Wizard World 2009: 5 Quick Questions with Nicki Clyne of Battlestar Galactica

Today’s 5 quick questions will be from Nicki Clyne the Canadian born actress who played Cally Henderson on Battlestar Galactica, whom I was lucky enough to interview Sunday morning at the con. She was definitely in my opinion the surprise fan favorite of the con, stealing the show at the Battlestar Galactica panel with her articulate thoughts on femininity in the Battlestar Galactica universe, her character and the show in general.

The day before the interview Nicki had ran into our very own Bianca, and upon seeing my card when I introduced myself recognized the blog and asked about the girl she had met the day before, and told me to tell her she said “hi”. The fact that she remembered these kinds of details at a con of all places really struck me as thoughtful. Whereas I lost my car Friday night.

After the jump check out her great interview.

1. How did you get the role of Cally on Battlestar Galactica?

Besides bribing the directors and producers? I just auditioned for it like every other part that I have done. But at the time I had no idea what Battlestar Galactica was, and certainly not what it was to become. You know I don’t think any of us did, so I just thought it was just another Sci-Fi TV show like the many they film in Vancouver which is where I’m from. I auditioned with the director and I guess I did a good job. So yeah that’s how that happened.

2. Was it a bit intimidating working with such acting heavyweights as Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell so early in your career?

I think it could have been, but Mary McDonnell and Edward James Olmos are the most humble and generous people let alone actors I have ever met. So even if there were preconceived notions at the beginning they were quickly laid to rest when we started working, because they are so down to earth and well rounded. I think they set the tone for the whole cast, and I think that is partly why we got along so well and felt like a family.

3. How do you feel about Cally’s evolution as a character from the beginning of the show to the finale?

Well looking back now, I think it’s really interesting to think about the writer’s process. Because I certainly had no idea of where it was going, what was going to happen. Initially my character was on the periphery just this kind of the innocent playful mechanic, and it definitely didn’t turn out that way in the end. I was grateful every step of the way to go deeper and learn the complexities of the character and how she related to everyone. I was thrilled the whole way.

4. What were you feelings when Cally died?

Yeah, I mean it’s obviously never a happy moment to die in any regard, but I think the writers did an amazing job of making sense of it and upholding the character. It was a beautiful episode. The director and I talked a lot about symbolism, he’s very artistic so we got to play around with the visual effects in that way. I was really excited as an actor to get to do that.

5. What was your favorite part about working on Battlestar Galactica?

Oh goodness there are so many, I would have to say my favorite part about working on the show is what I learned about myself in the process. It was almost 5 years and like going through school. When I get to reflect back on what I was like on the mini-series and what that experience was like how I was, I feel like I was so different. Then we would have a hiatus and get to come back and be like “Oh my god it different again!”. We have all grown and we’re all building with each other to create this thing so the system of it and the relationships I built are invaluable to me. I think every convention I go to my experience deepens of what it really meant to be on the show.

If you enjoyed this interview check out her blog here for more of Nicki’s thoughts and insights unlike most celebrity blogs this appears to be by Nicki.