Interview with Michelle
by Ter’an
On August 25th, 2000, I met with Michelle and she allowed me to conduct a Question & Answer interview in hopes that it would allow her fans to get to know her a little better. I found her very open with her answers and very passionate about her career.
The following is a transcript of the interview:
Ter’an: Michelle how did you get your start in acting?
Michelle: I got my start through dancing. I started dancing when I was very young. That was all I ever wanted to do and then I started dancing professionally. But I took acting in high school and took acting classes when I attended Ryerson Theater School and always loved it. But I was much more focused on my dancing. Then when I had been dancing professionally for about 3 years I decided I wanted to do something else. I find I wasn’t getting to say all that I wanted to say and there wasn’t as much work for a dancer. But I still wanted to stay in the performing arts and since I had been acting all along it wasn’t that much of a switch. So once I decided that I just wanted to act and I started taking as many classes as I could, and got a great agent.
And that’s important - - - - it’s one thing to believe in yourself and know that you have a lot to offer, but it’s also important to have a good group of people surrounding you who believe in you as well.
Ter’an: So when did you start dancing?
Michelle: I started when I was about 8.
Ter’an: What about the singing aspect of your career?
Michelle: Well, I’m actually a singer because I have to be a singer. I do chorus and ensemble but that was really the reason I got out of musical theater. Because as a dancer you are pretty much relegated to doing ensemble, and I didn’t want to do that. So acting was the way for me to go. And now I love it and I can’t imagine doing anything else - - - - dancing seems so foreign to me in a lot of ways. I still do it as a way to keep in shape but I’m really passionate about my acting.
Ter’an: What kind of dancing did you mostly do?
Michelle: Everything. But mostly jazz with strong classical training, and I can do modern or whatever.
Ter’an: Did you ever do community theater?
Michelle: Not really, because I competed a lot while I was dancing and that took up a lot of my teen years. When I went to Ryerson I was already in the professional community with a name to make it a career. The thing about acting is you can do it as long as you want but the thing with dance is you have to have your youth on your side. So I knew I wanted to do my dance and get some experience and then move on. You can’t do it the other way around.
Ter’an: Isn’t it harder to get the good roles as you get older?
Michelle: Yes and no. I am playing much older then I actually am right now. Because I ‘read’ older on camera for what ever reason. And I don’t think I will change that much in the next 5 years. So this is a good place for me to be.
I think the trick is to get strong character roles so it’s not just the being beautiful roles. Because they will write you off for those roles after a certain age. But if you have some good legitimacy as an actor then that’s where your longevity is. Not to mention that you get the better roles that way when you’re not playing the prototypical beauty roles - - - Not that there is anything wrong with those roles. They have their place as well, but in terms of getting a career that can span your lifetime, which is what I intend to do - - - I mean, I don’t intend to ever not be acting. So getting the mature roles are what will make me last.
Ter’an: Have you done a lot of live theater, drama, or comedy?
Michelle: Yes. I haven’t done a lot of classes or workshop, but I have done a lot of standard plays. And I’m dying to do ‘live street’. Which I hope to do some this winter. But it’s hard to commit to a rehearsal period because that means I have to take myself out of film and TV. But I will get back into doing theater at sometime.
Ter’an: Which do you “prefer” to do TV and film or theater, and why?
Michelle: I like them both equally, but for different reasons. I love the immediacy of theater, the “rush” that you get from theater, that direct connection with the audience and being able to do something from the beginning to the end. Where as, when you shoot something you may do the last day first or whatever. But, yet by doing this, you can break it down more and you can really dissect that small part. And it’s more natural because you don’t have to play to an audience. In a way it’s nice to be able to forget about the audience even though you still have a whole crew - - - you can just forget about it and ‘just be there.'
Ter’an: What kind of roles do you enjoy doing the most?
Michelle: The ones that are kind of ‘off the beaten path.’
Ter’an: Such as what?
Michelle: Such as T’Than, or “Anna” in Blur. The roles I like best are the ones where people say, “Oh, that’s not you.”, or when people meet me and say “that doesn’t seem like you." Generally my family is a good indication. If they watch something and say “I don’t know - - - that just wasn’t you." Then that’s good. Because, they know me really well inside, so that tells me I was able to do something or go somewhere different.
Ter’an: How many siblings do you have?
Michelle: I have 2 sisters and a brother.
Ter’an: Are you married?
Michelle: Yes, for 2 years.
Ter’an: Do you have any pets?
Michelle: Yes, I have 1 dog, a Schnauzer named “O'hara” and a brown tabby cat named “Murphy."
