Jenna Busch of the Huffington Post got a chance to talk with Stargate Universe star Ming-Na about many things, including her role as IOA representative Camile Wray and what it was like acting with guest star Reiko Aylesworth, who’ll be making her first appearance as Camile’s girlfriend Sharon in Carl Binder’s episode “Life” (which premieres this Friday).
The interview is full of spoilers for SGU, especially concerning Camile Wray’s private life, so be careful when you visit the Post, but as a consolation, we’ll provide a few non-spoilery quotes here:
On the small amount of screen time Camile Wray has been given thus far:
You’ll see more of Camille Wray later on. I think in the beginning she was definitely a character that was still in development, and I think once they latched on to her voice and who she is, she became a more integrel part of the show as things go on. … you will see more of Camille, especially in the next episode. November 20th. The episode called, “Life”. You’ll really get to see a personal side of who she is.
On not being a fan of Stargate when she joined the SGU cast:
That’s the only thing! No, I really wasn’t! I think at the point when the series had started, I was so much focused on my career and working and then the kids came along, so it was definitely a love of mine, like so many other things, that I put on the back burner. And it’s kind of been great because, now that I’m in the show, I’m being reintroduced to one of my great loves, which is science fiction. And I’m meeting all these great sci-fi fans, either on Twitter or at conventions … I love it! I feel like I’ve kind of come around full circle and I’m back to my high school days. It’s great! [Laughs]
That fellow cast-mate David Blue is responsible for getting her on Twitter:
Yes he is! And he won’t let me forget it either. [Laughs] I told him, I said, ‘You’re like a drug dealer, man! You get people hooked and that’s it. We’re hooked for life.’ I’m very grateful that he got me on this thing. I’ve got to keep up with the times! I’ve got to know what’s going on around the world here! [Laughs]
On the appeal of Stargate Universe:
I think ultimately, aside from all the sci-fi stuff, which … the amazing special effects have been blowing me away. I can’t believe the look of the show. It’s fantastic. Really, the CGI guys that we have are incredible. And the music is amazing and the writing, but ultimately I think it’s a combination of a lot of things. The characters are really relatable and the people fall in love with each different character and they’re intrigued with each different character in their own way. And I think the chemistry that the cast members have on and off the set also contributes to it. Sometimes it’s one of those intangible things that happen in a series, and I’m really thankful that it’s happening to us. It just makes life and work so much more fun.
Concerning her next convention appearance:
Yeah, I think, depending on how things go, this year was really, really tough because there was so much adjustment for my whole family with me traveling to Vancouver and traveling back and forth, and being away. And so, I think for me this year, I don’t want to go anywhere else. I just want to stay put and spend time with the kids. And especially the holidays. And then we’ll see. You know, next year they’ll be a bit older and maybe I’ll take them along, because my daughter is a huge Star Wars fan and my son even knows what Star Wars is. It’s hilarious! We just got a game. The Star Wars version of Battleship. It’s so much fun! [Laughs] So maybe they’ll be old enough where I can take them with me to the conventions and we can have a good time together.
Make sure to visit Huffington Post for the rest of the interview in which the two self-professed geeks talk about Dungeons & Dragons, science fiction, and cooking, among many other things.