A Few Words with “Dexter” Actress Yvonne Strahovski

The former Maxim cover girl chats with us about playing sexy killer Hannah McKay on Dexter.

Former Maxim cover girl Yvonne Strahovski chats with us about her latest role as sexy killer Hannah McKay on Dexter.



Photographed for Maxim by Stephan Wurth | Licensed to Alpha Media Group 2013

How did it come about that you were offered a role on Dexter?


The producers called and offered me the role of Hannah McKay. After a couple of discussions with executive producer Scott Buck it was a go-ahead. 



Were you still working on Chuck at that point?


No, I was not. I had just wrapped up shooting I, Frankenstein

Were you a fan of the show before you were cast, or did you binge-watch the whole series before you started shooting?


I had seen episodes of Dexter but never consecutively, so I watched the entire six seasons over three weeks before I started shooting the seventh season with them. 



It’s unusual for a guest-star (especially a killer) on Dexter to survive more than one season. Did you know going into Season 7 that you’d be returning for the show’s 8th season?


No, I didn’t know. I was very excited to learn that I would survive the seventh season and return for the eighth and final season. 



Was that always part of the plan for Hannah McKay’s character, or did they decide to bring her back after you wrapped season 7?


I’m not sure if they were always going to have the character of Hannah McKay return, you would have to ask the writers!

How do you prepare to play a murderous character like Hannah? Presumably not through method acting…


No, I have not killed people for research for this role. I think you have to find the heart of the role. Regardless of how ‘bad’ or ‘good’ a character is – you have to find the heart. 

Dexter Season 7 is on DVD and Blu-ray now. The show returns for its eighth and final season on June 30.



Also on Maxim.com:

Yvonne Strahovski’s Maxim Gallery

5 Things Heather Graham Wants You to Know About The Hangover Part III

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