I'm not really happy with this translation because it's first draft and my first draft is nearly always full of blips and things that don't sound idiomatic and would never, ever come out of Amanda's mouth.
BUT, it does tell you what happened in the interview, so here you go:
BUT, it does tell you what happened in the interview, so here you go:
Spoiler:
Amanda Tapping Opens The Stargate
You had the questions, now – to celebrate the DVD releast of “Stargate – The Ark of Truth”, out on the 23rd April – Amanda Tapping gives you the answers.
AlloCiné: What are your favourite episodes of Stargate SG-1?
Amanda: I would say Heroes [season 7]. I think that particular two-parter stands out in terms of the writing and the way the story had a little something for everyone, but also in its design and execution. Personally, I love episodes like Grace as well, where I got to indulge in a few more emotional moments, getting more of an insight into my character’s history. But yeah, we’ve made more than 200 episodes (laughs)! Honestly, I think Heroes was one of our best achievements. It had everything.
What are your best memories of SG-1 ?
(laughs) When I look back, we spent all our time laughing. And that, throughout the ten years that we were making the show, that’s quite something. The way that we all got on, the team dynamic, we were always goofing off. After the first season, I thought that laughing every day just wasn’t possible. But when I look back, on the ten years filming the series and now the films, we just laughed the whole time. Every day. It’s a remarkable atmosphere.
Ben Browder recently told us about the amazing experiences during filming…
That was quite simply incredible. For Ben and for me as well. There’s one trip in particular, where we went to the Arctic (to film the straight to DVD film Continuum)… It’s the sort of thing that you just can’t ever imagine doing. Flying in helicopters to shoot these crazy scenes and being in the arctic! Thanks to Stargate, we’ve also had the opportunity to participate at a U.S.O. event (United Service Organisations – a non governmental organisation that provides recreational services to the American military) in the middle east, just after Septermber 11th. It’s incredible what we’ve been able to do, thanks to this show.
What can you tell us about your experiences on “The Ark of Truth”.
It was fun. What was interesting was that we had finished season 10 and the series had been cancelled, so we were all a bit… you know… the last day we were all really emotional. And then suddenly were given this opportunity to make films, and that was just amazing. We had more time, a bigger budget, it was filmed on 35mm, everything just seemed bigger. The scenes and the way in which Rob (Robert C. Cooper) filmed it, it just seemed bigger. It all happened so quickly, it was mind blowing ! It was like the whole team was reunited, it was perfect.
“The Ark of Truth” sold really well in the states. Do you think that the producers will try again to get a new season or more films? And, if so, will you be on board?
If we do more Stargate films, then sure. I think that we’d all do it. We’ve already discussed it. After doing The Ark of Truth, we went on to do Continuum, which is a completely different story. And I think it paves the way for more Stargate films. These are great stand alone stories. Yes, I’ll do it, obviously. It’s become my family. I’ve worked with these people for so long that I often think of Stargate as my home.
Do you all still see each other?
Yeah. I just saw Chris (Christopher Judge, who plays Teal’c) a few weeks ago. I’m filming a new series at the moment (Sanctuary, for Sci-Fi), so I’m really busy, but we still get to see each other.
Was it difficult to say goodbye to the Sam Carter character after having played her for ten years ?
It was surreal. As far as I’m concerned, I was lucky because I got another season with the character, on the sister-show Stargate Atlantis. So, although the character was completely rewritten in some ways, I didn’t have to say goodbye to Stargate. On the other hand, the last day of filming on SG1 was very moving for all of us. It was Rob (Robert C. Cooper) who filmed it and he decided that the final take would be the team walking through the gate. It was incredibly moving. Christopher Judge was crying so much that they had to stop filming. It was one of those really powerful moments… When we finished, what was cool for me, was that Michael (Michael Shanks, who plays Daniel Jackson), Chris and I ran off and left the rest of the team behind. It must have been something like two in the morning, and people had woken up and come in just to see the last take. Anyway, we escaped to the briefing room so we could look at the Gate. It was just like when we started the series in 1997, visiting the set, all three of us, and walking and us saying: “Oh my God, look at the series we’re in!” We took a moment, all three of us, and just stood there looking at the Gate and saying: “Wow, here we are! (laughs) 10 years, wow!” It was crazy. It was great.
