 [Photo: ©2010 FOX Broadcasting Co.] |
Today, I had a thrill! I got to take part in a phone press conference with Olivia Wilde, aka Thirteen. She was delightful and you could just tell how upbeat and energetic she is, just from her voice. I got to ask her several questions, but there were others there asking questions too, and they all revealed interesting things about Olivia and the show. Here’s what we all discussed:
Initially when you guys signed on for the roles, it wasn’t as a regular gig, it was sort of open-ended, right?
Olivia Wilde: Yes, exactly.
So how did that affect the process for you?
Olivia: Well, it meant that we never took it for granted. Which was great. We never knew if our characters were a short-term arc, or if we would be there for a while. It sort of made it more of a mystery and kept us on our toes, which is a really good thing. I think it’s why the performances turned out as well as we all feel that they did. There was no chance to get lazy. It was finding out each week if we’d be there the next week. It was pretty exciting and pretty stressful and it made us just enjoy every minute of it. And ironically, the second that Kal, Peter and I found out that we were going to be regulars, the strike happened. So we still haven’t had a moment to take it for granted.
Did it make things more competitive, with the number of actors there?
Olivia: No. What was amazing was that they did such a great job casting without ever seeing us together, they never knew if we had chemistry. From the second we all met, from the very beginning, we had a great relationship. We decided early on that the only way to deal with the competitiveness was to joke about it constantly. The great thing was that everyone had a very relaxed and secure personality so there wasn’t any cattiness. I’m being completely honest when I say that we were shocked ourselves. We were sure that there would be disappointment or jealousy but there wasn’t because everyone had a great sense of humor about it. We all understood that being on even one episode of House was a huge break for any actor. So once we had done one it was like no one could complain. We trusted the creative producers of the show to pick the people that worked best for the show. Amazingly, there was no competitiveness, there was no jealousy and we all became really, really good friends.
Are there any romantic possibilities between your character and Dr. House?
Olivia: You know, I’ve seen reviews where there is speculation about something romantic between Thirteen and House, but I never picked up on that myself. I think they have a mutual respect and they enjoy sparring with each other. They both are very stubborn and have very strong personalities. I don’t know. I know very little because we find out things almost as soon as the audience does. I think anything is possible with her because she is unpredictable as a person. At this point, what I see between them is not a romantic connection; it’s a mutual respect between two unorthodox and stubborn doctors.
Thirteen’s secret was something that was built up so much. How quickly did you know what her past was?
Olivia: I didn’t. She doesn’t have one secret. I would say that Thirteen is a bowl of secrets. I think that they are slowly revealing things about her. Soon, we’ll learn a little bit more. But the big one that was dropped about her past, that she may have Huntington’s, I actually found out a little earlier than everyone else because I needed to know why I should be so guarded. I went to David Shore and said, “I know you guys keep everything secret and I respect that, but I need to know early on what she’s comfortable with and what strikes a chord with her.” And he trusted me and told me and I didn’t tell a soul, even though it was difficult. It was a good way of getting me into character. Once I knew, it really shaped her for me. It made me have a lot of empathy and respect for her. And as I’m learning more about her, the same thing is happening. I’m learning to love her more and more. They’re very good about keeping a secret on House, even from us. But if we need to know something, they’re cool about letting us know.
Were you a big fan of the show before you were hired, and what other shows do you enjoy watching?
Olivia: I was a big fan of the show. I thought it was really entertaining. I’ve loved Hugh Laurie since Fry & Laurie and Blackadder and a lot of the shows that a lot of people here don’t know him from. I think it’s amazing when an actor can stretch themselves between two genres and do it so successfully. So I had immense respect for him before. But I love the show itself. And I also love The Office. That’s my other favorite show.
The episode on the 29th, It’s a Wonderful Lie, that’s a Christmas episode. Why is that?
Olivia: I think the producers wanted to save some episodes to air in 2008. Because of the strike, it was something a lot of shows had to do. It’s a great episode and they wanted to make sure people got a chance to see it. Of course, there’s our big Super Bowl episode after that. They’ve saved some really fabulous episodes for the next couple of weeks. That one is particularly interesting and the fact that it is a Christmas episode is odd and funny, but sort of is in the vein of House humor. It’s something House would do, to have Christmas late.
