No. Andromeda is not just a neighboring galaxy, and Lexa is not the plural form of a car make. The former refers to an out-of-this-world series and the latter to its sexy star. Sit down with Zink as we star-gaze with Canadian Sci-Fi babe Lexa Doig.
Andromeda, creation of Star Trek's Gene Roddenberry, is the latest sci-fi series to hit the Canadian airwaves. Winner of two Gemini Awards in 2002 and embarking on its fourth successful season, it introduced the world to the luscious Lexa Doig, who plays Rommie. Besides being nominated among the Top 10 finalists for Canada's Gemini Awards' "Hottest Star" for 2002 and listed among Canada's Most Beautiful Female Stars from Star TV's Online Poll 2001, the 30-year-old Scottish, English and Filipino actress has a whole lot going on. Get up close and personal with Doig as she opens up on how she got into acting, her upcoming role in Jason X and how she became an Internet icon thanks to her "great genes".
HOW DID YOU FALL INTO ACTING?
I've been acting for about nine years professionally. When I saw a production of Porgy and Bess, I wanted to be Porgy because he was the smallest guy on the stage, and I identified with him. My parents used to take me to a lot of theatre when I was young.
WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ACTRESS?
I don't really have any idols, but lately I'm fixated on Meryl Streep. I think she's flawless and amazing.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE PLAYING THE LEAD ROLE IN JASON X?
It was fun, the kind of check-your-brain-at-the-door fun. The process of filming was long and arduous in someways, because part of the time I was covered in silicon prothestics. Still, the idea of running around and screaming about Jason Voorhees trying to kill you was fun.
WERE YOU A BIG HORROR-MOVIE FAN GROWING UP? DID YOU WATCH MANY FRIDAY THE 13TH MOVIES?
Not really, yet there's something funny about teenagers loving to have the shit scared out of them. Other than that, it's not my favorite genre of film. I'm more into thrillers than horrors. I also have a thing for period pieces. Science fiction to me is also a period piece. It's an imagined period, as opposed to something historical.
DID YOU THINK, 'WOW, I WOULD LIKE TO DO SCIENCE FICTION TV LIKE ANDROMEDA?
No, not really. Personally, I'd love to do a comedy. It's a lighter environment, you get to laugh a lot and play.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT DOING SOMETHING MORE POPULAR, SUCH AS SEX AND THE CITY?
Oh God, yes! I would love to do Sex and the City. I think that show is so funny.
WHICH CHARACTER DO YOU MOST RESEMBLE?
I would say someone between Carrie and Miranda
YOUR CHARACTER, ANDROMEDA ASCENDENT, IS A SOPHISTICATED A.I. SYSTEM, A HOLOGRAM AND MOST RECENTLY, ROMMIE, AN ANDROID. FOR A CHARACTER WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH S0 MANY CHANGES, TELL ME HOW YOUR CRAZY HAIR COLOR CAME ABOUT.
One of the executives said, 'You look so great in person, we have to get you looking like that on the show.' So we went with dyeing my hair. After some time, the color started to fade and strip my hair out, so we put in extensions. Lately, my hair has been dark brown with red extensions. During the off-season I do it myself.
YOU DID SOME PRETTY STEAMY SCENES IN UNCONCERNED WITH DEAN CAIN. DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT THERE ARE MANY AREAS OF THE INTERNET DEDICATED TO NAKED PHOTOS OF YOU? HOW DO FAMILY AND FRIENDS REACT?
No, it doesn't really affect me or my family. Thanks to DVDs, you can get clear pictures and image them onto the Internet. Yes, it's flattering, but kind of creepy that someone takes the time to rent an obscure B-movie to get naked pictures from it. At the same time, they're the same five or six pictures all over the Internet. I did some artistic nudes when I was I 8 with a French-Canadian photographer while I was modeling. They were beautiful shots, and they were not about nudity.
IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO POSE FOR PLAYBOY OR PENTHOUSE WOULD YOU DO IT?
No, probably not. I wouldn't be comfortable.
REGARDLESS, YOU ARE A POPULAR HOT BABE WITHIN THE SCI-FI COMMUNITY, BOTH ON AND OFF SCREEN.
I got lucky in the gene pool - my parents ore really attractive people. As for as healthy living, no, I sit on my duff, smoke cigarettes and watch TV. I'm not exactly a poster girl for healthy living.
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR LEXA DOIG? DO YOU SEE YOURSELF COMING TO HOLLYWOOD ANYTIME SOON?
Yes, I do see myself going to L.A. Not anytime soon, but in the future I'm going to LA for work. I'm very proud to be Canadian - Canada is my home - but I would move to New York in a heartbeat. I'm so much more of an East Coast girl than a West Coast girl.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW DURING YOUR HIATUS FROM ANDROMEDA?
I'm currently working on a miniseries for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) with Kate Nelligan, a well-known home-grown Canadian actress, who was nominated for an Oscar for The Prince of Tides. It's a series about immigration and terrorism, and I play her character's campaign manager. It's not really an interesting part, but I have the opportunity to work with Kate, something I leapt at. The thing about Canada, too, is you're not really considered a Canadian actor unless you do something with the CBC.