Envelope Chat Transcription, 6/21/07

This is a transcript of Katee's chat with fans on June 21, 2007, in the LA Times' "Envelope" forum. It was transcribed by wisteria, and was originally posted to her LiveJournal as two entries. It is divided into two sections; the first doesn't contain any spoilers for Battlestar Galactica's upcoming fourth season, but the second section does, so if you are wary of spoilers, stop after the first section. Also, she was unable to grab the names of the questioners, so everyone is anonymous. Apologies to the fans who asked the questions. Many thanks to wisteria for transcribing this and allowing us to use it, and many thanks to Katee for the chat!

Update, 6/30/07: The full transcript has been published at the original site, and is here as well. We've decided to leave this version up as it's divided into spoiler-free and spoilery sections for those who prefer not to be spoiled.

Spoiler-free section:

Katee Sackhoff: Hey everyone. so glad to be here. forgive me i type slow.

Q: Hi Katee, BSG fans love you! It’s criminal that the show hasn’t gotten any Emmy reognition yet. Do the cast and crew feel like this might be the year it breaks through?
Katee Sackhoff: I would love the show to get the recognition from emmy
Katee Sackhoff: But at the same time I think we all know how great it is

Q: Katee, there were reports that the killing off and restoration of Starbuck was such that you couldn't even tell your own family what was going on, let alone the crew? True?
Katee Sackhoff: I couldn't tell anyone. My poor father didn't know. He would have CC everyone on his e mail list.
Katee Sackhoff: I was joking on the gag reel. How strange is that? [Ed: the TV Guide video interview where she said, "I'm a Cylon, and I die."]

Q: All together now - we want Katee audio commentary on Maelstrom aside from Ron's podcast on the season 3 DVD. Who's wit me?
Katee Sackhoff: I wish I could do the commentary on some dvds or eps.
Katee Sackhoff: The best part of my job is the fans. I love that little girls look up to her and to me. It makes me feel like my life has meaning

Katee Sackhoff: I love working with Callum. He's amazing.
Katee Sackhoff: I do think there's a side to her that loves him. Maybe only because of how much she identifies with him. being an outsider. Plus he's hot, and Starbuck loves hot men

Q: Setting aside the writers' plans, what do YOU want to happen to you character this season? [Ed: my question!]
Katee Sackhoff: I just hope that at the end of this season that there is nothing more for Starbuck to say.
Q: What do you mean? Happy ending for her?
Katee Sackhoff: No, not happy ending. I hate when stories are wrapped up in a pretty little bow with a bow on it.
Katee Sackhoff: It's not realistic.
Q: What wd you ending for starbuck be?
Katee Sackhoff: I just want her to be at peace with whatever she faces - she looked pretty at peace when she blew up.

Q: What do you do to blow off steam after so much blood and thunder onscreen?
Katee Sackhoff: I hang out with my dogs and my boyfriend.
Katee Sackhoff: we love to go to concerts

Q: Katee, let's get to the other show I've already cleared space for on my DVR - Bionic Woman. How did you wind up with the role of Sarah Corvus, and without giving anything away, have they told you how many episodes you're slated for
Katee Sackhoff: I was told about bionic woman by David Eick.
Katee Sackhoff: he gave me the script and I fell in love with the character of Sara
Katee Sackhoff: we were just waiting to see if they would allow me to do both shows
Katee Sackhoff: I don't know how many eps i will be in. it's in negotiation.
Katee Sackhoff: they both shoot in Van. on the same lot.
Katee Sackhoff: sara is definitely the nemesis. she loves to be evil.

Q: i've missed seeing female characters in scenes together on bsg. will we see starbuck in more scenes with roslin and the other women this season?
Q: Mary Mcdonnell spoke of a scene where you and her laughed on and on and it took a long time to film. which scene was that? good luck with the show this year!
Katee Sackhoff: The scene when mary and i couldn't stop laughing was the one where leoben gets airlocked.
Katee Sackhoff: we just couldn't get through it. Then we finally did and david eick's kid cried!!!

Q: Katee, Claudia Christian said something on her blog recently about doing a reality show with you. Can you say anything about that?
Katee Sackhoff: Claudia and I are working on a reality show. I'm not sure what I can say about that right now though. We are shopping it.

Q: Katee, you totally made me cry in Maelstrom. How do you cry on cue like that? It was a great performance.
Katee Sackhoff: I can't cry on cue!!! I have to really be in the moment. and it just sorta comes out.
Katee Sackhoff: I did a lot of crying and screaming in the last ep. Thank you very much. I'm so proud of that ep.

Q: Katee, how fun is it to play a 'bad guy', for lack of a better term? We're getting a glimpse of how fun Leah Cairns (Racetrack) is going to be on Kyle XY.
Katee Sackhoff: It is so much fun to play the bad guy. What I love about Sara is that she makes no apologies for her actions. Kinda like Baltar

Q: Can you talk about your Lifetime movie a little? It's airing on July 1st.
Katee Sackhoff: The lifetime movie was so much fun. The character is more like myself than anything I've ever done. There's lots of funny moments in it. My mom loved it. but then again that's the target audience right? I will be interested to see what my fans think about it. If they can see me as another person other than Starbuck.

