Geekscape Interviews: Alison MacInnis and Camille Hyde, TWO Awesome Pink Rangers!
With Power Rangers Dino Charge jut on the horizon (premiering February 7 on Nickelodeon) I’m proud to present an interview I kept in my pocket for a few months now: An interview with Alison MacInnis and Camille Hyde, two very lovely actress who have played/are playing two equally awesome Pink Rangers!
Alison MacInnis portrayed Dana Mitchell, an EMT selected by her father to become the Pink Ranger in 2000’s Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, which is among one of my favorite seasons in the series. She was a childhood crush, so yes — I was nervous. You would be too.
Camille Hyde is a new entrant in the pantheon of Power Rangers legends. Not much is known about her yet beyond some key production information and press releases, but we do know she’s a tough-as-nails tomboy and… yeah, that’s it.
Recorded on the fly at the 2014 Power MorphiCon, I sat down briefly with a veteran crime-fighter and a rookie scrapper and had a fun little chat about what it’s like being a superhero in pink. Power Rangers Dino Charge premieres in exactly two weeks, but now is the perfect time to hear from the best of the best.
What do you think about Power MorphiCon so far?
Alison: This is unlike any convention I’ve been to. This is my fifth, but, it’s surreal. Everyone recognizes me, instead of maybe one in a thousand? Oh no no, wait, not everybody. Not Chip. Not Chip Lynn. Not the guy I worked with in close quarters for a year. [I] went to meet the new Rangers, ran into him in the hallway, and he was like, “I have no idea who you are.”
Camille: I think the convention this year is amazing. The fans are amazing. They love us so much. They’re so loyal. And it’s just so nice to come here and feel all the energy and excitement of everyone who has been such a loyal fan of the whole series. So I mean, it’s just been a pleasure for me to be a part of this. I’m really excited.
http://instagram.com/p/sEWwBiGPhh/?modal=true
What was going through your mind when you were going up on stage for the Dino Charge reveal?
Camille: I think the biggest thing was being a role model. Trying to be that new figure for little girls who are gonna be looking up to me and trying to make my first impression count for them.
I was actually going to ask that, what is it like being a role model, for young girls especially?
Alison: Daunting.
It’s a heavy burden?
Alison: No, you just don’t want to mess up. It’s overwhelming. And an honor. An absolute honor. The little girls that come up, [these] cute, sweet, baby girls.
Did you watch Power Rangers growing up?
Camille: When I was really little I used to watch it all the time when I was at home. Growing up I lost touch with it, and then as soon as I found out it was coming back I was really excited, because it was a part of my childhood and I’m so glad it’s so successful and has so many followers.
Alison, you and I met at San Diego Comic-Con, and obviously we’re at a convention right now. Is there anything you two like to geek over personally?
Alison: I played Dungeons & Dragons pretty religiously, and I just canceled my Warcraft account so I might just get out of my house once in awhile. But D&D? Oh yeah.
Camille: Well I was always huge on The Sims, I guess? [laughs]
I love The Sims. Don’t be ashamed!
Camille: I also had Neopets until I was like, 17? So, if that doesn’t make me a geek I don’t know what does.
Did you two have any martial arts experience prior to Power Rangers or did you go through a boot camp when you signed on?
Alison: No! [laughs]
Camille: I did when I was little, but it was like a Saturday kind of thing, when I was in the second grade. It wasn’t serious. So, I’m in for it! I’m definitely gonna get my butt worked.
Alison: They called me a creampuff when I was auditioning. Koichi called me a creampuff.
Really?
Alison: Oh yeah. He apologized after about a month. He said, okay, I take it back, you can do this.
Camille, have you started production on Dino Charge yet?
Camille: Not yet, we’re actually set to leave for New Zealand next Saturday. So we’ll be shooting in the next couple weeks, and all through next year.
Do you ladies have any last words for the Geekscape audiences out there?
Alison: Watch the Mega War! It’s coming out soon!
Camille: Next season is going to be unlike any other season, it’s going to be huge, it’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be so incredible. You can’t miss it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebu9oPWZ7WE
