Roxanne McKee & Tom Wisdom – Dominion

By starrymag | July 10, 2014

Q) Roxanne, can you talk about what originally drew you to the project?

Roxanne: So when I read the script, gosh way back, ages ago now, I just thought it was a really interesting script. I thought the concept was really interesting, the ideology behind it. And I thought the part of Claire had a lot of room to grow. And I wanted to play a strong female character and Claire definitely fitted that bill. And I think the writers’ vision, Vaun’s vision and Scott our original director and now producer, was one of real strength for a female character, which was a really big deal to me. And when I discussed that with them in the audition, when I got my recall, we were all on the same page. We were thinking sort of more Princess Leah than Princess Sparkle, if that makes sense.

Q) So do you have a favorite scene that you can talk about?

Roxanne: Wow, do you know what that’s funny because somebody asked me that last night on Twitter. And I have quite a few favorite scenes but my slight problem is it might affect – well it might be a spoiler. I’m trying to think if I can give you something…Look, working with Chris was just fantastic. So everything with him was just lovely. We work in a very similar way; we’re both quite serious on set, and then off set not at all. And he comes really well prepared. And we’ve both really thought about it. And we would get together and have coffee, and you know, go out together and stuff. We became really close. So all scenes with him were just really enjoyable. And we both got really excited when we were working together. Luke Allen-Gale is completely different dynamic and so it’s always a pleasure to work with him as well. There’s something very interesting about working with him also because of the nature of his character, the fact that he switches so quickly in scenes from being William Whele, who is just that sort of very gentle soul, and certainly with Claire, to being somebody who is – who has a lot going on, deep down behind the eyes, all that sort of thing. And then Anthony Head was just an absolute joy. Anthony Head is the complete opposite of his on-screen character. His on-screen character is obviously, a sly old devil. I shouldn’t use the word devil, not with this series — he’s not the devil. But I did find him as well – he’s a pleasure to work with because he’s great to learn from. And he’s very in the moment, so you really feel like you’re just talking to David Whele, which is just obviously fabulous. So you can lose yourself in it. But in terms of scenes, my favorite scene, it’s coming up but it’s not until, I think it’s possibly Episode 7 or 6. So you’re going to have to wait quite a while. And I think it’s with Amy Bailey. I think that would possibly be my favorite. But you’re making me pick favorites and that’s like making a mother choose between her children. I just want to get that out there.

Q) I was wondering if you added anything to this character that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

Roxanne: I mean every actor will add stuff to the character, even if it’s a certain tone. But yes, Vaun’s just a very intelligent writer and he really works with the actors in terms of getting the best dialogue onto the screen. So, we did change things around and talk to him about how we felt our character would say something or do something. And also you have a personal – as an actor, you always have a personal feeling of where you’re going with the character, that you don’t let on to everyone else. And it’s funny because in the pilot Scott and Vaun gave us all a secret to hold on to and we weren’t allowed to tell anyone, so a secret for the character. I can’t tell you what that is. And those secrets sometimes change. But it was very nice to have that because obviously people just in life in general have secrets inside of them and that affects the way they talk to other people. So with that in mind, that definitely affected the way we acted certain scenes. And other characters wouldn’t necessarily understand why that was the way it was, which is great because you feed off of that.

Q) Did the chemistry between the cast come instant or did you spend some time to bond together?

Roxanne: Definitely with Chris [Egan] and myself it came instantly. Luke Allen-Gale, I mean I slept with him on the plane on the first night. I had to be very careful how I worded that; I was just about to say, “I slept with him on the first night.” But I slept next to him on the plane. We had seats together. And so we chatted the whole way across South Africa and giggled and whatnot. So we had a very close bond quite quickly. And then Chris and myself, we just hit it off instantly — I’m clicking in the background, that’s what that noise is — you know right from the get-go. And we went for coffee and chatted and divulged information about our personal experiences growing up and all the rest of it, that possibly you wouldn’t talk about to people that you just met. But because we knew we had to have a bond and a history with each other I think it was some sort of subconscious need to bond and to fill something, to give each other information and detail and build texture within our relationship. So yes, we became quite close quite quickly.

Q) You both are a part of social networking so how have you enjoyed the instant feedback, during the episodes, with fans and the interaction with them?