Q: Please tell your castmates and crew how much the show means to the fans. I can't remember a show that made me think as well as entertained me this much!
Katee Sackhoff: I will tell them. We all work so hard and love this show so much.

Q: Yeah, do you worry about typecasting with all these crazy, strong female roles?
Katee Sackhoff: There's worse things than being typecast as a strong woman
Katee Sackhoff: I'm just good at it, I guess
Katee Sackhoff: What's funny is before Starbuck i never played tough girls. now I'm the go to tough girl
Katee Sackhoff: I love all sides of Starbuck. now the macho tough side comes easier for me. but her emotional vulnerable side is the most fun. I think.

Q: Do you know when or if White Noise 2 will be coming to DVD?
Katee Sackhoff: White Noise 2 comes out in Oct.

Q: I read somewhere that you might guest on the L Word. True?
Katee Sackhoff: No plans to do The L Word
Katee Sackhoff: I'm not against playing a gay character, but the right project has not come up.
Katee Sackhoff: Am i really a gay icon?
Q: [many people shout "YES!"]
Katee Sackhoff: now all at once...YES!!!!!
Q: Katee, I've never seen any other woman that so many straight girls would go gay for.
Katee Sackhoff: Come on not even Angelina?
Q: So, how does that make you feel?
Q: Seriously. Not even her.
Katee Sackhoff: It's interesting

Q: You've been in the business for a while, is the BSG cast the best group you've worked with, do you still learn from people like EJO and Mary McDonnell?
Katee Sackhoff: I always try to learn from everyone I'm working with
Katee Sackhoff: Eddie and Mary especially.
Katee Sackhoff: I've been fortunate to work with amazing people my entire career.

Q: I don't know about being a gay icon, but I think bsg has made a lot of straight girls like myself fall in love with strong and hot female characters like Starbuck and Roslin. they need to do some femslash between you guys on the show if Starbuck and Roslin don't get laid with anyone.
Katee Sackhoff: I'm going to miss the cast so much.
Katee Sackhoff: We finish in March
Katee Sackhoff: I think everyone. I cant say who the most.
Katee Sackhoff: I know that Tricia and I will be friends forever.
Katee Sackhoff: Trisha is one of the best actresses I've seen
Katee Sackhoff: when she gets the chance she blows everyone away.

Q: Any chance we'll see any scenes with you and Mark Sheppard? I think Kara meeting Romo would just brilliant.
Katee Sackhoff: Watch Bionic for me and Mark Sheppard.
Katee Sackhoff: He's my creator...

Q: That's right, he's got a fairly big role in that...As of today, Katee, how many episodes of BSG have been filmed? How has the cast gone about things now that they know season 4 is the end?
Katee Sackhoff: we have shot 5 eps.
Katee Sackhoff: It's business as usual.
Katee Sackhoff: won't get weird 'til the end

Q: What are your feelings towards the Cylons as Katee the person at this point in the series? Love them/hate them/not that simple? Do you guys discuss this sort of thing on the show?
Katee Sackhoff: I always said playing a Cylon would be the most fun and challenging
Katee Sackhoff: I love the Cylons.
Katee Sackhoff: That's what is so cool about our show. You never know who to root for.

Q: What's Grace Park like? She's seems like a really cool person.
Katee Sackhoff: Grace is a sweetie.

Q: Please tell us the Lee/Kara/Sam/Dee quadrangle of doom is over! Please.
Katee Sackhoff: Sam and Kara will always love each other but i think its over.
Q: Even if they're both Cylons?
Katee Sackhoff: Kara and Lee. I do believe they are soulmates.
Q: What about Dee?
Katee Sackhoff: Dee who??? just kidding

Q: Maybe a stupid question, but did Mike Trucco really injure his leg since he was in a cast for the last 3 episodes of season 3?
Katee Sackhoff: No, he didn't hurt his leg.

Q: whoever's the 5th cylon must be having a hard time keeping it a secret from everyone else...assuming he/she knows already...does the cast know who the 5th cylon is?
Katee Sackhoff: Nobody knows who the 5th is. I think they learned they can't keep a secret by trying to kill me. They are not telling anyone.

Q: Speaking of injured legs ... how's your knee?
Katee Sackhoff: My knee feels like crap. thanks for asking.
Katee Sackhoff: I got dropped onto cement during bionic.
Katee Sackhoff: dislocated it and tore the maniscus tendon.
Katee Sackhoff: getting better though slowly.
Katee Sackhoff: cried like a baby.
Katee Sackhoff: It was so weird because i didn't want to let them know i was hurt.
Katee Sackhoff: I've made a career out of being the tough girl
Katee Sackhoff: didn't want them to know i was breakable.
Katee Sackhoff: same knee that Starbuck hurt in you cant go home again.
Q: at least doc cottle aint keeping the painkillers for himself
Katee Sackhoff: haha
Q: Does that knock you out of production?
Katee Sackhoff: no it doesn't. we just have to be careful doing stunts now.
Katee Sackhoff: you should have seen David Eick's face. when it happened very funny... Now!

