SciFi Now Italy – Translated Interview And Photo Scans

Huge thank you to Matthew for providing us with the photo scans and who was a huge help with the interview translation! Larger versions of the photo scans can be found in our gallery.

Fringe is now in the fourth season of mystery and otherworldly characters who belong to other worlds, the paranormal and occult sciences. This is a well-calibrated mix of ingredients that gave birth to one of the most intriguing television projects over the last ten years. But what do you think is due to the popularity of this series?

I can’t explain the reasons behind the success of Fringe. I think a lot depends on the fact that the series isn’t specifically fantasy, sci-fi or horror, but a series that has managed to bring together the worlds “crazy” problems with the lives and emotions of the characters and especially focusing on their relationships. Such as in the second season, where the relationship between father and son is explored: this allows people to empathize with the characters. I think Fringe is a well-built show that all can enjoy, but I never imagined all this success.

Olivia Dunham is a complex character that has been evolving for three years, and is now part of you. But how much is she a part of you? And how has she influenced your life?

It’s funny because I think that Olivia is very composed and serious and also travels the world far and wide, which I don’t. A very exciting time for me was the end of the second season, when we moved to the parallel universe to meet our Alt-selves. Almost the entire third season is set in the parallel universe, where we met two “Olivias” and I had to work hard to find a balance between the old and the new Olivia.

How did you get the part on Fringe? How did you become part of this team?

I was in Australia and I went to Los Angeles after receiving a call asking me to attend an online audition of the character of Olivia. I had already auditioned for other shows, and I was very lucky because I met a casting director who already knew me and knew how I acted. It was with a lovely man with whom I had one of the most relaxing auditions of my life. I returned to Australia and the next morning they phoned to tell me that I got the part. The next day I flew to Los Angeles where I met JJ Abrams, who was filming Star Trek and I was escorted on to the set as if he were the commander of the Enterprise. We started shooting the pilot two days later, it was all very fast. From then on, my life changed.

Fringe is without doubt the most successful series of 2011, and inherits to some extent the success of another great TV show: X-Files. Two different and original stories, but with so many points of contact that sometimes overlap. What are the differences between Dana Scully and Olivia Dunham?

First, each time someone associates Fringe with X-Files: I consider it a great compliment. I think that the differences between Scully and Olivia are considerable. My view is that Scully is much more elegant than Olivia, who tends to be more like a city girl. Scully is also the most objective and knows how to take hold of the situation, while Olivia is always asking the opinions of other team members.  In Fringe, many stories in the series are closely related to events that happen to Olivia or Peter.

At the time of X-Files, fans waited anxiously for the episode in which Mulder and Scully kissed. The same happened with Fringe: What impact do you think the intimacy between Peter and Olivia has had on the public?

I think it  pleases the public that Olivia and Peter are together. I believe that it was something inevitable, but it took time before the two kissed. Also, were not easy because of the major obstacles they faced and that also delayed the moment,  for instance embarrassing situations such as sitting at the kitchen table talking with Walter about his actions when Olivia was a child. Then in the third season, when everything seems to start working out between them, suddenly Peter and Olivia are catapulted into the parallel universe and things are more complicated again and not just for their love story.

What did you think when you hear about having to split the third season of the series?

I had always played our Olivia seriously, no family, only laughing slightly, and then when I read the script in the parallel universe that we were going to meet our doubles, for me it was like going to the moon, I was enthusiastic about the idea as were all of us, because it was big news for the series and I think it’s given an extra boost to the story.

A big responsibility: the hectic times of the set, wearing the clothes of Olivia and then undress and putting on those of the second Olivia, perhaps without the necessary time to assimilate into either characters. What was the hardest part of this “split”?

I think the real difficulty was precisely to play a character totally different. But eventually I realized that the two “Olivias” do the exact same work and also have the same kind of friendships. They are very similar even with their differences, which only exist because of their experiences, this is the only reason why the two characters are different. Our Olivia is honest, serious and tries to always be the best. The other Olivia is very competitive and tries to win by any means. Therefore, this changes the way they do their job.

Do you think Alt Olivia has any qualities that Olivia would like to have had?

Yes, to not be so sad.  In the third season we had the opportunity to observe the characters back and forth between parallel universes, but the two have completely different points of view and different objectives. They have had different experiences and act differently, I can say that the two characters are completely opposite points of view. The Olivia of this universe takes it all very seriously, as a matter of honor, while the other Olivia is maybe a little more cowardly.

In the second series we have seen Olivia “repressed” that somehow never managed to find a point of contact with her emotions. In the third you have two versions of Olivia and one of them is much more free to let go of her emotions, has this change been positive for you?

Yes, I think that to interpret another Olivia was a great opportunity. It helped me a lot in my professional growth.  The other Olivia is very dynamic, able to take things more lightly, is not completely devoted to her duty, nor is she left conditioned by what she must do every day. I love the first Olivia, but the other Olivia gave me the opportunity to prove myself on the set in the third season.

What can you anticipate or plan for the fourth season? The latest rumors say many things, Seth Gabel will play an FBI agent in the alternate universe …

Yes, in fact I am very excited for this, he is a wonderful man and a talented actor. It will give an extra boost to the series and working together will definitely be fun. Unfortunately I do not know much about the fourth season, or can even pretend to know after the revelations from the end of the third.

In the episodes, there were sixty-five different topics, which do you find most fascinating?

I tend to prefer the episodes where there is magic. In the first season I found myself traveling in bad dreams and memories of Olivia, now I love the episodes where they are in the parallel universe.

There is an episode in the third series in which the spirit of William Bell moves into the body of Olivia. Was there difficulty in interpreting a male role?

It was difficult because it seemed to be “wrong” to Leonard Nimoy, who is a great man and a talented actor and I did not want to make fun of him or misinterpret his character. I was pretty terrified. He noticed that and then helped me by giving me suggestions. The problem was also his accent being American and I’m Australian, so that wasn’t easy to overcome. I was very frightened too, I do not think I’ve ever been more tense than in those episodes.

You would never have expected this development at the beginning of the series?

No. I didn’t know what to expect when I started working on this series, but it has exceeded all my expectations, especially after seeing how the seasons get better. Also the writers have always been attentive to the judgments of our fans and I think that Fringe can evolve and get better and better and I don’t think that’s something that happens to all television series.

How do you see your career after Fringe? So you are planning to continue working on the series or want to go into movies?

I have no idea what will happen after Fringe. At the moment I am very happy and satisfied with the work I am doing. It’s funny because I saw the series grow from the first season to date and it gives a great satisfaction, because it was tough. It was my first experience in a job that was so demanding and exhausting, but I’m really happy.