 
For my first few weeks, I just looked around in wonderment at this impressive little machine ticking along every day. They shoot an amazing amount of pages every day with little or no effort. Everyone has a lovely attitude and seems to actually want to be there. A lot of people could learn from the professionalism displayed on this set.
And as for treating me like one of the family? If you're talking about teasing me incessantly -- thanks, David -- then, yes.
GW: We saw briefly in "First Strike" some interaction between Keller and Dr. Weir. Can you give us any insight into her working relationships with any of the other crew members? Colonel Carter? McKay? Ronon and Teyla?
Keller and Teyla must work together to stay alive in "Missing." | |
JS: Carter and Keller have a connection because they're both new and proving themselves a little bit. In the episode we're filming now, "Trio," they actually become friends. They're each out of their comfort zones and they start to open up about their personal lives, which is a lot of fun.
Amanda Tapping is hilarious, and I have a very tough time looking her in the eye during a scene without laughing. McKay and Keller have a good-natured argument every once in a while, but they have a mutual respect for each other, too. There's definitely a friendship developing there.
Teyla and Keller's relationship has a chance to develop a lot in the episode "Missing." They find themselves in some dire situations there and have no choice but to bond. And Rachel Luttrell and I get along ridiculously well.
As far as Ronon goes, I think it's safe to say Keller has a wee bit of a crush on him. Because she has, you know ... eyes.
GW: We know in "Missing" that Keller and Teyla are on the run from a group of primitives on New Athos. Can you share any details about the episode itself or its production? It seems to be a more action-based episode than what the character of Keller will be used to.
JS: It was a pretty difficult episode to shoot, mainly because we were outside for the entirety of it, and battling the elements along with performing stunts and being terrified for our lives. But I was excited about it, too. Because this is the first episode that found Keller way out of her comfort zone. And it's where she really starts to show her true colors!
We did some pretty intense stuff involving a rope bridge in the first week where I became intimately acquainted with a harness -- which, if you've never worn one, is kind of like having a wedgie in about six different places.
It was cold, the days were long, and we never seemed to stop moving. Rachel and I carpooled to work together every day, and then worked side-by-side for 12 hours, and then drove home together again. So it's safe to say we bonded in a major way. She's great! She has a wicked sense of humor and is the only girl I know who is still smiling after the fifth hour of doing roundhouse kicks while in a tight leather jacket and a corset. She's a bad-ass!
GW: Well, with two huge sci-fi hits in your curriculum vitae, do you ever fear being typecast?
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Season Four will present new and interesting challenges for the team. |
JS: Not really. I'm very conscious of the parts I choose and I select everything I do very carefully. I've done a lot of other things in my career besides sci-fi, but I'm drawn to interesting characters, first and foremost. Granted, Firefly and Atlantis both fall into the sci-fi category, but they couldn't be more different from each other.
GW: Are there any other projects on the horizon for you personally after Season Four wraps up shooting in October?
JS: I have a movie called "The Tribe" due to be theatrically released sometime next year, so I'll be wrapping that up this fall.
GW: Network willing, the series will have a long and fruitful life ahead of it. Any message you'd care to give its fans?
JS: I guess I'm just hoping everybody enjoys Season Four. I think the show has reached new heights and I'm thrilled with what I've seen so far.
GW: Thank you again so much for your time, Jewel! We look forward to seeing a lot of you in Season Four!
JS: My pleasure! Thank you!
- Chad Colvin
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