Categories: Episodes

Ming-Na on Camille Wray’s ‘Life’ and love

Stargate Universe actress Ming-Na has been doing the interview rounds this week, with tonight’s episode “Life” marking the first major outing for her character, Camille Wray.

A short kino recording earlier in the season gave the first hint that Camille is gay — the first openly gay character on Stargate. In “Life,” she’ll have the chance to visit Earth and see her long-time partner, Sharon (played by 24‘s Reiko Aylesworth).

“I felt that it would be a challenge on a social level, but on a personal level as an actor, it’s like any other job,” the actress told The Huffington Post. “I’m just trying to understand who she is, what her strengths are, where she’s coming from, what her greatest fears are and what her motivation is from day to day. So as far as those challenges are concerned, it’s pretty much the same. Except I’ve never kissed a woman before, on or off camera, so that was the only other new challenge.”

It’s the first time playing a lesbian for both Aylesworth and Ming-Na, who took it as a professional challenge. “When it was presented to me I felt it was a new challenge as an actor,” she told After Ellen. “I’ve never played a lesbian before and I thought it was very fitting for her character.”

Ming-Na also talked about Camille Wray and tonight’s episode in a new interview video from TV Guide:

Whatever the show’s writers may have in store for Camille’s future, Ming-Na is confident in them. “The great thing that I know and that I’m positive about is that the writers from Stargate Universe, all of them, are so respectful and for this series they want to draw out great characters who have real emotional issues and things that happen to them that people can relate to,” she said. “I fully trust what their sensibilities are, the stories they want to tell.”

For more from Ming-Na on tonight’s episode and Stargate‘s portrayal of a gay character, check out her new interviews with The Huffington Post, After Ellen, and Planet Out.

“Life” airs tonight at 9 p.m. (8 Central) on Syfy Channel in the U.S., and at 10 p.m. on SPACE in Canada! Look for it on Sky1 in the U.K. on Tuesday, and head to GateWorld Forum to tell us what you think of the episode after it airs!

Darren

Darren created GateWorld in 1999 and is the site's managing editor. He lives in the Seattle area with his wife and three spin-off Stargate fans.

View Comments

  • I'm looking forward to seeing this episode and watching more of the wonderful Ming-Na at work and seeing the character of Camille Wray explored more.

  • Sorry to say this but I had thes episode seen when i clicked through it within 10 Minutes.

    the sciFi part was around 5 Minutes and thanks Cencorship my other Post never mad it here were I said
    5 Min SciFi
    40 b.......

  • This was the best episode of SGU so far, and not because it depicted a lesbian relationship, although I enjoy seeing the full spectrum of humanity presented in any media.

    It was the best because it had the most payoffs, the best writing so far, some interesting choices. It had some faults, but overall, this was the first episode of SGU so far that had me smiling and thinking "more please!" at the end.

  • Yes. Do associate Stargate with Huffington Post
    again please. Any press is appreciated, regardless of the outlet's reputation or political association.

  • I really don't give a damn about sexual orientation being presented in a scifi show. Lame and just another moonbat attempt to sell diversity and social engineering. Of course SyFy is owned by NBC, the moonbat network of liberal fools. I'm just saying.

  • Stormin: then don't watch. If they're "selling," then it's up to buyers to buy if they want. Choice: you has it!

  • Damek: Buyers will indeed speak. This show will be a one season run. People want Stargate action and a scifi adventure, not this tripe.

  • Wonderful. Finally homosexuality and Stargate! Sorry, I had to wash my eyes clean with SG-1 Very little scifi and a big attempt to get us to become invested in these unlikable characters. Really. Eli is the only one I would consider to invite over for dinner. Scheeech.

  • I'm going to give it a few more episodes before I sign off completely. Honestly, I don't care who is lesbian. I don't care who is sleeping with whom. I'm disappointed that the only hint of anything really related to sci-fi ended up being a lie. Why is it that everyone is fearing for their lives and doing everything possible to guarantee their doom? This series is killing me. Please come back SG-1 and SGA......

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