Al Norton: How much of a 24 fan were you before you got the job?
Katee Sackhoff: I watched the first season, every single episode, and then with the schedule for Battlestar I just got busy. And especially with 24, if you miss an episode you’re really far behind. They do that really good recap from the previous week’s episode. In all honesty, the recaps are so long on 24 that you almost see the whole episode. I loved the show coming in. I loved Kiefer, the whole thing. They figured out how to keep people interested in a show for so many years that isn’t a procedural.
Al Norton: How much did you know about Dana before you started seeing the actual scripts?
Katee Sackhoff: When I went in and auditioned I knew the role was going to go one way or the other, either possibly be a throwaway or become something more. I went in and sat down with the guys and we talked about it and they promised they would give me a gun at some point.
Al Norton: They didn’t tell you who you might shoot, though.
Katee Sackhoff: No, and they didn’t actually say I was going to shoot it, either, just that I would have a gun. I should have gotten that in writing and I should have made them clarify something like, “you are going to pull the trigger.”
Al Norton: Is it hard to prep for a role when you don’t know that much about it?
Katee Sackhoff: It is because I knew somewhat about Dana/Jenny, I knew that’s who she was as far as background, but beyond that I couldn’t prepare for too much. I had to really commit to the moment because you can’t commit to the story.
Al Norton: What’s Kiefer like to work with?
Katee Sackhoff: Lovely. Kiefer gives 110% to everything that he does. He’s fantastic.
Al Norton: Both 24 and Battlestar have very passionate fan bases that use the internet to talk about how they feel about the show. Do you ever succumb to temptation and go searching?
Katee Sackhoff: Yeah, they’re all like, “I hate Dana! (laughing)” I don’t go looking anymore. The moment during the beginning of Battlestar when people began insulting me as an actual person I was like, “and I quit the internet.”
Al Norton: Avoiding talking about any projects in general, how do you deal with being in the middle of pilot season and having your character and possibly your show be so up in the air?
Katee Sackhoff: The good thing about 24 is that I’m friends with Brannon Braga (one of the show’s executive producers) so it makes it easier for me to get some information out of him. I can find out enough so that I don’t worry either way. I haven’t had to gamble too much with what I am going to be doing.
