Jacqueline Samuda was born in Ottawa, Canada and grew up in both
the United States and Canada. She received a B.F.A. Degree in Performance from
York University in Toronto, and apprenticed at the prestigious Shaw Festival in
Niagara-on-the Lake, Ontario. 
She received
an Ontario Arts Council Grant for Individual Professional Development to observe
theatre development in New York City, where she lived from 1987-1989. She
received a Dramalogue Award in 1994 for directing George F. Walker's play,
"Zastrozzi, " at Company of Angels Theatre in Los Angeles, where she
lived from 1992-1998.
Jacqueline Samuda has lived in Toronto, New York, LA
and Vancouver. In addition to her acting career, Jacqueline is a screenwriter
and President of Women in Film & Video Vancouver.
Jacqueline has appeared in such films as The
Arrangement, Making Contact, One Of Our Own, Death By Vertigo, Atom Egoyan's
The Adjuster and Speaking Parts, and A New Life (with Alan Alda). Her recent
television appearances including recurring and guest starring roles in Stargate
SG-1, The Chris Isaak Show, Night Visions and Da Vinci's Inquest.
Filming
Stargate
What is the best experience you had while filming
Stargate?
First of all,
let me just say I've read the list and there are some really great
questions. Thanks for that, and for the invitation to respond. This
is fun. The best experience I ever had was staring down Jack before he
let me go in Rite of Passage. It was just so nice of him [Richard Dean
Anderson] to stand off-camera for me for that scene, when someone else might
have let a stand-in do it.
I also really got a kick out of coming through the
Stargate the first time. Anyone who comes through it is asked to give a
little forward gesture, less than a hop, but something to suggest coming
through a kind of surface. It was cool.
Which cast
member did you have the most fun reacting to in your various appearances?
Well, there was the above-mentioned
scene with RDA, but I also really liked working with Teryl Rothery in that same
episode. She was doing such a good job with the "fierce mama" thing,
and it was really fun holding my ground against that energy.
Do you
remember any funny stories or bloopers from the various Stargate episodes
you've been in?
During Fair Game, just before they
called "Action", RDA dared me to guess what was in his coat
pocket. I said "Dog biscuit" and he was speechless with
surprise, and he had to start the scene before he shook it off. But I'd
noticed that RDA and Michael Shanks were really into eating dog biscuits (they
even had them on the snacks table), so I had a good giggle. Also, during
the scene where I zat Amanda in Metamorphosis, one of my Jaffa (who was
supposed to be unconscious on the ground) kept falling asleep. Amanda was
also supposed to be unconscious, but we all started to laugh in the middle of
the scene when this gentle snoring suddenly got louder. Peter Deluise was
hilarious when he was waking the guy up.
If it were
possible, would you be willing to return in Season 7? (BTW, I loved
"Metamorphosis")
(Thanks for the compliment. I just
loved doing that one.) Of course I'd be delighted to return in Season
7. I'm working on resuscitating my DNA as we speak...
Thanks for
making Nirrti so interesting. I liked her every time she was on screen.
Are you planning on writing any other Stargate episodes?
Thanks so much. As to writing more for the show,
I'd love to and I'm working on coming with an irresistible new story to
pitch. After 100-plus shows, it's a very interesting challenge coming up
with something new and just right for the current arc of the show.
If you did,
what type of episode would you like to write? What characters would you use?
I'd be interested in taking it off-world
and creating a situation that would demand that great teamwork. There are
lots of possibilities, but I should save any details in case I get another
chance with a script. (Of course if Nirrti manages to repair her DNA, it
would be nice to drop in and cause some trouble...)
How does an
actor speak when you're playing a Goa'uld? Do you speak normally and the
technicians insert a Goa'uld voice later or do you have to change the pitch of
your voice so it's easier for the technicians?
The actors
speak relatively normally, although for a particular character they may use a
slightly different tone (whatever feels right). Then the sound
technicians "flange" the Goa'uld voices in post (distortion
device). I learned after the first show that my voice sounded much better
if I speak deeply - then the flanged version of the voice sounds much more
impressive. Basically, I imitate Chris Judge's voice (low and slow) and
then it turns out perfect with the effects added!
Being a
guest character is often times difficult because you are stepping into a
pre-established show and crew; what do you remember most about your first day
on the set and your first time meeting Richard Dean Anderson?
My first time meeting RDA was when I was
brought to set for hair and make-up tests. They did the work and then I
was paraded over for his approval. He smiled and said "Beautiful."
I liked him right away, needless to say.
Michael
Shanks?
Quiet and nice. Unfortunately, I
never really get scenes with Michael (another reason to want to return!).
Amanda
Tapping?
So nice. So welcoming. Like
we were friends.
Christopher
Judge?
He was funny and flirty.
Metamorphosis
It seems like a lot of the Stargate "family"
have tried their hand at writing scripts lately! What inspired you to write
"Metamorphosis"?
It does really spark the
imagination. I love science, and first came up with the image of the DNA
machine and the capacity to read and alter DNA.
