Sepideh Moafi Shares Why You Tune In to the Series Premiere of “Notorious” Tonight

We can’t wait for the premiere of ABC’s newest original series Notorious tonight!

Not sure what to expect? We got you. Notorious follows powerhouse TV news producer Julia George (Piper Perabo) who capitalizes on the notoriety of the clients of charismatic defense attorney Jake Gregorian (Daniel Sunjata). Together, they make great TV and determine the nation’s headlines while attempting to control the media, the justice system and ultimately each other. Behind the scenes, the people surrounding Jake and Julia are driven to advance their own professional and personal agendas, in a world where motives are suspect and morality is subjective.

Celeb Secrets had the opportunity to speak up with Sepideh Moafi, who plays Megan Byrd on the new drama. Megan Byrd is a street-smart journalism school grad responsible for scheduling and managing guests on “Louise Herrick Live” (LHL), the number one TV news program in the country.

In our interview, the actress talks about the similarities and differences she has with her character, working on set with her other cast members, and why she thinks you should watch the show every Thursday. Make sure to read the full Q&A below to also find out some juicy behind-the-scenes secrets from the show.

Notorious premieres tonight, September 22nd @ 9PM ET/PT on ABC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjeWjrkRczM

Celeb Secrets: Your new show Notorious is premiering tonight! What can you tell us about the show and your character?

Sepideh Moafi: “Notorious is a show that illuminates the fierce interplay between the media and  the legal system, and how they at times connect and at other times collide to shape the news we receive everyday. The show could not be more relatable and relevant to our time!

I play Megan Bryd, a junior producer and booker on the Louise Herrick Live show (LHL.) Megan is a street-smart, driven, and loyal #2 to Julia George, LHL’s senior executive producer. While Julia is the big boss, Megan pretty much manages the show and helps drive their stories to their fullest potential.”

Celeb Secrets: Are there similarities and differences between you and your character Megan?

Sepideh Moafi: “Yes! I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character I’ve played as closely as I do with Megan!  We’re both incredibly ambitious and passionate- dare I say obsessive- about our work, we both come from working-class families and have worked incredibly hard to make it in our respective industries. While our career paths are totally different, we live in parallel worlds in which we want to make a big impact, and remain devoted to our purpose or calling. I had the privilege of sitting in control rooms at both Good Morning America and CNN in NYC when I booked the job, and again at CNN headquarters in Atlanta while shooting the pilot and it was truly a mind-blowing experience. I gained such an appreciation and admiration for these incredible producers, and as a result, a deeper connection with Megan.”

Celeb Secrets: The cast includes some pretty notable actors on its roster. What’s it like on set working with everyone?

Sepideh Moafi: “This cast = dream team. Each person is uniquely talented and hard-working, not to mention hilarious, generous, FUN, and humble. We have such a blast together. Kate and I became instantly close as the New York transplants of the group, I absolutely adore Piper and we have that same connection in life as we do as Megan and Julia, and while I don’t work with Sunjata, J, Aimee and Kevin as much since they’re mostly in the legal world and we’re mostly in the media world, we manage to find ways to snag plenty of giggles, and just have a ball. They truly feel like family to me. Oh and Guzman. How could I leave him out? We are both trouble, so when we get together, it’s a giggle marathon.”

Celeb Secrets: What’s one thing you’re really looking forward for viewers to see this season?

Sepideh Moafi: “Beyond the show’s message and social pertinence in our world today, I want the audience to witness a bunch of really dedicated, hard-working actors having a blast exploring this intricate, intense reality. Each character is so layered, so complex and it’s a real privilege to be able to dive in with such a supportive, fearless group of actors. It really makes all the difference. It’s one thing to tell a story you believe in, it’s another thing to love the people you’re telling it with. It’s rare to have both.”

Celeb Secrets: Why do you think people should tune in to the series premiere tonight?

Sepideh Moafi: “People should tune in to Notorious to watch a wickedly talented bunch explore a world that hasn’t been explored yet on TV. We’ve seen the shows about the media and newsrooms and we’ve seen plenty of legal dramas, but never have we seen these two worlds come together in such wild dance. The show explores some jaw-dropping stories that our brilliant writers get from our very own producers and inspiration for the show, Wendy Walker and Mark Geragos. I’m telling you, sometimes I’m reading the script thinking “No friggin way, this couldn’t have happened!” and I’ll text mark or Wendy, and they’ll write back confirming that these crazy stories are true. It’s insane!”

Celeb Secrets: Since we are Celeb Secrets, what’s a behind-the-scenes secret that you can share about “Notorious” that people wouldn’t know when watching the show?

Sepideh Moafi: “Behind the scenes secrets…well they wouldn’t be secrets if I shared them! I will say that this cast knows how to have a good time, and we’ve been snagging some pretty hilarious videos that we will post throughout the season. Good things come to those who wait…”