‘Shameless’ season 5, episode 9 reaction: Sasha Alexander on playing Helene

Tonight, “Shameless” brought us many a fun storyline, but we never quite saw a professor getting physically involved with Lip being in the cards. Well, it is now! The arrival of Sasha Alexander’s Helene throws him through a loop, and what makes this story all the more interested is that this character is a huge change of pace for her. You know her first and foremost from “NCIS” and then “Rizzoli & Isles,” and this is a far more physical part that she is playing … to say the least.

While we know that there is more of Helene to come this season, but what about moving beyond that? This is something that Alexander herself explained in a chat with The Hollywood Reporter:

“I would love to do more if the situation presents itself! I think it’s fun for people to see actors play different parts. Whether you agree with it or not is not the point, it’s more about ‘Can they pull it off?’ It’s really fun to be able to — as an actor — be able to go into a series that’s been on for five years and jump into their world and play with them for awhile. Especially such a specific world! Shameless is a very different show; it’s an envelope-pushing show, and I had a lot of fun with it.”

Obviously, it will be tough for Alexander to ever have a regular presence on the show since she’s a regular over on the TNT drama; but even if her appearances are only sporadic, we feel like it will be worthwhile if we can see her aboard this show here and there.

Are you digging Helene already, and hoping to see more of her? Share right now with a comment.