The deeper WGBH Drama Club gets into Baptiste — the gritty spin-off of Starz’ The Missing — the more we love it. Getting swept up on a mission with detective Julien Baptiste (played by Tcheky Karyo) has never been so thrilling. As our detective follows the trail of clues, the mystery at the core of Baptiste only seems to grow, evolving from missing persons case to human trafficking ring, and we can’t even begin to imagine where the fast-paced tale will end.

As much as we love Karyo, the man behind the gritty detective, we’ve found ourselves truly enjoying the supporting characters in the series as well. Jessica Raine, who you may remember from Call the Midwife, tries on an edgier role with here with Genevieve; while Tom Hollander creates a sad, dark portrait of loneliness and desperation with Edward Stratton. But it’s Talisa Garcia as Kim Vogel, the mysterious woman who seems to be inextricably tied to the case, who has really caught our eye.

Garcia is an actress with a fascinating background, one that we truly enjoyed exploring. If you haven't been keeping up with Baptiste, check out her performance Sunday nights at 10pm on WGBH 2, or on WGBH Passport — and read on!

1. Born in Chile.
Garcia was found in the streets of Chile as an infant, having been abandoned by her mother. While she was, luckily, adopted by a well-to-do family, her early life was in the midst of the developing dictatorial rule of Augusto Pinochet, and it wasn’t long before her family was forced to flee the country.

2. Moving to Wales.
Garcia’s family moved to the U.K. while she was still a toddler, first to the Welsh town of Swansea, and then to London when she was a teen. Despite this early relocation, Garcia is fluent in both English and Spanish.

3. More dark times ahead.
Garcia’s teen years were fraught with difficulty and depression, about which the actress is very open. Born a male, Garcia found trying to live as one to be unbearable. In 1990, at age 13, Garcia attempted suicide. Luck was on Garcia’s side once again, as she was found and rushed to the hospital, where she entered into a psychiatric program, which she has since called the “best thing that ever happened” to her as it allowed her to give name to what was plaguing her.

4. The light at the end of the tunnel.
In 1992, Garcia underwent a full sex change, with the support of her parents. It was a success, though she has talked about how painful the process is — even involving hours to attempt to use the bathroom.

5. A new name.
After she transitioned, Garcia chose a new name. Though her given name was Joseph — and she went by Josie in school — she renamed herself Talisa after actress Talisa Soto, better known as Bond girl Lupe Lamore in License to Kill (1989).

6. Going into acting.
Garcia began her career in acting at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, a prestigious arts high school in London. In 2003, she graduated from the Arts Educational School of London, a vocational acting school presided over by legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

7. Baptiste is her breakout role.
While Garcia’s had bit parts in films and television, as well as supporting roles in the BBC Series’ Silent Witness and Doctors, Baptiste is her first main role. Garcia says that she’s been frustrated with casting the past as she’s been told she’s “not transgender enough” for roles that call for trans actors.

8. The role for her.
Upon reading the Baptiste script, Garcia says she instantly fell in love with the character, even though Kim Vogel might not be the nicest woman. She felt that there was no one better to play the role “than someone who has gone through it.”

9. An outspoken advocate.
Garcia is certainly not letting the spotlight pass her by. In an article written for The Stage, she supported the ongoing work of telling LGBTQ+ stories and encouraged acting schools to work to train more trans performers.

10. Keep watching.
Keep your eye out for more Garcia: she has a film due out at the end of the year! Decrypted is a dark comedy that tells the outrageous tale of an NSA agent trying to destroy Bitcoin.

Baptiste airs Sunday nights at 10pm on WGBH 2. Prefer to watch online? Check it out on WGBH Passport!