Editor’s Note: This is part 39 in Really Big Movie Star Magazine’s occasional series on the little guys. In the last issue, we met XXR Studio’s Hazardous Waste Disposal Coordinator Figaro Olvidado. For this installment, we return to the more visible talent as we follow an unknown actress during her first-ever big bit part.

The cameras won’t roll for another three hours, but the set of “Falcon” is already bustling. On sound stage one, a props crew is taking light readings while a set dresser puts the finishing touches on a run-down crack-house. On sound stage two, star Rebecca Lowell, best known for her role as Raven in “On Your Own,” is prepping for her big scene in this week’s episode.

“It’s an interesting role,” Lowell muses. “And I get to show a lot of range this week. I play this detective, and there’s this pimp that gets killed, and I have to interview all these prostitutes that worked for him…”

Lowell is in an especially bright mood today because the guest cast of young, beautiful women includes an old friend. The friend, a relative unknown with the unlikely name Cordelia Chase, has been stuck in make-up for the last hour, and Lowell is growing restless.

“She has a weird day job,” the actress explains. “And from what I’ve heard, she showed up today with some bruises, and they’ve had to do a bit of work to cover them up.” Lowell paces the soundstage impatiently. “The part actually calls for bruises,” she laughs. “Just not where she had ‘em. So they’re covering up some bruises, then painting on others. Only in Hollywood, you know?”

When the elusive Ms. Chase finally does appear, she redeems herself by coming armed with a peace offering, a low-fat Latte which Lowell pounces on enthusiastically. “I am such a caffeine addict,” she grouses. “It’s my only vice. Well, that and shopping.”

Lowell rushes off to have her own make-up done, leaving Chase alone to go over her four lines in today’s episode.

“It’s not a huge part, but it’s a really important one,” she explains. “ There are all these prostitutes, but I am like, the main one. And I might have seen something, but I’m afraid to talk.” She laughs. “You know, I work for a detective so I’m with this stuff.”

Bankrolling your acting career by working for a detective might seem unusual, even for L.A., but this raven-haired beauty comes from humble roots. Hailing from the tiny and insignificant little town of Sunnydale, California, Chase moved to the big city after high school, as many young women do.

“I guess I took the typical path,” she muses. “I always loved performing, you know? Cheerleader, May Queen…I did all of that. But L.A...I’m still not totally used to it, you know? I’ve seen some pretty weird stuff in my day, but L.A…”

This week’s guest shot is her biggest role to date. “I’ve mostly done theatre,” she says. “You might have seen me, I had the lead role in several productions including Nora in ‘A Doll’s House’…in fact, I met Rebecca while I was doing that one.”

Lowell returns from make-up, and the two girls lounge on a park bench, waiting for the director to summon them. Lowell’s make-up is more elaborate than Chase’s random scratches: a few fake bruises, a Chinese tattoo and Detective “Falcon” Falconer’s trademark scar, an odd puncture wound on the neck.

“Isn’t it cool?” gushes Lowell. “They use this wax mould, which gives it fabulous texture. They just pour the latex in…”

Will viewers ever find out how Falcon got the wound? The star shares a conspiratorial wink with her friend. “Well, I know, the writers know and Cordelia here knows. In fact, it was her suggestion. We were talking when I first got the part, and I thought it would be cool if Falcon had some kind of scar…and there is this LAPD detective she knows who has something similar, although of course we made mine uglier and gorier…”

“The special effects they can do are amazing,” Chase agrees. “In fact, I was in there earlier getting blood-stained, and let me tell you, the stuff they are using handles a lot better than real blood. Texture’s a bit off, but you’d never tell from how it looks…” She trails off, and Lowell chuckles. “You can take the girl off the street, but you can’t take the street off the girl,” she teases.

Chase pouts. “I am hardly from the street. You know, back home I was…” She pauses, looking oddly disturbed. “Back home, I had a different life. But L.A. is just so…amazing. I’ve really made a place for myself here, and…” She trails off, wincing suddenly. As Lowell rushes to her side, she doubles over, groaning.

“Hypoglycemic,” she gasps. “Pass out if I don’t…” she breathes deeply. “I’m fine. Excuse me. I have to make a phone call…”

Lowell rolls her eyes. “She gets that way sometimes. Lots of weird stuff. Like those bruises she came in with? I think they might have something to do with it. I don’t know, we don’t really talk about that stuff.”

Lowell sighs. “You should see the guy she works for. He’s a huge brute with a vicious temper. I’ve had a run-in with him myself, but with her…he’s like a different person. It’s like he’s appointed himself everybody’s guardian, especially hers. He shelters her, you know? Tries to protect her from all the big bads. She doesn’t talk a lot about what she does for him, but I keep telling her, use it. The guys a P.I., you know? It’s such great material!”

Chase returns, munching a granola bar and looking quite recovered. “Angel says hi,” she tells Lowell off-handedly. She runs a nervous hand through her hair, suddenly alert as the director approaches. “Well, to work, I guess. You ready?” Lowell nods, and the two walk off looking to all the world like a care-free bunch of kids heading to school or the mall or the movies. From looking, you wouldn’t be able to tell that one of them in IN the movies, and the other…well, by all accounts, she leads a life so varied that if it WERE a movie, no one would believe it. But then again, who would have believed…Hollywood?