Meet Danielle Savre from Station 19

Danielle Savre is the very embodiment of joy. In the weeks leading up to our interview, I dove into previous podcasts and video interviews she had done and was immediately struck by her positive demeanor.

Of course, this was not new information to me. I’ve been a fan of hers since I started watching Station 19on Grey’s Anatomy spinoff She plays a badass firefighter named Maya Bishop and has since embraced the title of “queer icon.”

I hope you enjoy reading our conversation as much as I enjoyed it!

Eliot: You’ve become a queer icon since playing Maya Bishop. I was wondering if there were any LGBTQ+ icons you saw growing up?

Daniel Savre: Honestly, I never had one growing up. I loved female characters playing tougher roles. Demi Moore enters GI JaneJodie Foster c The silence of the Lambs, these characters who were tough women in power. Even the ones you just haven’t seen very often. But having LGBTQ characters? i feel like Will and Grace it was the first time I was like, “oh, okay, a TV performance… What’s that?”

Eliot: Was that something you would approach your career with? Because you’ve played several LGBTQ+ characters over the years.

Daniel: It became natural. I was really very proud to play these characters and bring them to life. I walked into the room playing the character as a real person, not a caricature.

Eliot: I saw the panels you did with Stefania Spampinato (Dr. Carina DeLuca and Maya’s wife) at the conventions this summer. You open up to the fans. How does it feel to say “okay, I’m going to let my guard down a bit” or “I’m going to talk about it”?

Daniel Savre: It’s interesting when I’m out there with the fans, it just feels organic. It’s hard not to be honest. They share their personal stories and their lives with me and it’s like, you know, it just feels like the right thing to do. I feel like it’s a conversation with people who really care about me and care about me. And so right now it’s completely organic and doesn’t feel scary at all. I’m a very open book, to the point where I really feel like it’s a responsibility now to play this character and have this fan base to really be as honest as possible with the fans. What I put out into the world is to be true to yourself, to love yourself for yourself. I can’t say it and then not experience it.

Eliot: You’ve also talked about how you take pride in your personal life. I was wondering what it was like to share this? That was really special.

Daniel: It was in the moment. I trusted them. I just felt it was time to reveal at least a little of my personal life. I wanted to be able to explain that I understand, see everyone, and get some of the struggles. Not everyone, everyone has different struggles and different paths and different journeys, but I see them and understand them and you are not alone. We all support each other in this community that we have created. So in the moment it felt like the right thing to do. And then when it came out, I’d get messages from friends like, “I’m so proud of you!”

Eliot: I was nervous about this interview because I didn’t want to seem nosy. You have to respect the people you talk to.

Daniel Savre: Were you nervous that I didn’t want to talk about it?

Eliot: I was nervous that you would feel like I was invading your personal space. I didn’t want to do it because I’m a big fan.

Daniel Savre: Thank you for saying that. Other people have asked in interviews, but for some reason I looked at the magazine and looked at other things you’ve done, and there’s something about it that just feels right. I knew going in that we were going to have some personal conversations. I can provide some information as to what is going on, but I am still exploring life.

Eliot: That’s the beauty of it, isn’t it? I don’t think this journey will ever stop. It’s going to continue to evolve and I think the more candid conversations we have because you know, like you said, you’re a public figure, right, but you’re the same as me. You are a human being.

Daniel: I definitely agree. I like to show my evolution as I grow as a person, like you said, you saw when I initially didn’t answer a question to be honest and answer something. There are a few things I remembered when you mentioned “being a public figure” – it’s not even just the fear of fear of not being accepted, loved or embraced by Marina’s real community or Daniel Savre’s community. I take the hate and judgment of people who are not part of it. Without fully realizing it, I had already taken it on by playing LGBTQ+ characters. It occurred to me why should I publicly avoid my truth? The truth is, if I don’t accept my character, then you won’t either.

Eliot: How did you deal with it, because unfortunately there are trolls, right?

Daniel Savre: There was definitely more going on earlier. People just said the nasty things they wanted to say. Now, if you try to be nasty to Marina or Maya, the fans will go to town. I accept different opinions and am open to conversation, but you have to be respectful of that. But therapy also taught me empathy. Because I know it’s rooted in something that has nothing to do with you or me or the LGBTQ+ community. It’s something that’s built into them that I hope one day they understand, but to have so much hate for a community that is so upbeat and positive and all about love, I’ll never understand where that hate comes from.

Eliot: What is your favorite part of this whole trip? Your career has taken off and you have a huge fan base – you’re loved (as you should be!) What’s your favorite part of it?

Daniel: I think going back to the first question you asked, “did you grow up performing on television?” I’m so proud. An entire audience, an entire generation, will be able to watch characters like this on TV, LGBTQ+ characters in a real relationship, playing a badass woman who is also flawed and still gets it all. As you have watched me evolve, you have watched Maya evolve. I am so grateful to be able to play this character. It affects the lives of so many people. Including my own.

Eliot: You are amazing. I hope you know this.

Daniel Savre: And you too. You are very special. You radiate incredible energy. You obviously have a huge heart. You’re a great person and you show it by putting it on display and wanting to interview people you really respect and it happens. So I hope that continues to happen for you.

Thank you so much for meeting me Daniel. I can’t wait for our paths to cross again someday.

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