Julia so enjoyed her experience working on Blue that she partnered with the WIGS team to write and direct her own series for the channel, a four-episode story called Paloma. It stars Grace Gummer (Smash), Rhys Coiro (Entourage), and Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope). "It's about a year in a couple's relationship and how the presence of a third person can corrode that relationship. It's also sort of a rumination on love," explained Julia, who knows a thing or two about great writing: she's worked with the words of William Shakespeare and Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet, and holds a degree in English Literature from Columbia University.

"I really loved working with [WIGS co-creators] Jon Avnet and Rodrigo, and I just felt like it was such a nice environment creatively to experiment," she continued, explaining her decision to also take on directorial duties. "I had wanted to direct something again - I had directed a short film like five years ago - and I wanted to direct something I could manage. The idea just came to me and I thought 'Why not?'"

"One thing that's so great is that I learned so much about acting from directing," she said. "Particularly being in the editing room, because you see how much can be done in editing. In having to communicate to the actors what I was looking for, it made me realize how much I can use that to my benefit when I'm acting." But, she admitted, "I'd never be able to direct myself!"

Her work with WIGS is not the only thing keeping Julia busy. "There's something that's out on demand now, it's called It's A Disaster. It's an independent comedy I made with some friends of mine," she said, referring to the film in which she plays Tracy Scott, one of eight friends who meet for Sunday brunch, only to discover that the world might be ending. "I'm just so happy that it got distribution and people can see it. It's sort of a lighter side of me that maybe is not so expected - and I just really liked it." It's A Disaster is a production of the LA-based comedy troupe The Vacationeers, and you can watch the film's trailer below.

Dexter fans have wondered if Julia will reprise her role as Dexter Morgan's fifth-season love interest Lumen Pierce - a role that netted her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations - as the Showtime series heads toward its apparent end. But Julia has not yet been approached to return. "I have absolutely no idea," she said.

For now, fans can enjoy Julia's work both in front of and behind the camera with WIGS. "I was really, really happy to work with the WIGS family," said Julia, whose favorite WIGS projects include Audrey (with Kim Shaw and Arielle Kebbel), Denise (starring Allison Pill), Serena (with Jennifer Garner and Alfred Molina), and Christine (starring her It's A Disaster colleague America Ferrera), all of which you can find links to on the WIGS website. "There's a real sense of community."

Blue returns to the WIGS YouTube channel this Friday, March 15. You can also keep up with Julia on Twitter (@MissJuliaStiles).

(c)2013 Brittany Frederick. Appears at Starpulse with permission. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted. Visit my official website and follow me on Twitter at @tvbrittanyf.