Originally, I saw it as a 3-D virtual
environment, but I learned it would cost a fortune. So the machine (as
you've seen it) was the sensible version, and it looks rather cool, don't you
think?
Did you want
another chance to bring the character to life or did it just work out that
Nirrti was the most appropriate Goa'uld for the story?
I didn't pitch
Nirrti as the alien who had the DNA machine. Brad Wright first suggested
that Nirrti would be the Goa'uld who would most want such a machine. Of
course, it made perfect sense -- but it was nice to have someone else suggest
it. Then James Tichenor pitched an episode that perfectly incorporated
this storyline and the ideas were blended together.
I know you
co-wrote Metamorphosis. Did you decide to kill Nirrti? If yes, why?
I wouldn't have had the heart to kill
Nirrti. She's too much fun! But I could understand the reluctance
to let her get away with her tricks once again.
How did you
connect with James Tichenor as co-writer?
As I mentioned, we each pitched a story
and the separate ideas worked together well.
Regarding
Metamorphosis if you had known that season 6 wasn't going to be the last one,
would you have written the ending differently so that Nirrti would be alive to
return for season 7?
As Brad said to me when I mentioned that
it was too bad Nirrti was dead: "Who really dies on Stargate?
Anyway, you're an alien and you died right next to a DNA machine!"
I've certainly not heard of anything certain, but the only thing I can imagine
being better than Nirrti not dying is Nirrti coming back from the dead!!
If you could
have created a showdown scene between Jack and Nirrti, what would it have
consisted of?
To be honest, I've always felt that
Nirrti should somehow intoxicate him and make him her slave for a while... ; )
Is it
possible for you to give us a run down of how Metamorphosis was storyboarded
between yourself and the SG1 production/writing staff. What the process was
that happened in between you putting it down on paper and the final product we
saw on screen. Can you tell us about anything that we didn't see?
Actually, I just worked out the
storyline for the episode I pitched. James suggested the places where his
story and mine worked together and many of my contributions were
modified. For example, the machine was originally conceived as a kind of
door with hieroglyphs around the frame (kind of like a Stargate) that gave the
readings of DNA. Then James wrote the episode, and of course worked with
the executive producers on polishing it for the production draft. (James
is such a great guy, by the way.)
Nirrti
Nirrti is one of if not the most interesting and complicated
of the Goa'uld system lords. She's calculating and very controlled, always
thinking and assessing, and she isn't afraid to take personal risks or direct
action. Her character is deep and intriguing. Many fans were very sorry to see
Nirrti die. She was one of the better-written Goa'ulds, and you portrayed
her with just the right amount of menace without going over the top into a
cartoon.
(Thanks! I really have fun coming
up with her subtext.)
What was
auditioning for Nirrti like? Did you have any preconception of a what a
Goa'uld was going to be or what Stargate was?
I knew the show and I was told that
there was a preference for actors who had a theatre background (or who could
project that style the Goa'ulds need). Basically, my agent told me to act
like I was royalty. I auditioned against about twenty women and then
there were only three of us at the callback. I really had to get in to
the character since I didn't have the Indian background.
How much of
'Nirrti' came from you; i.e. how much of her character was written and how much
was what you created yourself? When you got the role did you do any
research about Indian mythology to find out about Nirrti's story or did the
writers tell you everything you needed to know to get inside her head?
I did explore the mythology of Nirrti,
because I wanted to know if she really was evil. Well, yes she is.
So then the work was about what's her rationale for what she does. That's
the stuff that I create: her reasons for her actions and the way she can summon
up a smile when there should be nothing to smile about. She's always got
a reason she thinks is "good" for whatever she does and it's always a
secret.
You play a
Goa'uld in a host's body in Stargate, have you any thoughts or ideas about how
Nirrti might have picked up this host or who she might have been originally?
Does she have a back-story you keep in mind in each of your performances?
I imagine that this is a particularly
powerful Goa'uld and the match was made right away with a host that was
specifically genetically strong and charismatic. This Goa'uld and Nirrti
are perfect partners. Looking around in ancient times for someone to
inherit a new and extreme power, Cleopatra would be an awesome host. I
imagine Nirrti like her but more about the power.
The costume
you wore in Fair Game looked really cool, and I believe your hands were
'tattooed' for the other two episodes. What can you tell us about your
experiences with makeup and costuming? She has elaborate eye and hand makeup;
did you have any say in designing her look?
My hands are died with a tattoo ink
(mendhi) for each show. The first time, a professional artist was brought
in from Little India to do the work. 
But it took
forever and didn't last, so we drew over it with ink pens. Now we use a
pattern that is laid down on my hands and paint is applied over it with a
sponge. Jonathan Pinney created the eye make-up. I loved it.
It takes a very steady hand with that eyeliner. Christina McQuarrie who
does the costumes is so talented. The last time I showed up for a
fitting, there was a molded chest plate for me to try on. It fit
perfectly the first time even though we hadn't seen each other in a year, she's
that good.