Ter’an: What has been your most challenging role so far in acting?
Michelle: I think “Anna” in Blur, has been. Partly because it was the first time someone said “OK, here’s a movie and you have to carry it yourself.” Not that any one person carries a movie by themselves, but it was the first time I went, “Oh wow! I really have a responsibility to tell this story the way it should be told.” Because there are actually people who live with this, and I want to do it justice. It’s something that is really dear to a lot of people and it’s a big responsibility to do it the way it should be told, and keep the element of truth to it.
Whereas, a character like T’Than is totally different. I mean I’m playing a man - - - there’s also a lot more lead way with the character. I mean he’s an Alien so you can do whatever you want.
Ter’an: Where do you see your career going in the next 2- 3 years?
Michelle: Up...Up...Up...Up! (Laughs) I really feel that right now I’m on the verge of something - - - I guess all actors feel this, and we all want the same thing - - - but I feel I have a lot to offer, and I really take it seriously, and I have a lot of respect for it. So I really feel that I’m just coming into it and hopefully it will work.
But, I see myself getting the really “meaty” roles. You know the kind that people go and see, and then leave, thinking about that role or the show.
Ter’an: What are your long term goals?
Michelle: Long term goals would be, to have a body of work that is big enough and strong enough, that will allow me to choose what I want to do. And to be able to spend time on projects that I really believe in, and I don’t have to do, just because they are work. And also to have the power to be able to make a difference.
Ter’an: What are you short term goals?
Michelle: Short term would be to stay busy and stay in a lead category. And keep doing great auditions.
Ter’an: Kind of go through the process of getting a role. What happens?
Michelle: Generally a director or producer comes into town, and they have a role, for say a new series that is coming out. They put out a break down, that says they want someone between the ages of 25 - 35. Sometimes they will specify, look wise, or what type of character. Then your agent would say, “Ok Michelle would be great for this," and she would submit your name to the casting director, who the producer and director has hired. They may get up to 200 actors names, and out of that, they may call 10 in for an audition. So it’s a major thing to get an audition in the first place, and many actors forget this. They take the auditions for granted. Then you go into the audition with a small section called a “side” and you have that prepared for. Usually they tape the audition so they can view it later and you meet the director and producer. They may call you back for another one or not - - - and you either get the role or you don’t.
Ter’an: So you get a chance to prepare for the audition ahead of time?
Michelle: Generally you get it the night before, or a day or 2 before. It’s really great if you get it on a Friday and your interview is Monday. Because you are expected to go in and perform it like you would in the part. Some people hold their 'sides' and read them but generally you should be familiar enough with it so that you can actually act it.
That’s why it’s impossible to book anything too far in advance. Because if I get an audition for a 9am the next morning, and I get it at 3:00 the night before - - - that means that I have to drop everything else and prepare for it, so I can go in and knock ‘em dead! - - - Because if you go in and mess up an audition you're not going to get called back and the casting director wouldn’t call you back in for another part - - - it’s important that you keep your auditions consistent.
Ter’an: Do you see yourself falling into a reoccurring role or would you prefer to do different roles?
Michelle: Sure if a good role came up, I would consider it! A lot of it depends on timing. But as far as the media goes - - - I’m not really particular about that - - - as long as it’s a good story and role. That’s what’s important to me.
Ter’an: Is it hard to get into acting? Is there a lot of competition?
Michelle: Yes, there is. I don’t think it is now, because I have sort of broken into it, but, yes it is fiercely competitive.
Ter’an: Is it hard for Canadian actors to get into American shows?
Michelle: It’s an American business - - - Hollywood is sort of the icon of the business and lots of time, an actor will have to go to L.A. and establish yourself there, then you can come back here and work. And it really has nothing to do with one country over another or one group of actors being more talented - - - it’s just, that L.A. or Broadway - for theater, is the hub and so working in those places gives you credibility - - - that’s just the way it is.
Ter’an: In regards to your role as T’Than in EFC, how much lead way were you given to develop the character?
Michelle: A fair amount - - - before my first audition, they gave me several episodes to watch, like the “Joining” and about five other crucial ones, to help understand what the Taelons were all about. And they told me what the character was about. But once I got there they definitely gave me trust to do what I should do.
Ter’an: What did you use to draw on for the character?
Michelle: I have no idea. (Laugh) I don’t know. The language for one was strong and knowing that it was a strong character - - - and a male character. All of that added to it I suppose. And then once I got the head on, and the padding, and the shoes, I thought I was Arnold Schwarzenegger!
