Was there any character that was particularly hard for you mimic, any that just came you you?
It’s always a little weird because I’m doing someone else’s impulses, kind of. It’s always an adjustment because the way that Tat moves isn’t the way that I move naturally, or the way that she speaks.
Helena was definitely a tougher one because of the accent. She was a lot of fun because of how free she was, that was really cool, but the accent was a little harder to wrap my head around. Whereas someone like Alison came a little easier, maybe, because I feel like I’m a little closer to Alison. She’s kind of fun to play with because it fits a bit easier in my body. But even Sarah’s dialect is a little harder to get into, especially after a season break.
We know Tatiana listens to playlists to get into character, so does she share them with you to help you get into that vibe, or do you have your own? How do you get into character?
My prep is more just watching her and mimicking the way she moves as each character and the intonation of her voice as each character. I requested to watch all the dailies, so they send me everything that they film every day so I can sit at home on days when I’m not on set and watch all of Tat’s work as she goes along, so when I get to set I’m not asking “How does Cosima stand?” I can just pick up little bits as I go along, so that’s mostly what my prep entails.
The way Tatiana warms up on set, like when she’s Sarah she’ll kind of shake all of her limbs out and get really loose and kind of spread her legs and get into a really grounded posture, I’ll mimic things like that and Alison’s uptightness. So it’s more physicality that I take from, but I’m always curious and always ask Tat what her playlist is and she’ll often have it on in hair and make up, like when she’s playing Rachel, she’ll have Rachel’s music on. Or I’ll ask what kind of animal characteristic she draws on for different characters, she does that sometimes. So I just try to pick every bit that I can get my hands on and try to physicalize it.
Do you stay in character off camera as well?
To a degree, yeah. Usually once I’m in costume, it almost immediately puts you into that character. So usually when I’m walking onto set I have of a sense of them in my body. If we have a long period of time in between setups, then I’ll drop it, usually, but if we’re filming and there’s five minutes, I usually stay mostly in character. I usually don’t stay in the accents because I’m not the greatest at them I think, so that usually gets dropped, but physically, there’s usually a hint of it that sticks around.
We know that you’re (finally) on screen in season 2 with at least one episode, in episode 9. Congrats! Can you tell us anything about the character, listed as Alexis, or is that all spoilery territory?
Oh, I don’t know what I’m allowed to say, it might be a little too spoilery.
Oh, we definitely don’t blame you! Congratulations for getting that role, because a lot of the Clone Club were hoping you’d be able to get on screen. The Clone Club really just appreciates you so much. I don’t know if you see Tumblr or Twitter, but as much love as we have for Tatiana, we have for you.
The Clone Club is truly amazing. I’m surprised anyone knows what I do on the show. It’s cool that the die hard Clone Club have discovered who I am. It’s really touching, and Tatiana has been so gracious mentioning me in interviews where she doesn’t really need to, so it’s been nice to have the die hard fans know who I am.
You’re producing a short film called Apron, and even though the IndiGogo funding wasn’t as successful as it should’ve been, do you think you guys will still try to make it happen?
Yeah, we’re definitely going to go ahead with it. The IndiGoGo funding was just…it would’ve bee nice to get anything people were willing to give for the project, but we’ll be making it no matter what. Everyone on the project has been really generous and working for free, so that cut costs a lot. It’s mostly the cost of food and transportation we were trying to raise for.
We film on April 11, 12 and 13, and Apron was actually the untitled title, but we think it’s going to be called Bound. Apron was just a weird place holder with a strange reason why it was called that. We hope to submit it to TIF and some film festivals and see what happens.
What is Bound about?
It’s a short film, it’ll probably be around 10 minutes or so, and it’s about two younger women who are street workers. Basically, the story is about their relationship to each other, kind of swept up in the circumstances that they’re in. And one woman, named Libby, has a chance to get out of the life she’s been living. But in order for her to do that she’ll have to leave her friend, Kit, behind. So it’s really about her decision of whether to stay in a relationship and circumstance that she knows isn’t good for her and to get away, or stay with Kit because Kit needs her.
It’s an interesting commentary on obligations that we feel to each other and to our family and friends, even though we know they might not be what’s best for us. It’s kind of a character piece about these two women. It’s not really about the prostitution, it’s about their relationship to each other and the circumstance they’re in. I really think it’ll be a great character piece for two great female actresses.
ohhaidontmindme on Tumblr asks, “What’s your favorite part of the unusual job you have, and what’s the most unexpected part?”
So my favorite part of this job, I guess it’s just doing the job. Being on set and working on the material with Tatiana and the other actors and with the crew, and just being there. That’s my favorite time of the day. My favorite part is really just getting to do the work I’m doing.
The most unexpected part, I guess would be the reception the show has had. We didn’t really know what it was going to become when it started, so it was great and unexpected when we had such a great fan base developing and continuing to develop. I think it’s the amount of attention, and loving attention, it’s gotten from critics and the fan base.
waaaluigi, also from Tumblr, asks, “I was wondering if you can tell us your favorite shows and/or books.”
So my favorite shows, I guess I’ll start with the most recent ones I’ve been watching: Boardwalk Empire; I love period stuff. So Boardwalk Empire, Downton Abbey…
I watch so many varied things, though, like Bates Motel, I just started watching yesterday, so that’s pretty cool. Newsroom, Homeland, those kind of grittier shows.
And I definitely watch a lot of Canadian television as well, since that’s the demographic I’m in, and Reign is a new CW show that I’ve been watching.
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