Q: How quickly did you know when it was going to end?
A: I think I knew from before the writer's strike hit - at the end of Season 3. I knew that Ron had gone to the network and said, "I want a two year pick-up" - in the way that J.J. Abrams had got for Lost. He wanted five seasons, and they said they were unable to guarantee a two-year pick-up, so at that point he chose to guarantee a four - and end it in four - and the network were shocked. They said, "Why are you going to do that?" And he said, "I need to end the show. I need to do this right. I need to do it in the time frame that I understand before we get there. And not be caught short and having to wrap everything up in an hour special.' So we knew very early that it was going to be four seasons and out. But then the writer's strike through a spanner in the works.
Q: Why was that?
A: Because when we wrapped episode 4:13, there was a real chance we would never come back to finish the show. If the writer's strike had gone on much longer, I think it would've been impossible to make it work financially to come back and finish it, and that would've been the end. So it became slightly anxious there for a bit.
Q: Did it make it easier, knowing the end was in sight, playing your character?
A: Well, it certainly upped the stakes. When you realise this is the last time you'll have a scene on this set or with this character, there's a certain importance that that scene carries then that concentrates the mind. You watch a tennis match and a potential match point is played with much more urgency - and normally better - than the first point in the match. And that's just the way it is.
Q: Are you surprised the show hasn't won any writing or directing Emmys, given how much critical acclaim it has?
A: No, I'm not surprised. Those award shows are famously predictable in terms of who they choose to honour. To be surprised would be slightly naïve about it. I do think there are gaping omissions within the awards that have been given. I think Mary McDonnell should've won an Emmy. I think Bear McCreary should've won an Emmy. I think Ron Moore definitely should've won an Emmy. And those I don't think are controversial statements. I think a lot of people in America, within the industry, would agree with me. But the Emmys are famously geared up to celebrate the big four networks and they never really see genre material as award-worthy. But that doesn't really bother me. It's not something any of us are really upset by. I think the Sci-Fi network and NBC-Universal have been quite put-out by it, because they've got this hugely critically acclaimed show and it can't garner anything in the mainstream awards. But we did win a Peabody award, which is arguably more significant than an Emmy.
Q: Have you taken the step of going to fan conventions?
A: I went to my first convention about four years ago. I haven't been to one for over a year, but I'm going to do one in Paris. It's a great opportunity to travel, to go to places and meet people you wouldn't otherwise meet. The fact is this show is going to be discovered by people for many years to come. And I feel very excited by that prospect. And I know that the people who do the evangelising are the hardcore fans and they're so engaged in it. They watch the DVDs on a regular basis in a way I will watch every episode once. It's all fading now in my mind - but it's still very visceral and real to them. They've embraced it and championed it and it's a real privilege to give them a bit of my insight.
Issue: 133 | February, 2012