A new Battlestar Galactica TV movie is expected to go into production, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the end of summer… The movie, which is being written by fan favorite, Jane Espenson, will be directed by Admiral Adama, himself, Edward James Olmos.

Currently the cast includes Michael Trucco [Sam Anders], Aaron Douglas [Chief Galen Tyrol] and Dean Stockwell [Brother Cavil]. According to the Sci Fi channel press release, more casting news will follow “in the coming weeks.”

The movie opens before the events of the miniseries, with the story focusing on familiar characters including Cylon Model Number One, known as Cavil (Stockwell), Resistance Leader Sam T. Anders (Trucco) and Chief Galen Tyrol (Douglas).  It seems that the Cylons’ plan failed to account for one thing: survivors.  In the chaotic aftermath of the destruction, two powerful Cylon agents struggle with plots and priorities on the human ships that got away, while trying to deal with the resistance fighters who were left behind.

The as-yet-untitled movie will be released after the conclusion of the regular series, following the Razor model – first being broadcast by the Sci Fi Channel with a DVD release to follow shortly thereafter.

Today I participated in a call with Battlestar Galactica’s iconic Six (Tricia Helfer) to talk about her role in the July 10 premiere of USA’s new hit show Burn Notice. Of course Galactica came up as well and we got some great tidbits from her. The transcript from the call will be coming later this week. To wet your appetite. Here are some little tidbits.

• Tricia will be in 7 Episodes of Burn Notice playing a mysterious spy. She’ll be in the first two episodes of the season, the season finale and a couple in 2009.
• Her character is the public face of the organization that burned Michael.
• She really liked the being on the set and said it was a real welcoming environment.
• She talks a bit about the difference between Vancouver and Miami, Fl. Said she had to get use to it being sunny in Fla.
• She has a list of DVD Sets that she wants to watch since she doesn’t watch much television. She likes quirky shows like Madmen and Weeds. Is currently watching Dexter, 24, and Arrested Development.
• When asked if she uses the word Frak in her every day life she no. Primarily because her character on Galactica rarely says it. But Frak has become part of other cast and crew’s vocabulary.
• She didn’t have to audition for the Burn Notice part. Matt called her up and said he had a part for her.
• She’s shooting a pilot for a new Fox Television show called Inseparable. She’s playing a Psychologist to the lead. It’s about a cop who was shot and paralyzed. He develops a split personality one that’s crippled and the other one who isn’t. She’s not in the Pilot episode that much because they are establishing the main character.
• She was great to talk to, wasn’t at all squeamish about talking about BSG and what her post BSG life will be like.
• She will be at Comic-Con as part of a Cylon/Human couple. Doesn’t know if the Burn Notice folks will be doing anything.
• She hasn’t been following the looming strike.

EM Interview Highlights

By Michelle Alexandria
Originally Posted 7.2.2008

Universal Pictures digital Platforms Group announcing their introduction of a Mobile Battlestar Galactica Game that they developed in partnership with Glu Mobile. The game is set aboard “the legendary BSG-75” where the player is in a “top down shooter position” for an adventure that “stretches from one end of the galaxy to the other.”

How to Play “Battlestar Galactica”
Battlestar Galactica is a top-down shooter game that stations the player aboard the legendary BSG-75.  Players have a chance to pilot three types of Vipers or Raptors while defending the Fleet against relentless Cylon attacks. Players begin the game as “rookies” and progress in rank as they play. With each promotion, players unlock new features within the game.

There are 24 possible missions and additional training missions, as well as bonus stages and intense boss battles.  “Battlestar Galactica” also allows for multiple-stackable ship upgrades and Wingman powerups.

“On television, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ is incredibly visual and full of action and we wanted to deliver that same exhilarating experience to the mobile phone gamer,” says Jeremy Laws, Senior Vice-President, Mobile & Broadband, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group.

“Battlestar Galactica” is now available on most major wireless carriers in North America and will be available worldwide shortly.

Escape Velocity opens with Chief Tyrol given a poignant eulogy at Cally’s funeral and ends with Gaius Baltar in a [for him] most unusual position. In between, this is one of Galactica’s most intense episodes – even though there are no great Cylon battles or even much action at all.

During the funeral, President Roslin sits beside Admiral Adama, and it’s clear that he’s is keeping a concerned eye on her – that her disease has progressed is shown by her wearing a wig. When she tells him this is the kind of service she’d like, he says it’s not his style. She just wants him to know for when it’s time. Following the service they offer the chief their condolences. Then, after they move off, Tyrol grabs Tigh and Tory, who are more than a bit freaked out by that. “What the frak was that,” blurts Tigh.

Next we learn that Tigh has been visiting Six on a daily basis for awhile. When she asks why he visits her every day, he suddenly sees her with the face of his late wife, asking if there’s something he wants or needs from her.

Tigh and Tory visit Tyrol to find out what the frak is up with him. As they talk, Nicky cries in his bunk. Tory almost blithely says he blames himself for Cally’s “suicide.” Tyrol replies that she thought that he was having affair with Tory. What it comes down to is that he doesn’t know whether his entire life has been nothing more than a program. Tory’s response is that he need not feel guilt because, “we were made to be perfect – which earns a snort from Tigh, “Is that some of Baltar’s crap?” Tigh tells him he needs to be a man and movie on – which makes his earlier hallucination kind of ironic.

From the chief’s quarters, Tory returns to Baltar’s little enclave to provoke him with some sensual pain/pleasure stuff – plucking hairs from his head with one hand while her other hand moves south. This part of her belief that there is no evil or good and that, if you become one with God, then you can never do wrong. As her little sermon progresses, members of a group called the Sons of Aries break into the enclave and attempt to get Baltar’s location, but even though they beat the women, no one gives him up.

Meanwhile, on the flight deck, Chief Tyrol is more than a bit out of it and accidentally fails to switch out one component on Racetrack’s bird. The resultant crash doesn’t kill the bird’s crew but Tyrol loses it when nobody will bawl him out for frakking up.

Now it’s time for the return of the Six in Baltar’s head. She helps him figure out who attacked his followers and tells him that they [his followers] have not yet let go of their old gods. She goads him into following the attack on his followers by disrupting a service in the chapel – and he gets taken away to the brig.

In sick bay, Adama is with Roslin as she takes a blood test. He reads to her from a book he enjoyed so much that he never finished it [he never wanted it to end]. While Roslin likes that idea, she realizes that his philosophy in this matter is seriously not applicable to her. So he begins to read it for her – for her there is no later. That realization also prompts her decision to visit Baltar in the brig.

When Tigh returns to the brig to visit Six, he once again sees her as Ellen. She pleads with him to see her as she is – made of flesh and veins, just like him. “The tell me,” he asks, “How you can live with what you’ve done?” How can she live with knowing she’s responsible for the deaths of billions of people? “Are you asking for absolution? I can give you that,” she says.

Also in the brig, Roslin confronts Baltar and informs him that she’s dying – and is not going to indulge him anymore.

Adama tells Chief Tyrol that he’s willing to give him the time off to deal with Cally’s death, or give him extra shifts to take his mind off her – whatever it’ll take to help him get through this trying time. What Tyrol hears, though [in his imagination] is the Admiral saying “She probably couldn’t handle being married to a Cylon and that her son is a half-breed abomination.” Tyrol’s response is to, essentially, go nuts – raving about how Cally was no angel and he’d had to “settle” for Cally after it turned out that Boomer was a Cylon. He talks [or rather, shouts] himself into a demotion and a transfer off the Galactica.

At the next meeting of the Quorum, Lee questions Roslin about a limited assembly law she’d unilaterally passed after the last session ended. It was, she says, expressly to be used for Baltar’s “cult.” But it could be used against “legitimate” religious groups as well, he contends. He calls for a vote on it. Disgusted, Roslin leaves after warning them to be careful in making their decision.

Tigh meanwhile has returned to continue his conversation with Ellen/Six, while Baltar’s mental six has convinced him to return to his enclave – even though, by Roslin’s new decree, his group cannot have anymore members inside.

Tigh gets the answer to his question. Pain – both physical and emotional – enables her to focus, and that is how she deals with what she’s done. After he sends the guards away, she whales on his face to show him what she means – she’s not doing it out of hate or revenge, though, she’s doing it in a sincere effort to show him the way. When she realizes that won’t work, she’s tries another tack…

When Baltar tries to enter his enclave, the guard knocks him down. After he tries a couple more times, and gets thumped again, he decides he doesn’t want to do this anymore but Six has a different idea. As the guard watches, Baltar is lifted up and, marionette-like, is moved forward. When the guard moves to knock him down again, Lee’s voice tells him to stand down. The camera moves to him as he informs the guard that Roslin’s decree has been voted down and Baltar is legally able to go home.