Roxanne: Do you know what? I think it’s absolutely fantastic. I wasn’t on any social media at one point. I’ve never been on Facebook and MySpace and all of those other things, and Instagram and all the rest of it. But it was – a friend of mine, Stamie, who was in The Real L Word, we were at a convention together and she said, “No, you’ve got to get on this,” and so she set me up. Her and her girlfriend (Tracy) set me up on Twitter at, yes an L Word convention — I was there because I did another show in the U.K. And I found it the best tool for talking to people and getting reactions and forming bonds with the fans and whatnot. And I think it’s really, really important. And I just think it’s nice, you know? It adds a touch of closeness. And I don’t know whether I’m biased, but I think the people who follow me are so funny and witty that I just enjoy it on a personal level. So I want to interact with everyone. You feel like you’ve made new friends. And it’s obviously not the same as friends that the tangible friends that you have in your life, but it’s just on a different medium. And it’s really nice. I totally understand why people build relationships via social networking sites because it’s a lot of fun and you do feel like you’re gaining an understanding and an insight into peoples’ lives. And it’s obviously not the same as friends that the tangible friends that you have in your life, but it’s just on a different medium. And it’s really nice. I totally understand why people build relationships via social networking sites because it’s a lot of fun and you do feel like you’re gaining an understanding and an insight into peoples’ lives. I want to be able to sort of give people a little bit more information about the show and whatever it is that I’m doing. So and just have a laugh.

Tom: It’s been really good. It’s been really unusual for me because I’m only on Twitter. And I’m not a big Tweeter but it’s really been really fascinating. It’s great to be able to show your appreciation for people who’ve bothered to watch and who seem to be really into it and enjoying it. It’s really fun seeing their responses and it’s fun interacting with them.

Q) It seems like from the first two episodes that romances of very complicated natures are going to be a pretty major feature in the show. And I was wondering if both of you could talk about what we could expect to see coming on that side of things?

Tom: Well yes, Michael has a very odd relationship with Rosalind’s character, Becca Thorn. And something that he’s very afraid of is if – because he’s quite partial to his human women, whether he’d be able to – whether there’d be a child involved. And that would be his worst nightmare because that would be a Nephilim and that would be some kind of weird half-angel/half-human baby, which is his biggest fear. And I think he kind of loathes himself for having this desire for human women. But at the same time he just can’t quite stop himself. I mean he just is fascinated by the way they feel and the way they sense things, and everything that he doesn’t really have in his angel life, I think.

Roxanne: Michael’s a player.

Tom: No, he just wants to feel something.

Roxanne: I mean yes, hugely complicated for Claire. Alex, Chris’ character, is obviously the love of her life and it’s an awakening for her. And it’s her first love and everything seems so perfect at the beginning. And then this is just very much a coming of age time for Claire. And I think Alex is her first experience in every way; her first love, her first intimate relationship, blah-blah-blah, and all the rest of it. And then she realizes that there’s bigger things than her love. And so gosh, I don’t know whether I’m going to be giving away spoilers, but ultimately Claire has to make a decision between true love and the greater good. And that could be a second class love, a love that’s a friendship and something that’s close and strong and protective, but not passionate and not soul-mate love. And obviously if anyone’s been in that situation, it’s incredibly difficult. And yes, and I think that’s the situation that she’s in. Also the love of her people and her father and making sure that she’s doing the right thing. It’s incredibly complicated for her. Because I think she’s intrinsically good, but she’s only human at the end of the day. Your body wants what your body wants. So yes, it’s tough.

Q) So one of the themes about the show is faith and losing faith. You both have faith, it seems, in your characters. Tom, Michael has faith in humanity. And Roxanne has faith in the religion and the child. Kind of talk about why do you think your characters have this faith?

Roxanne: Claire’s faith, she’s – it’s been instilled in her that – to be good. And I’m repeating myself slightly from the previous question, but think about the greater good. And I think she’s lived quite a sheltered life. She’s been protected by her father. And things seem pretty good for her. Although she’s been brought up in an environment where there is destruction on the outside and obviously the world has been through this huge change and we’re 25 years in the future and God’s deserted us and all the rest of it, she has still lived a very sheltered, comfortable life. And I do think people in general who live in a very comfortable capacity are given the luxury of reading and education. And so I think Claire has that and she’s read about the world. And she sees things in a very hopeful way. Things feel very positive for her so the idea of the chosen one is hope and represents goodness and possibility and happiness. And I think when you come from that sort of background you naturally feel positive and bright about the future. And she’s got all the education at her fingertips and so she wants to preach that to other people as well, to instill some sort of positive vibe within the rest of humanity. So yes, I think that’s why she is the way that she is.