10 years, that’s a long time. Did you ever want to quit the show ?
Honestly? No. There were a few times, both in my life and in my career, that I said to myself : “Oh my God, what am I doing?”. But, you know, I’ve got loads of friends who are actors and would give anything to be able to do what I do. And like I’ve said, if you’ve got a job – it doesn’t matter what you do for a living – where you have the opportunity to laugh every day, then you’d be an idiot to give it up. It’s a fantastic group of people, a really great team, there’s a true sense of family and in a way, it gives you a kick up the backside when you get those moments where you think: “I don’t want to do this any more”. It makes you say, “Wait a second. Don’t be stupid, this is an amazing series (laughs). And you have fun.”
Why don’t Carter and O’Neill get together at the end ?
And who says they don’t ? (laughs). I don’t know… It’s funny that you ask me that because only yesterday I came across an old, old memory, the one where our memories had been erased. O’Neill and Carter don’t know who they really are. And I watched the chemistry beween Rick (Richard Dean Anderson, who plays O’Neill) and me and said : “Wow, they’re going to get together any minute” ! But maybe there’ll be room for that in the films. There are some truly amazing moments between the two of them… I’ve watched a load of fan videos (made up of these moments) and I think that it would be fun. Anything to get rid of all that sexual tension. Just once, for the love of God !
You think it would do them good to get over it ?
Exactly. I think they could move on and say : “Ok, phew… that’s out of our system!” (laughs).
What do you think about the relationship between Sam Carter and Cameron Mitchell?
It’s just a deep, mutual respect. There was never any sexual tension between the two of them. And I think with would have been a huge mistake to go down that route. Ben (Ben Browder who plays Mitchell) and I have obviously discussed it, but it wouldn’t have made any sense for Carter and Mitchell to get together. Even though it would be extremely cute.
Is he as sexy in real life as he is on screen?
Honestly? More so. Whilst we were in the arctice – which was a surreal experience for the both of us – Ben and I were the only two actors there at the beginning. And when he looks at you with those clear blue eyes and his perfect smile, you just melt. I said to him: “That’s just wrong! What are you doing? Stop it!” And he responded, in such a suave voice, “Qhat? What is it I’m doing?” so I told him, “You’re looking at me! Stop!” Seriously… he’s far sexier in real life than he is on screen. If you can believe that…
Who’s the most intelligent: Carter or Rodney McKay from Atlantis?
Carter. And I’m not just saying that because I play her and not because I’m obviously more intelligent than David Hewlitt (who plays McKay) either (laughs). Carter’s not just a bookworm, but she understands people, unline McKay. She uses common sense and reads situations and knows how to deal with the people involved as well as what’s happening. McKay, on the other hand, just charges in with his own ideas and prejudices. So I think in terms of true intelligence, Carter wins.
Who’s the strongest: Teal’c or Ronon?
Oh, I have to lean towards Teal’c, because he’s my guy. He’s the strongest.
Can you tell us a bit about “Sanctuary”, your new series?
At the moment, we’re in pre-production. Sci Fi has ordered 13 episodes. It’s a series that is filmed entirely on green screen. My character is this doctor who is 157 years old, from Victorian England and who runs a sort of institution for these rare and unexpected creatures that exist across the world. And not only to protect them, but to study them because she believes that these creatures are the evolution of our species and the key to that evolution. She brings a psychiatrist aboard, played by Robin Dunne, who is fantastic. Her past is kind of crazy. As those people who watched it on the internet already know, she was Jack the Ripper’s fiancée and had a child with him (laughs)… Yeah, she’s got a fairly intense past. The whole feel of the series is something that’s not been done on television and I think that Sci-Fi is really enthusiastic about that. It’s entirely on green screen, so it’s got that sort of “Sin City” feel to it. It’s not entirely realistic, visually, so it’s got a sort of comic-book aspect. Asthetically, it’s astonishing. And the story is incredible. After doing the internet series, we’re really excited to be starting on the television format.
