GateWorld: Can you go back a bit and tell us about how you got the role?
Sarah Strange: I’m going to try. It was quite a while ago! You know, by the time I got to be on Stargate it was such a well-established and venerable institution in Vancouver. And so well loved. And all the way along I’d lobbied and tried and auditioned and not gotten it, not gotten it, not gotten it.
So, it was sort of another Stargate audition. But the character was so plumb. And because it was Morgan Le Fay – who I do already love – I really secretly hoped for it.
And then I got it. And it was … oh, it was great! It was miraculous! It was so fun and so exciting. And I jumped up and down. I think I might have screamed a little bit.
But in terms of actually in the room, I remember standing as still as I possibly could. And then was directed to stand stiller. [Laughter]
GW: And those are long shooting days, too. I mean, you’re talking like 12-, 14-hour days.
SS: Yeah. Absolutely. But by the time I got there, the family – the working family – of the Stargate crew and the cast … it was just a well-oiled machine. And everybody really knew what they were doing and was cheerful and excited to be there. It was such a pleasant working experience.Everybody was so welcoming. It was great.
GW: Ancients on Stargate are known for being more behind-the-scenes. They watch. They don’t interfere at all. How does that mesh with your own personality? Are you the passive type?
SS: Passive? I wouldn’t say “passive” necessarily. I’m very “Live and let live.” I give great advice!
GW: [Laughter]
SS: But not unsolicited advice. And in my own life I am pretty driven and pretty ambitious, and quite fierce. So, I don’t know. Is that passive? That’s not passive.
GW: No. That’s not passive at all.
SS: No. But I think the passivity of an ascended Ancient is really just because it is all-knowing. And you’ve got to sit back because people are just going to – “Give ‘em enough rope and they’ll hang themselves.” You know what I mean?
GW: Are there any memories you take away from your time on either “The Pegasus Project” or The Ark of Truth? 12 hours standing still? [Laughter]
SS: Standing still! The standing still was tricky. And the way that it was shot necessarily because she was a hologram. You have to match stillness. So then everybody breaks and gets down and goes and gets a cup of coffee or whatever. But I had to stay there. And people would bring me coffee sometimes. Just so that I didn’t lose position because it was sort of critical for the cameras.
So, that was a bit grueling. But lovely nonetheless. Super fun.
In The Ark of Truth the hairdo was just so spectacular. I loved it. I loved it so much that I walked into the trailer in the morning and said, “Is that what I get to wear? Cruella De Vil, but, like, bigger? That’s fantastic!” So I remember that very well.
And actually getting to be in a scene with Michael Shanks. That was a big deal.
GW: What other projects are you working on? Is there anything that you’ve done that hasn’t been released?SS: I did an episode of The Killing, but it aired a couple of weeks ago. It was the second episode of the second season.
But we’ve just started production on Season Two of series called Level Up, which is a live-action series for Cartoon Network. It’s sort of like Scott Pilgrim. It’s very funny. It’s a teen show. It’s very tame and very gentle and really funny. And super fun to work on. I was doing that yesterday. So, we’re back up and running on that.
And then I’m going to have a baby in July, so …
GW: Congratulations!
SS: Thank you!
GW: Do you know yet what … ?
SS: It’s a baby. They told me … when they told me that there was no way it was going to be a puppy, I just kinda went, “Well, OK …” Either way, then it’ll be cool.
No, it’s a little boy.
GW: Congratulations.
SS: Thank you.
GW: Boys are great. Unlike what some people say. [Laughter]
SS: [Laughter] I’ve actually heard that boys are easier to raise.
GW: They’re less demanding.
SS: Are they? Do you have kids?
GW: No. I don’t.
SS: Oh, well then, how would you know? Are you less demanding?
GW: I’m just saying on behalf of my gender.
SS: On behalf of your gender. OK, I gotta write that down. That’s what Chad says.
GW: [Laughter]
Any message for fans? Not just of Stargate, but just of your body of work in general?
SS: Hi, everybody! I mean, fans. That such a neat idea that there are fans — people that like to watch what I do. I love what I do. So, if people like to watch it, thanks! And keep doing it! And be … be nice on your comments on the Internet.
GW: [Laughter]
SS: Because actors are just people after all. And get their feelings hurt. [Laughter]