Megalyn Echikunwoke is noted for her roles as Nicole Palmer in the first season of 24 and as Isabelle Tyler in The 4400.  At present, however, she is known as the newest Miami-Dade Dayshift medical examiner.  Serving as replacement to Doctor Alexx Woods, played by Khandi Alexander, on CSI: Miami, the 25-year-old actress reveals how she prepared to join the forensic drama and what's it like working with the cast and crew.

Echikunwoke's character on CSI: Miami, Doctor Tara Price, was introduced in the seventh season's second episode "Won't Get Fueled Again" where she worked in her first job, which was to examine the body of a burnt male victim on a beach.  She then became part of the main opening cast credits in the fifth episode “Bombshell.”

But prior to portraying Tara Price, Echikunwoke had to know how real medical examines deal with everyday work and tragedies.

"You're getting a job done, and you are trying to figure out what happened to this person," the actress explained.  "If you don't do that, then you're doing them a disservice, so that's the least that you can do for this person who's just had this tragic end.”

“I think it takes a really special kind of person," the CSI: Miami actress added.

Aside from that, Echikunwoke had some help adjusting from the cast and crew of the show, including lead star David Caruso (Horatio Caine).

"I love them, I think they're fantastic," she said.  "David was really helpful in the beginning, very warm and helpful.  He also helped me sort of find the tone of the show because he was sort of instrumental in creating it, so who better to sort of lead you in the right direction than him?"

Fans can catch CSI: Miami every Monday at 10pm on CBS.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: CBS
(Image courtesy of CBS)