As the episode closes, the beaten and bloody Baltar delivers a speech about how God loves them because they are all perfect, just as they are [kind of like a demagogue Mister Rogers...]. In the background, Lee leaves, with a very worried look on his face.

An epilogue/tag shows Sam Anders quietly [stealthily?] approaching the sleeping Kara on the Demetrius.

Escape Velocity marks a couple of production threes: it’s Edward James Olmos’s third time as director on the series, and Jane Espenson’s third BSG script to be produced.

Escape Velocity is an appropriate title in a number of ways. There are characters who are trying to escape themselves/their memories/their responsibilities; there are characters who have escaped themselves, so to speak, and there are events that are key in their succeeding or failing to escape.

The most obvious wannabe escapee is Chief Tyrol. He wants to escape from himself as he now perceives himself – a Cylon whose entire live might have been programmed. As a result, he blows up at his crew; behaves strangely among his fellow hidden Cylons and, finally goads the admiral into demoting and transferring his sorry butt off Galactica. If this actually happens, he will have succeeded in separating The Four even further – what with Sam Anders being on the Demetrius. Further, if he succeeds in getting off Galactica, he’ll be taking Nicky with him – which could adversely affect Tory’s mood.

Tigh is also looking to escape from himself, again, in terms of his being a Cylon. But he’s being haunted by his late wife Ellen, which means he’s also trying to escape from his memories. Since he is a Cylon, he’s also wondering just how much he contributed to the destruction of humanity – he seeks absolution for not just his wife’s death but for the holocaust created by the Cylons.

On the other hand, Tory has embraced the revelation that she’s a Cylon – designed to be perfect. Because of her belief, she finds Baltar’s philosophy appealing. She has escaped being the quiet, subservient president’s aid – at least, in her own mind. She is a new person, built on the ashes of the old – like a phoenix.

President Roslin would like to escape death, but she’s now resigned to it as it means [to her, at least] that she is the prophesized leader who will take the remains of humanity to Earth. The moment her acceptance of her fate may well be her realization that she couldn’t save the ending of Adama’s favorite book because she has no later. At the same time, she is attempting to escape her more decent side in order to do what she believes must be done to ensure humanity’s survival. She’s shown that she’s been moving in that direction since day one, but now she’s enacting laws without due process – that is the last of her inhibitions, as a leader, to go.

Lee has now successfully left the man-of-action/pilot/C.A.G. part of himself behind – in effect, he’s also escaped himself, or at least the part of himself that has always been conditioned to follow orders. The final move came when he stood up to Roslin about the limited assembly decree – though he has the good sense to see that it might have been an effective idea, just not the right one. Leading the successful, shall we call it a revolt, against Roslin’s subterfuge marks the completion of his transformation.

Baltar has tried to escape his destiny since the series began, but he remains one of the least successful in this regard. The marionette sequence suggests that there’s more going on with him than just a hallucinatory Six in his mind. It may be that he really is a pawn in a much larger game. At the same time, he has shown courage and cowardice in turns [both in this episode] and, until he commits to behaving in one way or the other, he will never escape his fate [he is so toasted!].

Of course, all of this is but a part of what’s going on in Escape Velocity. That’s good news, because it means that series is once again firing on all cylinders. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Final Grade: A-

Wow, tonight/today is a big day for me. I get the new Call of Duty 4 maps today and tonight is the premiere of the Final (sort of) season of Battlestar Galactica. Luckily I don’t have to choose between playing COD or watching BSG because the kind folks over at Sci-Fi sent me a copy of the screener earlier this week. They made me sign away my life to get it, but it was sort of worth it.  Here’s the thing, I love all things BSG, but I thought last season sucked. After the amazing first six episodes of the season, it just spun it’s wheels until the big season ending reveal.  Watching tonight’s episode, I had that feeling again. Like come on, let’s get to the point and move the story along.  I have no doubt that once all 10 eps of this shortened season air, it’ll become clear how brilliant this show still is.  BSG opened with a bang, they obviously have a bigger budget for their final season and they spent it beefing up the show’s SFX.  There are lots of big sploshings in all it’s CGI glory. The ships make beautiful orange fireballs.

The writers clearly have a plan and now that they know the show has a definite end, I’m 100 percent sure it’s going to go out with a bang.  The question is, are they going to play coy with us fans and move everything at a snail’s pace until we get to the big moments. Again, I’m not saying tonight’s episode is bad, it’s really good, but it also felt kind of blah. The problem is, BSG is known for it’s drama and characters and that seemed to take a back seat to the new enhanced SFX. The crew’s reaction to Kara’s return from the dead was spot on. I’m kind of sick to death of the whole “Who is a Cylon?” theme as well. As usual the stuff with Gaius was terrible. It looks like this season he’s going to become some Jim Jones like cult leader - which is just stupid. The ending was definitely intriguing, but the way Sci-Fi built hyped it up, I was expecting a really huge reveal. Something that’s going to propel the story forward or fundamentally change everything. Instead what I got was, that’s it? I know I sound negative; tonight’s premiere is a good opening, just not as great as I wanted it to be.

Final Grade B

EM Review
by Michelle Alexandria
Originally posted 4.4.08

On Friday, I had the opportunity to take part in a teleconference with Starbuck, herself - Katee Sackhoff, of the Peabody Award-winning Battlestar Galactica. She talked about her reaction to the mind-bending prophecy that Starbuck was a harbinger of doom; which is tougher - love scenes, or fight scenes; who she thinks Starbuck should wind up with [if indeed she wainds up with anyone...]; how she’d like the series to end for Starbuck, and much more.

Battlestar Galactica returns to the Sci Fi Channel Friday at 10/9C.

Note: There were some reception problems, so there will be an occasional word or phrase missing [replaced with the word unintelligible].

Starbucks gets all kinds of action on the show. Which is tougher for you, a fight scene or a love scene? And is there anybody left among the cast that you really want to have one or the other with?

You’ve got to start out with a good one too. I’m sitting across the table from my boyfriend right now. I would say that the sex scenes are a lot harder than I think anything that I’ve ever had to do on the show. Because it’s not natural, it’s just odd, it’s very odd. It makes you kind of feel cheap. Like you’re being paid to or being allowed to in a sense cheat on your significant other. It’s very weird. It - so that definitely is weird. But the fight scenes are really easy and they come pretty naturally for me to be honest. But, so no I can’t - I mean, who would I want to fight on the show? Still thinking about not wanting to do the other thing with. I don’t know. I think I’ve fought everybody. I think, you know, I can’t think of anyone. I haven’t fought Sharon so I’ll go ahead and say that. I think that a fight between Eddie and I would be pretty interesting.

How cool and gratifying has it been that you won over those fans who were first skeptical and negative and on a larger scale how cool and gratifying has it been that this show, this version gained so many fans in general?

It is completely gratifying in a sense. I think for the full, you know, the full reason that it’s nice to have people identify with the character that you’re playing and appreciate the work you’re doing. I don’t think I went into this trying to win over the old fans because I think that you can’t ever please everyone… and I didn’t want to focus on people that were all ready in a sense, you know, spewing negative energy at me. So I just kind of, you know, did what I did and it’s nice to know that they’ve, you know, some of them have been converted but, you know, and I guess it is a little gratifying to know that, you know…

For all the people who said I couldn’t - you know, that it wouldn’t work with a woman. It’s kind of nice to know that it did work for sure.

When did you start realizing that people that - audiences that were reluctant to accept Starbuck as a woman, what of the character do you think helped turn that around to make people accept Starbuck as a woman?

I think what - honestly what made people accept Starbuck as a woman was that she was just such a interesting character. You know I think once people put their guard down as far as the preconceived notions of what the show was supposed to be and just allowed it to be really good science fiction, I think that’s also probably the same time when people accepted Starbuck for being a woman was when they stopped thinking of the old show. Which is, I don’t know, you know, it’d be hard to figure out when that probably happened but, you know, probably after the first season. That cliffhanger at the very end that probably got all the fans hooked.

What should we make of the positioning in that terrific Last Supper picture of the BSG cast? For instance, you’re with Anders and Lee is alone, Six is in the Messiah’s position. Are there any hints there you can tell us about?

No. You know it’s interesting that everyone thinks that there’s something hidden in that Last Supper photo like if you look hard enough you can find there’s hidden messages in it. To be honest I think we would have had to have been in on it to create a hidden message and we were all just there having a photo shoot. So, I don’t, I mean, it is interesting the way people are standing for sure, I mean, you know, the plastic sheath with Anders is interesting but - so I don’t know. And the fact that they made Tricia the messiah is pretty interesting too. But, you know, I wish I knew what they were thinking and I know - that would be a question for Lana Kim, she’s on the line.

