Q: How do you like depicting the work of forensic investigators on “CSI: Vegas”?

A: It’s amazing, like when we were doing the research for this, finding out how people can spend like three days in the bottom of a lab, just down in some DNA … trying to figure out the stories of what happened to people’s loved ones. We’re on the amazing side of it, where we get to just sit and have like all the best of the best just at our beck and call (them) to be able to write a story about that.

For me, it’s hard to imagine (that at this) very second, there are people in the basements and the bowels of buildings doing this very thing that this show is talking about. (They) were in there last night, maybe got to work at 5:00 and maybe are on their second body or on their second tray of DNA. It really takes a lot just to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes like that.

Q: Are you enjoying playing the leader of the show’s CSI bureau?

A: I’m the youngest of three daughters, so it feels like vengeance on my sisters that I get to tell people what to do. My sisters always were the boss of me, so that’s nice.

It’s a fit. Women are very capable beings, you know. It’s just nice to be in the shoes of being able to step into that capability and, in so doing, set the example for other women and other people who want to step into that capability.

Q: How is it to have original “CSI: crime Scene Investigation” cast member Marg Helgenberger on your show now!

A: Can I say, as a member of this iteration, what a joy it is to have Marg here … an absolute joy. The knowledge that she brings along with her, the kindness, the humility, the grace, the intel –just the experience.