Tom: Wow. And Michael, his faith in humanity because he sees their inherent goodness. And I mean he’s the opposite to Gabriel who’s hell-bent on destroying the human race and thinks that they’ve destroyed the Earth and are hell-bent on destruction and don’t give a damn about nature. Whereas Michael is the exact opposite. He sees all the goodness and the – he has complete belief that they can turn things around. And you know, there’s just a few bad apples, but essentially humanity, the human race is good.

Q) Claire, has had this sheltered upbringing and you have known William since childhood. Now, do you think that Claire believes he is truly in love with her or is it more of a political move? And then do you think, besides that, do you think his character really feels he’s in love with you, or is it strictly a political move?

Roxanne: I think that Claire hasn’t thought about whether or not William’s in love with her. But I think there comes a point – she feels a real connection with him. They have a real closeness and they have a strong friendship. They’ve grown up together. And she admires him. She sees him as a man of the cloth, so to speak, someone who has faith and who is good. So she cares about him greatly and she sees him as the opposite of his father. And so I think his warmth towards her, certainly she believes that he truly cares for her. Then when the idea of love is brought forward I don’t think that she has any reason to question that because of the way that he’s always behaved towards her. But I don’t – I think initially she doesn’t want to feel that it’s that feeling when you don’t feel quite the same as somebody else but you really care about them and you don’t want to hurt them in any way. She doesn’t want to lead him on at first, and make him feel that this is the real true emphatic love that she has with Alex. But it’s something else, like a really intimate friendship bond that they have. And so I do think that she feels he believes he’s in love with her. And she believes that he’s speaking the truth. And then from her point of view it is obviously more of a political move, although she does care about him very much. But she’s honest with him. She’s honest from the start. And then you said, “Do you think that he feels that she’s in love with him?” I think he knows. She tells him the truth. But I think he feels like he’ll be able to win her ’round because they have this fantastic friendship. And always when you do love someone you have hope, don’t you? You do hope that you can win someone around. And that’s human nature.

Q) Tom, you mentioned before about the problem with having a child with a human woman would be the Nephilim. Now as the angel that is working on the side of humanity, are there any other angels, any other angel brethren that are working with you? And does that limit your relationships if you can’t have this relationship with a human woman, would you be able to have one with an angel that is a female?

Tom: I’m sure I would be able to. But I mean, Michael appears to be the only one who’s standing up for the human race. And he’s, you know he’s decided to live on Earth. And he – that’s him done, I mean that’s his choice being made. So the chances of him having a relationship with another angel are very slim because of that so.

Q) But that makes his relationship with Becca even more important or he’d be completely alone then. That’s kind of sad.

Tom: It is quite sad. I imagine he spends a lot of time loathing himself and not sleeping. But I’m pretty torn up about it.

Q) What would the problem with the Nephilim be? I mean would they be destructive or would they be unpredictable? What would be the problem if there was this human/angel hybrid?

Tom: I knew you were going to ask me that. I don’t know the exact ins and outs of that question. That’s a question for Vaun I think. But I just know that Michael thinks it’s very bad.

Q) Tom, will we see more of a backstory on Michael or his private side as we move forward?

Tom: Yes, Vaun’s done a great job. I think yes, there will – you will – things will be revealed about Michael’s past. And it’s – I mean it’s a long past, 1000 years. So there definitely will be. Yes, there will be

Roxanne: And it’s really exciting, it is.

Tom: There are some quite surprising things that come out.

Q) Roxanne, it was mentioned before that you – the thing you liked about Claire was that she had such a – it was a strong female character. And it seems like that she has been a little bit on her pedestal. So will she be more involved in moving forward in the ruling or in the people?

Roxanne: Again, without giving too much away, because obviously there’s spoilers, Claire goes through a huge growth process mentally. And so you really do get to see You really get to see the change from – yes, the change from sort of a young girl full of innocence and hope to a young woman full of strength and tenacity. I mean it’s been an amazing character for me to play, and very real. A very realistic character. So, yes. I mean there’s a lot in store for Claire. And again, like Tom just said, quite shocking stuff as well. Like perhaps people will be surprised from Episode 1, the girl in Episode 1 who was tearful, and sort of just one thing to live with the love of her life by the end of the series. There’s quite a striking difference. And I think that’s the interesting thing about the series. I mean all the characters go through, you know, big changes from the pilot to the end of the series. And natural changes; I mean you will see the progression happening. It’s not like it just comes out of the blue. Although well, it does for some. Some have secrets that are quite shocking. with Claire, I don’t think it’s so much about secrets, I think it’s more about a growth process. And I feel like Claire is the only one that’s really good at the moment, who really has goodness inside of her. But yes, I mean anyway, it moves.

