Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds: According to Kirsten Vangsness, evolution is “an avatar for smart girls”

In addition to the original Criminal Minds and now Evolution, Vangness has also made multiple appearances in the spin-offs Criminal Minds, Suspicious Behavior, and Beyond, making her the only character in the franchise to appear in all films. four series. It’s an achievement she doesn’t take lightly.

“It’s a great honor,” says Vangsness. “I am honored to be the epitome of smart girls. It’s an honor to feel like, “You wanted me to be on this? And on this? I do a lot of theater and I’ve been in a lot of different things, but in terms of what someone can turn on the TV and see, that’s about it. much nice for my self-confidence. You’re like, “Acting lessons work.”

The actress, who says she’s “somewhere between a size 12 and 16,” also admits she’s proud to represent a physique that’s not always seen in the entertainment industry.

“It’s good because I don’t have the body you see on TV all the time,” says Vangsness. “It was interesting to watch the show and think, ‘Oh, here I am.’ It’s really good because all of our bodies are good bodies and to face it and say, “Every woman in the world is doing this and I’m on TV.” [so they can] to see a body that is different from all these other bodies is nice. I like that.”

You can see Vangness in action on Criminal Minds: Evolution, which airs Thursdays on Paramount+.