What about the episode, Frozen. What was the most interesting aspect of that one?
Olivia: I respect Mira Sorvino immensely as an actress and I was really excited when I heard she was coming to do the show. A lot of big actors want to come on House to do a show as guest stars and they’re not necessarily so open to that. They pick people who are right for the roles, whether they’re unknowns or famous. She really wanted to do it, and was perfect. They were happy to welcome her and we were all really excited to meet her. And the interesting thing about it, without giving anything away, there’s a new technique of filming in that episode. There’s a new in which we’re going to see House and there’s anew sort of vehicle for the plot to move along. I’m being vague, but it’s a really interesting episode of House. He’s forced to diagnose without the usual tools that he has. He’s forced to work a little harder and it’s a whole new way of working for him. He’s forced to confront a lot of his own fears about confronting the patient personally. It’s a really, really good one.
Can you tell me about your upcoming film credits for Six?
Olivia: Yeah, we just came back from Sundance, it was fabulous.
It says that it was shot in the first person. How was that accomplished?
Olivia: there was one camera. It was an HD camera. My husband, who is also the director, shot most of it. He spent most of the time behind the camera. Occasionally, other characters pick it up. It meant that we had to stretch ourselves beyond being actors and learn to film as well. It was really exciting and it’s inspired me to do it again. The film is really interesting, it’s an unorthodox way of filming and we had an amazing premiere at Sundance. Now we heading to the Santa Barbara Film Festival so people should be seeing that soon.
Who do you play in Year One?
Olivia: Princess Ananna, the princess of Sodom & Gomorrah.
Unless I’ve missed it, we have not found out your character’s real name yet have we?
Olivia: No. You’ve not.
Do you have any idea if we will any time soon?
Olivia: I thought they were going to reveal it a while ago. I think it’s great that the producers have made this dramatic choice not to reveal it when they had planned to. They’ve actually tried to hide it. It’s disappeared from the call sheets, and from around set. I think they’re not putting too much value on the secrecy of a name, but they like the fact that it’s established a sort of inside joke between House and Thirteen. He could easily look at her file and see her name but he chooses to keep it up. I think they’ve form a relationship. She has, from the beginning just called him House as they all do. It’s almost like the formality of “Dr. This” and “Dr. That” has been taken away. So using thirteen as her name when he knows her pretty intimately at this point, is a way of acknowledging the joke of her keeping everything tightly a secret. It’s sort of a tongue-in-cheek way of saying “You can keep it in, but I’m going to find out everything.” And the rest of the team uses it as a joke. They could find out her name, if they really wanted to.
It is very House-like. Do you know it yet?
Olivia: I do. Yes. I love it. I have no idea how long it will take for everyone to find out.
The next question is about the trading of the Secret Santa gifts in the next episode. Can you tell us anything?
Olivia: It’s a shock to everyone that House would want to partake in a Secret Santa. But, of course, he proceeds in a very House-like way. And he’s going to change the rules of the game. You know, House is the Grinch. So, to imagine him taking part in a Christmas game is all too delicious. I really laughed my way through the script. It’s one of the most brilliant ones. It’s also quite heartbreaking, as they always are. It’s a really interesting episode as well because the competition is now over and he no longer has the same power over the characters as he has up until this point. The dynamic has changed. House reacts to that and it has something to do with how he proceeds in the game. He doesn’t like to give up games. He likes to always be playing one game or another.
What types of things did you as an actor do to prepare yourself to play Thirteen?
Olivia: It’s interesting is so different from me. I mean, I will meet someone for five minutes on the street and give them my social security numbers. I have to stop doing that. I’m learning from Thirteen. It’s actually better to keep things closer. Thirteen is an observer. She would rather be quiet in a situation and watch and learn from everything around her. It’s something I started doing more. As an actor, I’m a total ham and an attention hog, so when I started playing this role, I tried to sort of sit back and watch more. It started to rub off more and more on me. One of my beloved cast mates said that to me a few days ago. “You’re so Thirteen right now! C’mon, we’re out to dinner. You’re still Thirteen!” She doesn’t let people get to her and I think that’s something to be admired. I’ve learned from her by understanding the way she operates. I’ve tried to explore that in my own personal life and see what I learn from and bring that to the set.