I wanted to ask about (unintelligible) flashback to last season when Starbuck was temporarily killed off. It seemed like after that happened it was sort of confusingly handled in terms of your interviews, you know, hinting whether or not you were actually gone and the show’s reaction to it. Looking back do you sort of wish it would have been handled a little bit better and not mentioned it at all. Is there anything you would have played differently?

I’m trying to figure out what, like as far as…

In terms of the spoilers I guess more than anything else. It seemed like, it seemed like when Starbuck was killed, people were already expecting her to return already, it doesn’t seem like there was an element of surprise for various reasons. Do you think in a way it could have been handled better both either in the show in terms of the post show handling?

I don’t know. I mean, I know that you can only keep a secret a secret for so long. I know that as soon as I showed back up at work, it was going to be on the internet but back up at work and also, you know, I mean, I do think they should have left me out until the very end. I think bringing Starbuck back in episode 16 kind of like, what the hell was that, you know. Why not, you know, wait until 20. But, you know, I guess, in Ron’s mind he had a bigger cliffhanger and I guess, you know, to have a bigger cliffhanger than Starbuck coming back from the dead is, you know, only Battlestar Galactica could pull that off. So, you know, I don’t know. I mean, would definitely have told the main cast from the very beginning, you know, having to deal with all of that with the crew and the cast and you know, it was really - it’s not something that I’d like to do again. That’s for sure.

I wanted to talk to you about how you’re feeling now that the show is ending and how the rest of the cast is feeling.

Well, I can’t speak for the rest of the cast so I don’t know how they’re feeling. As far as how I’m feeling, like, it’s interesting. Like, you know, there’s a side to me that actually, you know, the selfish side of you that wants to go on and, you know, play different roles so there’s an excitement, that kind of, I think brewing for everyone in a sense, you know, we kind of, you know, get to go off and play these new characters or, you know, hopefully and, you know, that’s why you became an actor is to, you know, to not play the same character for ten years.

So it’s kind of nice, I think that it is sad just because I don’t think - the work environment on Battlestar Galactica is absolutely amazing and I don’t think it’s something that comes along a lot and, you know, I’ve done so many canceled television shows I can tell you that it’s not normal to enjoy going to work and to enjoy the people you work with. So I know that that - chances are I’m never going to find that again so that’s sad as well. But you know as far as moving on with the show, I don’t think that’s really - I’m really going to feel the pain of it until the very end.

What do you feel like the impact of the show has had maybe on the SciFi genre for the channel?

Well Battlestar Galactica did for SciFi was, you know, they treated it like a reality, you know, that what was so interesting about our show is that we never relied on the science fiction of the show to drive the show. We relied on the drama and the human condition and those really important questions. That’s what we depended on for the show and because the show, you know, could move it along and most science fiction shows rely way too much on the, you know, the bells and whistles. So I think that it kind of opened doors in science fiction to realize that, you know, regardless if it’s - science fiction is just a setting. It’s not a show, you know, it’s a setting. It’s where something takes place, it’s not, it should never have been what the show is. And I think that finally for the first time what the show has probably done is that it proved that that could be done.

Did you know that Starbuck would become such a popular and kind of an iconic character when you signed up to do this?

Oh of course. I didn’t even know the show, you know, would become as iconic as it is. It’s become - it’s taken on a life of its own and become something completely different than what I ever thought it would. I thought is was just going to be a paycheck. And so no, I didn’t know Starbucks would ever, you know, become what she’s become. I think that, you know, so many things had to come together to make that a reality. You know, I think that the writing was perfect and the way that, you know, they wrote Starbuck was perfect and so, you know, a lot of things had to - all the planets had to align to get this to be perfect. So, I don’t know. A very interesting question, yeah.

At the end of last season a couple of the actors playing the final five Cylons weren’t too happy at least initially to find out that they were Cylons. But if Starbuck turns out to be a Cylon or an agent of the Cylons, will you be pleased or displeased or indifferent?

Well I think the reason the four actors were upset about being Cylons is that I think, you know, you play for years making choices as a character and then to realize all those choices you made would have been different had you known. It’s interesting, it’s kind of like, you know, you get the wool pulled over your eyes for four years and then lo and behold, you know, your character’s something completely different. So that’s, you know - but I would be completely indifferent. I think, you know, I have love for this character and I think we all do as far as everyone for their character on the show, but I - they were pretty angry. I still think Michael Hogan hasn’t come to terms with it. I don’t think he’s ready to accept it yet. So…

I’ve got to say you really blew me away on Bionic Woman and I think you’re great on Galactica. How did you juggle these two great characters at the same time and what do you like about these sort of, you know, action heavy sci-fi roles?

I always had to remind myself of who I was, because I think that the two characters were so different but could have been played so similar. I always had to make sure that I knew where I was and let go of the other story line, even if I was working on both shows in the same day. So for that, you know, Starbuck comes so easily to me now that even the lines and the dialogue, I don’t even memorize the dialogue anymore. I show up to work, I (unintelligible) to the writers but now they know my way of speaking so well, or so much, that Starbucks dialogue is just so easy to memorize, and it’s - that’s the writing. But Bionic Woman, I always had to talk myself into it and make sure I was where I was supposed to be. And as far as the strong characters are concerned, I, you know, I have this deep affinity for these characters. They - I think that I’ve reluctantly turned into the go-to tough girl in this business and I’m ready to do a job that requires no blood and guts and ghosts or anything. So, a nice little romantic comedy with James Mcevoy would be fantastic.

Could you talk a little bit about how this season we’re going to handle the marriage between Starbuck and Anders?

If I knew, I would tell you. I have no idea. You know, we are at episode 14 right now in shooting - in our shooting schedule and I am no closer to being able to have any questions answered from last season than I am now. So - or, you know, then than I am now.

It’s not really being played up then?

You know I think that - without giving too much away here, I think that there are more important issues being dealt with right now on the show for these characters than what Starbuck is and how her marriage is. There’s a lot of really heavy things happening right now and I think that her marriage to Anders is the least of her concerns. But at the same time it would be interesting to ask those questions, you know, because we don’t identify this thing as a person. Is her marriage even legal? I don’t know. You’re asked all those questions that everyone would probably want answered and probably would never get an answer unless I did one of the webcasts. (Unintelligible) questions but yeah.

But as far as me handling it, if it ever gets broached, I, you know, I think Starbuck is starting to feel compassion for the things she hates the most, I think, because she as everyone on the show is starting to realize and these are the major questions of, you know, humanity and what the show, you know, has always kind of asked, is that if you found out tomorrow that, you know, your best friend or your mother or something was a Cylon, you know, say it that way, would it make your experiences that you had with that person or thing less important to you?

No, it’s the same emotion, the same feelings, the same thing that you had experiences with. They’re just different than you always thought they were, it doesn’t mean that it is less, it’s just different. And I think that that’s, you know, something that they’re starting to remember. And as far as Starbuck coming back (unintelligible) family or my boyfriend died, I would do anything to have them back. So, you know, I mean, do people care any more what you are as long as you’re there? That’s an interesting question, so…

Your boss, Ronald D. Moore, is directing I think his first episode now or just recently and have you worked with him and how was that?

I’ve got to say he’s the first director I’ve ever worked with that after every take he says thank you. And I noticed that because it’s not something - I think what the crew does, what an actor does, at times can be overlooked because it’s what we’re supposed to do and to have someone thank you after every take is very interesting. I found that, you know, after a take I stood a little taller, I was a little happier and I was like wow, that must have been really good. Even though I didn’t ask him because God forbid, he said no I was just saying thank you, but that was shit Katee. You’re going to have to go again. So he was a great director. Granted I only had one scene with him but one thing that I noticed that I’ve never had happen before and it goes to - speak to his character as a person. He’s a fantastic man.

I know that your character is one of the more rebellious, impulsive characters on the show. After, you know, playing Starbuck for four seasons, have you picked up any of her, you know, hard core habits or anything like that? Or her love of poker or anything?

No, I still have never played a game of poker. I still don’t smoke cigars. It’s - you know, I haven’t picked up anything from her I don’t think. You know, I mean, if I was to say that I picked up something it would be that, you know - I can’t think. I think that her strength and her conviction is something she believes in is pretty interesting.

I would like to be able to emulate that. And then just her belief in what she has to say is really impressive. I think so many times women in general, but, you know, people as well, apologize before they say things for fear, you know, like we give a disclaimer, like this is going to sound stupid or - and I know there’s women do that all the time, like forgive me for asking this question but like the question doesn’t have any merit, well every question does. And I think that that’s something that I’ve learned from Starbuck is that, you know, there really is and my mother used to say that as a teacher, like no question is stupid, there are no stupid questions, there’s only stupid answers. That’s what my mom used to always say so - so that’s something that I hope to take from Starbucks.

