With the American Premier of ‘Lost Girl’ just around the corner. Syfy Channel figured it was high time they held a phone conference with some of the cast and that’s just what they did.
Earlier in the week SciFiPulse were lucky enough to attend a phone conference, which gave us and other media bloggers opportunity to speak with three of the shows leading actors in Anna Silk, Zoie Palmer and Kris Holden-Ried.
Below are just a few highlights from the conference, which ran for an hour and was only cut short when the actors were called back into the studio to shoot more of the second season, which will resume airing in Canada and has just started air here in the UK.
With this being for the American premier of the show. One blogger asked the actors if they could maybe describe the series for those who are as yet to make themselves familiar with it and Anna Silk was happy to lead the way in answering.
Anna Silk: So, what we can expect in first season, I mean the first season really introduces the audience to Bo and her journey sort of going into this whole Fae world that she’s recently discovered that she’s a part of.
And the different people she meets along the way in that first season, really become her sort of makeshift family in this world, and Lauren, played by Zoie, and Dyson, played by Kris, are two of the very interesting characters that she meets.
Kris Holden-Ried: I’ll just pop in for a sec. Yeah, from Dyson’s perspective. I mean for season one what we see is the “Lost Girl” Anna Silk playing Bo who appears on the scene, a Fae who’s been born into a human family and didn’t know she was Fae. Describe her in this entire other world that she didn’t know existed.
And my character, Dyson, is one of the ones that find her, just because in his job in the world – he – that’s kind of his thing. He finds not only criminals but people who have done things that shouldn’t have done, in other words Fae who are exposing themselves to humans. He finds Bo and a wild crazy 13 episodes ensue.
Zoie Palmer: Yeah, and then I guess just to finish off, I play Dr. Lauren Lewis, and so I’m doctor to the Light Fae. There are two types of Fae. There’s the light and the dark. And I’m a doctor and a scientist to the light side. And Bo comes to me for some help on how to control some of the things that are happening for her, as she sort of realizes what she is, starts to learn what she is, which is a Fae. And she comes to me to kind of see if I can perhaps help her with my (sciency) self.
Anna Silk: And just to expand further on, Bo did grow up thinking she was human as Kris said…
Zoie Palmer: Right.
Anna Silk: …and does discover she’s Fae, but not only is she Fae, she’s actually a succubus, you know. So it’s a pretty rude awakening really early on in the season. And she sort of…
Zoie Palmer: Yeah.
Anna Silk: … it answers a lot of questions for her, but it opens the door to many more questions. And that’s sort of what we explore in the first season is how she fits into this world and the relationships she develops along the way.
When asked what television series that are similar to ‘Lost Girl’ the cast mentioned a number of shows, but also added that ‘Lost Girl’ is also its own thing.
Anna Silk: Well, we’ve often gotten the “Buffy” comparison over the last few seasons. We’re well into our second season here in Canada, and we still get that comparison, which is a huge compliment. But I have to say that I really think “Lost Girl” has such a unique voice. There’s a lot of darkness. There’s a lot of humor. It’s a pretty sexy show.
It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before on television, and it’s so, I mean the “Buffy” comparison is really nice. We get “True Blood” comparisons, I guess, as well, and there’s an investigative side to things as well. So I guess it’s a lot of different things all rolled into one.
Zoie Palmer: Yeah, but those are the ones that come up I guess a lot, right, would be “Buffy” and “True Blood” and in that genre of – it’s not a werewolf show, but we certainly – or a vampire show, I should say, but we certainly get compared to anything that has that kind of feel to it.
When asked to talk about the appeal of Bo and the romantic triangle between the three characters. Pretty much all three actors had some pretty good insights to share.
Anna Silk: The appeal of Bo, I mean since I play Bo, I don’t know. I think that the appeal of Bo for me when I read the initial pilot was just how – I think she’s – even though she’s a succubus and she’s not human and she’s going to be thrown into this crazy world, she’s really relatable. She’s a very relatable character. She’s intensely vulnerable and also has to sort of grow and find her way, and there’s a lot of growth for her in the series.
And I think that that’s sort of what, you know, having just talked to fans and just even myself, that’s what I related to in her and that’s what I found appealing was that she’s strong and sexy and all of those things, but she’s scared a lot of the times and vulnerable and has to figure out things as she goes.
And then the love triangle that unfolds that the (INs) gets introduced to in season one is pretty, pretty interesting. Anyone care to comment?
Zoie Palmer: You led us right up to the love triangle and dropped us off. The love triangle is, yeah, I mean it’s just that, isn’t it? I think that everyone who meets Bo, including Dyson and Lauren are sort of taken with her, for reasons that I don’t know that – well, I mean I think Lauren is taken with her for reasons that I don’t know that she can explain entirely. And she’s obviously beautiful. You’re beautiful, Anna.
[Laughter]
Anna Silk: Thank you.
