Good Guy
Oceana Hellman, Alexandra Vandernoot, Bruce Young
In the Loft

These guys are all neat people, all so overwhelmed by the massive support and recognition they received for whatever their role. About halfway through this Q/A I started loosing questions, you can still kind of grasp what was asked by what they said, but it was more like we were listening in to their conversations about the show with occasional directives given from some observer.

(photo by Mistress Wanderer)

Q: Oceana, was the disease ever specified and do you think Alexa and Methos were married?

A: No, they never said what it was, just that it was terminal. It's possible that they were married, I think Peter thought they were.

Q: Alexandra, has being tall been a problem when looking for work as an actress?

A (she's 5'10): I couldn't do a few parts, but with HL Adrian was tall so it was never a problem. Now, in France the reverse has happened. They cast me and then try to find a tall man.
HL was a large thing for me. Since then I've been in the HBO move The Window and now I'm busy with French TV and movies.

Q: Bruce, is your character in the sentinel going to be more active.

A: Yes (really,. . .that's all he said)

Q: How does real life relationships reflect on the strong relationships between the characters?

A-Alexandra: We act with our true emotions. Sometimes we steal from our partner, but then our partner needs to be a good partner so there is something to steal.

Q: Bruce, what traits of Carl's did you like?

A: I liked his humanity and his independence.
Alexandra: I liked everything about Tessa, but I missed having my own flashbacks.

Q: What advice would you give to young actors?

A-Bruce: Be prepared for a lot of disappointment, but if you give your heart to it you'll follow it at all cost. Also start on stage.
Alexandra: Chance has a big role in what happens.
Oceana: I fell into acting by chance, but never be involved for the money. It is a passion, and art, something that drives you. And make sure you have other interests to pay the bills.

Bruce: I won't take a part where Carl is killed. My work schedule will prevent me from being in the movie.

Q: Alexandra-Tessa was such a passionate artist, are you involved in any art?

A: No acting is my only passion. The idea for Tessa's sculpting probably came from Panzer, who's wife is a sculpturer.

Q: Oceana- do you think Alexa knew about Adam's immortality?

A: I don't know if Alexa knew. (she talked a minute about knowing more was added to her character in subsequent episodes she wasn't in) I know in Timeless she didn't know. She was dealing with dying and this guy comes into her life. You know what the greatest line is, in my humble opinion? "Because the alternative is unthinkable."

Q: Bruce-were you aware you were going to be brought back?

A: Yes, do to the chemistry in between Carl and Duncan. It took a bit to get our schedules together and get them to work.

Q: Are you surprised at the passionate response to your characters?

A-Alexandra: "Oh yes!" I didn't know there would be so many people. This is my first convention. It was a few months after Tessa died before the mail sent to Rysher and the producers was forwarded to me. I had no idea that I had reached so many people. (in almost an aside) Perhaps if I had I would have stayed.
Bruce: On one level no, due to what we do as actors, but on a second level (motions to all of us happy fans in the crowd) Yes!
Oceana: Everyday there would be letters and notes from the internet attached to the cast sheet, so you could see what peoples responses were. I loved the detail and the feeling put into the show. "Its really a wonderful feeling to know you've put yourself out there and touched someone."

Q(from BJ): If Duncan and Tessa could meet in a flashback time, when would that be?

A-Alexandra: In a castle in Versailles.

Q: Were there any practical jokes you can tell us about?

A-Bruce: None that I can repeat!
Alexandra: (at someone's request-the cat story) One day my hairdresser and I were talking and she said there were no cats allowed in Canada. I live in a hotel and don't get out a lot while filming, . . .so I believed her. A few days later there was one of the staff waiting for me at the trailer. He said he'd found this cat and didn't want it hurt, so I let him put it in my trailer. I mentioned it to the hairdresser and she said I'd be in trouble.
When I went back to my trailer after the shoot there was a man dressed as a policeman waiting for me. He said there had been a report of a cat in my trailer. I didn't know what to do, so I locked myself in the trailer and told him to 'Talk to the producer.' After it was over I felt very stupid.

Then, low and behold, Adrian shows up. Alexandra points to him and says "He was behind the cat!" He saunters on stage and just says he thought he'd return the visit she'd paid during his Q/A, but to carry on.

Q: Alexandra-how difficult was it in Counterfeit to play the separate characters?

A: I got to play a very bad woman, but I knew Tessa enough to separate them. I want to quit dying though! I thought one moment was very weird, when I died again on Tessa's grave.
Duncan: You know, I've a good picture of that I should show you (to Alexandra), but you out there don't get to see that!

Q: How many of you have children?

A-Oceana: I have two boys, 5 and 3. They are the love of my life. Mother hood is the best acting school.
Bruce: Two boys, 9 and 11.
Alexandra: I have one boy, Leo.
Adrian: Yeah, but no one wants to have one with me. (uproar from the crowd)

Alexandra: Yes, we woman are very complex.
Adrian: Did you know what the real difference between men and women is? (someone shouts something from the crowd) No, not that, I'm talking biologically. Men have one hormone, which we've all seen a fair amount of up here. :) Women have these multiple hormones that are constantly changing. No wonder we can never figure them out!
Alexandra: Yes, we women are very fast.
Adrian: That's funny, it's normally the men who are fast!

I love the interplay between these two. You can really see where the Duncan/Tessa relationship came from. She always had a comeback, and she didn't let him win. I think she was the only one I saw who made him speechless. It really was neat, and perhaps it was from them starting together that she didn't sit back from him like the others tended to.

Q: What was it like for you two to perform the fight scene in Manhunt?

A-Bruce: It was fun, I was glad they let us do it.
Adrian: It was a lot longer too. Oh, and do you remember the part where he flies through the rack in the Dojo? He went through the real side.
Bruce: Yeah, only I didn't go through!

(I think it was about here that Adrian left, though I forgot to put that in my notes)

Q: Why do you think the show is so popular?

A-Alexandra: It's a good show. We worked very hard. It was a new idea and it covered moral issues and involved history.

Q: What was your favorite scene working with Adrian?

A-Bruce: Kicking his butt in the Dojo.
Alexandra: I liked them all.

Q: What did you think about how the show ended?

A-Oceana: I loved it. It was surprising, touching, and powerful. I think it did the five years justice.

Alexandra: I think that Tessa may not have been that sad without Duncan. Of course Adrian is perfect,. . .but there is life without Adrian! (pause for laughter) Of course, I wouldn't be saying this if he were here, he'd take my head!

Then it was over. I really have to say, the person I was most excited to see this entire weekend was Alexandra, and I was in no way disappointed she was truly a graceful eloquent woman. Oceana really impressed me by her depth and gentility(and to impress Buff Mang with gentility says something).

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