And as far as the fan base of the show goes, you know, are you surprised by the number of fans that the show has gotten or have you gotten any, you know, really surprising fan mail from someone that you wouldn’t expect to like the show?

No, not really. I think the most interesting thing is when I get mail from high school or their parents or something and they’re like, hi, Katee just wanted to say hi, we still live in the same house, you know, come on by. That’s interesting when a friend of mine doesn’t know how to get a hold of me and sends my mail to my publicist. I’m like, what are you doing, just call my parents, you idiot.

I’m wondering if you could speak a little bit about Starbuck’s sort of mental state going into season four and what finding Earth really means to her?

She’s very fragile, you know, she’s extremely lost. We’ve never seen Starbuck so alone and so lost. And she’s a little distressed, not only because of the way that people are treating her but because of the questions that her coming back has raised in her own mind. And as far as - what was the second part of the question?

Just what finding Earth and the sort of mission that she’s on.

Right. I think it’s her revolution. I think it’s her end. I think that she’s putting so much weight and so much weight on this one thing, this one task that she believes that is her destiny that I think she wouldn’t let anything stand in her way, anything, which I think when that is the case, you’ve got a very scary person on your hands when they’re unwilling - completely unwilling to sacrifice everything to accomplish something. That’s scary. So I think that we’re going to see a lot from her this season that isn’t - kind of like a shell of her former self, at the same time a lot of her doing things that you don’t necessarily don’t agree with. So…

And have the producers told you what exactly happened to Starbuck during her supposedly dead time?

No, we’re on episode 14 and I’ve read 15 and nope. I don’t think we’ll figure that out until the last second.

What I’d like to know is when you saw the script for Razor at the end where the Cylon Hybrid makes the prophecy that Starbuck is a harbinger of doom, what was your initial reaction and as the season has progressed, how has that reaction changed? Either strengthened, lessened or whatever?

I think that when I read that very end I went of course she is. Like, what else could happen to Starbuck, I’m like, come on, you know, lay it all on me. The worst possible thing and there you have it, fantastic, she’s going to kill everybody, great. I think that that is something that has been carried through the entire season so far. As far as whether or not anyone knows, you’re going to have to wait and find out on what it really means, you know. It could mean so many different things.

What is the best memory or experience that you’re going to take with you from your time on Battlestar and then also what one physical thing or prop or piece of the set would you take with you if you could to remember the show?

That’s easy. I’m getting in my flight suit with my helmet and my gun belt and driving home. I’m going to bronze that f-ing thing, I swear to God. I’m going to bronze it and put it in my bathtub so every time someone comes over and showers, they have to stand next to that flight suit. It was hell for so many years that it’s only appropriate that I get to take it with me. Granted I have to drive over a border so maybe I’ll put the guns in the trunk and write prop on them. But shop at the American Government, that’d be great. I think that - and the beginning part of that question?

Your best experience or memory.

You know, the cast and the crew. I have made so many friends on the show, you know, I mean, Steve McNutt our VP has been like my dad for five years and constantly telling me to be safe when I’m with Michael, constantly. So I think that, you know, and then also the friendships that you form that are through the show but you are able to maintain outside of the show. That’s really important because when you do a show you have these grand plans of staying in touch with these people and nine times out of ten it never happens.

You know I haven’t spoken to Richard Dreyfuss or Marcia Gay Harden, you know. I did a show with them for years so, it’s, you know, you never do. Unless you find a common ground outside of the show, those friendships don’t last. And so I think that what I’m really proud of is my friendship with (unintelligible). I’m very proud of that, it’s my first adult friendship I guess, like the first friendship I’ve developed as an adult that hasn’t been a friend since I was, you know, 17. And so I’m proud of that and I’m proud that we’ll be friends forever or for a long time at least. So…

When you and the cast are sitting around, do you ever theorize on who the final Cylon is going to be and also will we find out before the end of this first run of episodes?

I think that, you know, we’ve been told who it is. I personally don’t believe it. I think that that’s something that’s going to be kept to the very end, you know, and I don’t think that it would be smart to tell people because inevitably things always get out on the web and to have to have to keep that secret for a year, I think Chris maybe should shoot maybe like five different endings. And whichever character doesn’t get (death) they should just make that the final Cylon. You know, it’ll be like, you know, some random character from the first season that had one line. It’s fine, you know, that’s who it’ll be. No, so… I don’t know. We do talk about it sometimes but as far as who it is, I don’t think any of us will know for sure until we see it on television.

Okay, so it won’t be in the first run then?

No. I don’t think so. I haven’t seen the episodes though and I don’t pre-read scripts so I couldn’t tell you. I personally don’t know who it is, no.

How do you think your character’s journey or as well as the other characters’ journey of this drama parallels to the reality that people live that everyday and what things might people learn from watching it?

I mean that’s hard for me - in general or how her military life is…

How she’s progressed throughout the whole entire saga.

I don’t know, you know. People always ask me this question how she’s evolved and she has. I think that she’s finally someone you can depend on and I don’t think she was before. But I think what keeps her going — and if this is what people can take from her — is her desire to love and her desire to have people love her keeps her going. You know, her relationships with Adama and Lee has really kept, has really kept - probably kept her alive and I think that that’s something that’s very important. You know, I think that that’s extremely important. You know, I’ve talked to a lot of soldiers who say that, you know, what keeps them going is that they get to come home. So, you know, it’s that go to speak to any relationship that, you know, we’re happiest and most willing to accommodate I guess life and all its ups and downs when we have love in our lives.

Ron Moore has said that he’s not interested in doing a Battlestar feature film. Do you think you could change his mind and if so would you be interested in doing that film?

No, I wouldn’t want to change his mind. I think he’s right.

You know, he said it best at the (PCA), I don’t know if you were there but or got that but what he said was that what would end up happening is that you would have to focus on, you know, one or two characters and, you know, what’s so brilliant is that it’s been a four-year movie and the time to tell these stories about each person individually and really have you become invested in those characters and to do a two hour movie or a one and a half hour movie I think takes away from that what we’ve been able to do for so long, you know, it really does take away. I mean, I don’t, you know, how do you pick which two characters and when you pick those two characters are you going to flip off the other 17 main characters on the show, like how do you define, you know, what to do.

I think he’s right, you know, plus at the same time, you know, as a performer — excuse me, sorry, sorry, I’m downstairs in the lobby here — I think that, you know, I don’t know, plus like whatever I was going to say is that when I even actually am done with the show, I’m done with the show. I - you know, as much as I love the job or don’t love the job the last thing I want to do is come back and do it again, when I’ve already done it. Granted, you know, talk to me in five years if I haven’t worked. We’ll see. But, you know, as of right now I have no desire to do it - to do a movie.

Just think of sort of the tail end of season three it seems as though Starbuck was sort of moving more towards being a spiritual figure instead of, you know, a more action oriented figure. You were having visions, you were kind of, you know, having a more spiritual experience. How does that affect how you play the character and do you think that that’s something that’s going to be developed in the new season?

It doesn’t affect how I play the character to be honest. She’s always been religious and it’s not that she’s changed, it’s that she’s opened up her eyes and allowed something else to come into her life, you know, she’s the same person. It’s just another aspect of who she is, but she’s the same person. It really hasn’t changed the way I play her at all.

If you were in total control of how your character ended up toward the end of this last season, what would you have your character - how would you have your character go out if you don’t know…

Die.

You’d like to have her die? How would you like to have her die?

I don’t know. Maybe something will blow up again on the ship. I don’t know. I just, I don’t that there is anyway to end it with her being happy. You know, what I do wish for her is peace, you know, in whatever form that comes in I’ll be happy with it. But that’s what I want. I want for her to finally have a sense of calm in her life. That would be very interesting and whether it comes with death or, you know, some kind of transcendence of some sort, whatever happens that’s what I want for her.

Throughout your work on Galactica what maybe have you learned most as an actor would you say from your time on the show?

I don’t know, you know, I think every day is a learning experience. Every day you learn something new and I don’t really think I’ll know the gravity of that until I’ve stepped away and taken on another job and I’ll do something that will just come naturally and I’ll go oh wow, I learned that on Battlestar.

