“… working with pluripotent stem cells (an epithelial cell is an example of that) and how they injected them into pig livers because anatomically they are the most similar to us. Within a matter of weeks in incubators our cells enveloped the pigs cell. If entirely successful one day, it would get rid of donor lists where everyone could have kidney, heart, and liver transplants.”
MM What is a typical night out in LA like for you?
HR I love food–I would like to think; I cook at home. However the truth is I love dim sum, Japanese BBQ, Middle Eastern food, and vegan and raw food. So it’s safe to say I’m quite the themed eater. I also am a huge Jeopardy fan. So dinner and a show on it’s head.
MM What gets you nostalgic/homesick for Texas?
HR Pulled turkey sandwiches, Matthew McConaughey movies, and all holidays down to President’s Day weekend.
MM What books are you reading? What are your two favorites?
HR Right now I’m reading Walter Kern’s Blood Will Out. It’s a memoir about his relationship with this imposter who called himself Clark Rockefeller. Also Sam Kean’s Disappearing Spoon. It tells the history of the world through the periodic table.
MM What do they mean to you?
HR It’s the only art form that we as consumers make from scratch. Everything is processed down to the food we eat. Movies will bring a tone to it the second a studio and director are attached. With books, it’s all still up to you. There is a homemade aspect.
MM If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
HR I do love Paris because I’m a sucker for architectural pornography. I happen to love the people there. And all the different arrondissements remind me of all the different boroughs of LA or NYC. The daily music and fashion is worthy of inspiration. There or Ski Bum in Vail! It’s my favorite sport that I’ve been doing since I was two and a half years old with my dad.
MM What is the most attractive asset in a man (or woman) to you?
HR Drive, I think, but mixed with humor. Someone who takes themself entirely seriously with their life goals but day to day can laugh.
MM As a Women’s Studies major, do you think the media and magazines like Cosmo or Seventeen are having an effect on developing young women?
HR On all women. I think it’s okay to play make believe, which pretty much summarizes the media industry including magazines. But I can speak from personal experience. When you have a strong female presence in their life, (it doesn’t just have to be a mother) so much more self worth is ingrained in that girl. I have had the lack thereof and I have also had emerging role models in my life. It’s a pretty immense difference on how you view yourself. You have 35 year old women who don’t know where they stand, so it’s not a chronological thing either. That being said, I think at least some magazines are taking more responsibility; some women turn to magazines to raise them and not as a source of entertainment. I have seen countless budget sections that are realistic which I think is a fantastic way to evolve due to demand.
MM As a former student of molecular science, what was the coolest thing to see under a microscope and the most fascinating experiment you conducted?
HR Being able to shadow my friend working with pluripotent stem cells (an epithelial cell is an example of that) and how they injected them into pig livers because anatomically they are the most similar to us. Within a matter of weeks in incubators our cells enveloped the pigs cell. If entirely successful one day, it would get rid of donor lists where everyone could have kidney, heart, and liver transplants. The coolest experiment was dissecting a human. There is no better way to learn than aesthetically. Quite tedious-the super fascia layers took a week alone.
MM As a child, you were pretty smitten with the Queen of England. Why do you think you were so drawn to her?
HR I have no idea- probably a Princess Diana effect.
MM “Teen Wolf,” has become quite the cult phenomenon. What’s a mythical, mystical, or sci-fi creature you hope exist in real life?
HR The character of Alex Mack – her parents were scientists and she was able to turn into a chemical puddle and slide under doors. Just the ability to be a fly on the wall. And gremlins–the nice ones of course.
MM LA is a great place to stimulate music exploration. Are there any music festivals besides Coachella that you’re dying to go to – like Bonnaroo or Tomorrowland?
HRI haven’t been to those- the horizon of Spotify and Hype Machine let’s us discover people in our pajamas.
MM What was the worst advice you were ever given? Did you take it or laugh in the advice-giver’s face?
HR Obviously I would never speak in absolutes. But after going to a socially aggressive public school for two years and living in Los Angeles, I’ve learned that there are sure a good amount of kids and people in general who think of cocaine as an instant breakfast shake or red bull. Yeah, that’s pretty ludicrous.
MM What are/were the inside-jokes on Teen Wolf? Does anybody start howling between takes?
HR Hmmm, the scenes have the potential to be quite funny without trying to be. Dylan and I have an inside joke: we frequently, during blocking, consider that there is an alternate version of TW that is a straight up comedy–and I’m not talking about in the 80s when there was the movie.
MM Do you ever think about making the jump from TV to movies or the stage?
HR It’s definitely a goal of mine. But as in most jobs, you don’t just go sign up. I would love to have the opportunity; but filming 10 months a year takes up time, and booking only the projects you happen to be available for is easier said than done. I also love to remind people as working, American actors, not A-list actors, it’s still very much a struggle. Hit TV show or not, I think there is no shame in exposing the reality of that.
MM How difficult was it to make the give up science to pursue acting? Do you think you’ll use your women’s studies to help bring awareness to the injustices women face worldwide?
HR It was the hardest decision of my professional life- which in this day and age is most of our life. I definitely want to. I just got back from Ghana where I played a tourist and volunteered at a school there. It was a fascinating experience to witness how societies can be so peaceful but still so sexist. It’s a way of life that that has been set on the back burner because they are currently working on having more than one electrical grid for Togo, Benin, and Ghana, public service, and proper plumbing. In West Africa where safaris and pyramids aren’t the main attraction, you feel like the world has forgotten about them. It really does start with education, and we are setting up aid to help them with that. There are women I will be reaching out to there.