LUST FOR LIFE

Sarah Shahi, the Lone Star state-born star of Life, has us itchin' to mess with Texas.

By Andrew Simon

Whether she's wielding pom-poms or pistols, Sarah Shahi has no trouble getting our attention. The former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader first appeared as an extra in the film Dr. T & the Women (2000), but she's best known as the Latina DJ Carmen on Showtime's The L Word (YouTube "L Word Shane and Carmen"...trust). Now, the 28-year-old Spanish-Persian stunner puts her spin on an addict-turned-cop as somber detective Dani Reese on NBC's Life. Are we hoping to see Reese's pieces on prime time? Busted!

What's the transition from The L Word to Life been like?

There's no transition from The L Word to Life. [Laughs]. Maybe the letter "L" [Laughs].

OK, but what about going from the sex scenes in L Word to the gunplay in Life? How much had you handled a gun before?

Well, I'm from Texas, but surprisingly, I'd never held a gun until the show.

So was it strange pointing a gun at someone, even though you're acting?

Yeah, I was going to the gun range before we started; I got the angst out there. But it's still weird. When I'm pointing a gun at someone, I really think I'm going to kill them. Then afterwards, I'm like, "I'm really sorry for pointing that gun right at your temple."

Getting back to the sex scenes, is there a different comfort level doing one with a guy as opposed to a girl?

The good thing about doing a scene with a woman is that if you have any bits and pieces you don't want the camera to see, it's a lot easier to say, "Hey, can you put your hand over here?" Whereas with a guy, it can be a bit problematic for them if they get really into it.

You certainly seemed comfortable enough in the much-YouTubed studio scene with Katherine Moennig.

That was actually my first day at work.

Really?

Yeah, "This is Kate, this is Sarah, and in this scene Kate's going to go down on you." That's how it went.

Now that's employee orientation.

Yeah, it broke the ice quickly.

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