You know, what I learned from Marcia Gay Harden and Richard Dreyfuss and Peter O’Toole when I was working with them. I mean that was, you know, an amazing work environment when I did the show with them and I don’t think I realized what I had learned from them until years later. So I think that’s kind of what it’s going to be so…

I know that, you know, the Admiral has basis for like a father figure for Starbuck for a very long time and I wondered, you know, in the previews that we’ve seen, the official previews that have been released, you know it seems like the Admiral really doesn’t know what to believe of Starbuck upon her return and is initially very skeptical. How does that, from someone like him, affect Starbuck and her mental state?

I think that’s the worst thing that could ever happen, you know. Here’s the person that she - depending on his attitude towards her — I’m trying to figure out how to say this — she gets her validation and she gets everything from him. You know, he kind of sets the mood and the tone for how she feels about herself and to have that person doubt you is I think the worst thing that could happen to her. Because as far as she’s concerned, regardless of what she is, she’s the same person she was when she left. And I think the worst thing is she wants his trust so…

So, with no Bionic Woman, what’s next for you? Are you looking for another action role?

Oh, God. I don’t know what’s next. That’s the joy of it. Yeah, you know, do I want to play a character just like, you know, Sarah Corvus or Starbuck? No. You know, I’ve already done it. I’m, you know, looking for things that are complete opposite from those two characters. Whether or not if people give me the opportunity to do that, you know, I don’t know but what’s interesting is five years ago I couldn’t get anyone to think I was, you know, tough and now I can’t get anyone to think of me as the way they did five years ago.

I was recently on a call for The Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles and it was funny because it seemed like the Executive Producer and the cast, they were all like extensively following like what the online activity surrounding the show. Is that kind of the same thing with like Battlestar? Do you guys like kind of like follow the online kind of buzz and what the fans are talking about with the show?

No, Aaron Douglas does. I don’t think anyone else does. You know, I’ve learned a long time ago that you can’t hang out on the Web site or, you know, on the Web because you will inevitably need a hundred positive remarks to make one bad remark disappear. So it’s a never ending cycle of reading about yourself and it never goes away. It’s horrible. So I tend to just not pay attention to it anymore and occasionally my mom will call me and go you’ve got to read this… which I find very interesting.

Of all the Battlestar Galactica cast, who is it you most enjoy acting against? Do you have a particular favorite?

I love working with James and Trisha for sure. The two of them are so much fun so. James because you never know what he’s going to do.

What surprised you the most about Starbuck’s evolution throughout the last three seasons?

What surprised me the most, huh. I think what’s surprised me the most is - wow, I don’t know. That people consistently depend on her shocks the crap out of me. You know, that has always been very interesting to me is that people still ask her to like go save the world, like that. It’s constantly interesting for me so, that I think for sure.

In what ways can we expect her character to evolve this season?

Well, you know, I think that she will hopefully have a resolution of some sort. I think that that’s something we can finally depend on in a sense or, you know, that’s something she might actually finally get. But at the same time, I, you know, really have no idea. I would love for her — and I said this earlier — that, you know, I would love for her to find peace. And I think that if there’s any justice in the world that she will actually have that because she’s been through so much hell.

I think it’s only fair that she get a little peace toward the end.

I wanted to ask you if you could just give us some more teasers as to what we’re going to see in this final season.

Well I think if Battlestar’s any indication at all, in the last six - four - I think that, you know, everyone’s going to be very shocked for sure. I think that there is probably going to ruffle a few feathers very well and I don’t think that there’s any way to make everyone happy. You know, I’ve always - I said to Ron Moore from the very beginning please don’t wrap everyone up in a pretty little box, put a bow on it and say (unintelligible) and he would never do that because that’s not real, you know, and Battlestar has always been based on reality and so I think that he will give it an ending that is fitting of that, of Battlestar. And, you know, make it not pretty, which is hopefully what will happen.

In terms of the cast’s recent appearance on David Letterman, how did that come about and how did you feel about that?

Well, Lana Kim was the one that I think probably made that happen so that’s a tribute to her and her masterful skills at publicity. And I think with Letterman, I think my only concern was God dammit! The first time I’m on late night television and they’re going to make me wear my wardrobe. And I think Tricia… they just said wardrobe and Tricia and I kept thinking well what if we switched wardrobes? They didn’t say your own wardrobe. I thought that would have been pretty funny if I squeezed into a little red dress. So…

Is was there any aspect or experience or recurring theme of growing up in Scappoose [Washington] or around that area that in any way prepared you for playing Starbuck or really helped you in form your portrayal of Starbuck?

Wow, you know, I think the only thing that prepared me for this role, I don’t really know, but as far as - I’ve never thought about it that way. But as far as growing up in St. Helens and in and around that area and then ultimately high school in Portland, was that I spent all my time outdoors as a child. I was constantly running around with my brother and playing cops and robbers and like, you know, we grew up in a place and a time when your parents said be back by dinner and they let you go and, you know, you didn’t have to worry about your kids. You came back at dinnertime and it was fine and I think there was a freedom and a vulnerability and a sense of security that I had growing up.

I was very sheltered and so I think that I’m very naive. I think that I got all of that from growing up in St. Helens and I think that, you know, I moved to Los Angeles and I was like a fish out of water. I’m like, who are you people? So that, but also, you know, there’s a lot of stereotypes from growing up in a small town — which obviously I did — that I think directly relate to Starbuck. You know, I think, you know, she needed to get out and she became the best at something to get out of her home environment, to get out of the town, so to speak, that she was raised in and education was never in the fore - you know, in her forethought. She just kind of went okay, I’m going to be the best fighter pilot and that will get me out.

And I think that that was my thing growing up where I grew up was that I don’t care what I’ll have to do, I’m going to get out. So, you know, ultimately that’s how I became an actor was just wanting desperately to get out so that’s for sure.

I spoke to you before season three and at the time I had asked you what you thought about Lee and Kara’s relationship but it went through a lot of changes in season three. So I’m curious what you think about them now is this something that could ever work out or are they in a bad cycle of repeating mistakes?

I don’t know. You know, I don’t think that Lee and Kara will ever be happy together. I don’t think that - I don’t think they’re meant to be together, you know. I think that they’re meant to be best friends, they’re meant to push each other, they’re meant to have those arguments that drive you, you know, that’s the purpose that I feel that they serve in each other’s lives. I don’t think that they were ever meant to love each other. So, you know, with that being said, I don’t think they’ll ever end up together, I never did really, you know.

I think I said earlier, I think it was in an interview yesterday, where I said if anyone is fitting for her and if there’s anyone that she would actually allow herself to be happy with and be with, it’d probably be Leoben, you know. Anders is too weak for her emotionally. Lee is too much of a boy scout. He makes her feel guilty for her anger and her - who she is, you know, her faults. He makes her feel guilty just by being who he is. And so if there was any person that she could let her guard down with and be happy with, probably Leoben.

The show is far too mature in theme for little girls. But as far as big girls go, what do you think your character gives them?

You know, I think when this first started, I was 22 and I think Starbuck was comparable in age, maybe a couple years older than me. She was supposed to be 35 and then they cast me which was (a shame). But what I think it gave us a glimpse of was a young woman who didn’t depend on anyone and knew what her purpose was. And I think we don’t see that. You know, through the years we’ve learned that she’s got this vulnerability and she’s screwed up and she’s…

And you think she was a young woman who people could depend on?

No. No, I think that she was so concerned with herself and escape in a sense, that she never - she - I think people depended on her just because she was so good at what she did, not because they actually trusted her. But I think that’s how she’s changed and progressed and grown as a person and as a soldier. And I think that now, she’s probably one of the most dependable people on the show.

So, but I think that is what it did, it gave us a glimpse into someone who, you know, I’ve never really seen a strong female character on a show and whenever I did - especially a young one, and whenever I did they always needed a man to hold their hand and I think that that’s what’s interesting about this show is that everyone is equally vulnerable and equally needs help. There is no man, woman, you know, there’s no bias on our show and I think that’s, you know, maybe not what Starbuck has done for women but what the show has done for women.

The nature of Starbuck’s return is a big mystery this season. We don’t know if she’s the original, a clone, a Cylon or some figment of Lee’s imagination, so from an acting perspective, have you made an internal choice to play Starbuck as one of those possibilities?

No, I think it’s a strong enough internal choice, you know, to play the fear, to play that she’s lost and I think if I play that, I think that it leaves the door open to question what she is. So, you know, I think our show is all about playing the reality of something, you know and how do you play the reality of knowing that you are something when you don’t really know what you are? You play the question, you play the uncertainty so…

I’m still shocked about [your earlier comment about] Starbuck winding up with Leoben but okay. Talking about reality, how is Michael? Michael really had a bad accident right before you came back to work right?

Yeah.

How’s he doing?

