Lyndsy Fonseca shakes things up on CW's 'Nikita'

Since "Nikita," the CW's killer reboot, premiered last month, all eyes have been on its fierce and gorgeous leading lady, Maggie Q.

But the show's other butt-kicking female is also seizing America's attention. She's Lyndsy Fonseca, a 23-year-old Oakland, Calif., native, who launched her acting career at the tender age of 13 on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless."

Fonseca plays Alex, a troubled teen with a violent history who has been recruited by a shadowy government agency called Division. The agency is training Alex for lethal missions, but, unbeknown to its leaders, Alex is secretly serving as the eyes and ears for Nikita, a former Division operative who has vowed to destroy it.

Fonseca, who caught the showbiz bug while strutting her stuff with the West Coast Dance Theatre in Alameda, Calif., boasts a number of television credits, including recurring stints on "Desperate Housewives," "Big Love" and "How I Met Your Mother" (as Ted Mosby's daughter). She also has a burgeoning film career with appearances in "Hot Tub Time Machine" and "Kick A--" and recently wrapped production on John Carpenter's latest thriller, "The Ward."

During a recent break from shooting "Nikita," which airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Ch. 30, the actress fielded some questions via phone from Toronto:

Q: So, what do you love about playing Alex?

A: I love the fact that she has so many sides to her. In flashbacks, you see the broken child living through some really dark stuff. Then, in the present, you see the determined fighter. There's a lot of toughness to her, but also a lot of vulnerability. I'm never bored with Alex.

Q: We know you can't divulge any big secrets, but, in general, what can you tell us about where your character is headed?

A: You'll learn a lot more about the relationship between Nikita and Alex as the season unfolds. We'll fill in the blanks. You'll see why they have such a strong connection. Alex also climbs higher and higher up the Division totem pole. And we've got surprises packed into every episode.

Q: The show requires you to do a lot of tough, physical work. How are you handling that?

A: It can be very draining. For an episode we recently shot, I get tortured. There was a lot of running involved and electrocution stuff. ... At the end of the week, I just want to collapse into the sofa. ... On the other hand, I love the stunt work. It really gives me a feeling of empowerment. After every episode, Maggie and I compare our bumps and bruises.