Just a few days ago SciFi Mafia had the distinct privilege to join in a question and answer session with the incomparable Kate Mulgrew, Captain Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager, who will be starting a four-episode arc tonight on the August 29 episode of Warehouse 13.
We could have just listened to her for hours, not only because she has that wonderful voice and so many stories to tell – including the fact that she is, fortunately for all of us, working on her autobiography – but she speaks impeccably.
First, here’s what Syfy has to say about her part:
In Monday’s episode “The 40th Floor,” Mulgrew plays “Jane,” a Regent of Warehouse 13 who becomes vitally important to the survival of the Warehouse, while revealing a complex past with one of the agents. As the war on the Regents continues, Jane must make a bold decision that has far-reaching impact on both the Warehouse and the team.
Airlock Alpha asked her first if there was anything she could tell us any more about her character on Warehouse 13:
Kate Mulgrew: It’s a little tough. I’m sworn to secrecy on this one Michael. But suffice it to say, I come as a very powerful Regent bearing an extraordinary secret. And when the secret is revealed I think the audience will be, to say the least, quite surprised. It’s both wonderful and rather frightening at the same time. And the arc is thrilling because I’m not just any Regent; I have great powers. And so I think what unfolds will be very, very surprising to the audience.
Starry Constellation Magazine asked her what she found challenging about her role as a Regent:
Kate Mulgrew: Challenging? Challenging is keeping all the secrets I have to keep from all of you wonderful people.
I would say it’s been more delightful than challenging. I’ve felt so at home there, which is a very unusual thing at my stage in life to feel, coming in as a guest star. There was a naturalism to it, a complete sense of relaxation. And I feel like I fit there. So it was instantly, deeply familiar. And you very, very seldom get that.
They also asked if there was instant chemistry with the cast, as it’s a well-oiled machine, and asked her why she thinks people watch Warehouse 13:
Kate Mulgrew: Instant. Well it may well be a well-oiled machine, and that’s thanks to Jack Kenny, who as I’ve now said ten-million times is really an extraordinary show runner.
But I think that the surprise in all of it – Saul Rubinek is one of the great actors, I think of our generation — certainly my generation. And I felt, he’s consummate and he’s unexpected. So I had to step up to the plate whenever I was acting with him.
Joanne Kelly is like a delicious confection. And Eddie McClintock, I would have to tell you, as well as Allison Scagliotti, are natural actors. So it’s like playing ball with people who are the best; you really have to play badly not to hit well.
[Warehouse 13] is smart — very smart, it’s tongue in cheek, and it’s clever. It’s asking the audience, you know, they don’t dot the I’s and cross the T’s, the audience has to stay on its toes. And I think that’s exactly what a sci-fi audience prefers; they want to tease out the puzzle along with us. And that’s what you get to do with Warehouse 13.
Niagara Frontier Publications asked her, as a bona fide sci-fi legend, whether being offered sci-fi roles was like comfort food or if it instead made her think twice. Check out her jaw-dropping response:
Kate Mulgrew: I don’t get offered these sci-fi parts. This was the first one. And I was delighted to take it because it was not only so well written, but it was – it felt different to me Joshua. It felt special, and it felt light and smart. And that’s what I want.
It didn’t carry with it the baggage of some other science fiction shows. It has a real delicacy to it, and at the same time I think it’s, as someone had said before, a well-oiled machine, yes, but it’s still a very sleek and well run machine.
SciFi Mafia wants to know, right now: HOW CAN THIS BE?! All you writers, production companies, networks, get off the stick and get this woman on your sci-fi shows! Sheesh!
Once recovered from the shock of that ridiculous oversight by everyone in the sci-fi community who has hiring power… SciFi Mafia asked:
SciFi Mafia: Have there been a lot of differences in the nature or just the general feel of working on sci-fi projects versus non-sci-fi projects?
Kate Mulgrew: Well, yes of course. I mean as I pointed out before, you have more green screens, you have many more effects, special effects. And that in itself can be quite challenging.
Also you’re dealing with a different mentality. And I would say, it’s a different kind of an imagination, a different kind of creative imagination. It’s very forward-looking, although it’s essentially rooted in science, or reality I should say, the wings, the nature of it is to be bigger than life.
So in that regard it’s very special and wonderful to play.
SciFi Mafia: Terrific. What exactly are you looking for in a part these days? Do you like, as you were saying, it being kind of lighter and smarter and not quite so dark?
Kate Mulgrew: Absolutely. And by lighter I don’t mean silly…
SciFi Mafia: Right.
Kate Mulgrew: …or dismissive or even cavalier. I mean that there could be depths, great depths to a lightness. But the lightness is just the actor’s personal ability to let go of unnecessary baggage such as nerves, a fear of landing the wrong way on a line, all of that. All of that is dispelled and all of that is gone. And on Warehouse 13 it was just like, it was like sprinting. It was like flying. It was just fun — great fun.
SciFi Mafia: Sounds like it was a great experience.
Kate Mulgrew: It was.
SciFi Mafia: That’s so terrific. One of our readers asked me to ask you, what your funniest moment was working on this particular series?
Kate Mulgrew: My funniest moment?
SciFi Mafia: Yes, with the cast or the crew or even the cleaning people.
Kate Mulgrew: You ask me to find one moment, when I’m begging you madam, to understand that I was between Eddie McClintock and Saul Rubinek — all I did was laugh.
SciFi Mafia: That’s perfect.
Kate Mulgrew: All I did was laugh, they were so funny. And they’re outrageous, you know McClintock has no shame — no shame at all. And even the girls are naughty. So the underbelly is very, very naughty, and you’re sucked into the whole thing.
But when action is called, it’s on point. It’s just when you’re not actually required to be working, it could be quite silly and delightful.
SciFi Mafia: Sounds great. So, next project?
Kate Mulgrew: My next project? Well I’m doing another series called NTSF:SD:SUV, out of Los Angeles which is…
SciFi Mafia: Oh yes!
Kate Mulgrew: …a comedy on Adult Swim. And – with Paul Scheer, who I think is a genius. And these guys are all highly regarded comedians, and that’s not my thing.
And so I think Paul Scheer showed a certain prescience in asking me to come aboard, because he wanted the weight of Captain Janeway, but he wanted me to wear an eye-patch and be obsessed with sex, which I think is exactly right at this point.
SciFi Mafia: That’s great, we’ll have a terrific time with that. I can’t wait to see your Warehouse 13 episodes.
Kate Mulgrew: Thank you. Thank you very much. Take care.
Once more, we say – GET GOING ON THIS, SCI-FI PEOPLE! We need more Kate Mulgrew!
Kate Mulgrew’s arc on Warehouse 13 begins tonight, Monday, August 29 at 9/8c.
NTSF: SD: SUV (National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle) airs Thursday nights (Friday mornings) at 12:15 am during Adult Swim on Cartoon Network.
