Talking Torchwood Miracle Day with Alexa Havins

If everything is aside that we survive and not the repercussions that we see on Miracle Day, I would go to space and just be able to walk around and live just to experience that. I’d maybe just travel. If you knew you had endless time to see the world. _Alexa Havins: Torchwood Miracle Day

 

Alexa Havins: Torchwood Miracle Day
Actress
Credits: All My Children, One Life to Live, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI: Miami, Grey’s Anatomy
By: Judith Wallace

 

How does it feel getting pulled into the Torchwood world as an actor and your character, Esther?

Alexa Havins: Esther is kind of a little bit of Alice in Wonderland down the rabbit hole we go. It just her curiosity gets the best of her. The first thing out the gate is did you ever hear of Torchwood? What’s Torchwood? And down she goes looking for the answer and who is this Gwen Cooper and this mysterious man in the coat? So she just finds herself quickly without choice. I mean her life is changed in the matter of a moment in this new world. And as far as myself, it’s just been an absolute pleasure. Every single person, Russell and (Julie) called me immediately and just welcomed me with open arms into the family. And just to be called a team member and John and Eve were the same. We’re friends for life. It’s just been a great, great experience so far. And I enjoyed every minute and hope you guys enjoy it as much as we did.

Can we look forward to romance between Rex and Esther?

Alexa Havins: Well, I think it’s more than anything she, as much as she wants more I think she’s just there is something very romantic about the idea with Rex. And he’s out in the field and it’s dangerous and there is something sexy about it. And here she is, she’s stuck behind her computer and I think there is a longing not only to be with him but then to also be out in the field and work with him hand in hand. So it’s interesting there is that. We have this little tango, the professional and the personal relationship. And you’ll see as the ten episodes go on, she tries. She gives it her all but Rex as you see, he’s tough. He’s all business, he’s gruff, he’s stern, which is quite I think makes for an interesting pairing between the two of them because she has this innocence and she’s naïve and she’s fresh. And then here is this guy that has lived a lot. He’s lived a full life as well as the Captain Jack character and the Eve character. They all know who they are. They’ve had time for growth and that was what was such an honor for me and so much fun as an actor, playing a character that had clear growth like somewhere to go. She’s not the one that had the weapons training and life on the run. So you kind of see her stumble a little and pick herself back up. And she is surrounded by these strong characters that help her become who she is.

You play a strong character. What is that like for you as a female and did you enjoy working with Bill Pullman?

Alexa Havins: It’s very rare that females are written with strength. I always feel like it’s either like the piece of arm candy or in comedy you’re like setting up a joke so the guy gets a big laugh and you’re the straight shooter. And in a way it gets a little tedious and boring from our end. So it was so refreshing for me to just have a character that was so thought out and fleshed out. And Russell knew what he wanted and the females are as strong as the males and it was just wonderful. So it didn’t ever feel like a strong female character. It was just I felt like it was just to be a part of whole of all very strong characters. And to be the girl to walk in and give breath to Esther, it’s been an honor. And Bill is a crazy genius. He’s the first thing that people freak out about and just watching him work. You’re in the scene and you just forget you’re even in the scene. He’s just so focused. And what I always say is there are brilliant actors and a lot of them can not be kind. And this is truly just to reiterate, one of the nicest people that you’ll meet. And I think it’s really refreshing to see someone with such success on his level to still be as humble and gracious as he is.

How is your experience thus far with such an international team?

Alexa Havins: It’s been rough. No. It’s been a great experience definitely. It’s interesting. There is like a really slight parallel but an interesting one enough between my character Esther and Gwen in the original first season. And that was an honor to kind of take over that passing of the torch as introducing the new audience. And as that was her job in season one to introduce the audience, I feel like it was passed upon to us to say welcome to the world of Torchwood to the American viewers that weren’t privy to the world already. So it’s been an interesting hat to wear. Everything that the new audience members are asking what is Torchwood, Esther is asking the same questions. She’s digging and finding those answers for them. Who is Captain Jack? She’ll find out for you. And it’s a neat way of quickly starting the fourth season strong with bringing in the new viewers. They don’t have to have watched the past episodes and at the same time it doesn’t alienate the current fan. You just jump on for this ride. It’s not a ton of back story exposition. It’s here is a story, here is where we are and join us, we’re going to take you on an adventure.

Is there an episode that you just can’t wait for your fans to see?

Alexa Havins: For me one of the big moments was the reveal of the two characters. And filming and I say this from a fan boy perspective because my husband is an insane fan boy of Torchwood. So he pretty much said I will divorce you if you don’t take this job. And a big reveal I thought and it kind of catches your breath is when (we’re in) this beautiful big space and Esther is digging, digging, what is this and then you just look up and there is Captain and his co. And it’s such a breathtaking reveal that I just think from a fan’s perspective and a viewer’s perspective it’s quite an initiation. And then for the fans of Gwen I think it’s seeing her with that badass rocket launcher. But you guys know better on the past with Dr. Who and stuff.

 

Did you do all your stunts?

Alexa Havins: I tried but my character has a high fall and right out of the gate, that was not me. I want to do within reason – they let us do as much as we’re comfortable. And I think all of us like getting wet I guess. John and I, we got wet in our little fountain so we like (getting active). We were in the hot tub right away together. I’m scrappy. I’m a little bit of a tomboy so I enjoy that. But then there is a point where they step in and say okay, there is fire, there’s explosions. They want us to be safe.

 

If you knew that you couldn’t die, what one crazy thing would you do?

Alexa Havins: If everything is aside that we survive and not the repercussions that we see on Miracle Day, I would maybe say go to space and just be able to walk around and live just to experience that. But sharks could be my next – I have a serious fear of sharks. So maybe that. I was going to say I’d maybe just travel. If you knew you had endless time to see the world.

On STARZ on Fridays at 10pm ET/PT

STARZ’ newest original series is a reimagining of the UK sensation, which originally debuted in 2006 on BBC One. The show’s original creator, writer/producer Russell T Davies, serves as executive producer along with BBC Worldwide Productions’ SVP Julie Gardner, with Davies also serving as show-runner. “Torchwood: Miracle Day” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide.

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