Q: So, what is it like doing all the sex scenes, you sure get to do a lot of them?
Katee Sackhoff: When I got the role I never dreamed I would be the one doing all the sex scenes

Q: Katee, what TV shows do you like to watch....aside from BG.
Katee Sackhoff: I watch Top Chef.
Katee Sackhoff: Lost
Katee Sackhoff: I've met Josh.. so cute.
Katee Sackhoff: and Deadliest Catch. I love to fish so it's so cool to me.
Katee Sackhoff: Any kind of fishing.

Q: are they still thinking about getting dirk benedict on BSG?
Katee Sackhoff: I don't think Dirk will be on the show, but you never know.
Katee Sackhoff: At one time they did want him on the show, but it never went anywhere.
Katee Sackhoff: Richard is coming back for sure

Q: How's your brother doing?
Katee Sackhoff: my bro is good.

Q: Katee, who do you think is the final Cylon?
Q: Baltar is probably the Cylon god.
Katee Sackhoff: God.
Q: Baltar would like to *think* he's the Cylon God.
Katee Sackhoff: Yes. how interesting.

Q: Do you have any favourite Starbuck scenes or fave scenes for the other characters?
Katee Sackhoff: I love the scene in the paint.
Katee Sackhoff: and the scenes with the little girl.

Q: Katee, what do you think of the show's soundtrack? Any favorite tracks?
Katee Sackhoff: I love the opening song. It's on my ipod.
Q: Please let Bear McCreary know he's the best TV composer in the business, BAR NONE.
Katee Sackhoff: He is awesome. Emmy!

Q: Speaking of Jamie....do you guys ever tease Jamie by putting on a British accent?
Katee Sackhoff: I make fun of Jamie all the time.
Q: Jamie's speech in Crossroads II was amazing!
Katee Sackhoff: he was great in that ep.
Katee Sackhoff: Michelle Ryan from bionic does a good job as well.
Katee Sackhoff: She's a Brit.

Q: Katee, is it genre bias, in your opinion that's holding BSG back? Much like it did with Buffy the Vampire Slayer for starters and ST: Next Gen (until the end, that is)??
Katee Sackhoff: I just don't think BSG is mainstream enough
Q: It's too bad it gets pigeon-holed.
Katee Sackhoff: i agree.

Katee Sackhoff: OK, guys, I have to sign off now. It has been great. Loved every minute of it.
Katee Sackhoff: Thanks for the support
Katee Sackhoff: you are the best.
Katee Sackhoff: thanks again everyone. Enjoy BSG and Bionic this year.
Katee Sackhoff: bye

SPOILERS FOLLOW: You have been warned.

Q: tell us what you know about Starbuck's mysterious death and RETURN
Katee Sackhoff: I have no idea what Starbuck is. I know that she is not imaginary, but could be a Cylon. I was told Starbuck wasn't going to be a Cylon. but with BSG you never know. I mean, they killed me!!!!

Q: Katee...What exactly will 'Razor' entail, since it's going to count as 2 episodes against BSG's 22-ep season 4 order?
Katee Sackhoff: Razor is all about Pegasus
Katee Sackhoff: It will show what happened on the Pegasus before they met up with Galactica

Q: What about "Razor"?
Katee Sackhoff: In Razor, I'm in like maybe a quarter of it
Q: more than just a cameo?
Katee Sackhoff: There is a gay storyline
Katee Sackhoff: But they are saying that it's all up to people's speculation.
Katee Sackhoff: I think it's about time
Katee Sackhoff: You guys know too much already
Q: Katee, it's all your fault, 'cause you and Michelle Forbes had such chemistry...
Katee Sackhoff: I swear I'm not going to be making out with Michelle

Katee Sackhoff: there will be a lot more of Leoben and Starbuck
Katee Sackhoff: I don't know which [version of] Leoben it would be.

Q: You and Mary McDonnell have had a couple great moments together, but not lately. Will we see you two interact at all this year?
Katee Sackhoff: Mary and I do have interaction. I can't promise it will be all good though

Q: Do the President and Starbuck compete over who will lead the fleet?
Katee Sackhoff: I think Kara is sorta going off on her own this year.
Katee Sackhoff: Yes there is competition between Kara and Roslin.
Q: Katee, you may have Roslin on youth, but she's got that airlock thing...
Katee Sackhoff: I don't know if she knows very funny. she may even try to airlock me in this season
[editorial interjection: The "I don't know if she knows" was in reference to someone asking if Mary knew that her nickname was "Madame Airlock."]

Q: pegasus really made me wish the cylons would nuke the hell out of the fleet
Katee Sackhoff: Wait 'til you see razor. You may think that again.

Q: This is a total geek-tease question, but can you give us a line of recent dialogue? Just for kicks?
Katee Sackhoff: OK recent. Let me see.
Katee Sackhoff: "I'm not a Cylon, you bitch!"
Q: spoken by you?
Katee Sackhoff: Yes, by me.
Q: roslin is gonna try pulling a madame airlock on you isnt she?
Katee Sackhoff: Can't say.