Nicki Clyne Interview Cally from Battlestar Galactica

1. You kind of covered this in a recent blog post but… Cally… what a terrible end for the character. As a fan of the show I felt sad that the character was given the ending she was [not the episode itself, more the downward spiral of the character - Ed.]. Did you feel cheated in any way or feel the character wouldn’t have gone down the route she did?

I actually thought it was pretty epic.  I’m always confident the writers have the integrity of the story at the forefront of their imaginations and it made sense to me with all things considered that Cally would choose the path that she did.  Of course it was sad for many reasons, but with it being the last season, I wasn’t terribly concerned with the implications or the consequences.  I’m just glad she got to go out in style. 

2. Do you actually watch Battlestar Galactica, or is that weird because you know it from inside? If you do watch, do you have a favorite character / scene?

It’s not that weird, especially since by the time I actually see the episodes, I’ve forgotten most of what and how we filmed them.  It’s kind of like ordering something online and by time you actually get it, it feels like Christmas!  I probably don’t watch the show as much as I should, but every time I do I learn so much about the complexities of each character and just how incredibly integral every person on the team is.  Seeing the finished product is a whole different experience than reading it on paper.  I feel really proud to be a part of it.      

All the actors on our show are so ridiculously talented, it would be impossible to pick a favorite.  Each person brings such a unique twist to his or her role, something that’s not visible in the written script yet adds so much to the story.  I will admit, though, I love watching Baltar’s storyline unfold; I think James Callis is hilariously brilliant.  And watching Eddie and Mary work is endlessly inspiring. 

3. What was the most difficult scene for you to film in BSG and why?

Some of the outdoor scenes, on planets and such, have been quite physically challenging and I would often get teased about how much I “loved” (not) having fake dirt and blood all over me all the time.  But I’d have to say my scene in the airlock, where Cally is confronted by Tory, was certainly the most difficult on every score.  The poor little guy who plays my son was not very enthused under the circumstances (and rightly so considering the nature of the scene and the long hours).  We did one take after another and he just wouldn’t stop crying.  So with that, coupled with climbing into the mind of someone who sees suicide as her only chance at freedom and is then confronted with the very person who represents everything that is wrong with her world, made for a pretty intense and challenging acting experience.  Yet I loved every minute of it.  Is that wrong?

4. Are you friends with anyone still working on the show now you’re not on the series? I saw an interview with Katee Sackhoff recently where she essentially said when she finished the show she didn’t expect to be friends with anyone but Tricia Helfer once it disbanded.

Well, certainly I won’t see most of the cast as much as I did while we were working together, but I like to think that I’ll always consider them friends in some capacity; kind of like extended family you always look up when you’re in town.  That’s actually part of what I love most about conventions, getting to spend quality time with my former cast mates.

5. You attend a lot of conventions for Battlestar, do you enjoy them and what’s your experiences been like with the fans?

As I said, I love being able to catch up with friends from the show, as well as meeting actors from other fan favorites.  But I also can’t express what a privilege it is to meet the fans and all the people who support what we do, essentially making our jobs possible.  Not to mention how lucky I am to be part of a show that asks incredibly poignant questions about the way we related, communicate and maintain our humanity in a technologically advanced society.  So the dialog I’m able to engage in at these events is always interesting and thought provoking.  Sometimes I get to wax poetic about my philosophies on life, while other times people are more interested in whether or not I’ve seen Jamie Bamber naked (the answer is still no by the way, sorry.)  And in case you’re wondering, I haven’t seen Michelle Forbes naked either. 

6. You appeared in The L Word, do you remember much about your experiences there and did you ever watch the show?

I had a great time filming The L Word.  I really enjoyed working with the director of that episode, Clement Virgo.  I think he has a great mind.  And beyond that, it mostly involved driving around in a Lincoln Navigator with Mia Kirshner and Nolan Funk pretending to be high on mushrooms.  Not a bad gig if you’re into that sorta thing.  I have seen a few episodes of the show and I think it’s really well done, as well as a necessary exploration into the way women relate, something I think is often missing in tv land. 

7. You’ve said on your blog a few times you’re a bit of a geek, what is your favorite geeky gadget?

Well, I’m pretty inseparable from my MacBook.  Recently I went through slight withdrawal after taking it in for repair; actually it was sadly liberating, I got a lot done.  And I have most of your standard gadgetry like ipod, blackberry, electric toothbrush, etc.  Although, I’m always the slightest bit jealous of those kids who have shoes with built in wheels, does that count as a gadget?  Or does that just peg me as a serious dork.  I just think of all the flights I could have caught if only…

8. If you consider yourself a geek, are you also into video gaming in any form?

Not so much anymore, but Nintendo and its counterparts were a pretty big part of my upbringing.  I even had somewhat of a Tetris addiction at one point.  Also, I haven’t tried them yet, but the fully interactive games like Rock Band or some of the ones for the new Nintendo seem pretty rad.

9. What are your plans for the future, is there anything coming up that we should look for you in?

I’m still contemplating what direction I want to take acting wise.  Ideally I’d like to do some films or maybe a comedy like 30 Rock or the Office.  I’m also working on a business with my friends to create a tangible social network of students, aiming to bring the humanity back into “social networking” and develop a structure that facilitates critical thinking and entrepreneurial ventures.  It’s called 10c, so look out for that too!

We’re going to end it with the infamous Inside the Actors Studio questions followed by a 'Rove' question. Rove is Australia's Jay Leno and he always finished interviews with the same question.. so here we go:

   1. What is your favorite word?  Why?
   2. What is your least favorite word?  “Irregardless” It’s not a word people!
   3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?  Authenticity
   4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?  Inauthenticity
   5. What sound or noise do you love?  Storms
   6. What sound or noise do you hate? The sound of running over something with your car
  7. What is your favorite curse word?  Not Frak
   8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Entrepreneur/Humanitarian/Comedian
   9. What profession would you not like to do?  Undercover spy.  (See, I was lying just then.  I’d be good, right?)
  10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?  Whoops!  That was a mistake, get back out there kiddo!

And that Rove question...
Who would you turn gay for?

Dagney Taggart!

Thanks so much to Nicki for taking the time to do this Q&A, we hope you all enjoyed it.

Comments

[Zefbot]

Hey, great interview! Nicki sounds really smart, funny and down to earth. It was sad when she departed from BSG but as she said, it's the last season, and I'm thinking we are going to see quite a few more casualties as the series draws to a close. (Better not off Starbuck! And she is NOT a cylon!)

[Swack]

Cally's "departure" was definitely epic. I was so sad to see that character go, but I was riveted watching it happen.

That's what good actors do: they make you love it even when you hate it.

Thanks for the interview.

[Robbie]

Love the interview. I had such a crush on Cally in Battlstar, I was pretty annoyed when she got with the mechanic guy, as if that would ever happen! Then turns out he's what he is and I was like oh no way, poor Cally.

Cool interview. Who is Dagney Taggart, I want to be whoever that is. ;op

[phalse.profet]

Dagney Taggart is from "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. Great book, great author and awesome that Nicki mentions her.

[GoGI]

Nikki i just love u and u got great personallity hehe really like u so keep it up