Q: Does the series pick up from where the movie ended?

A: The series picks up basically, I guess it's like one or two weeks after the end of the movie. I think it was a good idea by all the producers and the writers because there's a lot explained in the first episode if you had missed (the movie) or if you had any questions about what was going on with the Witchblade and people involved. . . It's all answered there. So you can kind of get your questions answered and you're ready to go forward and watch.

Q: Do you think Jake has more footing as the series progresses?

A: Well, we've been shooting for awhile but there's definitely a progression or an arc that Jake goes through - the character goes through - which is great; it gives me a huge place to go to. And even in the first episode I'm off to a better start than I was in the movie. He knows a bit - he's just a little more solid on his feet as a person and as a detective. So it's good. He's not like running around with a chicken with his head cut off as much.

Q: What is the relationship with Pezzini?

A: He covers it very well. It's like one of those attractions you have but he's there to do a good job and work hard. He really believes in what he's doing as a homicide detective. And there's always moments between her and I that we have and where you see, like, his attraction for her and it plays out a bit. But it's pretty much subtle. It's thread through very carefully.

Q: What do you think Jake sees in Sara that maybe some of the other characters can't see?

A: That's a good question. I think her character comes across to a lot of people who are involved with her as just rock solid. And I think my character is privy to actually seeing her as a human being a little bit. You know, you see her when she breaks down or has weaknesses. And that makes her more human and that makes my character kind of, you know, kind of gravitate towards her a little more.

Q: And why do you think Jake's allegiance to Sara comes into question in terms of his dealings with Dante?

A: Well I think Dante sees that I'm new to the whole, to this unit - the homicide detectives. And he's looking to kind of get a foothold somewhere that he can kinda play against her. He's not too happy about female detectives and especially the fact that she's a kickass female detective, you know. This is an old school guy who comes from doing it his way or the highway, you know what I mean? So he starts lobbying me quite heavily and trying to, like, push my allegiance onto his side and you know maybe do a little. . . uh, we'll see. (LAUGHS)

Q: What scoop can you give us on the White Bulls. Who are they?

A: Good question! (LAUGHS, unsure of how much the cast can give away) White Bulls is kind of a vigilante group although, like Dante there's people involved in it that actually track back even into Sara's life (and) she's not really privy to that knowledge yet. But it's a group of old school cops who. . .take a little bit of - what's the word? They just kind of go where they shouldn't be going. They don't like females and they don't like females who are stepping on their toes heavily. So they have this kind of secret group who go around and kind of take things into their own hands. And actually turn a bit of a profit on it at the same time. And it's pretty damn interesting.

Q: You brought up kickass women. How does this show fit into the leagues of those shows that have such a good fan base like Buffy, Dark Angel and La Femme Nikita? What does it say about star roles for women?

A: Obviously people wanna see it. Everything we see is leading man, leading man, no matter where you go, except in last five years they're starting to break out where there are female leads. And it's just a nice twist on things to actually see a female out there, you know, kickin' ass and takin' names. I think people are kind of - it's new and they wanna watch it. However, I have to say that I think Yancy's character is above and beyond all the others who are out there right now. She's honestly just - the whole realm of things she's involved in, her character - I think we got the number one chick.

Q: How are you guys given scripts? Do you know what's going to happen week to week?

A: A couple hours after we shoot the scene. (LAUGHS) It depends on. . ..they have already written, actually, all of it and they're kind of careful about how much we know, because there's a lot that goes down in these eleven episodes and they don't want us to change our performances according to what actually happens, maybe, in episode eleven. So as of now some people actually see more and some people see less of the arc of all the scripts.

Q: Where do you see Jake going in terms of his relationship with Pez or on the force?

A: I think . . .I'm gonna have to become privy to the knowledge of the Witchblade because it's always going on and she's always got all these weird moments that I'm like, 'what are you doing woman?' You know, 'why are you making - or where are you going?' you know? Because she's always locked off in these weird trances or things she does or says. And so I think that's gonna have to unfold in this to go further. And then once I'm aware of it, my character's kind of hip and cool enough that it's not gonna be like 'well this is ridiculous'. He would accept it and maybe kind of become like a solid team where you could actually play off it and it'd be like, 'come on, Sara, use the Witchblade right now. We're getting our asses kicked here!' kind of thing.

Q: Is Jake aware something is happening to her, or does he just think she's out there right now?

A: In each episode it grows. I see a little more and I see a little more and I see a little more as episodes go. And it's . . .to the point of 'you gotta fess up. Something here is not right.' So there's gonna be kind of a boiling point where she's got to tell me what's going on because the things that she does - it's too bazaar in the real world as far as witnessing it, you know? It's believable what she's doing but it's so random. You're with another detective and she's off in this weird thing. And you know she kicks ass on like fifteen guys, then they are all dead, and she comes out without a scratch! So I think that's gonna happen.