Q) Dominion following the mythology of Legion. Like specifically, Tom, a lot of Michael’s mannerisms are very similar to Paul Bettany as Michael in Legion. Yes. And had you seen it? both characters are very calm, soft spoken, even when you can tell there’s fire inside the character. Was that a direction that Vaun wanted you to go or was that something that you felt was really who the character was?

Tom: I think that kind of I think came from me reading the script and just my take on it I guess. I mean Scott was involved with the pilot too, that directed Legion. And Scott directed the pilot. I would never copy another actor. I mean I did see Legion early on. And I think Paul’s a great actor. But I certainly haven’t tried to base Michael on him in any way. I mean as far as I’m concerned, it’s my interpretation of it. And I love playing the part. We had discussion about it, but it was pretty much left up to me really. And I guess you just take what you can from the text and the dialogue and what comes out comes out from who you are. And maybe they saw, I don’t know, something in me that obviously they liked for the character of Michael. So perhaps the two combined? Yes, maybe there’s something in that, yes.

Q) Michael as compared to Gabriel, you can really see the love for humanity in him. He’s not strident, that he’s not pushing. Whereas Gabriel really is pushing his view. Even if it wasn’t intentional, that anybody who enjoyed Legion and is watching Dominion because of that as opposed to people who just came to the show because it’s interesting can follow the development of the same character.

Tom: Yes. And I mean I had thought about it being 25 years later as well and how it would be for him living in that society for 25 years, living with humans. That seems pretty tough, and all their vices and all the political shenanigans that go on. And I think it’s really interesting that his relationship with Gabriel and how different they are, and how Gabriel really is absolutely adamant that the reason God has disappeared is because of the way humanity has behaved. And Michael is absolutely – doesn’t believe that and I think is very – pretty self-assured in that. But perhaps at some point that may get – that may shift.

Q) Tom, can you talk about the process of getting to fly; the effects, the wire work, green screen, stuff like that?

Tom: Yes, I love doing all that stuff. If it’s again green screen, which a lot of it was I’d where a harness underneath my costume and then I’d get attached to a rig which the stunt guys had taken hours and hours to put up. And then that’s attached to a crane. And we work at various speeds until we’re happy with the speed and that it looks realistic. And then if we have effects people from the effects company SPIN on set, who are deciding whether it looks natural and whether we can use it and where the wings are going to be and – because they’re all added in afterwards. And there’s lots of different types of flying, which you’ll see throughout the show. I mean there was one very cool set up where I’m really, really high on top of the crane, kind of almost upside down on location, and then just flying down and swooping at pretty fast speed directly over the camera. And it was really, really nerve-wracking. But I have got used to it and I really looked forward to doing it. And I think I was scared of heights but I don’t – I’m not sure I am anymore.

Q) For both of you, other than the flying, what do you find the most challenging?

Roxanne: I’m deadly serious. I cannot work with Tom Wisdom without watching, it’s awful and embarrassing and shameful. But yes, amusing at the same time. He’s honestly the worst person for – yes, making you laugh. So yes, that’s what I find the most difficult.

Tom: I didn’t expect you to say that. Thanks. I was going to say something serious about using my left hand to swordfight with. That’s really hard; two swords.

Roxanne: Using your left hand for what

Tom: People do seem to have that problem, who work with me, don’t they? I think it’s just that I just keep a very straight face and very much glare at people and it makes them laugh.

Roxanne: Yes, what he does is he does like a little tiny corner smile with his mouth and that’s – it’s just the worse because – it’s good and bad all at the same time, it’s very funny, and evil.

Tom: The whipping scene with Chris Egan was not quite how you saw it on camera.

Q) Tom, you mentioned the sword fighting. Did you have to do some training to kind of fight the way angels do sort of thing?

Tom: Yes. There’s a really great stunt team in Cape Town called Pyranha Stunts and I worked with them. We started I guess a couple of weeks before. But we really didn’t have very long at all compared to when I did the film 300 we trained for two months before we started filming. And using two swords, we really – it was pretty brief. So they were amazing to be able to choreograph the scenes and get to a point where it made me look like I could kind of sword fight really. I think it’s all down to them, not me. I think they should take the credit for that. But so we – with very little training they managed to make it look pretty good I think, or very good. Yes.