Do you hope to have as much success on the internet?
We hope so. We’ve put a lot of money into it. Our pilot was the most expensive series ever produced for the internet. We’re in the Guinness Book of Records for spending all that money (laughs). So, we hope that it will be a success. The internet is an interesting beast because you can’t protect what you do. Once it’s on the web, it’s everywhere. In a way, you’ve got to let your baby grow up eventually, we have to develop. But the web was a great forum for us, because sci-fi fans live on the net. There’s a social network of fans that isn’t specific to SF fans, but I think it’s probably strongest between them. As they follow the series, they come and discuss it on the web. You can see, just by visiting, how many fans spend a lot of time there. So it makes sense. But the TV is also a great format for us. There’s always a place for us on the web, but that’s the direction that we want to go in.
What is your favourite series?
I watch a lot of British shows. I’m a huge fan of Little Britain and of French and Saunders and everything to do with England. I’ve started to watch Jame and Jerusalem. And honestly, the shows I watch at home, I watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.
If you could invent a character for Stargate, what would they be like?
Ooh! That’s a tough question, that! If I could invent a character? I think that they’ve already invented them all! I mean… when you’ve done something like 200 episodes, haven’t we covered every idea on the planet? (laughs). I like the idea of an evil Carter, but we’ve done that as well. Our writers have covered practically every possibility. I’m sure I’m going to come up with a better response after we finish the interview. It’s always like that.
Or you’re just trying to keep the idea for your own series…
(laughs) Yeah, that’s it!
You had the questions, now – to celebrate the DVD releast of “Stargate – The Ark of Truth”, out on the 23rd April – Amanda Tapping gives you the answers.
AlloCiné: What are your favourite episodes of Stargate SG-1?
Amanda: I would say Heroes [season 7]. I think that particular two-parter stands out in terms of the writing and the way the story had a little something for everyone, but also in its design and execution. Personally, I love episodes like Grace as well, where I got to indulge in a few more emotional moments, getting more of an insight into my character’s history. But yeah, we’ve made more than 200 episodes (laughs)! Honestly, I think Heroes was one of our best achievements. It had everything.
What are your best memories of SG-1 ?
(laughs) When I look back, we spent all our time laughing. And that, throughout the ten years that we were making the show, that’s quite something. The way that we all got on, the team dynamic, we were always goofing off. After the first season, I thought that laughing every day just wasn’t possible. But when I look back, on the ten years filming the series and now the films, we just laughed the whole time. Every day. It’s a remarkable atmosphere.
Ben Browder recently told us about the amazing experiences during filming…
That was quite simply incredible. For Ben and for me as well. There’s one trip in particular, where we went to the Arctic (to film the straight to DVD film Continuum)… It’s the sort of thing that you just can’t ever imagine doing. Flying in helicopters to shoot these crazy scenes and being in the arctic! Thanks to Stargate, we’ve also had the opportunity to participate at a U.S.O. event (United Service Organisations – a non governmental organisation that provides recreational services to the American military) in the middle east, just after Septermber 11th. It’s incredible what we’ve been able to do, thanks to this show.
What can you tell us about your experiences on “The Ark of Truth”.
It was fun. What was interesting was that we had finished season 10 and the series had been cancelled, so we were all a bit… you know… the last day we were all really emotional. And then suddenly were given this opportunity to make films, and that was just amazing. We had more time, a bigger budget, it was filmed on 35mm, everything just seemed bigger. The scenes and the way in which Rob (Robert C. Cooper) filmed it, it just seemed bigger. It all happened so quickly, it was mind blowing ! It was like the whole team was reunited, it was perfect.
