ReelzChannel series entices actress back from long hiatus

The longtime actress, who appeared in 1980s films such as “Fame,” “Tex,” “Psycho II,” “Agnes of God” and “The Big Chill,” had left her acting career behind by the 1990s to raise her children.

After nearly 15 years away, Tilly is returning to TV with ReelzChannel’s new series “Bomb Girls.”

	On TV “Bomb Girls” will premiere at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, on Albuquerque-based ReelzChannel, Channel 299 on Dish; Channel 238 on DirecTV and 161 on Comcast. The series will run every Tuesday for six weeks.

The series follows Tilly’s character, Lorna Corbett, who is the shift matron at a bomb factory in Canada during World War II. It captures a period when society was experiencing fundamental changes in the workplace and at home.

While they’re building bombs, the group of women also find themselves flourishing with newfound freedom, discovering strengths they never before imagined. At the same time they’re often woefully underequipped for the new challenges they face. Amid propaganda and sexual harassment, crossing social and cultural boundaries, these remarkable women form a sisterhood never experienced before.

Tilly says the heart of the series is the stories of the women who risk their lives in a munitions factory in support of the European front.

“They are embracing their newfound freedom,” she explains during a recent phone interview from the series set in Canada. “It was an important time because these women stepped up and took the places of the men while they went to war.”

Tilly says Lorna is a responsible person and works at the factory to feel a sense of worth.

“She’s married and her husband has his own problems due to the war,” she says. “Her daughter is all grown up, and her sons are off fighting in the war. She doesn’t have the home life that she is used to having. Being a mother figure for all of the women in the munitions factory helps her cope with her personal life.”

While Lorna balances her work and home life, she is faced with a strenuous relationship with Marco Moretti, played by Antonio Cupo, who is one of the few men who works in the factory.

“Marco is a happy-go-lucky type of guy and he has a hard time dealing with things,” Cupo explains. “He holds a lot of his feelings in and then has these outbursts. It also doesn’t help that because he’s Italian, he’s not able to fight in the war, so he has to stay and test bombs at the factory.”

Stan E. Hubbard, the CEO of ReelzChannel, says “Bomb Girls” is powerful storytelling at its best.

“The series features enticingly flawed characters confronting monumental changes in society, their workplace and personal lives – all set against the backdrop of a world at war,” he explains. “With an award-wining cast, unbelievable plot twists, bold humor and captivating emotional situations, we’re tremendously excited to take our viewers into the turbulent and exciting world of ‘Bomb Girls.’ ”

Tilly says when she found out about the series, she knew nothing of the bomb girls or the experiences that they went through.

She says after reading about them, she found a new appreciation for what they did.

“My son, Will, is a history buff, and he did all the research for me and I instantly was interested in the subject,” she says. “When I auditioned, I went into the meeting knowing that I didn’t want to do TV. I told my husband that I was going to audition just for the experience. As I read the script, I was intrigued by the characters, the writing was done so well.”

Cupo says what attracted him to Marco’s role is the era when the series is set.

“I’ve done a few films where the timeline is in the ’30s,” he says. “For one thing, I really like having short hair and dressing really well. In this era, there was a definitive line between the rich and poor. I think that the poor people would overcompensate and dress really well to not look like they were poor. The people of that time carried themselves really well and their terminology was unique. I find myself still looking up some of the phrases and words that we’re using.”

Originally “Bomb Girls” was supposed to be a miniseries, hence the six-episode first season. But after the series aired in Canada in January, it was picked up for a second 12-episode season.

“I knew there was a possibility that this could happen, and I’m thrilled to be part of this series,” Tilly explains. “I have to admit that when it got picked up for the second season, I did think about the time that I would have to devote to the role. I figured I can handle a couple months of working nonstop for the series. It really wasn’t what I was looking for, but I’m glad to get the opportunity.”

Cupo says there are more twists and turns in the second season.

“The writing is done well and I don’t believe that there has ever been a series done on this subject,” he says.

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