Zoie Palmer: But there’s something about her, I think that brings – draws people into her, and I think that that’s what sort of Lauren finds right away. And I think almost – I think it’s a surprise that she feels that way, that that happens. I think she works for the Light Fae and she does her job and she’s a scientist and then along comes this sort of creature, this person, this woman who does something to her, and I don’t know that’s she kind of sure what that something is, certainly from Lauren’s side, anyway. Kris?
Kris Holden-Ried: I think with Dyson it’s pretty simple, you know, he introduces – got these – got this incredible cleavage – and no. Sorry.
Zoie Palmer: And end right in the cleavage.
Kris Holden-Ried: I think for Dyson, with the mythology behind Dyson’s character has a lot to do with he’s a protector. The wolf was – its entire job in existence was protecting its liege or its king, whoever it was assigned, and in Bo he sees an innocent but beautiful and vulnerable woman that he finds one, beautiful and fascinating, but also those instincts out in him.
And there’s also some historical stuff behind Trick and Bo and Dyson that the audience will find out about that also sort of plays into this as well, but I think it’s really kind of a deep sort of seated instinct in Dyson’s want to protect Bo, and in doing so, he gets feelings for her.
When asked if they researched the whole fae element of the series or dismissed it as a nonsense all three actors spoke up, even Zoie Palmer who plays a human.
Anna Silk: I didn’t think that when I first read about it. What I thought was, you know, the original sort of description of the show was that she was this sexual creature who needs sex to survive. So, I – my initial thought was: “Are you kidding me?” You know, “What is this?”
But then to really read what it was about and read, you know, I knew what a succubus was, and it’s a pretty intriguing role to play. I mean it’s obviously a very sexual role. She’s a sexual being, but that’s kind of I think what is another element that makes our show stand out. And it’s a pretty fun power to have, I have to say.
Kris Holden-Ried: For me, I’ve always been a fan of this kind of genre. I mean I grew up reading fantasy novels, everything from “Dragon Lands” to “Eye of the World,” you know, (David Edding), was it “Game of Thrones?” And so when I got a chance to jump at a role like this, I was all for it, because I grew up running through the woods by my parents farm, pretending that I was whatever, an elf.
Anna Silk: Everyone heard you say that, Kris.
Zoie Palmer: You just announced that to the world now.
Kris Holden-Ried: I mean you know
Zoie Palmer: I grew up running through the forest with my shirt off, you know, how kids do.
Kris Holden-Ried: Isn’t every childhood like that?
Zoie Palmer: No, absolutely. I did for sure.
Anna Silk: Well, I spent one summer as Wonder Woman. So, there’s that, you know.
Zoie Palmer: The whole summer?
Anna Silk: I get it. I get it. Yeah, the whole summer. Rubber boots, bathing suits, red wristbands, headband, you know.
Kris Holden-Ried: Oh, my God!
Anna Silk: There was a lot of crime in my neighborhood.
Zoie Palmer: No, absolutely, you had to fight it. I get it. Sorry.
Anna Silk: Yeah.
Zoie Palmer: I don’t have anything that even comes close to comparing, but I had never done any kind of – I didn’t watch sort of Sci Fi genre type television except, I guess, “Battlestar Galactica,” which isn’t really comparable to this show at all.
But – so it was really new for me to be on a show like this and to play a character, and of course, I play human, so that I didn’t need to do a ton of research in terms of my own character, but it’s been a great experience, like way better than I could have ever imagined. It’s been – it’s such a fun job to play on this kind of a show. It’s fantasy and play and yeah.
The one thing apparent from the start of Lost Girl is that there is a strong political thread running through it with the light and dark fae and when asked about that. The actors did their best to explain the difference between the two and how their character view the bigger picture or fit into it.
Anna Silk: Well, you’re right in saying that it is a really intricate political system, and there’s a lot of push and pull between the two sides. I think that, that’s the world that Bo finds herself in. Not only is she in the world of the Fae, she’s in a world that’s divided, and there’s a peace that has be kept between those sides, and that balance is really precarious. And anything could sort of tip that balance and lead to a lot of trouble.
So it’s a really – it’s a really intricate system. That’s a really big part of the show that I think makes it very interesting. And it’s certainly interesting for us as actors to play in.
Kris Holden-Ried: Yeah, I mean, all of our characters interact with it in different ways. Dyson is an age-old member of the Light Fae. I mean I guess the differences between the two systems, to succinct is, Light Fae try to live in a symbiotic relationship with humanity, and the Dark Fae are more interested in dominating humanity. And that is pretty the philosophical difference between the two.
Anna Silk: Yeah, and as a Fae, you’ve got to align yourself with one side or the other. That’s just what you do.
Zoie Palmer: That’s expected of you, yeah.
Anna Silk: Yeah. And that’s something that Bo has trouble with.
Bit is there a clear line between the light and dark fae.
Anna Silk: I would say that the light is – I would just say the dark is particularly bad. But it’s not about good and bad. I mean – Zoie, do you – are you trying to say something about that or?
