Mary McDonnell

I do think that it’s extremely important with this character show her assuming power with a great deal of grace, and find out how to do things she won’t like – the things she’s called upon to do.

Well, I don’t know what Ron has in mind, but I do know about the arc of the show. Looking at how intuitive and instinctive Eddie and I play, that is the sort of thing that leads into sexual chemistry. I wouldn’t be surprised if it emerged.

The Cylons are such a frightening concept – not knowing who is real. No way.

That moment was very important because it was political. That’s what has to be done, so they struck a deal. She figures his is a well-thought-out motivation that she felt was worthy trade-off. The motivation here is survival, and she has to think like a leader.

I love to work. I love to have complexity.

With BSG, sci-fi is the human experience taken beyond the envelope. When I first became involved with the project, I knew that I would be able to play a human being for many years, exploring and reflecting on issues that would impact people’s lives.

Ron allowed us to see right away the private piece of a person about to become very public. I suspect we’re going to see more of her very private world – Laura’s private experience. I’m not sure yet how public she’s going to be about the actions she’s going to have to take.

It’s phenomenally important to me that, if I’m going to be spending years on a project, I need to be interested in the whole thing. I’m not there to be on my own. And if I’m going to be with these people, I’d best be interested in their work.

I love the idea of a woman being able to discover the idea of power this way, on such a scale. And I don’t know about that, what it means – well, I guess I’d better, or my part’s in trouble.