‘Quantico’ star relies on family firearm training for sharp-shooting role

TORONTO – Growing up around guns has served Johanna Braddy well.

The bubbly blond says her ease with firearms made it easy to relate to her sharp-shooting character Shelby Wyatt on CTV/ABC’s new conspiracy thriller “Quantico.”

In it, she plays a southern debutante from Georgia who displays an impressive prowess on the firing range. Braddy, too, grew up in Georgia and spent her fair share of time handling weapons.

“We had guns and went to the gun range growing up so I’ve been around guns my whole life,” Braddy said during a stop in Toronto back in June to promote the series.

“I myself am from Georgia so it’s kind of fun and I have a similar upbringing to her. (I’m) not so much a debutante, but (I relate to) Georgia, guns, the whole thing.”

“Quantico” stars Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra as FBI agent Alex Parrish, the prime suspect in a devastating terrorist attack in New York.

Investigators are convinced the mastermind works within the FBI — and likely infiltrated the academy as a recruit.

From there, the story jumps back in time to profile the various idealistic wannabes who dive into a rigorous program that exposes their weaknesses, along with their strengths.

They include golden boy Caleb Haas, played by Graham Rogers, and devout Muslim recruit Nimah Amin, played by Yasmine Al Massri.

“It will make you question every character, who they really are,” said Massri, who joined Braddy and Rogers for a round of joint interviews.

Each recruit is hiding a secret, and no one is as they appear, added Rogers.

“It really focuses on the two stories — the person that we show, that we present, and the person that we are and our secrets and what we’re hiding and the lengths we’re willing to go to keep that hidden,” said Rogers.

“Quantico” debuts Sunday on CTV and ABC