He’s fantastic, you know, you’d never know that he got hurt and bounced back, you know. And as far as, you know, what happened to him and to what extent he was hurt, I don’t know if that is something I should talk about. All I can say is that, you know, you have moments in life when you realize how important people are to you and, you know, I think that I definitely had one of those moments with Michael and I realized, you know, how important not only him but how important his fiancé (Sondra) is to us, you know, and he’s one of my - he’s a really close friend of mine and, you know, thank God he’s okay. And of course he’s okay, he’s such a strong son of a bitch. Anyone else would have been hurt even more, but he bounced back. I think the next day he was fine.

Okay, final question then. You were so brilliant as Sarah Corvus of course you’re brilliant as Starbucks, David Eick of course is talking about making a TV version of the brilliant Children of Men, would that interest you or would you still rather do a romantic comedy.

Should I even know what the Brilliant Children of Men is?

It was a movie made by one of the Spanish directors and it was a science fiction movie people not being able to bear children.

Oh, really. So it’s kind of like that movie, what was that movie that just came out - oh, Children of Men.

Oh, okay, I loved that. How women stopped being able to bear children.

David Eick is working on a version of that. I was just wondering if that would interest you at all?

You know, everything that David Eick interests me - does interest me. He is fantastic at what he does. He has a vision and you know, he’s always successful at that vision, whether or not other people have a hand in the pot. And you know, I’ve always said that, you know, the main problem with Bionic Woman, is that if you get too many cooks in the kitchen, too many hands in the pot, no one can agree on what they’re trying to make.

So you have a stew that’s full of shit and, you know, whether or not David is given the freedom to do what he’s done with Battlestar is a complete different story. You know I think that you’d have to be on a cable network, I don’t know if you can get that from network television. No, I’d follow that man to the end of the earth.

Thank you so much, this has been a wonderful, wonderful interview.

Thank you. I’m going to go snowboard at Whistler now.

The bad news is that we have to wait until April for season four of Battlestar Galactica. The good news is that we get a two-hour special, Battlestar Galactica: Razor, this weekend [Saturday, Nov. 24^th, Sci Fi, 8 p.m.]to hold us over until then. Razor looks at the past three seasons of BSG from the point of view of the crew of Battlestar Pegasus – specifically, Kendra Shaw, who goes from raw rookie to hardened razor over that time.

The first time we meet Lt. Kendra Shaw [Stephanie Jacobsen], she is trying to find her way to the command center. In a fine bit of foreshadowing, the only person who will give her directions is Gina [Tricia Helfer], whom we know to be a Cylon agent. Needless to say, Shaw narrowly avoids getting off on the wrong foot with Admiral Cain [Michelle Forbes].

Razor recycles several sequences from the regular series [the Pegasus surviving the Cylon attack because its computers were down; Cain’s solution to an XO’s refusal to obey an order, and so forth], but does so from the perspective of the sip’s newest crew member.

Since, for Cain at least, survival isn’t enough, the Pegasus crew takes the fight to the Cylons. Shaw learns to think on her feet and becomes an aggressive warrior, helping to thwart an incursion by Cylons, saving the admiral from an assassination attempt and revealing the spy in their midst.

Razor takes us from the Pegasus’ survival of the initial Cylon attack through to Shaw’s becoming Lee Adama’s [Jamie Bamber] XO after Cain’s assassination. As a result, we get to see how she adapts and survives in her new environment – until she comes up with a plan to destroy a hitherto unknown Cylon basestar that hides a terrible secret – a secret known only to Admiral Adama [Edward James Olmos].

What makes Razor so intriguing is that we get a new perspective on survival in the post-Cylon invasion existence of a small group of humans. Admiral Cain’s approach is not one to evoke admiration, but it is certainly understandable, given the Pegasus’ unique circumstances. Many of Cain’s actions – and those of her crew] are utterly reprehensible, and yet, because they are doing what they have to do to survive, we can almost sympathize with them.

The character of Kendra Shaw is our touchstone throughout. Through her, we feel the horror of the Cylon attack; we feel the shock and dismay at Cain’s removal of her first XO; we become a razor – willing to shut down all human emotions in order to do what must be done however drastic and inhuman. Then, once Cain is gone and the Pegasus comes under the command of Lee Adama, we begin to feel our humanity returning as he appoints Shaw as his XO and shows her his trust and respect.

Naturally, there’s always some friction. Shaw’s life hasn’t been easy and she bristles easily – especially when contending with Adama’s CAG, Kara Thrace [Katee Sackhoff]. It seems obvious, and yet still a bit of a surprise, when Shaw’s plan to take out the Cylon basestar finds Shaw and Starbuck working together. A grudging form of respect develops between them.

Battlestar Galactica: Razor is a treat for BSG fans. It is as smartly written as the best episodes of the series and is directed with verve and more than a little panache. While it may be the darkest single BSG production since the mini-series, it’s also filled with that unique end-of-the-universe humor that helps keep the flicker of hope alive. Writer Michael Taylor and director Felix Alcala have crafted a memorable piece of work here, and an outstanding performance by Jacobsen really brings it home.

Razor may be the biggest event of 2007 for the small screen. It will bring joy to regular viewers of the series and also acts as a terrific jumping-in point for newcomers. It’s even possible that it could win the show a second Peabody Award. It’s just that good.

Final Grade: A+

The story of how Kendra Shaw goes from raw rookie to battle hardened razor is set against the story of how the Battlestar Pegasus survived – from the first Cylon attack to its rendezvousing with the Galactica. In preparation for the airing of the Sci Fi Channel event, Battlestar Galactica: Razor [Saturday, Nov. 24, 9 p.m.], I had the opportunity to take part in conference calls with Jamie [Lee Adama] Bamber [posted on November 14^th] and Stephanie Jacobsen, who plays the titular character, Kendra Shaw.

What are some of the things you liked about this character? And that includes traits that maybe you don’t like personally but you enjoyed playing?

Fundamentally, I would just say her complexity. I mean, what she was for me was I guess just almost sterile. And I think as an actor when parts of your journey is always actor things, playing emotion and revealing human emotion to sort of go against all of those instincts, pull them right back and cover them up was an enormous challenge for me and it was actually very, very fulfilling.

How familiar were you with the show before you were cast?

I’m from Sydney, Australia. We get Battlestar Galactica there. I don’t know how up to date it is. I was familiar with the concept, with the characters, all the very – all the foundations basically but in terms of storylines and things like that I wasn’t particularly up to date. I mean it was definitely something that I recognized as being a fantastic show and I was over the moon when I got the job.

I’m just wondering from your perspective how strange was it to come into a show that had been going on for so long and have this group embrace you? And was it kind of helpful in a way playing this kind of alienated character that you were kind of an outsider stepping into this new world?

Okay. I have to say that I didn’t feel like an outsider stepping in at all. Everyone was just wonderful. So I didn’t have that to draw from. I mean, everyone was helpful, accommodating, welcoming, very open, very generous with me in every (which) way. So I didn’t have that sort of (disdained) solitary experience working on Battlestar as my character did. But it was I guess coming in as someone who was completely new to the environment and new to everyone who was already established there was akin to the character. So I guess that there was that correlation.

It’s sometimes hard for a new character to be introduced into an established show just and hard challenge for an actor to do that.

Uh-huh.

Sort of because the idea of like dropping someone new in who we haven’t met before.

Yes. Right.

It can be daunting.

Yes.

You know, I mean it can sort of seem like wait a minute, why are we seeing you instead of an established character. So was that at all on your mind when you started portraying the role and how did you – how in your mind did you figure she factored into the show at large?

I think that the introduction of Kendra was – it was really I guess an act of boldness and an act of ingenuity because obviously to kind of throw someone into the mix who’s never even been alluded to, let alone seen, you know, so many years into an established series is a very, very courageous thing to do. But what I think it did was enabled this entirely new untainted alternative perspective of situations, people and events that were – that had already been told of. So I think that in a sense that sort of risk and that sort of oddness to it… was to a large extent the point of doing Razor. Do you see what I mean?

Yes.

That was what it was about.

Yes, I mean I actually thought it was pulled off very well and I’ll quickly – do you ever think that they could possibly be more for you? I mean, we didn’t see everything that goes on aboard Pegasus. I mean, is it possible we’ll see you again at some point?

Look, I mean – you know, stranger things have happened but as – I mean, nothing as yet.

I was going to say I really enjoyed your addition to the universe. I’d be sorry to see that was the last.

Well, look, I mean I – I’m definitely – you know, I would definitely love to keep exploring that type of character. So I mean, you know, finger crossed maybe I’ll get cast as another slightly disturbed marine.

The promo material and the show sort of shows your character as a protégé to Admiral Cain, so I was wondering what it was like working – what it was like the experience of working so closely with Michelle Forbes?

