'Beauty & The Beast' Nina Lisandrello Talks Season 3 DVD & Playing Tess Vargas! [INTERVIEW]

CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution is bringing audiences the must-have Beauty And The Beast: Season 3 DVD. In an exclusive interview with MStars News, actress Nina Lisandrello talks about Tess Vargas' character arc in the third season and dishes on what's in store for the fourth season premiere on the CW Network.

As we previously mentioned, the love between Detective Catherine "Cat" Chandler (Kristin Kreuk) and veteran soldier Vincent Keller (Jay Ryan) was extraordinary but it came with a price. With a secret and sinister plot to create super-humans, J.T. Forbes (Austin Basis) and Tess Vargas (Lisandrello) join the others to stop the spread of unnatural powers, With Cat and Vincent's long-desired wedding plans coming up, a dark and powerful killer is about to come into the light.

Before the Season 3 DVD arrives in stores, the Beauty and the Beast actress discusses Tess' character arc, her favorite episode, and teases fans what to expect from the final fourth season.

MStars News: After playing the character for three to four seasons, what still has you hooked about Tess Vargas?

Nina Lisandrello: She grew over the seasons. That's all you can really ask for as an actor; that a character keeps evolving. Otherwise, my job is really boring. She is always surprising, a loyal friend. I adore Tess! They gave her really cool stuff! I'll always appreciate that!

MS: Tess went through a major character arc during the third season, such as becoming captain and her relationship with J.T. Forbes (Austin Basis). What were your initial thoughts? And did you know in advance of the story arc?

NL: I knew some things. We usually get the scripts a week before we would shoot. I was really surprised at Tess' vulnerability in season three. I thought she would be a little bit better at being captain. She was a bit frazzled and chaotic at the whole thing. I loved playing it but I was surprised by that.

To me, Tess is incredibly cool. She was pretty uncool about JT sometimes. She was a needy girlfriend at moments. I was like, "Man! Stop being so whiny!" But I think it was a great revelation for people to see she can't be strong all the time. And she is threatened by J.T.'s relationship and his priorities within that. She wants to be a priority. Is she selfish? Yeah! Is it unrealistic? Yeah but she feels that way. That was challenging to play but I understand that it came from her love and sensitivity towards him.

MS: With the DVD coming out May 10, what would you say is your favorite episode from Season 3?

NL: The finale! The finale was really beautiful! It was one of my favorite things to shoot on the show! It was really well done. It was really charming. I have a soft spot for the finale.

MS: After working with Austin Basis, Jay Ryan, and Kristin Kreuk, do you have any behind-the-scenes anecdotes you can share?

NL: There was lots of laughing! There was a lot of laughing on that show! You're freezing in Toronto. We shared this camaraderie, which was beautiful. We knew each other really well. It was like camp. It was almost like working with family members, where you know each other's strengths and weaknesses. We try our best to hold each other up. I thought that was a special thing about the cast, how well we got to know each other.

MS: With the fourth season premiere coming up June 2, what are you most excited about?

NL: Oh my God! I'm really excited because I think it's the strongest season of Beauty! I know everybody says that about their show but I think the show ends on a really strong note. The characters are utilized in a very unique way. I think the fans will get the closure that they wanted from the show after supporting us. Season four is more fun and I think that's how the show should be.

MS: Is it bittersweet knowing these upcoming episodes are the last?

NL: Yeah! I've never had this long run on a show before! It was tough to hang up Tess' leather jacket and say goodbye to her because you just take it for granted. You got to work everyday and get to play this person, and try different things. You literally hang up the clothes and say "Bye!" It was very sad! I loved her relationships with the other characters. I loved her defensiveness, her vulnerability, and I came to like Tess. That was a hard character to say goodbye to. It was hard to say goodbye to the bonds she made with the other characters. It was a moment!

MS: After working on Beauty and The Beast for four seasons, what would you say has struck you the most?

NL: I was struck at how lucky I was with a character that wasn't prone to cliches or disappointing forms of behavior. Tess did some disappointing things but I feel as a female in the business, there are certain stereotypes that keep getting played over and over again that I feel really tiring. I remember feeling before Beauty, I told my agents I'm never playing a prostitute ever again! I'm not doing that! It's one of those things where you thank your lucky stars where you get to play a well-rounded character, but also a character with power and authority. I was very honored that she wasn't prone to cliches and she was different. I will always be grateful for that! I don't think I'll ever get a character like her.

MS: What other projects are you working on now?

NL: I went to college. I went to NYU Film School at Tisch. I always wanted to be a director. I fell into acting but towards the end of Beauty, it was gnawing at me to direct again. I used one of the stages to direct a short film. We shot parts of it in New York and I'm editing it right now. I really want to get into directing and telling my own stories! That's also fun and exciting but also incredibly stressful! That's filmmaking! It's a blast!

Beauty and the Beast Season 3 arrives on DVD May 10. Beauty and the Beast Season 4 premieres on the CW June 2.