I remember the first scene that we did, was where T’Than is positioned standing in the portal, and I make the comment like, “Zo’or didn’t have the decency to greet me" (Keep Your Enemies Closer)" and my hands were behind my back. I remember everyone stopping and there was a big debate as to whether or not I could have my hands behind my back. So, if at that time they would have said no, you need to be gentler - - - then I would have went another direction with the character, and he would have totally changed.
Ter’an: Yea, your movements and gestures are different - - - we have never seen a Taelon act or gesture like that before. So the attitude started right there, huh?
Michelle: Yes - - - and for me, I thought that as a military person, that’s what one would do - - - I thought that in dealing with humanity, T’Than is smart enough to know - - - actually I think T’Than is quite brilliant - - - and he would know, what it would take, to gain respect. Even though he doesn’t have the patience for Humans - - - I think he knows how to get their respect.
Ter’an: Why do you think they chose females to play the Taelon roles?
Michelle: For one thing, the practicality is that, it’s easier to take a woman and make her look androgenous, then it is to do with a man. I think though, too, that because the Taelons are spiritual and energy based, they are more sensitive, and I think women have that naturally. Women also have that more natural grace, that they wanted the Taelons to have. And then you add the dropped voice and the padding, and you get the mystery. When with men, you would use their regular voice, and you would lose the mystery.
Ter’an: If you could do anything or go anywhere with the T’Than character, where or what would you do?
Michelle: I would like to be Zo’or! (Laughs) I would like to be the leader! I would like for T’Than to be the leader of the Synod, and for him to have a moment where he realizes that Humanity is his Ally. He has never seen Humanity, offer anything to him . I think that deep down, T’Than is a good person - - - he really believes in the Taelons, and in their fight for survival - - - if you stop to think about it, he has seen his race almost wiped out by the Jaridians, and he has no reason to trust Humanity. I mean, as far as he knows, they could be just like the Jaridians. So I think the greatest thing for him, would be for him to end up as leader, but to find worth in Humanity, and for him to acknowledge it. That would be my mini-series for T’Than. My feature film on T’Than. (Laughs)
Ter’an: And he seems to be the most sincere, truthful, and honest of all the Taelons.
Michelle: Right. I don’t find him conniving at all. Manipulative, yes, but that’s only because that is the technique he has to use. And the meditation scene “was a big thing”- - -he really believes in it - - - it’s the holding truth to everything he believes in - - - and when Zo’or came in and interrupted (Subterfuge) it’s like, “How dare you come in and interrupt and walk on this sacred ground!” And I think that is his biggest irritation with Zo’or. He feels Zo’or is selling out and all Zo’or is really interested in is personal gain and power - - - where as with T’Than, I felt that he thinks the duty of leader is to lead all the Taelons and to protect the Taelons as a race, not just do it for what one can get out of it.
Ter’an: Any thoughts as to why or what started all the animosity between he and Zo’or?
Michelle: In my own mind, I always felt that is jealousy over being leader of the Synod - - - that T’Than doesn’t think Zo’or is qualified, and his intentions are not as right as they should be - - - that he is selling out.
Ter’an: Did you do a lot of role playing as a child?
Michelle: Yes I did. I always made my family sit down and watch, while I did little skits for them - - - I remember my mom had this big box of dress up clothes, and I was someone different every day - - - I was in a lot of sports though too.
Ter’an: What kind of sports did you do?
Michelle: Anything and everything I could do - - - baseball, basketball, soccer. And then, when I got to high school, I pretty much stopped everything and just did dancing - - - and I fast tracked through high school, so I could get out of Brantford.
Ter’an: So where did you move to then?
Michelle: Toronto - - - I came to Toronto when I was 16, to go to summer school at George Brown College, and then I went back and graduated when I was 17, and then I graduated from Ryerson Theater School when I was 20 - - - and then, I decided I was going to do my masters in acting at York. So, I went and took some classes there just for interest - - - but, I realized that I really didn’t want to be in school, I wanted to be in business.
Ter’an: What would you be doing if you weren’t doing acting?
Michelle: I really don’t want to do anything else - - - but had I invested my time into something else, I could have done business things, or medicine or just about anything. I mean, there are so many interesting things in life - - - but, this is all that I can imagine doing now. It’s as much a part of me as anything else. I mean I don’t want to be a doctor - - - I want to play a doctor. My best friend has just graduated with her Ph.D. and said,' I have been in school for 13 years,' and I said, 'I played a scientist - - - I could do that for a day and then I could do something else tomorrow or the next day.' (Laughs)