Katee Sackhoff (of Battlestar Galactica fame) has been filming the new Riddick movie for what feels like forever. Finally we are getting close to its release, and in getting close to its release we are getting more information about the film, the characters, and (most excitingly, in my book at least) about Sackhoff’s role.
She talked with Collider about her audition experience, her character, her childhood sci-fi heroine, and being one of the most badass women in sci-fi. Some choice quotes under the cut.
When talking about her history with science fiction (in particular, women in science fiction), Sackhoff had this to say about women’s representation and her favorite heroines growing up:
I’m sure it’s the same one everyone says and that’s Ripley [from Alien]. Linda Hamilton I loved growing up, but there’s such a small handful of them. The first movie my dad ever showed me was Predator — I was five. And I think the second one was Jaws. I’ve has this understanding of fiction for a very, very long time but I’ve also had this thing where I’ve idolized the male action heroes because that’s what I watched with my dad…I grew up idolizing these male action figures and then slowly there were a couple women in there, but there’s still not a lot.
Amen to that.
So is there a hint of our beloved strong-female-action-hero Starbuck in Sackhoff’s new character, “Dahl”?
I think there’s a little bit of her. Because there’s a little bit of me in all of the characters I’ve played. I’ve never really had the opportunity to play something that’s a complete departure from me yet. I am definitely a lot more girly that the characters that I play, but there’s a lot of big differences between Starbuck and Dahl. Starbuck is extremely juvenile and she was very immature and she kind of grew up in that show. Dahl is very mature, very much a woman. My backstory, DT [David Twohy] and I pretty much made it up but she was thrust into a situation where she grew up really fast. She’s kind of been taking care of herself for a while and she’s extremely confident. Starbuck was confident to mask her insecurities, there’s not an insecure bone in Dahl. She’s by far the toughest, most deadly character I’ve ever played. There’s not a moment where this woman would shed a tear, and not because she doesn’t feel like it but because there’s nothing that would make her cry.
When it comes to her part in Riddick, Sackhoff had an interesting time through her audition process. While waiting to hear whether or not she got the part, Sackhoff got a call:
I just happened to check my phone because I was dating this new guy and I was kind of hoping we has texting me. And my phone was off — and the asshole never texted me by the way – but I digress. But my agent’s brand new assistant did, or my manager’s assistant, and she’s like, “Anne McCarthy’s calling and you have an audition right now.” I was like, “It’s 10:30, really?” And she was like, “Yeah. You gotta go. Are your scenes ready?” And I was like, “Yeah. My face mask is on and I’m in my pajamas. Okay, let me call my manager.” I called my manager and my agents and nobody’s answering. I was like, “I need to go.” But I had to make this decision on my own because I couldn’t get a hold of anyone.
So, of course, she did what any one of us would probably do:
I called my mom at 11 o’clock at night and I’m like, “Mommy, all the producers, Vin [Diesel] and Anne Mccarthy — the casting director — are at Vin’s house and they’re doing this thing. I need to go but I can’t get a hold of anybody. Should I go?” And she’s like, “Get your ass out of bed and call me in an hour.” And I was like, “Okay.” So I put on dirty jeans and left my pajama top on and wiped my face mask off while I was driving to Vin’s house.
Suffice to say, it was a good thing she got out of bed that night. The Battlestar actress got the part and is now continuing her streak of playing strong, ass-kicking ladies on the big and little screen. So what of her future in the genre? Does she want out of the sci-fi world?
I have the career I have because of science fiction, and that’s what people want to see me do. I would be stupid to not do it. I don’t take myself that seriously, I’m taking the piss out of myself. I can’t really beat up guys, it’s fun! This genre gave me my job and I’ll do it until they don’t want to see me do it anymore. Let’s be honest, once I’m 40 they’re gonna be like, “She can’t do this anymore.” And then I’ll go do the other stuff.
Considering her incredible performance in Battlestar and the new Riddick movie, I don’t think she’s going anywhere.
(via Collider)
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