Elyse Levesque: So I go and I do my emotional prep. We were out there waiting for quite awhile before I went in. So I go in and I do it. And I felt like, “Okay, there was a little shiny eye.” Maybe a little tear hanging in there. But I didn’t weep. I didn’t have a weep-a-thon like they were hoping for.
So I went back outside and they make you wait. And another girl went in after me and came out with tears. Just drenched. She was wet from tears and I’m like, “Great! I’m not going to get it. Kiss that goodbye.”
And then it was actually quite awhile after that I got the good news. Got the good word! That’s pretty much how that happened!
GateWorld: Are there any parts of your personality that you bring to her?
EL: Gosh! I think … I think there’s just some stuff that I relate to. The upbringing. An only child. Very close to her parents and her family. I’m super, super close to my parents. I’m a total daddy’s girl. She’s got a much more difficult relationship with her mother than I do with mine. I’m very close to my mom. And I guess, in a way, a sheltered upbringing. I can relate to that. A small city. A lot of love. A lot of protection.
In ways I differ — I think I’m a lot goofier then she is. A lot weirder, probably. You could say that about me. I think she takes herself a little more seriously than I do. But I used to! I used to take myself a lot more seriously. And then I said, “You know what? I’m weird! Go with it!” So I guess the essence of me is similar to her, but maybe it’s a dialed-down me.
GW: Chloe starts the series watching her father die, and mourning him. And in a short period of time, even within the first 12 or 13 that have aired here at this point, she’s begun a relationship …
EL: Yeah.
GW: … with [Matthew] Scott.
EL: Yeah, BAM! That happened fast. [Laughs]
GW: And she’s gone so far as to siding with the civilian crew in “Divided.” I was kind of taken aback that she sided with Rush’s side.
EL: I know. I was shocked when I read that script! I was like … great.
GW: It almost kind of feels like the character is being prepped for more of a civilian leadership role. Would that be off base?
EL: Not at all! Not at all. Honestly, that’s one of the things I thought was the beauty of the character. That she really didn’t have an identity on the ship. And it could go any way.
GW: She seems like the type that the job that she had …
EL: The political science thing, the Harvard —
GW: It was because she was his daughter.
EL: I think if it is to come to fruition, it’ll be awhile. She’s still young, I think, in a lot of ways. But we see her definitely get more hands-on. And sort of take charge in different aspects. I think we see that in the episode that airs next Friday (“Human”). I think we see a little bit more of that.
But, yeah. It’s a slow process for her. I think she had to mourn the death of her father, and come to terms with the reality of the ship. And then slowly but surely carve out a little niche for herself. And I think the first episode that we really see that in is “Justice.” I think it’s the first time we really see that — Oh! She has a backbone! And she can take a stand for something!
GW: Throughout the episodes that have aired so far, there’s been a little bit of a triangle between Chloe, Scott, and Eli, kind of peering from behind.
EL: Mmmm. You caught on to that! [Laughs] Yeah!
GW: Are Chloe and Scott a sure thing? Or is there hope for fans of Eli that maybe one day the geek will get the girl?
EL: Well, I don’t want to ruin anything.
GW: Hope! Hope!
EL: Well, as you can see from the recent episodes, Scott and Chloe’s relationship has been tested. Definitely. And that’s not over yet. For sure.
What I can say about the Chloe-Eli thing is … I don’t think she’s ever had a friend like him before. I think she came from a very superficial world. A world where you can’t really trust a lot of people.
GW: She’s not used to the level of devotion that Eli would be willing to give her.
EL: She’s never had somebody who will literally give his life for her. I think that she loves him with all of her heart. And where it stands right now — he is just a friend. But you never know. Things change, people change. All the time. And some of the best relationships blossom out of friendship.
Oh, how exciting! I’ve been waiting for you guys to interview Elyse forever; I’ve been really curious about her character & this interview is both informative & fun.
I remain very skeptical about this character. For now all she really has done is warm the bed of Lieutenant Scott. Having this rich girl take a leadership role will really take a wide stroke of the writer’s pen. But from what we have seen with this show’s writing, anything silly is possible. Not a bad actress, just a weak role.
Sadly, her character is the only one i don’t care for in SGU.I’ve finally grown on these characters, but as for Chloe, i wish they’d axe her from the show.
Ooh, now I want to know what’s going to happen to Chloe in S2. :D
Great interview.
It’s great to see how even the actors are impressed and surprised by the writing. Now the time has (finally) come for old fans of Stargate to help make the new members of the Stargate family (the actors) feel welcome. And also, to cut the writers a little slack.
I’m looking forward to the Season 1 finale and to Season 2.
@Stormin. That isn’t all she’s done. Unless you’ve skipped several episodes, you know that already.
Seriously fun interview :D Thanks!
Gaeth, like what? Read the symbols in the tunnels? Big whop! Her character is weak. Contrast the number of times she does something useful to the number of times they show here in bed with Lt. Scott. Her character is dull and uninteresting, but not to Lt. Scott, obviously.
I kinda wish she’d break it off with Scott and get with Eli, it’s annoying that the hot girl goes for the typical hero guy. At least Scott isn’t really a *bad* guy, but so far it seems that their relationship is purely sexual.
I don’t like Scott/Chloe like everybody else – just because it feels like “they are the lookers, its obvious!”. But I don’t like it ten times more to bring Eli/Chloe together. It’s just not believable, and its even an insult that Eli is that shallow. Yes, they will try to “brain up” Chloe in S2 obviously ;) But I would rather see Eli hook up with one of the other “normal people” crowd. Even if the woman is years older it would have a better feel to it. “Waste the nerd”-plots are really worn out, it’s not even Scifi anymore… Read more »
Stormin I think you’ve summed up how I feel about almost all the characters. I do like Rush, and Eli is ok.
I don’t know, I’d like to see a Stargate show about, I don’t know, the Stargate maybe?
I was trying to listen to this on iTunes. However, this interview is not listed. The last one available is David Blue’s “Just a Geek” from last October. Did anyone else have this problem?
Stormin, Zenofstars and others, I’m glad I’m not the only fan that got disappointed that the cute girl Chloe went right to the arms of the hunk instead of the likable nerd. Eli is one of the few people in SGU who’s really a nice, relatable guy. Besides, I never liked Matthew Scott. He’s empty, shallow and unlikeable. At first he bangs James, then goes for Chloe. The Lt. Buxom Brunette makes fun of Eli just for him being himself (and I think Eli has got more character than all the military personnel together), and Chloe.. we all know. I… Read more »
Holy c**p, I just got my 5 seconds of fame and didn’t even know it until now. Elyse Levesque actually mention me in this interview. *bows & blushes* Mom will be so proud.
I am Slam :)