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One of the most favourite
characters of “Stargate Atlantis” is the brilliant but arrogant and
self-confident Dr. McKay. Fans love and
hate him at the same time. Space
View editor Robert Vogel met McKay’s exactly as talkative alter ego
David Hewlett in Vancouver
during the filming of “Inferno” at the end
of the second season.
Hi David! So tell us, what’s new about Atlantis’ second
season?
There’s a lot of trouble going on, as an addition to the usual
mess McKay gets into many dire situations. The production of the
second
season started like a storm, it’s absolutely crazy. We didn’t have a second
to relax yet. There’s really a lot going on this year.
I was on the set of “Trinity” as an extra and I saw a lot…
Ah yes, right. This episode of all things, where McKay makes a
big mistake! A catastrophe! An apocalypse!
And don’t understate this, as far as I know more than the half of
this solar system was destroyed!
Eh yes, right. But if such a brilliant astrophysicist as McKay
makes a mistake it has to be a big one! What are a few planets compared to
the rest of the big universe! You know, the really bad thing about this is:
Sheppard’s so incredibly resentful, you wouldn’t believe it! The whole
season over he reproaches me with this. He won’t miss any opportunity! I’m
sure that Joe managed to sound even meaner and more sarcastic than the way
it was written in the script.
What did you enjoy the most while filming this season?
Well, there was really a lot. I like the episodes in which McKay
screws up. I love that! You have established this character who’s always
right and always has an answer, and then suddenly there’s this ep and… oops!
I really think it was a good idea because suddenly you don’t know anymore if
McKay is really that brilliant or if he just thinks he’s inerrable. That
adds even more suspense to the story.
Then I liked the episode “Duet”, where the consciousness of this
woman is inside me and she has control over my body at night, when McKay’s
sleeping. I mean, she’s hitting on Dr. Beckett then and kisses him! I think
that’s a milestone of TV show history.
Especially the fans that write gay fiction about the male
characters must have felt as if they were in seventh heaven!
Yes, and I’m really proud of this episode. You don’t believe how
much fun Paul and I had when we were shooting this scene. What we noticed
was that nearly everyone of the crew seemed to drop by to see what we were
doing. “Only a minimal crew for intimate scenes” – as if! But I really have
practice in kiss scenes now. You want me to show it to you?
Eh, rather not. I’m not as attractive as Paul.
Ok. But Paul was so impressed by my kissing technique that he
sent me flowers afterwards. Torri kept telling people that she saw that
there was tongue involved after a few seconds.
And, was it that way?
Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell. You had your chance!
Another highlight of the season for me was “Grace Under Pressure”.
McKay’s
in a puddlejumper that crashes into the ocean and he hits his head.
While the jumper’s sinking he’s hallucinating Sam Carter! Of
course he knows
that she can’t be real so he asks her: “If you’re my hallucination, why are
you wearing clothes?” (laughs) The banter
is really hilarious.
Is this a crossover episode then?
Yes! Filming with Amanda is just fantastic. Amanda’s simply
gorgeous. Wait, did I say that now or McKay? Well, doesn’t matter,
why am I
telling you that, you already know her a few years longer than I do! This
woman’s working on Stargate for nine years now, and she’s still full
of energy, you can only admire that.
After all these action episodes this ep was meant to be a ‘two-person
thing’. We
filmed these scenes in the water at university. There was this
huge tank, and the set was installed on a lifting ramp and was lowered
into
the water bit by bit. I actually felt like a child in a pool. And I thought
it was really nice that the audience got to see how McKay thinks about
Carter, that was a nice addition to his background.
Do you have time to look for other jobs during the hiatus?
I do, but as an actor I’m a natural pessimist. I always expect
that I’ll never work again, and then I’m always surprised when a new
job
comes up. My next project is a film that hasn’t got a title yet, I’ll direct
it and Paul and my sister Kate will be in it. It’s a black comedy
but also
very funny. Well of course if Paul is in it… you know Paul. But he doesn’t
have an accent in this film, and that alone is weird.
The film is about a
brother, who meets the fiancé of his sister and doesn’t really like him. In
the end he even wants to see him dead.
My sister Kate is acting as well and
she’s the funniest person I know, she always makes me laugh. There’s the
chance that she’ll be on Atlantis next season, playing McKay’s sister, but
that’s not confirmed yet.
The good thing about being on this TV show is that you know that you have
four months of free time. You don’t have to work if you don’t want to then.
For me this ‘free time’ is always a good opportunity to write a script or to
try new things.
Stargate SG1 had more or less a new start with new
characters in season 9, and there were also changes on Stargate Atlantis.
What do you think about that?
Foremost I was glad that Paul belongs to the main cast now.
Rainbow is now a recurring character, but he has to do a lot more in those
episodes in which he’s in now. I think it was a good decision. Regarding
Jason and Mitch I think that they settled in far too quickly. They already
feel at home here. And look at Ronon, he’s everything McKay isn’t:
Good-looking, strong and taciturn. I really think the producers wanted a
counterbalance for McKay. Caldwell is the grumpy military guy who works
exactly to rule. That’s why McKay takes side with him so often, because he
thinks this way it’s easier to accomplish what he wants himself.
A last question: What do you and McKay have in common?
Obviously the same body and the gift of the gab. Apart from that
I try to leave all the resemblances in the studio, because when I
come home
after work my girlfriend gives my five minutes to switch back to David
Hewlett. After that I get death threats. Does this
answer your question?
Oh yes it does! Until the next time then, David!
Stay happy and greet our German fans!
Translated
into English by
Arlessiar.
Thank you
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