Q) Roxanne, I like the way she dresses, Claire dresses, even the flowers in her hair in the pilot and everything. Do you have a say as to what outfit she wears?

Roxanne: Absolutely not. I mean I would say Clair dresses very differently to the way that I dress. But she – because I dress like a boy. But she – yes, I mean it’s very right for the character. But no, we have our wardrobe department. On the pilot it was a lovely woman called Magali and then after that it was a lovely guy called (Neil). So and then Vaun obviously has input, and Scott had a lot of input. So and the flowers in the hair are down to Kerry, the makeup artist actually. So but I think Claire’s wardrobe changes hugely as her character starts to change, which is great because that’s a reality as well. She becomes a lot sharper, less girly, more sophisticated, maybe more Robin Wright-Penn, less sort of the girl – the – I don’t know, I’m thinking of Robin Wright-Penn’s character in Forrest Gump now — the hippy with flowers in her hair. But yes, so yes, goes from that to more House of Cards I guess.

Q) And it has like a nice undercurrent of ancient Rome in there too, which I think is really cool.

Roxanne: We’ve got great sets. And you’re right, and there is a political feel. And that’s fantastic for us as well, to explore. Just as an actor, it’s good to have sort of different things going on and not just a love story or not just a killing, or you know whatever, it’s – there’s a lot going on.

Q) Tom, what are your personal beliefs on angels and the afterlife and angelic beings? Did your faith have any input on how you played this character of Michael?

Tom: No, I don’t think so. I saw him as a character written upon the page and I tried to apply what was in the script and what we talked about before we started. And I don’t think my views on religion or anything like that had really any bearing. I mean I try to play him for who he is and what he stands for and what he believes as opposed to what I believe.

Q) Do you personally believe in angels?

Tom: I believe that there are people who are extra special and who help people and who seem like prophets, I mean I guess. But do I believe in angels coming down from heaven? Well then yes, why not? Yes.

Roxanne: I think this is a really interesting question. I am not religions, but I’d say I’m spiritual. And I certainly believe that the human brain isn’t – we use such a small percentage of our brain that I believe that if we used more of it or could but we don’t have the capacity to, that there is the possibility that we could see other things, that there are other things around us but because we can’t comprehend it because we’re humans living in this time using 7% of our brain matter or whatever it is, or 3% or 10%, I know it’s around that figure. I believe that we feel like we know everything. I feel like people believe that if they can’t comprehend something it’s not there, and the reality is the world’s a changing place and I just think that you should be open. I think you should be open to other peoples’ beliefs and judgments and feelings. And I believe that people have different realities. And I don’t believe we’re perfect or fully formed in any way, or have the capacity to understand everything that has gone before us and will come after us. So in that respect I’m very open-minded. Do I go to church? No, but I think that religion is something different to spirituality. And I feel that if someone follows a religious path then that’s up to them. And I think that’s a good thing if they’re a good human being and that is reflected in a good way on their life and others. So yes, that’s my view on it. And as far as Claire’s concerned, I believe she’s on her own spiritual path. And I believe she maybe doesn’t have the strength, or perhaps ego, to teach it in the way that William does. But she certainly believes in something greater and better than her. And I think I do too.

Q) Part of what makes Dominion scary for me is it goes against what I was raised as far as what angels are and their relationship with humans. So in that way, I think it’s very effective. And I’m always curious as to how people take their personal beliefs and apply it the story.

Roxanne: You’re right, it is interesting. And I actually had this conversation with a friend of mine who’s an actress who does believe in angels. And she’s desperate to be on the show. And I’m not going to say who she is because at some stage she might be, I know she’s auditioning for it. And what I said to her, and similar to what I said to you is, “I believe everyone has a choice.” And depending on your background and your education and all the rest of it, you learn to feel what you want to feel and believe in what you want to believe in, and I think that’s great. And I think as long as you’re following – you’re trying to be the best that you can be to yourself and to other people around you, that’s what’s important. And I think that angels is a word, you know? It’s a man-made word, so for all we know this spirit, this entity whatever angels are, it could be something else, you know? And like I say, it’s just a man-made word so you can apply whatever theory, or you know, feeling you have to that, whether it be good or bad.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*