'Anyone But Me' Star Nicole Pacent Talks to SheWired!

A new web series, with the tagline “A new generation searching for love and belonging in the post-9/11 age,”  explores what it’s like to be an out teen these days. The show, Anyone But Me, follows the lives of a diverse group of teenagers in New York City, some of whom are gay or lesbian, and all of whom have one thing in common – their lives are largely out of their control.

Susan Miller, who wrote for The L Word and is one of the creators of Anyone But Me -- along with Tina Cesa Ward -- explains the show’s concept as, “a show of ‘this moment.’ Anyone But Me is a way to explore the relationships between gay and straight teens, black and white teens, a diverse group of people who I walk the streets with in New York every day. We don’t exist alone – we are a part of one another, and Tina and I wanted to show that.”

SheWired talked to Nicole Pacent this week about her role as ‘Aster,’ one half of Anyone But Me’s beautiful and in-love long-distance lesbian couple. Check back next week for an interview with Rachael Hip-Flores, who plays, Vivian, Aster's on-screen love.

SC: Your character is enormously popular, for all of the obvious reasons. Tell me about Aster.

NP: Well, when I first started with the character I got caught up in “type.” I think it’s really easy, especially when it comes to lesbians, to look at characters as “the Shane type” or “the so-and-so type”…The L Word definitely helps with that. I wanted to know, is she femme? Is she the “take-charge” type? But, I let go of that after the first episode because I just felt myself worrying about it too much. Since then I’ve been able to do more justice to her in terms of making her this person who cannot be categorized. So, I’ve gotten to like her more since I stopped worrying about the rest so much. I think she’s really cool because of the ambiguity.

SC: Well it sounds like you know a lot about the different types of categories and stereotypes on The L Word…so does this mean you are an L Word fan?

NP: Yes, it does (laughing). And it also means I am a lady-loving-lady. I’ve followed The L Word from the time that it aired. I remember being at Gay Pride in New York, summer of 2003, and there was a big float advertising it and I remember going, ‘What is that?!’ The only thing that was out was Queer as Folk at that point. So when this new lesbian show was coming about, it was very exciting. I’ve definitely been following it since the beginning.

SC: So how is it for you to now be on a gay-themed show now? What is that transition like?

NP: It’s incredibly exciting. When I first saw the breakdown of the characters and the idea of this alternative teen drama, I loved it. And having been a queer youth, I know I wanted anything I could find to attach to that culture, especially in the suburbs. So the idea of bringing that into my daily life was really exciting. I see the potential in this show. And I think there are a lot of people out there who do as well, which is awesome.

SC: So now that you’ve been working on it for a little while and your “dream” has come to fruition, what has the response been from people close you? Your own friends? Your own family?

NP: Well, my aunt is gay, so she and her partner of 25 years, and their friends, are all ecstatic about it. My parents are really excited about it too, but my mom always prefaces any conversation about the show with, “But just so you know, there are girls kissing in this. Just so you know…”

And she puts it out there like that, which is interesting because I just got out of a three-year relationship with a woman. It’s funny that after three years of being around it, my mom could still be uncomfortable with the physical element between two women, but she totally is. My friends have been overwhelmingly supportive. I’ve had so many people contact me who I haven’t talked to in years saying that they watch the show and they really like it.

SC: How are the other cast members? What are they like to work with?

NP: I enjoy just being around them. We have a great, dynamic cast and crew. I’ve become, obviously, very close with Rachael, who plays Vivian. And, in the beginning I was actually more awkward about the kissing and stuff than she was.

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