“The Ark of Truth” sold really well in the states. Do you think that the producers will try again to get a new season or more films? And, if so, will you be on board?
If we do more Stargate films, then sure. I think that we’d all do it. We’ve already discussed it. After doing The Ark of Truth, we went on to do Continuum, which is a completely different story. And I think it paves the way for more Stargate films. These are great stand alone stories. Yes, I’ll do it, obviously. It’s become my family. I’ve worked with these people for so long that I often think of Stargate as my home.
Do you all still see each other?
Yeah. I just saw Chris (Christopher Judge, who plays Teal’c) a few weeks ago. I’m filming a new series at the moment (Sanctuary, for Sci-Fi), so I’m really busy, but we still get to see each other.
Was it difficult to say goodbye to the Sam Carter character after having played her for ten years ?
It was surreal. As far as I’m concerned, I was lucky because I got another season with the character, on the sister-show Stargate Atlantis. So, although the character was completely rewritten in some ways, I didn’t have to say goodbye to Stargate. On the other hand, the last day of filming on SG1 was very moving for all of us. It was Rob (Robert C. Cooper) who filmed it and he decided that the final take would be the team walking through the gate. It was incredibly moving. Christopher Judge was crying so much that they had to stop filming. It was one of those really powerful moments… When we finished, what was cool for me, was that Michael (Michael Shanks, who plays Daniel Jackson), Chris and I ran off and left the rest of the team behind. It must have been something like two in the morning, and people had woken up and come in just to see the last take. Anyway, we escaped to the briefing room so we could look at the Gate. It was just like when we started the series in 1997, visiting the set, all three of us, and walking and us saying: “Oh my God, look at the series we’re in!” We took a moment, all three of us, and just stood there looking at the Gate and saying: “Wow, here we are! (laughs) 10 years, wow!” It was crazy. It was great.
10 years, that’s a long time. Did you ever want to quit the show ?
Honestly? No. There were a few times, both in my life and in my career, that I said to myself : “Oh my God, what am I doing?”. But, you know, I’ve got loads of friends who are actors and would give anything to be able to do what I do. And like I’ve said, if you’ve got a job – it doesn’t matter what you do for a living – where you have the opportunity to laugh every day, then you’d be an idiot to give it up. It’s a fantastic group of people, a really great team, there’s a true sense of family and in a way, it gives you a kick up the backside when you get those moments where you think: “I don’t want to do this any more”. It makes you say, “Wait a second. Don’t be stupid, this is an amazing series (laughs). And you have fun.”
Why don’t Carter and O’Neill get together at the end ?
And who says they don’t ? (laughs). I don’t know… It’s funny that you ask me that because only yesterday I came across an old, old memory, the one where our memories had been erased. O’Neill and Carter don’t know who they really are. And I watched the chemistry beween Rick (Richard Dean Anderson, who plays O’Neill) and me and said : “Wow, they’re going to get together any minute” ! But maybe there’ll be room for that in the films. There are some truly amazing moments between the two of them… I’ve watched a load of fan videos (made up of these moments) and I think that it would be fun. Anything to get rid of all that sexual tension. Just once, for the love of God !
You think it would do them good to get over it ?
Exactly. I think they could move on and say : “Ok, phew… that’s out of our system!” (laughs).
What do you think about the relationship between Sam Carter and Cameron Mitchell?
It’s just a deep, mutual respect. There was never any sexual tension between the two of them. And I think with would have been a huge mistake to go down that route. Ben (Ben Browder who plays Mitchell) and I have obviously discussed it, but it wouldn’t have made any sense for Carter and Mitchell to get together. Even though it would be extremely cute.
Is he as sexy in real life as he is on screen?
