(April 7, PDI-Entertainment)
By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany beat more established
thesps like Juliana Margulies, Claire Danes, and Vera Farmiga, among others, in
the Best Actress in a Drama Series category of last year’s Critics’ Choice
Awards.
Maslany won for playing a con artist and several other
characters (including a cop, an assassin, etc.) in the first season of “Orphan
Black,” which is about several female clones discovering and connecting with
each other. The actress, 28, recently discussed her show, debuting in
The Golden Globe-nominated actress previously appeared as
the Virgin Mary in the miniseries “The Nativity,” and in TV shows such as
“Flashpoint,” “Heartland” and “Being Erica.”
“[One] thing that makes me proud of the show is that these
women are individuals,” she said of her various “Orphan Black” characters,
which have radically different predilections and personalities. “They’re not
just the girlfriend and they’re not looking for male approval in any way.
They’re so autonomous. It’s exciting for me,” Maslany said.
How would you describe playing multiple characters with
different lives?
Interesting and fun. I work very closely with a dialect
coach. The writers of the show constantly throw curveballs and continue to
challenge, develop and change these characters. Every time I read a script, I
don’t know where it’s going and it makes it very exciting for me as an actor.
Also, each character has a different accent; I think the London
accent is the most difficult. The most difficult physicality to maintain during
a long day is Rachel’s; she’s the clone we meet at the end of Season One—her
posture is impeccable and she’s always in the most painful high heels.
What’s the most important thing about working on this show?
What got my attention in this show in the first place is the
combination of the script and the challenges that came with the job. The
writing was so compelling and the characters were so well-developed on the
page, it was a world I hadn’t seen yet in a TV series. And the challenge of
playing all these characters, I didn’t know how that would be done. It was
something that, as an actor, really inspired me and made me a little bit
obsessed.
Name some of your favorite actors.
Robin Wright in “House of Cards” plays a fascinating
character. And Laura Dern [in the canceled show “Enlightened”] played an
incredible leading woman who wasn’t necessarily the strongest—she had so many
flaws and weaknesses—but I totally know that woman, believe her and root for
her.
What genres are you drawn to, and how is the show’s science
fiction aspect relevant?
I have no particular preference for genres … [I’m drawn to]
any character that’s good and interesting. But I think what sci-fi can do so
brilliantly is to reflect back our world through a different lens, and speak
about the future, shed light on it in a way that’s entertaining and fantastical
… It can tell us about where we are as a society. I think that sci-fi doesn’t
get enough credit for [that] kind of social commentary.
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