jumped in to guard her, taking the blame himself. It’s good to have any person come to your rescue, however as you mentioned, sooner or later, she must be the hero of her personal story, proper?

ARCILA: It’s her dad. A dad is at all times gonna wish to save their daughter and wish one of the best for his or her daughter. So I get it. He’s simply being a dad, and I believe it’s lovely.

DEADLINE: Would you need Gabriela to pop in and examine on her pops? That will be one more reason to return in addition to Bode, simply to come back and see Manny, perhaps for Thanksgiving.

ARCILA: Yeah. I consider that Manny is her first instance of affection in a person, her father determine, her rock. The truth that he was so open to being imperfect in entrance of her and letting her see how we stand up and the way we react and the way we reply and the way we take care of these conditions, so long as we’re coping with them in an ethical, honorable means, it’s okay.

DEADLINE: What was your relationship with Max, Kevin and the remainder of the forged like? Did you’ve gotten enjoyable behind the scenes?

ARCILA: For essentially the most half. As you see, most of my scenes are with the blokes, so I barely received to see the ladies or spend an excessive amount of time with them, however the guys actually handled me like a cousin or a daughter or a sister, and It was so lovely to construct on that.

A part of the present that Gabriela has given me on this set is having a set dad; [Alejandro] mainly turned my dad exterior of set too, and we’re nonetheless very a lot involved, we nonetheless very a lot hang around. Billy as nicely is so unbelievable and in addition somebody whose work I love a lot.

The very fact how Max opened up his doorways for me as nicely and trusted me with this character. I do know it wasn’t simply his determination, there was plenty of individuals within the kitchen deciding this stuff. I’m eternally grateful to have the ability to be taught from the nicely of knowledge that these males have had, and the affect and the way inspiring they’ve been to me has been actually lovely.

DEADLINE: Do you bear in mind what number of scenes you had left within the finale while you discovered that you just have been leaving the present? Did you already know while you filmed the scene on the hearth, which is the final time we see Gabriela?

ARCILA: I already knew after we have been filming that. I already knew which was good. I really like that I knew whereas I used to be nonetheless filming as a result of the crew has been such an essential a part of my life, and so they’ve been such a light-weight in my life. They’ve at all times had my again.

In the event that they’ve seen one thing foolish or one thing that they’re perhaps like, hmm, I don’t learn about that, they’ve at all times spoken out for me. I really like Vancouver [where Fire Country films], I believe it’s gorgeous and lovely, however I’ve by no means lived someplace the place there’s no solar for seven months, so it may be slightly bit miserable, and so they realize it.

The best way that all of them come collectively and simply inspect you, and the way in which that they let me into their lives and informed me about their youngsters or would invite me on the weekends and be like, “Hey, Steph, I do know you’re right here alone. We’re going to the science museum with my spouse and my little one.” Or, “Hey, Steph, we’re all gonna exit and do that,” was simply actually, actually particular. In Spanish, we are saying “Cómo me apapacharon.” How they held me and held area for me.

Even in days the place they thought that perhaps one thing was slightly off, they’d examine in on me and be like, “Hey, Steph, are you okay?” That may be a rarity, and I’ll endlessly maintain that so pricey to my coronary heart. Additionally, they let me be taught a lot. I might have questions concerning the focus, cameras, all the pieces. They let me play with all their devices, they let me maintain all their cameras. They let me sit on their chairs, and so they let me go within the DP tent the place the DP was. I received to shadow. This was genuinely a faculty, and I’ve so many individuals to thank for that. And the truth that I knew earlier than I completed filming was a present as a result of I received to say my goodbyes.

DEADLINE: What was your final scene? Do you bear in mind what occurred while you wrapped; did you commemorate the event behind the scenes?

ARCILA: Yeah, I had requested Jorge [Orellana], who is among the ground managers, he was our AD that evening. Earlier than we ended the evening, very early on, I had requested him if he may have everybody come collectively and maintain area for me in order that I can thank them and have a chat with them and simply bathe them in all of the gratitude that I felt for them.

DEADLINE: Was the forged there too? Did you’ve gotten little goodbyes with them?

ARCILA: I did at one level, however not all people was there. It was virtually Max and I and a few of the firefighters. We’ve a number of firefighters there, both retired firefighters or present firefighters, which can be taking part in background. A few of them have been there with us since Season 1, and they’re the kindest people on high of simply, if we had any questions on set instantly, other than our unbelievable hearth techs Jeff [Snider] and Simon [Gould], who I like and have even supplied lessons exterior of Hearth Nation to us, as a result of we’re so desirous to be taught. A few of us wish to know extra about it, we wish to do our jobs accurately.

In order that they have been there as nicely, all of these firefighters which have been there since Day One. I bear in mind telling everybody and simply listening to an unlimited gasp. I informed them, I don’t need this to be a tragic second. I would like all people to be excited. I’m positive we’ll see everybody once more at one level, however I can’t be right here for now, shifting ahead. And also you simply hear an unlimited gasp and really feel all of their love.

I knew we had a very lovely relationship, however I didn’t notice how deepening it was and the way emotional that evening was going to be for me and everybody. So I it was actually particular to have identified earlier than I ended.

DEADLINE: I’m not going to ask you what are you going to overlook essentially the most concerning the present as a result of I believe you simply answered that, however trying again at your run on Hearth Nation, is there a favourite episode, favourite scene, one thing that you’ll take away?

ARCILA: There are a lot of, many favourite episodes. There are a lot of favourite moments. There are a lot of inspiring moments. I bear in mind Season 1, the primary time I noticed Sarah Wayne Callies direct, I used to be like, wow, this lady is a badass. She is available in, she’s concerning the work, she is aware of what she’s doing, and it was so inspiring to me as a result of I wish to do different issues as nicely. I wish to find out about different departments. I’d prefer to direct in the future, I’d like to supply my very own stuff.

I’m at the moment engaged on growing one thing as nicely. So to observe a girl personal a lot of herself in an trade that’s nonetheless very male-driven, and to observe her simply personal a room and all people respects her as a result of she is aware of her sh*t was simply superb.

And any episode that Kevin’s directed, additionally, he’s such an unbelievable artist. Watching him and this previous season having the ability to shadow-direct with him and in addition be in scenes [with him], one of many scenes that was an enormous, pivotal second for Gabriela, which was when she lastly breaks down and tells her dad and is sincere with him, having him direct it, and the respect that he gave me as an artist in permitting me to be as a result of he trusts my work, and in addition commanding a respect on the set, which the crew at all times does in any case, it’s particular.

DEADLINE: You already touched on this a bit however what’s subsequent for you? Perhaps you’ll come again to Hearth Nation as a director.

ARCILA: Yeah, I’m at the moment within the strategy of growing my very own undertaking. I’ll be excited each time I can speak about it, and I’m within the works for another issues, another tasks that haven’t been introduced but.