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Many critics have been referring to Battlestar Galactica as oneof the best series of the last decade. How do you think time will judge the series?
I tend to believe that statement. Television doesn’t give itself enough credit from the get go. You’ve got years to develop story and I think when a show takes advantage of that you get something that’sunbelievable and BSG was just one of those shows. It used a platform without having it be a soapbox and talked about some pretty heavy issues.
Did you experience much resistance in taking on the role of Starbuck regarding the whole switch from male to female?
There was always a lot. From the very beginning people didn’tunderstand the choice. They thought it was something Ron gave a lot ofthought too, but truth be told he quite hastily woke up one morning andsaid I’m going to have to cast some women. So I didn’t really put muchstock in it until the fans started freaking out. I paid attention to itfor a little bit then I had to let it go because I knew I was nevergoing to get every single person to like me in the portrayal of thischaracter.
The show has now finished but Starbuck’s past remains verysecretive and a lot of people have been asking who or what she was. Canyou shed any light on that?
No. There’s no reason to find out who or what she was. I don’t think that’s something that Ron ever wanted. Who Starbuck was as a metaphor was always up in the air. She was always on this self discovery of trying to find herself the entire run of the show. I think it’s poeticj ustice for her to end the way she did. There’s no point in trying to figure it out, I think that would ruin what was a very simple end forher.
You seem to be carving out a bit of a niche playing strong female sci-fi characters. Is that something you’re conscious of?
Yeah. I think that when you’re in this business there are many different ways to navigate through it and one of the opportunities would be to sit down and say I’m not working until someone casts me in the next Will & Grace. I could do that. Or I could take what I’m good at and turn it into something and recognise that there is a shortage of strong women in this business. Angelina Jolie can’t do every strong woman role. Let’s spread the love a little bit and see what happens. It’s choice but I’m not worried about it. I’ve given myself longevity. When my face falls and my tits sag I’ll still have a career.
Starbuck’s known for partying, drinking and smoking cigars.Where as Sarah Corvis from Bionic Woman was more of a seductive femme fatale. Which one of these is more like the real Katee?
Neither one. I’m very much a homebody and I’m very shy when I’m not in my element. I’m happy with being content. I’m more grounded than the characters I play. But I do use my work as a release. You get to go to work and punch and kick and you tend to work through some issues whether you know it or not.
I’ve read that you weren’t a fan of either the old BSG orBionic Woman as a kid but you’re happy to remake old shows for a living.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t a fan. I grew up in the eighties so by the timeI was watching television both those shows were off the air and growingup we had a very small television with two channels so we didn’t getreruns. I’m of the generation where if shit doesn’t blow up I don’twant to watch it. When I grew up special effects were already on theirway to becoming what they are now. So to go back and watch somethinglike the original Battlestar Galactica or Bionic Woman, because of myage and the things I got used to, my eye gets bored. It’s not that it’sbad. It’s just different, older.
Are there any characters from the past, other shows from that era you’d love to reinvent?
I’ve been joking forever that I wanted to play Face from A-Team. A-Team is one that I watched, I was around for that.
How about an all female A-Team?
Hmm… I don’t think it could be done personally. Too much oestrogen in one van.
Next up for you is 24. Can you tell us anything about that? Are expecting to keep up the hard persona?
I am but with a twist. What I’ve come to love is multi dimensional characters that are written one way but you can take them in so many directions and this character is no different. This is a woman who hasa lot of secrets but she’s not a bad person.
Internet rumours have been linking you with the role of Typhoid Mary in a possible Daredevil sequel. Any truth in that?
I’ve never heard anything about a Daredevil sequel. But don’t think that’s the plan.
From drunken hotshot pilot to the saviour of mankind, Karahad quite a four year journey.
What was it like playing a character that changed and grew so much?
I didn’t really appreciate it until I left. I didn’t realise how much control the writers and Ron gave me over where she went just by how Iwas feeling that day. If I had a cold and I didn’t want to talk thatmuch I’d turn up and talk myself out of scenes.
Like I said there are many ways to navigate this business. One ofthem is to allow yourself to become a talking head and the other one isto take a little bit of control and create something fantastic. One isfulfilling and one isn’t. That’s what Battlestar was great for, I miss that.
Were you personally happy with the BSG finale?
Yeah I was happy. I have my ideas of what happened with Starbuck and I’m happy with it. I’ve daydreamed about it enough that I’ve given her the ending I wanted her to have. It left a door open for people to paint by numbers and that’s what’s great about the show. Things can happen the same way for a million viewers across the world and it canmean something completely different for every single one of thosepeople and that’s good TV.
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