Some critics have said that Thirteen is just a new version of Cameron, Jennifer Morrison’s character. What do you say about that?
Olivia: I’m surprised by that. I find Cameron to be so compassionate and emotional and she’s just so lovable and a lover. I’ve been watching the show for a while and that’s how I see her. I find thirteen to be almost the opposite. She’s not cutthroat, as Amber was, but she’s definitely not as soft and open as Cameron is. Cameron is the kind of doctor that you wish you would find when you walk into the ER. She’s always got the patience and life is her priority, even above her own. Thirteen is different in the way she approaches things. She’s holding back something personal that stops her from having the same kind of compassion and the same type of softness. I think they operate differently in certain situations. I understand how there’s two girls on a show; they’re always going to compare them. I’m amazingly flattered to be compared to her physically, because I think Jennifer is stunning. I think fans are going to be resistant to a new person on House and I understand that. And the fact that they are seeing parallels in the two characters is because the writers are writing…there aren’t too many girls on House, so when they are writing for them, some of it may come out sounding a bit familiar. Cameron has completed her three-year fellowship and thirteen has now gotten that job so she has some of the same roles within it. House will tend to delegate the same types of tasks to the women in his life and on his team. Certain things may be familiar, but I don’t see the characters a being similar. Hopefully, as they get to know her, they will recognize the differences in them more.
I just read that you’re going to be working on a new film. What can you tell us about that?
Olivia: Yes, it’s Jack black’s movie. It’s directed by Harold Ramos and it’s called The Year One and it’ll be out in 2009. It’s a Monty Python-esque journey through Biblical times. It’s ridiculously hilarious. I read the script and just fell over on the floor laughing so hard. I’m real excited to be a part of it and the character couldn’t be more different than Thirteen. It’ll be fun to shake it up a little bit.
When does production begin?
Olivia: I leave for Louisiana on Monday. We begin filming then.
Has your involvement with the show made you more aware of the risk of getting sick?
Olivia: That’s really funny. I thought it would make me a total hypochondriac, but instead, I’m now convinced that I’m a doctor. I see somebody with a pain I’ll say, “Well that’s your spleen.” I diagnose them and I’m completely unqualified to do so. But it’s given me this false confidence as a pretend doctor, which is pretty funny to my friends and family. I just so enjoy learning about all these crazy diseases. I particularly love the neurological disorders.
What kind of work ethic is there working on the show? What’s it like working with the other actors in the cast?
Olivia: It’s a generous set. It’s the rule of thumb for House. You would never let someone do a phone call or any scene like that without being off camera for them. Everyone takes rehearsal very seriously. People are there for each other, to work through the scene as many times as everybody wants before shooting and that can be time consuming. We’re known as having one of the hardest work schedules of any TV show. We don’t do a lot of location shoots. We’re often inside the hospital. But the reason it takes so long is people are willing to work really hard for each other. And even if you have one line in the scene and you feel totally comfortable with just winging it and going back to your trailer, but someone else wants to work through it for a few hours to get it rehearsed properly so it’s up to par for the shooting of the show, you do that for them. They’d do it for you. Hugh is constantly like that and I was really interested in the fact that Mira Sorvino was like that as well. She at one point missed a flight home because she was willing to stay and do off camera for someone. I thought that was unbelievable that she was an Oscar winning actress and has a family at home and she had enough respect for everybody that she waited. I was really blown away by that. She was fabulous. That’s the rule f thumb on House.
You said that you were previously a fan of Hugh Laurie before working with him. So how is it working with him?
Olivia: I was so terrified my first day because he’s so fabulous. But he’s immediately disarming. He has this incredible sense of humor that comes across and completely disarms you. He started as a comedian at Cambridge and obviously worked very successfully as a comedian. Even though he’s brilliant at doing drama, he has this amazing sense of humor. He has a lightness of heart that permeates the room. That immediately softened me and made me more comfortable. He couldn’t be more encouraging.
Were there any things that surprised about working on House when you actually got on set?
Olivia: I was impressed with how much of a hospital they’ve actually built. We take up three sound stages. It’s pretty extensive, the sets they have. It’s brilliant. And as a fan, I was amazed at how well run it is, how efficient it is. I guess I didn’t know that the hours were so long. But now I know that they don’t stop till it’s good.
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