‘Night Shift’ star relates to blue-collar atmosphere
JILL Flint says she is excited about the show’s fans.
Jill Flint, “The Night Shift” actress, plays Jordan, a doctor, in the medical drama that debuted last year and is back for a second season (Sony Channel, Wednesdays, 8:50 p.m.). The former “Royal Pains” regular, 37, admits in a roundtable phone interview that being naturally squeamish, she has a little problem with her character’s frequent scenes with realistic props.
“There are puppeteers who make the ‘heart’ beat and the ‘lungs’ breathe. You’re looking inside the torso and … it could be a little gory,” she says. “But the science of it is absolutely fascinating!”
The hourlong “Night Shift”—created by Gabe Sachs (“Life As We Know It”) and Jeff Judah (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”)—is set at San Antonio Memorial, a fictional hospital in Texas, but is shot in New Mexico.
Flint, a former bartender, admits to being a “night creature,” which makes her relate to Jordan, squeamishness aside. Her TV credits include roles in “Gossip Girl,” “The Good Wife” and “Nurse Jackie.”
What is the role teaching you as an actress?
This role is definitely more challenging than others. I’ve learned a little bit more in pacing—pacing my energy, emotions—[while] allowing myself to be free. I know that sounds contradictory and a little crazy.
What’s the most important thing to remember when working on a TV show?
Enjoy it while it lasts; it can be over in a flash. Do your best and hope that people respond to it. You’ll never know who’s going to really enjoy it. Just … put it out there.
How would you compare television now to when you started acting?
Oh, it’s so different now. There are so many channels competing for viewership. There are the “big four”—CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox. Not to mention that nobody watches in real time anymore; everybody’s on their iPads or computers, watching when it’s most convenient for them. On top of that, you don’t always get immediate viewership because people like to binge-watch. I, for one, am a binge-watcher. I will watch an entire season in three days, if you let me!
What makes “Night Shift” doctors different from other medical teams on TV?
We’re a military and teaching hospital. A lot of our doctors have served or are about to serve in the military. This aspect absolutely changes the way we think, the way we function. The fact that our hospital is set in San Antonio gives it a blue-collar feel, which I personally find … more relatable.
What types of viewers does the show attract?
I notice—and this is exciting to me—a lot of young women responding to the show. They write in to say they’re inspired to go to med school. That could not make me happier—I mean, that’s fantastic!