Honestly? More so. Whilst we were in the arctice – which was a surreal experience for the both of us – Ben and I were the only two actors there at the beginning. And when he looks at you with those clear blue eyes and his perfect smile, you just melt. I said to him: “That’s just wrong! What are you doing? Stop it!” And he responded, in such a suave voice, “Qhat? What is it I’m doing?” so I told him, “You’re looking at me! Stop!” Seriously… he’s far sexier in real life than he is on screen. If you can believe that…
Who’s the most intelligent: Carter or Rodney McKay from Atlantis?
Carter. And I’m not just saying that because I play her and not because I’m obviously more intelligent than David Hewlitt (who plays McKay) either (laughs). Carter’s not just a bookworm, but she understands people, unline McKay. She uses common sense and reads situations and knows how to deal with the people involved as well as what’s happening. McKay, on the other hand, just charges in with his own ideas and prejudices. So I think in terms of true intelligence, Carter wins.
Who’s the strongest: Teal’c or Ronon?
Oh, I have to lean towards Teal’c, because he’s my guy. He’s the strongest.
Can you tell us a bit about “Sanctuary”, your new series?
At the moment, we’re in pre-production. Sci Fi has ordered 13 episodes. It’s a series that is filmed entirely on green screen. My character is this doctor who is 157 years old, from Victorian England and who runs a sort of institution for these rare and unexpected creatures that exist across the world. And not only to protect them, but to study them because she believes that these creatures are the evolution of our species and the key to that evolution. She brings a psychiatrist aboard, played by Robin Dunne, who is fantastic. Her past is kind of crazy. As those people who watched it on the internet already know, she was Jack the Ripper’s fiancée and had a child with him (laughs)… Yeah, she’s got a fairly intense past. The whole feel of the series is something that’s not been done on television and I think that Sci-Fi is really enthusiastic about that. It’s entirely on green screen, so it’s got that sort of “Sin City” feel to it. It’s not entirely realistic, visually, so it’s got a sort of comic-book aspect. Asthetically, it’s astonishing. And the story is incredible. After doing the internet series, we’re really excited to be starting on the television format.
Do you hope to have as much success on the internet?
We hope so. We’ve put a lot of money into it. Our pilot was the most expensive series ever produced for the internet. We’re in the Guinness Book of Records for spending all that money (laughs). So, we hope that it will be a success. The internet is an interesting beast because you can’t protect what you do. Once it’s on the web, it’s everywhere. In a way, you’ve got to let your baby grow up eventually, we have to develop. But the web was a great forum for us, because sci-fi fans live on the net. There’s a social network of fans that isn’t specific to SF fans, but I think it’s probably strongest between them. As they follow the series, they come and discuss it on the web. You can see, just by visiting, how many fans spend a lot of time there. So it makes sense. But the TV is also a great format for us. There’s always a place for us on the web, but that’s the direction that we want to go in.
What is your favourite series?
I watch a lot of British shows. I’m a huge fan of Little Britain and of French and Saunders and everything to do with England. I’ve started to watch Jame and Jerusalem. And honestly, the shows I watch at home, I watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.
If you could invent a character for Stargate, what would they be like?
Ooh! That’s a tough question, that! If I could invent a character? I think that they’ve already invented them all! I mean… when you’ve done something like 200 episodes, haven’t we covered every idea on the planet? (laughs). I like the idea of an evil Carter, but we’ve done that as well. Our writers have covered practically every possibility. I’m sure I’m going to come up with a better response after we finish the interview. It’s always like that.
Or you’re just trying to keep the idea for your own series…
(laughs) Yeah, that’s it!
), here are my few thoughts on the question FF posed about why female actors tend to get these questions more. I'm still afraid I got a smidge OT and ranty:
). Subconcious social thing about women no.15,304- the female actor will not mind discussing it, as they are more open and less awkward about such things. They will be more interested and invested in the romance angle. She will feel more of an affinity with it. They prove their own femininity by doing so. And ultimately, they will hopefully provide a nicely worded, open but also teasing answer to please the reader (or viewer). I think my view on this is predictable.
And on a simple level, I still can't get used to 'p' actually being 'r'...
)
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