She's one of the many Battlestar characters to contemplate suicide, and one of the few to actually get spat out of an airlock: SFX spoke to the lovely Nicki Clyne about her character Cally Tyrol when we caught up with her at Starfury's Battlestar convention in December.
Most of this interview will be appearing in our amazing Battlestar Galactica-themed special issue, on sale Wednesday 4 March with posters and gifts! But we thought you might like this snippet as a little treat to get you in the mood.
SFX: How did you find working with your on-screen husband Aaron "Chief Tyrol" Douglas?
Clyne: "Aaron Douglas and I get along really well, but we definitely have a unique relationship. I mean we're like family, both because we work together so much, but even in the beginning we had a really good rapport with each other because we both really valued humour. And like we'd joke around about things: I have a younger brother, and it almost felt like that kind of familiarity, us always making fun of each other, but only because we love each other - stuff like that. So yeah, we get along really well; he's such a ham."
SFX: Everybody says Galactica was a great set to work on. How true is that really?
Clyne: "I begin to feel cheesy at times because we're all saying the same thing about how great the show is and how wonderful it is to work with everyone on the show, but it's absolutely true! We do really care about each other, and I think that's what got us through even - even though there were times when there were conflicts. It's not like we were in a fantasyland. We had real life conflicts, and people had struggles they took out on other people, whatever it may be that happens in any work or team environment."
"I think because there was such a strong vision that everyone involved was there to uphold, all the petty things just weren't important, and everyone who worked on the show really had an understanding of what we were expressing and how important it was to have an integrity in that aspect. So I think that's really what got us through. If it was a different show but all the same people, it may not have been true. I think it's a combination of finding really amazing people and talented and gifted and skilled, along with the fact that the writing, the producing, the directing was top-notch."
SFX: At conventions, you must get asked loads of questions about Cally's life and choices. How do you feel about getting philosophical and ethical questions from fans?
Clyne: "Well, that, those are the questions that I love, to be honest. I love the questions that really explore how we are as human beings and how we relate. The stories that are expressed in the show parallel our existence here on the planet, maybe in ways that we hadn't thought of before. Maybe there are beliefs or assumptions that we have that we now see differently because of a way that they're expressed in the show, and I hope people can take that away from the show."
"It's a very thoughtful exploration about who we are as people, and so sometimes I get into answering questions like that, and I get very deep into the meaning and philosophy - I look at the audience and half the people are just cross-eyed! So I try to balance it out with being light-hearted and giving people the gossip and the pranks and little things as well as exploring more of the meaningful side."
SFX: Thanks Nicki!
It's Vancouver-born Nicki Clyne's 26th birthday tomorrow, fact fans. Check out her blog when you get five minutes. And don't forget to watch Battlestar Galactica on Sky1 tonight, UK viewers!
