Interview with Nathan
Thomasina Gibson
Data: 12 Settembre 2004
Fonte: SciFi.com
Brusque Captain Malcolm Reynolds rules his motley crew with a rod of iron, or whatever passes for such in the futuristic adventure series Firefly. Canadian born actor Nathan Fillion has a much more frivolous outlook on life. When we chat, he's been watching Wonder Woman on the TV and we share a giggle about performing the infamous twirl in his living room. "Does this mean you are one of the biggest Wonder Woman fans of all time?" I ask. "Isn't everyone?" Is his immediate reply. "Just remember what she did for the world." Hastily reminding Mr Fillion of the good his character did in the Firefly universe, the actor shrugs, "Well. I guess he does do some good in his own little world but he's kind of self-serving though. Mal is not so much a fella who does what he does for righteousness. He's more the 'We'll do this so we have gasolene for the rest of the trip' kind of a guy."
Whilst that attitude is there to a certain extent, the sharp eyed viewer might just notice a softer side to the Serentity's captain. "Well certainly there was a time when Malcolm Reynolds believed in a higher cause. That's why he signed up and fought in the war." Explains the actor. "Mal joins the army to fight for independence but when he lost and things went from tough to tougher he really kind of ditched out and is kind of empty inside. He hasn't lost his belief. He's just lost his faith. It's not that he doesn't believe in God either. God and Mal just aren't on speaking terms at the moment."
The mischievous Mr Fillion jokes, "Of course, I'm sure God is still out there. Otherwise we wouldn't get out of all those scrapes every week... unless it's a case of the Devil looking after his own."
The man in charge of a crew of drifters and driftwood, Fillion has a wee bit to say about his companions on board and off the ship. "Let me tell you about Gina Torres (Zoe)," he invites. "First off she is a beautiful woman. Number two, what a fantastic person. Salt of the earth. And she can cook. Everything you want her to be on TV- that is what she is like but more so. I adore her. I'm always amazed at the character she plays because the character she plays is the consummate soldier, she is so tough but manages to clinch the 'don't mess around with me' vibe without acting the least bit mannish. I love that she is strong and vibrant and beautiful and feminine."
Talking of girls - what about this Jayne boy? "Ah! Adam Baldwin." smiles Fillion, "God love him. He's a big man. Huge! and you'd think to stay well clear but in real life he is this sweet, funny, family man. When you see him change from that into this tough, gruff character it is quite the transformation. He keeps Jayne simple almost monkey like.
He's got an animal-like curiosity. When you watch him in future episodes
he's always got to be touching everything. He always has something in his
hands. He's always got to be poking and prodding something. If there's something
to be smelled, he smells it. Its all about Jayne's senses and his immediate
environment until it comes to the time when the gauntlet is thrown down
and then he's like a machine. He comes off as this big loveable lug but
he's still a mercenary and Mal knows not to trust him. Zoe knows not to
trust him and everybody else kind of smiles when he's around."
Fillion warns that for all his bravado, the man most likely
to cause trouble for Mal is the quiet doctor, Simon (Sean Maher). "Simon
just doesn't fit in. When my character gives orders on the ship it's to
keep us all clean, keep us all clear and keep us all safe. As Mal, that
is all I care about. So when I say, 'go do this' Simon will second guess
me and argue and it drives me nuts. The only reason I keep him on board
is because he is a thorn in the Alliance's side and if they want him so
bad, I'll keep him just to piss them off. But Simon is not welcome. He has
to watch his step."
There is one person for whom Malcolm Reynolds has a soft spot
and that's for Kaylee, the ship's engineer (Jewel Staite). Says Fillion,
"I think that everyone in Mal's crew has personality qualities that
he has had and then lost and that is most evident in Kaylee. She is this
bright, sparkly thing. She is Hope. She is always looking for the pleasant
side of any situation and has a lust for life and an excitement for the
new and the strange. I think she brings out a quality in Mal that means
whilst he may not share her excitement, he can enjoy hers. She is a very
important part of not only keeping the ship in the air but also keeping
Mal human."
Talking of humans, Fillion has a warm place in his heart
for the thousands who started a snail mail and Internet campaign to try
to persuade the powers that be to re-think their plans for Firefly's untimely
demise. "The series may not have continued but their voices raised
enough clamour that the whole season has been committed to DVD for which
I am forever grateful."
You're welcome, Mr F.
Thomasina Gibson
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