Medicine Woman

Has it really been five years since the loss of Dr. Janet Fraiser? The Stargate franchise has delivered numerous doctors over its 15-season run, but when it comes to Fraiser, it is something special.

The same goes for Teryl Rothery, who has been entertaining fans before and since the death of the character in “Heroes, Part 2.” Now after having her first child, Teryl is back on the convention scene. GateWorld caught up with the actress at Creation Entertainment’s 2009 Vancouver Stargate Convention, and are privileged to present the piece to you now!

In the brief time we had, we speak with her on becoming a mother and meeting fans at conventions. We also take a moment to touch on the loss of actor and friend Don S. Davis (“General George Hammond”).

This interview runs about 6 minutes, and is available in and audio formats. It’s also transcribed below!

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GateWorld: You’re back at the Stargate cons! What’s it like being back?

Teryl Rothery: I have been doing them for a bit. How long has it been, two years or three years? Jim? How long since my last Stargate convention? It was maybe over a year; because I remember, I was three months pregnant. That would have been Australia. Then I did one in England and I was a little over 4 months pregnant.

GW: How is Londyn?

TR: She’s beautiful.

GW: How old is she now?

TR: She’s six months today.

GW: What is it like being a mom?

TR: It is probably, I have said this before and it’s the truth, the best role ever. It’s something I never thought I would do, and I am just so glad. I’ve never felt a love so intense as that.

GW: Now that you have a kid, is it more difficult to get up in the morning and go to work is there more of a drive to do that. “I would rather spend more time with her.”

TR: It is funny. I am so lucky that I love that I do, so I do not have that [issue] necessarily. I do have things like coming here; I have so much fun at conventions. I love you fans.

GW: You have been a big fan favorite, always.

TR: My God, well I love them. So, there was that moment, where she was so cuddly and I said “Mommy’s got to go.” It was so hard to leave, you have those moments. But, then when you’re here, it is fun and I know that I get to go home to her. So, no, not so much. Because I love, so much what I do. And, like you said, Mommy is going to go to work, this is my work.

GW: Momma going to go feed you.

TR: Yes, Momma’s going to make sure there is money to feed you. ]

GW: You are very well known in the sci-fi circles. You have played a lot of doctors.

TR: I have. I have my own lab coat at home.

GW: Do you ever worry about being plugged in or typecast as a sci-fi actor?

TR: No.

GW: You do not worry about that at all? Work is work.

TR: No, simply because, first of all, I love playing that role. If I only had that intelligence and patience to put myself through school all those years to be one wouldn’t that be fantastic. And, I have been really blessed to play a variety of different roles. It’s just part of it.

GW: How has Janet Frasier impacted your life 13 years down the road?

TR: I can honestly say that it was the best seven years of my life. I am still doing these things, I mean, my character has been dead for I don’t know how long. I don’t know how many years we have been going. But we’re still able to do this, because of that I still do it.

GW: People are still interested in it. People are still in love with it.

TR: That is what is so fascinating. The best thing is that it keeps going. Look at all the different spinoffs There has been Atlantis, the new one’s in the works [Stargate Universe], and Amanda [Tapping] now has Sanctuary. Yeah, it just continues, so it is good.

GW: I talked with you right after you had filmed “Heroes” but before it had aired. You did this whole stage panel with Don [Davis], like no spoilers, we cannot talk about that. You said that you hadn’t even been privy to any information before you read the script and it just hit you like a brick.

TR: Well no, I had known that with my character — this was going to happen. If I hadn’t read the script then I didn’t know how this was going to go. The premise had been discussed.

GW: How do you think it was achieved going out? “Heroes” is still talked about.

TR: I gotta tell you, I haven’t seen it.

GW: You never watched “Heroes”?

TR: No.

GW: Intentionally?

TR: Intentionally, I just can’t. In reading the script, the script killed me. I just wept. It was just so sad. And I still haven’t watched it.

GW: Is it something that one day you will? Are you keeping it to yourself?

TR: No, no I think I will eventually watch it. It is like Schindler’s List, when that movie came out and everyone raved about it being so brilliant. I knew that I wanted to see it, but I knew it would just send me over — it was so sad. I kept putting it off until I finally watched it, but I had to watch it in the confines of my home so that I could pause it and blow my nose and have a cry. So eventually, I think, yeah, eventually I will see “Heroes.” I do not know when that will be, though. It’s funny isn’t it? It’s just so sad.

GW: Michael [Shanks] and so many of the others say this is the best, this is it. So kind of keeping it off until the end, very cool.

GW: May I have your permission to ask about Don?

TR: Yes.

GW: You were always known as a pair on stage. What is it like not to be able to do cons with him anymore? He is always there though, isn’t he.

TR: Sorry. … Yeah. He’s always there. It is pretty sad. He is missed by everybody.

GW: We all love him.

TR: And yes, he is always there. He will always be there.

GW: But look into the future, you have a great baby. Things are well. Everything is in its right place. Are you happy?

TR: Ecstatic, ecstatically happy. I just wish he [Don Davis] would have met her.

RELATED LINK:
TerylRothery.com

Interview by David Read. Transcript by Avi Zisook.