Q: How does the show deal with the whole supernatural aspect?

A: Very carefully. The supernatural aspect - the way the writers and Ralph and everybody's kind of come together storywise - it's absolutely amazing, because it traces and it connects episode to episode in how they go back in history to the pope and to Hitler and the way the Witchblade has existed (back) to Joan of Arc. And they actually track it so well that you read it and you get chills. It's kind of like the Raiders of the Lost Ark. And you're like 'oh my God! This could happen. This could be out there.' And it's done so well and it comes up in the weirdest places. The connections between two different generations or whatever it is - you're just like wow. So it's really exciting to read on that level and also to be a part of that. It's really cool.

Q: So this show is also pretty much grounded in reality.

A: Absolutely. And that was the big thing you know. They stressed as far as our performances and everything, because you're dealing with kind of a fantastical element, they wanted everything to be very reality based. And it is. Everybody's performance is as if (the Witchblade) was existing. This is going on in the real world. So. . . you're not gonna be like, 'this is hokey' because it's done so well and everybody is playing it as reality that you'll buy it, you know what I mean?

Q: Your character is based on the original artist's (Michael Turner) brother. . . How do fans react? Do fans of the comic strip approach you and say, 'hey you are Jake'?

A: The fans - I think they love it. And you know what's even better is the executive producer and the people who've seen our dailies are the ones who're comparing and the people in the cast. Like when you see onscreen, you're like 'oh my God. Man you are Jake!' And looks wise, in the character, it's just a really good fit. So I think they're going to be really excited... And everybody actually in the whole entire cast fits so well and it's such an eclectic cast and everybody brings their own gig to the dance. Everybody's really strong in their own way. And you put everybody together - I don't think there's any cast like it on TV.

Q: What about the camaraderie that's grown? Because you guys are basically up in Toronto for quite a while.

A: Yeah. We play a lot of hockey and drink a lot of cokiny (PHOENETIC) (LAUGHS). It's good you know. You're kind of thrown up here and you get to spend a lot of time with each other, which is good because you gotta work together and your characters are together on screen and it works.

Q: Do you ever brainstorm off set and say hey what if we did this?

A: Oh yeah. (LAUGHS) All actors do it, you know. You go home and you hang out and whatever. You hang out with your buddies or your fellow actors and you just 'we should do this and this or I should or you should.' It's just the nature of the business. But it's good because you're adding or you're hopefully adding to what you're going do.

Q: Is there anything that you can say came out of one of those brainstorms?

A: Nothing specifically. I mean. . .I'll work with some of the other actors just on my own scenes even if they're not in 'em, just as if they were an acting coach and it's just good to get another person's take. And yeah you add things or you pull things that you think are taken away from it.

Q: Do you ever miss the days of Baywatch?

A: I'll tell ya. The weather up here is not too superb. And I do miss sittin' out in the sun on the beach. But it's fine. It's a good change. .. .Baywatch was a great gig, don't get me wrong, but you know it's fun to act with clothes on. And this is a higher level of everything. The writing and the people involved. So it's good for me.

Q: Have your fans found you and followed you?

A: Baywatch? Do you mean up here?

Q: Not like physically moved to find you . . . . but know what you're doing. Keep up with your work.

A: Yeah, we were just talking about that actually. Especially because of the Internet there's so much information out there. So they're all pretty privy that Witchblade's going on.

Q: Have you seen any other Yancy Butler movies?

A: Yeah. I've seen Drop Zone and I've seen her on Brooklyn South. And what else did I see her in? That Van Damme movie. Hard Target, yeah.

Q: So what's the one common thread that you see in all these films or what do you think fans most associate her with?

A: I think being a woman of strength. She's got so many levels and it's great to see a woman in that role and be strong and be powerful and be confident in herself. It's attractive you know. You gravitate towards those kind of people. And when it's a woman you gravitate even more because it's kind of unexpected. So she pulls it off. She's good.

Q: How would you say Sara's perception of Jake is evolving?

A: You know, it kind of grows because I think the great thing about this series, compared to the movie, is that my character actually is bringing a lot to the dance. He's actually contributing a lot to helping solve these crimes that we're involved in. And so I come up with some pretty amazing information to help her and help the crime get solved. So each episode where I come up with more and more she's gaining more respect for me, which is better. And the rookie thing is kind of being downplayed. . . .As a team she sees that I add a great amount of value to what we're doing here and it's good. It works.

Q: But if she had to size him up. . .?

A: I think she's starting to get kind of impressed by him, that he's a lot more than she anticipated. And he'll win her over. He'll get the job done.

Q: Thank you very much.

A: Thanks!

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