‘Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance’ exclusive: Kelley Wentworth on playing hard, idol finds, and much more

Going into “Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance,” Kelley Wentworth may have been an enigma to some people. She didn’t receive much air time during her first season, but there was enough that fans saw in her to vote her back for what proved to be a very wise decision. She found immunity idols, made big plays, and would have had a very good shot at winning in the end against Jeremy.

We chatted with Kelley this morning about changing her perception, her skill set, and if she’s interested in doing this for a third time. For those wondering, this interview was conducted at the same time as our chat with Tasha, which is why you get a small interjection from her in here.

CarterMatt – I wish I could say that this was a little more clever, but how are you feeling right now, knowing that Drew Christy was right. You are a huge threat!

Kelley Wentworth (laughs) – Yeah, he was right all along.

Drew Christy, great sage of the game. I remember speaking to you after ‘San Juan del Sur’ and thinking that you were really entertaining in that interview, but we didn’t get to see much of you on the show that time. How are you feeling now knowing that America really had a chance to see your game, and also some of your more entertaining moments out there?

Yeah, I was really happy because the first time I was barely in the episodes, and before this season I didn’t really think that I would get voted in. I thought the chances were very slim. So going into this season and having it be this huge turnaround was amazing. I’m so happy to be a part of this season. I knew it was going to be an epic, epic season, and I’m so happy [to be a part of it].

So what were you doing when it comes to immunity idols that other people weren’t? We know that there were others who looked for them but you and Jeremy were the two who actually found them.

I don’t know. They just called me the ‘idol whisperer’ …

Tahsa – Yes, you are, girl!

Kelley – I don’t know. I said it when I got the second idol clue. Part of the game is luck. The funny thing is that you never know what could happen. The first one I did have to go out and look for, but anyone could find them.

One of the great things that I think you did all season was you kept your options open, and you never managed to get anyone angry at you after having to vote a certain way. How did you keep these other emotions and frustrations from other players at bay?

I just tried to constantly maneuver and shift. I wasn’t super-close to anyone, I wasn’t super-locked-in to anything. I really wanted to work on my social game, have conversations with everybody and wanted them to be true. I was never really in that much power, and that’s why people weren’t mad at me.

At the final four, right before you were voted out, did you think that Spencer was shooting himself in the foot with with his long speech / threat to Jeremy? Do you think that had any impact at all?

I don’t. Spencer was just trying to stay alive, just as we all were. All of us just want to get to the end. I don’t know what Jeremy was thinking of Spencer in that moment; I just think he was trying to stay alive. I don’t know what else to say about it.

I know you said when you went up to vote that this was the last time you were writing down his name, so we knew you wouldn’t be voting for him to win. Was it because of that speech, or something else?

No, it wasn’t because of that tribal. I had worked with Spencer, and Spencer was playing both sides. After the merge, he was sharing information with both sides. Spencer and I were pretty [close] at one point, and I thought we were going to go to the end together. After he voted Abi out at final seven, I felt very betrayed by him. After we went back to camp and he went off with Jeremy and Tasha, we just kind of stopped talking. It was just such a change from how it was.

I don’t know if there’s a single move looking back you wish you could have done differently since you were always at the bottom, but is there anything you would change?

I think looking back, the family visit was huge because you’ve got Spencer, Jeremy, and Tasha back at camp making a final three deal. They made the decision to go to the end. I think that had they not won the family visit, maybe I could’ve made a final three deal. I have no idea.

So is it too dangerous to win the family visit? Would Dale really have minded [not getting the reward]?

I think it’s just dangerous to win rewards and have to pick people. Just look at what happened to Stephen.

Okay, so one last question: I know this season was long and exhausting, but is there any interest in your part in going back out there again?

For me, it’s not on my mind at all. I’m happy this season is over, I loved being a part of it and it was such a long road to get there.

If you do want to get some more interviews from the “Survivor” final six, head over to this link now! Also, sign up here to get some more TV news on everything we cover, sent right to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: CBS.)