She’s almost like a force of nature in a way. She’s really – if she was just – just her focus and her intensity I have to say that working with her was one of the – she made this one of the easiest jobs I’ve ever done in a sense.Because responding to what she provides on set as a fellow actor is absolutely effortless. It’s like she does almost everything. You just have to listen to her and watch her. Yes, she’s incredible. I recommended working with her to anyone.

I wanted to ask you know your character obviously exists in these two different timelines throughout the whole thing. I know obviously they shoot out of sequence. Did you shoot a lot of the Pegasus – the early stuff with Cain at the same time or are you going back and forth and kind of filming these two timelines at the same time?

We were shooting whatever was on the schedule on the day. So it was back and forth – no, I mean, look they were very kind and gracious with that. I know that it – see it kind of – really I guess it was just about the clarity of the story in my head and in Felix Alcala’s head. And when – I guess because we had sort of a very firm, finite grip on that, the shooting sequence wasn’t too much of a drama.

I guess what I’m getting at is because your character, you know, she’s – is dark to begin with but some huge stuff happens that really changes her to the time she meets up with the Galactica crew. So did you kind of keep straight in your head, you know, what had happened? Or what hadn’t happened for her? While you were shooting those different sequences?

Right. So your question is what, I’m sorry?

Just that, you know, was it a little disjointed to think about, you know, your character, you know, sort of what happened, where she was emotionally before that huge sequence when they kind of board the other ship and where she is afterwards?

Sure, look, it was but the vast majority of stories will be shot at least slightly out of sequence so I mean as an actor that’s just something that you have to deal with.

There are scenes in this episode that are pretty dark even by Battlestar Galactica standards. So how did you approach playing some of those scenes? And probably scenes that will go down as being if not some of the most dark but the most dark in the series?

Okay, well I think that you just approach them without comment. I mean, I think that it’s more just about doing what is done in the scene and then maybe reflecting on or analyzing it later. That’s what I do anyways because otherwise I guess you do sort of risk falling into that trap of fretting over how people are going to perceive you vicariously through your character or what your character is doing. So I think that you just have to add – as an actor you just have to commit to whatever it is and get it done and then sort of worry about it afterwards.

And I mean I think that – you know, I don’t – I think that all of – I think that every scene that kind of happens in Razor amounts to a very clear and I guess quiet a profound philosophy in a sense. So, you know, I don’t have any qualms about it.

Did you have any problems after a particular difficult shooting scenes to shake it off and become a normal person again?

I had some problems after flying for 21 hours and rolling off a plane onto a set and then standing for 14 hours in those military boots. I had some problems with my joints but apart from that I was fine.

I wanted to find out and sort of get your take on how did you see your character’s relationship sort of develop in Razor with both the Cain and also Katee Sackhoff’s character of Starbuck?

Okay, now for me and this was just – this was just my take and this was just something that I induced Kendra with. Cain replaced her mother. So, yes that was that – I think that her – see – okay, her relationships with Cain and Kara from my perspective were very similar in the sense that she didn’t necessarily like either of them but she respected them both for some similar and some different reasons.

And I think that given Kendra’s nature or her lack of one maybe, I think that in her world or in her being respect was the closest thing to affection that she was capable of.

Hey, are you a tough girl? Like the character you play in this or are you more a girly girl just pretending to be a tough girl?

I’m definitely not a girly girl. I’m not Kendra. Don’t think that, but I’m definitely not a girly girl. No. I don’t know I mean I guess I’m – it’s kind of hard, isn’t it? To talk about yourself? Because I mean, how I am – like how you are or what you are I guess is different to each individual person who knows you. But I’m definitely not a girly girl. You definitely won’t see me running around in, you know, pink floral dresses and ribbons in my hair. No.

Have you ever had a mentor in your life, in your career in the manner that Admiral Cain mentors Major Shaw minus the killing of course?

I actually sadly have not. I sadly have not.

So where you’ve gotten in life and in career is pretty much largely your own doing?

Yes, basically just been a series of flukes. No. Well, see I think that with the career that I’ve chosen it can be a little bit self limiting to elect one role model so to speak because everybody travels a different path in this profession. So I think the most constructive thing to do is to just kind of go with your own instincts and make your own choices.

I won’t spoil the ending for viewers and readers before the show airs but death is rarely absolute in science fiction. That being the case do you think that Major Shaw is really, most sincerely dead?

Major Shaw – look, I really don’t know. I really could not even hope to answer that at this point. I have no idea. She’s definitely not dead to me.

Fair enough. It just occurs to me that, you know, characters die in all sorts of – and you see them die, you see them get buried and they come back in science fiction.

Well, I don’t know that – I don’t actually know what sort of happens to her. I mean, to me her outcome was ambiguous.

How did you come to be cast in the role? Did they find you in Australia?

Yes, they did actually. They – yes, they picked me out in Australia. What happened was I did a series of auditions during pilot season and when the role on Battlestar came up, I put an audition down on tape and sent it over. And I then I flew to Vancouver I think two or three days later.

And were you able, before you started filming, to watch the original Pegasus, Admiral Cain episodes? I actually wasn’t. I didn’t have anywhere near enough time to engage in such professional luxuries. I mean, I had sort of as I was saying to someone before – I had the gist of it. So I knew sort of who everyone was and I knew what had happened so I think that was kind of enough to start off with and then I obviously began to garner more information when I was there. So, yes, it all came together. I’m actually not sure – I’m not sure how far behind Battlestar is in Australia. We were trying to pinpoint it and we couldn’t. So, yes, that was another thing.

Someone touched upon the Kendra/Kara relationship. I was just curious how was it playing those scenes with Katee Sackhoff and playing the rivalry and tension between the two of you?

Katee Sackhoff is incredible. I think – I mean she – I’m – it’s going sound – okay, I said similar things about Michelle Forbes but they’re not similar at all, they’re completely different. Completely different actresses to work with but Katee Sackhoff is possibly the easiest person I’ve ever worked with. She’s completely no maintenance, nothing’s a problem. I think I threw like a needle in her eye in one scene and she didn’t even blink. Yes, she’s fantastic. She’s great.

When you shoot a series, the development of a character kind of becomes a symbiosis between the writer, director and the actor. But for a single event like Razor, there’s not a lot of time for that to happen. What did you learn about yourself during the process of playing Kendra and how did that inform your performance as the filming progressed?

What did I learn about myself? And how did that inform my performance as the filming progressed?

Right.

Okay, well I guess to answer that question indirectly, the character was – there was a lot of clarity in – just in the writing so as soon as I sort of got the script, who Kendra was and what she was about, where she had been and where she was going were all quite clear to me. So – and I guess because she was such a rich, unique person, it wasn’t (kind) – it wasn’t as if she was sort of, you know, an ambivalent person or, you know, a (dipident) person who could be interpreted in a dozen different ways.

So it wasn’t – I mean, for me, the choices about how to play her were pretty much were pretty obvious. And I think that despite the fact that it was – her story is encapsulated within this double episode, I think that because I guess we were spending so much time with her we were still able to sort of nurture a collaborative approach to her development.

I wanted to find out maybe if you could tell us a little bit about your first professional acting role in front of the camera? And what that was like for you?

Okay, my first sort of long term role was on a soap opera in Sydney. And it was hilarious actually because I showed up with zero awareness of a lot of things. I was basically a technical neophyte. I roughed up (on set) and I was (mocking) everybody and I was never on my mark and I was rarely on camera. So I did, you know, assumedly a little bit of good acting on the sidelines there. And what ended up developing was this dynamic by which my on screen love interest would loop his fingers through the belt hole of my pants and he’d sort of guide me around the set. And that went on for about three months. So yes that was me in front of a camera for the first time.

And then the other project I wanted to ask you about and I hope I have my information correctly, maybe you could tell us a little bit about your general experiences working on the Life on Mars pilot and what that was like for you?

I actually don’t know that I can talk about my general experiences about that at this point. I’m sorry.

Did you always want to be an actress while you were growing up or did you have other professions in mind?

I had a couple – I mean there were a couple of ideas that sort of occurred to me. When I was 10, I wanted to be a professional equestrian because I was very much into horse riding. Then I wanted to be a veterinarian because I wanted to be a doctor but I didn’t want to have to work for the really high marks.

But then what happened was I guess while I was at University, I kind of got involved a little bit with a theater group there and I ended up – I just ended up being an actor to be honest with you. It was just kind of interesting. It just – yes, it kind of – you know, one thing led to another and the next thing I knew I was an actor.

Some of the non-U. S. actors on the show have accents that they drop, like Jamie Bamber for example. Did the producers tell you from the start that they wanted you to keep your accent?

