Williams: Yeah, it was great. It was one of the reasons that I took the show and one of the kind of lollipops that was promised me before I signed the contract. I thought that was such an interesting thing from a moral point of view. She sells people what they need and then she's obviously justified it by saying, "This is what I need." She's the greatest tale of loneliness that the story depicts and she shows that loneliness isn't confined to the obvious people. And it was great, because I finally left my office! Eliza [Dushku] was getting to go to all these great locations! "Excuse me… Can I leave the loft?"
Williams: I know. Well, he can't… he's got too much work to do! But he gets to fool around with Sierra once a year on his birthday. How lovely was that episode?
Q: How was it playing more of a motherly relationship with him towards the end of "Epitaph One"?
Williams: It's much more like who I am, really, so that was really nice. We English love coming over here and playing the hardnosed baddies, but it was nice. Joss said to all his actors that were there anything you'd like to cover, you can tell him, "I'm always perceived as this, but I have this within my range." And he knows my kids, so I think he saw that [quality] in me to play that, which was lovely.
Q: In "Epitaph One", you have the scene with Topher where he's seemingly totally lost it, and you have the scene where you've brought Laurence Dominic back from the attic. Did you ask Joss, "What the hell is going on?"
Williams: Oh yeah. I still don't understand! I need the fans to come and explain to me what's going on. Actually, my favorite scene to date was that scene with Reed [Diamond] when he shot the whiskey out of my hand and I said, "At least you didn't shoot the vodka." It's writing like that that makes you want to be an actor. It's just such a joy.
Q: Is it fun for you knowing that you now have these pieces of a puzzle from "Epitaph One" that you can work towards?
Williams: Yes! You don't know the answer and neither do I, so we'll see! We're all very excited.
Dollhouse: Season 2 premieres Friday, September 25th at 9:00pm ET/PT on FOX.
US, August 18, 2009 - With Dollhouse now in production for its second season, I was able to speak to one of the show's stars, Olivia Williams, at FOX's recent TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour party.
Williams' character, Adelle DeWitt, has proven to be quite formidable in her defense of the Dollhouse and what they do there – though we also discovered she had her own secrets last season. Williams spoke to me about her character's point of view, plus the new elements introduced in the unaired episode "Epitaph One", which is now available on DVD and online – If you have not seen "Epitaph One", be warned that spoilers for that episode follow.
Q: Joss [Whedon] has talked about how the cast had a tough time Season 1, because none of the episodes were shot in the right order. Was that a bit discombobulating?
Olivia Williams: Well, I hadn't done episodic TV before and I felt very much like when I first made a movie and I said, "I'm going to give myself over to this experience entirely and try and just roll with whatever happens." There were some pretty extraordinary things that went on, like getting shut down for three weeks – I didn't know that was possible! And then I didn't know it was possible to cancel a show before you even made it! So all the time I was going, "Wow, that's weird…" But I tried not to get thrown by it. So now I feel like I can pretty well take anything! [Laughs]
Q: As your somewhat referenced, Joss' fandom is such that there were far more eyes on your show before it even premiered than is the norm for a new show. Did you quickly realize people were really paying attention to everything because of his involvement?
Williams: Yes and I was completely out of my depth in that respect. I didn't know that when I took this on and I'm just so happy that… As an actor, all you want is for people to watch what you do and to find whole pages of your dialogue being quoted on the internet as genius writing… you want to sort of be a conduit for good stuff and that people are listening to what you say and appreciating what you do is such a thrill. That's why you become an actor, so it's great.
Q: How is it for Adelle in Season 2 having Ballard part of the dollhouse?
Williams: She is constantly trying to morally justify herself, and work out how she can use him – which is what she does best.
Q: Your character definitely seems to think she's in the right with the things she's doing and has her own perceptions about what lines should be crossed…
Williams: Until she starts shagging her own employees! [Laughs]
Q: [Laughs] Yes, yes.
Williams: There's a lot of skeletons yet [to be revealed] in her cupboards.
Joss Whedon has become somewhat of a talking point thanks to an array of popular shows including Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. The writer-producer has made a return to the small screen in the US with the much-talked about sci fi drama Dollhouse, which lands on UK screens next week. It has a cast including Eliza Dushku and ex-Neighbours star Dichen Lachman and a story which promises to be "a head-f**k", and it's gathered a lot of buzz online. Eager for more info, we caught up with Dollhouse's top dog Olivia Williams - a.k.a. Adelle - to get the lowdown.
How would you describe the show? "The concept is this sinister organisation which runs what are known as Dollhouses. These are places where young people who have committed some sort of crime - or have something in their lives they want to get away from - go, whether willingly or unwillingly. We have yet to find out... They have their personality wiped clean and then we've developed a brilliant process whereby we can imprint them with any other personality or combination of personalities we want.
Which other characters should we look out for? "The concept began between Joss and Eliza Dushku who plays Echo, the Doll whose story we are following. There are wonderful characters all around. Each Doll has a handler who remotely takes care of them when they go out on an assignment and Harry Lennix plays Boyd, who is the conscience of the show; Topher is the crazy immoral genius who will push the bounds of science - regardless of ethical committees - just because he can and he finds it thrilling. Like some people are addicted to playing video games, he is addicted to messing around with people's brains. There are some other fabulous actors: there is a girl called Dichen Lachman who plays a Doll called Sierra and she is one of those people who, when you first meet her, you have to just contemplate her beauty for a while. It's distracting how astonishingly beautiful she is."
What's the latest on the chances of a renewal? "I wish you could tell me! All I can say is that my husband and I have a set of bags that are permanently packed and a set of pants and toothbrushes that are permanently set in London. Both are on the ready for whatever decision they make. I really hit it off with Joss - he is a pleasure to work for and a really clever man. One who really bounces off his actors and looks to find storylines which are going to use the potential of the people working for him. I'd love to go back, but if it doesn't work out then I've got some other stuff bubbling away here."
What would you like to see happen in a second season? "I was keen to suggest that there's a Dollhouse that might need opening in London and perhaps have it like CSI with one in three major cities. Once London is open I could do Paris - I think Adelle would be a great international ambassador! But that's my selfish speculation. When the DVD comes out, the thing to do is watch episode 13. When we had the scripts in, we were all sat around holding our heads, but that's what makes people addicted to sci-fi - it hurts your head trying to figure out all the implications. It's very, very clever - and crazy. Only a truly sick mind like Joss's could come up with this! It could either be the beginning of something fabulous, or the episode to end all episodes..."
UK
