Tracy Spiridakos is the absolute most comfortable
chit-chatter. She flits through conversation topics like a
skilled wordsmith. Eager to cover and expand on
everything she’s asked, Spiridakos seems like she’s clawing
at the seams of her mind. There are way too many ideas
in her head, and they’re all begging to flood out.
And yet, her vocabulary is devoid of all the umms, likes and
omg’s of the stereotypical blonde; Elle Woods she is not.
Although, the core personality parallels are there. Like Reese
Witherspoon’s titular Legally Blonde character, Spiridakos is
also stubborn to a goal-oriented fault. When asked if 2013 is
the year of Tracy, she beams at me: “I’m not going away. I’m
way too stubborn. You’re stuck with me for awhile!”
And this is what completely defines Spiridakos as a person:
her unwavering stubbornness. She explains how if she really
believes in something or someone, despite the circumstances,
she’ll stand by it. “I’m just as stubborn as Charlie is, that’s for
sure,” she says, referring to her character as the main
protagonist in NBC’s Revolution. “She’s somebody that
stands by her morals because that’s what she thinks is right.
I can understand her, for sure.”
Though we’re miles away from each other (she’s speaking
from her parents’ home in Winnipeg, Manitoba), Spiridakos’
voice and demeanour emanate a disarmingly charming
vibe – like she’s openly telling stories to a childhood BFF, no
shame and no trickery. She’s a bright young thing, all toned
body, blonde hair and fairy-like features, with a smashing
personality to boot. It’s crystal clear to me that she really has
always been a goofball, which is how she describes herself as a
child. “I was always the entertainer of the family,” she says.
Spiridakos’ upbringing pinpoints pretty much every strong
personality trait she’s exhibited in our 20-minute phone
interview. A native of Winnipeg, the Spiridakos family
emigrated to a small Greek village called Skala, in the Ionian
Islands of the country’s western shores. Spiridakos was nine,
at the time. There isn’t much to say about Skala besides the
fact that it’s very small, very quiet and very old world. Even a
quick Google search doesn’t give much information – Skala is
as olden Grecian it gets in the 21st century.
“We had a wonderful life there,” Spiridakos muses, her voice
betraying a sense of heartfelt nostalgia. It’s clear that she
strongly identifies with her Greek heritage. “We lived just a
couple villages over from where my dad grew up so my dad
knew everybody. My brothers and I used to run wild, play
soccer, be outside, doing everything all day. Everyday causing
havoc. We had the minimal amount of stuff but I have really
fond memories of living there.” It was a childhood paradise
unlike many North American kids, but Spiridakos moved
back to Winnipeg at age nine. She blasted through her
teenage years, until she (at an undisclosed age; Spiridakos
likes keeping her real age a mystery) moved to Vancouver,
British Columbia to pursue acting in full force.
“I’ve always wanted to be an actress. It was a dream for as
long as I can remember,” she says. But, the arts, acting and
Hollywood isn’t F