No, I auditioned in an American accent. The decision to have Kendra be, I guess, Australian sort of happened on my first day on set.

So it was just – first day on the set they said, you can do that, let’s go ahead and…

Well, they kind of went talk for us and I spoke to them. And they said, no that’s it. So that was what we went with.

Because it was a precedent really with the Lucy Lawless character who speaks the accent.

Right.

Did they give you any back story – like maybe they’re from the same colony or something?

No. I believe that Lucy Lawless is a New Zealander so there would be just a hint of difference to our accent to someone who was listening carefully.

What do you think of science fiction as a genre in general? Are you a fan?

Yes, huge – huge fan.

Well, what are some of your favorites?

Well, I will basically I’ll – I’ll basically give anything that’s sci fi a go. I think though that what – I think though that the challenge for science fiction is sort of treading that fine line between fantasy and reality with a certain amount of grace I guess and a certain amount of sophistication so that there aren’t any scenes and there isn’t any contact – any content that’s going to be insulting to anyone’s intelligence. I mean sometimes you see some sci fi and it’s just like, no… No, I don’t think so, no. But with a show like Battlestar Galactica, yes, it’s just something different. Like it is raw and it is real and it is believable and I think that that’s a large part of why the show has been such a huge success.

When you’re not working what are some of the things that you do to make yourself happy?

I basically just work.

Fair enough.

Well, I mean – I’ve just moved to Los Angeles so I’m still kind of – you know, I’m still kind of settling in here so I might jump in my car and go for a drive, you know, explore the hills or explore the coast just – there’s plenty to do. It’s a very big city.

So asking a little bit about your time in Australia… what is – what are some of the differences between doing television down there versus here? Are there some? And obviously maybe budget is one?

Yes.

But are their working schedules different, too?

I think – to be honest with you I think that all the dissimilarities stem from budget. Because I mean, when you think about it – when you’ve got a bigger budget, you have more time, you have more resources. People tend to – I guess people tend to be able to afford a little more confidence I think with certain ideas because there isn’t such a heavy earnest to get it done. So I think that – I mean obviously look there’s always going to be aspects that are the same, you know, with any set, you know. But I think that there’s just an overall feeling that is slightly different. And I think though maybe that because there is more money, more time, more blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, I think that people who are involved creatively are sort of able to feel a little bit more proud, I guess, or a little bit more passionate or connected to what they’re doing, which for an actor is a great thing to be part of.

It’s also interesting I mean a lot of Australian actors come out of the shows like Home and Away like that and get a launching pad to then do American series and movies? I mean is there – what accounts for that? I mean do people – are people really watching Home and Away constantly in Hollywood to find people? Or how is the connection happening?

I really can’t answer from an extraneous perspective. I don’t know how those shows are perceived by people out here. But what I do know is that young actors who come off those shows are immune to doing very long hours. They’re sometimes seasoned professionals by the age of, you know, 18 or 19. And they have just basically a very comprehensive grasp of what it is to be a working actor, of the pressures that are involved, the work load that’s involved and they have a technical experience as well. And I would imagine that a part of it at least is the fact that all of those factors make them an asset on a set.

From your own experience, I know you’ve said you recently moved to L.A. Is there a – do – is there a reason why you did that aside from wanting different projects? Do you sort of feel like the TV industry in Australia is limited after a certain point?

I think that – okay, I don’t think there’s not more – obviously the industry in Australia is a much smaller industry. I think there’s amazing stuff there; has always been amazing stuff made in Australia – always, always, always. There’s just not a great deal of it. Unfortunately. And for me it was really just a matter A, wanting to be able to play a slightly more diverse range of characters, and B, just wanting to work more. I guess. I mean in – and I’m speaking for myself here personally, acting sort of – it felt like it was more of part-time thing in Australia. I kind of thought no, I want to be doing this more like, you know, nine or ten months a year as opposed to three.

I was just curious, you know, because you weren’t too familiar with the show when you did read the full script for Razor, did the – both the darkness of it and the depth of it surprise you?

No, okay, I was familiar with it per se. I knew what Battlestar Galactica was about. I knew what style of show it was and I had a fairly good idea of its parameters. So I wasn’t – I didn’t kind of read it and flip out. So no, it wasn’t anything like that at all. What I was not familiar with was what was currently happening in the show.

Obviously you were made XO and then have a leadership role for much of the story. Did you enjoy playing that dynamic and getting to, you know, bark orders in different scenes?

Sure, it was great fun. Who doesn’t enjoy that? No, it was good. It was nice playing both. It was nice being able to take a character through that process of – well, I mean just for me as well it was I got to do so much within the one job. I got to be a, you know – the green somewhat naïve rookie who was just taking orders to being, you know, the hard, hard edged commanding officer, who was as you say, barking orders. So it was – yes, I had a ball. I had an absolute ball with that character.

I’d like you to put yourself back in character for a moment and think about how Kendra would assess Admiral Cain, Lee Adama and Kara Thrace and what do you think she would – how do you think she would describe them?

How would Kendra have described Admiral Cain, Lee Adama and Kara Thrace? She wouldn’t. She wouldn’t have verbally described. Like I’m – like she – she was – she is far too internal a person. She’s far too introverted.As I said to someone earlier, she respected both Cain and Kara. And I also said that from my perception of Kendra, respect was the closest thing that she knew to affection or liking someone. And she came to respect Lee as well eventually.

But internally – how would she assess them? Would that be at all…

She would have thought about – she would have just – I think that she saw – okay. I think that she saw Cain as being an objective. Cain’s way of being was her objective.

And she then saw – I think that – I think personally that what she saw in Kara was that same objective but mingled with a little bit of humanity, which I think ultimately had a very specific impact on Kendra.

You’ve mentioned the relationship the character had with Starbuck and Cain, but another dynamic that’s kind of important is how she trusted Gina in the episode and then she realizes her betrayal. I was wondering if you could talk about that a little bit.

Sure. I think that this was – again this isn’t necessarily, you know, gospel or fact but from my perception I think that because she was sort of capable of that kind of a connection – I mean Kendra was kind of a little set apart to begin with. I think she was a little bit aloof. But I think that she quite – I think that she kind of liked Gina. I think that she respected – Gina’s the – the Gina character was – she had skills that, you know, Kendra didn’t possess and virtually no one else possessed. And so I think again she had a certain level of respect for her and she felt a kind of camaraderie with her I think. I mean I didn’t – Kendra was not a particularly emotional character. Not outwardly so anyway and I guess that in a sense her relationship with people by some standards could be deemed shallow. There wasn’t the intensity of admiration that she felt for Cain but I think that there was definitely a certain respect for what Gina did earlier on anyway.

Battlestar Galactica: Razor will air on Saturday, November 24th at 9 p.m. Watch for our new review on Wednesday.

While we’ll have to wait until next April to rejoin Battlestar Galactica’s ragtag fleet in Season Four, in a week-and-a-half [Saturday, November 24, 9 p.m.], the Sci Fi Channel will premiere the two-hour BSG special, Razor. Razor fills in the gaps regarding how the Battlestar Pegasus managed to avoid destruction during the Cylon attack that kicked off the series. Recently, I was part of a conference call with Jamie [Lee Adama] Bamber. Bamber is a genial, voluble fellow and extremely eloquent. He addressed Lee Adama’s role in Razor and teased the fourth season, while also making known where he felt some of the program’s few flaws lay. It was the best teleconference in which I’ve participated in several years… So, ladies and gentlemen… Jamie Bamber!

I just wanted to ask (revisiting) your character at an earlier point before a lot of big thingshad happened to him like his marriage and what not - was it interesting for you to go backand sort of rethink where he was at that point?

Yeah, definitely. Yeah just on a nostalgic personal level it’s interesting to reminisce, you know, a couple of years in actor time and a couple of, you know, whatever it is - years in character time as well.

So yeah, definitely - I, you know, harking back to where Lee was and where Jamie was a couple of seasons ago. It was a lot of fun.

Can you talk in the movie about, you know, basically what it’s like for him and for your –kind of picking up when he’s first getting command of the ship?

Sorry, could you rephrase that?

Could you talk a little bit about, you know, what the dynamic is like for him in Razor since he is just taking over Pegasus?

Yeah. I mean, I remember it being one of the sort of pivotal moments in playing Lee - was that moment where he sort of puts on his father’s work clothes and takes the helm of the Pegasus in a crisis, which is the episode “Captain’s Hand,” which we made back in Season Two — which was, you know - was one of those crazy moments where I really did feel like the character has that goosebumps all over sort of thing where he’s become his dad.

So there’s sort of this difficult figure in his life t