Zoie Palmer: Yeah, I don’t know that there’s ever like – do they – do we ever reference sort of good and bad? I feel like it’s sort of everyone has their reasons for their behavior sort of thing.
Kris Holden-Ried: Yeah.
Zoie Palmer: And – but like I think Kris sort – that idea that the Light Fae try to live in harmony with humans in a way that the Dark Fae doesn’t necessarily care about. I don’t think they’re necessarily concerned about that in a way that the Light Fae are, would be the fundamental difference. I think that they both would commit acts that most of us would consider good and bad.
Kris Holden-Ried: Pretty atrocious.
Zoie Palmer: Yeah.
Kris Holden-Ried: Yeah, I think like from the human’s perspective perhaps darker, not as good, but within the Fae world, I don’t think there’s a real connotation of good and bad.
Zoie Palmer: Right. People – they do what they have to do.
Kris Holden-Ried: All Fae need to survive off of some energy system and give, whether it’s flesh, whether it’s spirit, whether it’s anger…
Zoie Palmer: Emotional, sexual, yeah.
Kris Holden-Ried: Exactly. I mean food – humans are the food source for all Fae. So, it just…
Zoie Palmer: That’s right.
Kris Holden-Ried: …human mythology or the philosophies behind how we…
Zoie Palmer: How it’s done.
Anna Silk: And one of the main rules about being Fae is to keep the world secret from humans. So that’s another element to the show as well. There are certain humans that do know about us, you know, obviously Lauren.
In regards to the journey that their characters are on in the first season. All three actors were careful to answer without revealing to much.
Zoie Palmer: For Lauren – we kind of discovered that she’s indebted to the Light Fae, and specifically the leader of the Light Fae, the Ash, for some reason that we don’t know.
And so, we’ve gone that journey and it’s a bit of guess why she, you know, I mean the fact that a human is working for the Fae at all is a bit unusual in this way. Working with the Fae would be a bit unusual. So it’s a bit of a discovery about who Lauren is and where she’s from and what her story is.
And of course, the development of the relationship with Bo and the rest of the characters on the show, for Lauren anyway. Anyone else?
Kris Holden-Ried: I think for Dyson it’s the discovery and the journey of Bo, of you know. For him he’s been in the Fae world for a millennia and the only thing that’s really new for him is this young woman who’s come from nowhere and that’s pretty much the center of his journey.
Anna Silk: I think for Bo, I mean the journey is just so huge. I mean she’s coming from a world where she grew up thinking she was human and has urges beyond normal sort of teenage sexual urges that resulted in a body count. So, you know, she’s been on the run for a while.
And so the beginning of the series is when we – when she learns that she’s not human, that she’s Fae. So that journey is just so big, and it continues to be every day every episode. She, you know, particularly in the first season, but even in the second season, she’s constantly learning. So her journey is always – is ongoing, very much so.
One of the things this show has done is helped many Gay and Bi Sexual people come out. Which has seen a lot of folks approach Anna Silk and Zoie Palmer at conventions to thank them for their portrayal of a same sex relationships. So when asked how they felt about the fan appreciation of that both actors were appreciative of the feedback, but also tipped their hats to the writing on the show.
Anna Silk: I think that for Zoie and I, it was really important that the relationship between Bo and Lauren was really authentic and really real and relatable. I mean we knew it had to be. It’s meant to be, and I guess the response to it is kind of a testament to, you know, I think we’ve been pretty successful with it, you know, the writing has been there, obviously as well for us.
But I think that that was something that Zoie and I worked really hard to make sure that it was truthful. And the fact that it resonates with people and if it encourages people in any way, I mean to be their own authentic self, then I think that’s fantastic.
Zoie Palmer: Yeah, obviously, this relationship, a same-sex relationship, there isn’t a ton of that television, and so we’ve managed, with the help of the writers and everybody, to pull off a relationship that is relatable to people, I think is a big compliment. I think it’s really great, and I would feel really pleased about it when somebody says something like that. We’ve had a couple of those experiences at like…
Anna Silk: Yeah.
Zoie Palmer: …(Annex Bo), and that kind of thing where somebody’s come up and said, you know, “It means a lot.” And I think it’s great. I’m thrilled about that.
Anna Silk: Yeah. And I love that on the show too, we don’t – it’s not talked about as a same-sex relationship.
Zoie Palmer: It just is one, yeah.
Anna Silk: It’s not one could be – yeah, it’s just – it’s a relationship, and that’s that.
Zoie Palmer: The Coke and gay thing or the – it’s just the – there is – yeah, that’s cool. It’s that there’s just in the relationship, whichever – whatever it looks like, however it…
Anna Silk: Yeah.
Zoie Palmer: …in the way that Dyson and Bo are in one, and it’s never discussed on the show…
Anna Silk: Yeah.
Zoie Palmer: …which I love too. I think that’s great.
Fans in America will finally get to enjoy the first season of Lost Girl on Monday the 16 January at 10PM on the Syfy Channel. Fans in the UK can catch the second season of the show on the UK Syfy Channel every Thursday at 9PM.
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