Are you allowed
to express any preference as to what she should wear?
I'm pretty cooperative, because the
character is extreme so it's only right the costumes should be 'out
there'. But they listen to any concern I raise when it does happen,
usually about comfort. Generally I just put it on and say, okay, let's
go!
Is she
really dead?
I hope not.
How IS
Nirrti spelled?
Thanks for asking. It's
NIRRTI. That's how it's always been spelled in my scripts and that's
where she was born.
What do you think
happened to Nirrti at the end of Fair Game? Daniel said "Man, is she gonna
git it" as the wormhole disengaged; did she 'git it?"
She had some serious running to do, and
too much of it spent invisible. For Nirrti, any time spent not being in a
power position is pretty uncomfortable - the equivalent of jail.
We've
wondered what she was up to before we saw her again in Rites of Passage; any
thoughts about Nirrti's adventures and activities during that period?
Traveling and seeking out particularly
advanced or impressionable people to experiment on. Working out details
for creating the Hok'tar.
What was it
like to work with Teryl Rothery?
Great actress. Lovely woman.
A real pleasure every time.
Acting,
writing and directing
What has been your best role?
(Aside from
Nirrti of course...) It's funny, some bigger leading roles may look the best on
paper, but the best roles will always be the ones where you really feel
something and have a connection with your co-actor. I had a scene in an
episode of Da Vinci's Inquest where a crew person came up after it was done and
told me he had goose bumps, and he didn't look like a guy who got goose bumps
very easily. That was great. Peter Williams was in the beginning of
that scene as well, and he talks to me about it often even though it was a
couple of years ago. Feels good when that happens.
What has
been your favorite character to play?
(Again, aside from Nirrti of course...!)
I've played a couple of roles on stage that I will never forget, in the plays
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, and The Woolgatherer.
What do you
enjoy the most, acting, writing, or editing?
By editing, I expect you mean story
editing (coaching someone else's writing process). That's something I do,
but it doesn't move me like writing something myself. Writing is very
liberating, because nothing can stop me from being creative. The easy
part is I don't have to wait for the phone to ring. The hard part is the
actual writing, since it's an up and down experience. Directing
transports me; it's so much fun. But it's something I'm still working
into. Acting is the best when you have good writing. But you often
wait for the right role. So I like each of these things the "best"
when the circumstances are right.
You've
played all sorts of characters. Do you find it easier to play one certain
type over another? I.E. a romantic part vs an... evil villain <G>?
The only characters that nearly knock me
out are very ordinary "gal next door" roles... they're so hard for
me. I'm fairly animated, so it's hard to be bland, but sometimes a role
demands that.
Is there a
character type you prefer?
I
like characters that have something intense about them, even if it's well
hidden.
What led you
into acting?
Seeing
an old movie with Shirley Temple in it, when I was three years old. I
wanted to do that.
What was the
first script you wrote which was accepted?
I was commissioned to write a TV pilot
in LA, after the producer read one of my spec feature screenplays. The
pilot never went anywhere, but it was an important step for me.
Have you
always written? (short stories etc)
Always. Cartoons when I was really
young, poems, lyrics, stories.
Where do you
see your future - acting, writing, directing, producing, or a mixture of all
four?
Definitely a mixture - although I only
produce when it opens doors for the writing, acting and directing.
Switching hats gets pretty demanding at times. So I'm working on
developing a TV show (if I'm lucky) that would give me a chance to do it all in
one focused environment. Otherwise, I'd love to be a regular character on
a TV show that would give me time to do some filmmaking on the side.
How did you
become involved with Women in Film & Video Vancouver?
I moved to Vancouver in 1999 and joined
a writing group. The President of the organization at that time was in
the group and suggested I join as a way to get to know the community.
It's been awesome for that.
Having
worked in both Canada and the US what is your opinion about the quality and
quantity of roles available for female performers in each country?
I think we're seeing more women
"carrying" movies, which is exciting. The quality of these star
roles is going up. But these roles will always go to that tiny minority
of leading actresses, meaning that your average actress is still
struggling. It's not much different in either country, except that
because Canada has almost no recognizable female stars, there's perhaps less
motivation to create female star roles in stories here. Nevertheless, the
popularity of female-driven TV shows continues to increase, and that's where
the real shots are for women who aren't already famous. But I'd still
love to have MORE opportunities.
As a writer
and director, do you think it helps understanding the mindset of an actor?
Definitely. You have the
understanding of the full arc of the character's journey and how important it
is to be consistent with the character's motivation. You have the
vocabulary. You know how much the actor wants to have obstacles to fight
against because he knows this is how his/her character will be fully challenged
and revealed. It's great background to have.
Thanks a lot
for all the wonderful questions! Bye for now,
Jacqueline
Samuda
Visit Jacqueline's website
Our
Stargate Q&A Thread
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Jacqueline Samuda, Our Stargate and Stargate SG-1 Solutions, Mar 2003. All
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