TV Zone Article
"Sense and Sensibility"

For Samantha Carter being a scientist as well as a captain in the United States Air Force can sometimes be akin to walking a tightrope. As a member of the first of nine top secret military (SG) units assigned to explore other planets via portal called a Stargate, Carter constantly juggles her personal beliefs and professional obligations. This balancing act is part of what makes playing the character on the hit Science Fiction series Stargate SG-1 such a challenge for Amanda Tapping.

"Sam is very strong, smart and singular character in that she's very focused on what she does. She's highly dedicated to her job and to the team, so, consequently, she has no life beyond Stargate, which is not dissimilar to me at times," jokes the actress. "I think the beauty of what has happened with the character over the last two seasons is that the writers have really opened her up and made her warmer and more accessible. I told them that it was important to me that she have a sense of humour and they've started to develop that side of her personality more.

"I also feel that my character has changed simply by virtue of the fact that the relationships among the show's four major characters have grown. Because of this our [Stargate] team has become more cohesive and I think Sam's a better person for it. I'm constantly striving to keep her interesting not only to the audience but to myself as well."

Despite her extensive work in the theatre as well as in front of the camera Tapping held out little hope of getting the part of Samantha Carter. "I auditioned initially in Toronto and was put on tape for a casting director there," she recalls. "I honestly believed that when I went in to read for this big wonderful female role that it would go to an American. It was one of the few auditions that I left thinking, 'Whatever happens is fine,' because although I loved the character I didn't think I stood a chance of being hired.

"Much to my surprise I found out that I was short-listed, so I sent the producers my demo tape which contains a selection of what I feel is some of my best work in films and on television. I ended up being one of three finalists and was flown to Los Angeles for a screen-test that was, to be perfectly honest, the most fun I have ever had at an audition. We were up on a stage in front of all these studio executives. It was like doing theatre, which is where I started my career, so I felt at ease. I read with Richard Dean Anderson [Colonel Jack O'Neill] and he was great. When I left I turned to the casting director and said, 'You know, whatever happens I had a great time'. When I returned home my agent asked me, 'Well, how do you think it went?' I said, 'I don't care. All I know is I had a blast.'"

The Waiting Game

"Then came the waiting and that was interminable. It seemed to last forever. It eventually came down to two of us so I auditioned again. By this time I could practically taste the role. I didn't hear from them, though, for the longest time and I started thinking everything from, 'I have to get this job' to, 'Oh, forget them. I'm moving on. I don't need this stupid programme.' Twenty minutes later I was back to, 'God, I want this job!' I thought my poor husband thought I was psychotic," laughs Tapping. "About two weeks before we began filming the pilot I got a call basically telling me, 'Pack your bags, you're moving to Vancouver.' I remember going upstairs and saying to my husband, 'Honey, I got it.' He was so happy for me that he leaping about the room. I, on the other hand, was in shock only because I had gone through such a long period of uncertainty, but, ultimately, I was thrilled," she enthuses.

In the pilot episode Amanda is brought in to help destroy the portal the Goa'ulds are using to attack Earth. "I didn't like my character that much in the first episode," she says. "I didn't dislike her but I thought that her feminist diatribe was a little tiresome and I didn't want her to be angry all the time. All I could see was this, 'I'm out to prove myself,' woman. I wanted her to be a well-rounded individual who is accessible and warm and someone who, especially young girls, could look up to and think, 'Yes, I can relate to this person.' Sam has become just that but she still has a ways to go. I think she needs to have a bit more of a personal life and maybe that will come in time, but right now she's growing and becoming more fun."

Science Problems

There's a 'family atmosphere' to the show. "General Hammond is very much like a great uncle to Sam because her father is very close to the general, but overall he's the father figure of the show," Tapping explains. "Daniel and Sam are more like brother and sister than any of the other characters. Jack is like - and I know this is going to sound really weird - the older cousing that Sam really admires and maybe has a small crush on, but I won't dwell on that. I don't want the viewers to think, 'Oh, they're sleeping together,' or anything like that because that's not going to happen, at least not that I know of anyway. I'm not writing the scripts, so who knows?" she chuckles.

The fourth member of O'Neill's team is Teal'c (Christopher Judge), a Jaffa guard who rebels and returns to Earth with SG-1. "The relationship between Teal'c and Sam is really interesting but I don't think the writers have really explored it enough and it's something that I've talked about with them. Teal'c is like family to Sam and she would do anything for him. I think you'll see a lot more of their friendship in the next [third] season.

"It's fun to come to work," continues the actress. "The cast and crew get along famously. I don't want to reveal too many secrets but we are a wacky and zany group. Everyone in the cast has a good sense of humour and we laugh a lot, especially at the end of the day when it's someone's close-up, usually mine. I'm the first one to crack when it comes to a joke and that happens a lot because the guys are all behind the cameras trying to make me laugh."

Favourite Bits

When Carter first meets O'Neill she tries to prove how tough she is by telling him that she logged over 100 hours over enemy air space during the Gulf War. While this is certainly impressive the captain has taken greater risks and faced far more perilous situations during her trips through the Stargate. "One of my favourite first season episodes is Solitudes in which Jack and Sam are stuck on a glacier. Sam demonstrates her intense loyalty to Jack and uses her smarts, ingenuity and physical strength but yet is also very vulnerable, so she gets to be strong and scared at the same time. That was great fun to play.

"In the second season I enjoyed doing In the Line of Duty. Something quite extraordinary happens to my character and she's possessed by a Goa'uld, so we see how Sam deals with that. In Secrets we meet Sam's dad, who's been an important influence in her life." Imaginative stories, high quailty effects and a talented cast of regular performers and guest-stars have all helped Stargate SG-1 become a success story. Tapping is ecstatic about the attention the series continues to get and flattered by the positive response her character has received from the viewers.

"I got quite a bit of mail from women and little boys and the letters from women are pretty amazing because they tell me they're thrilled to have such a strong female character like Sam on television and I think it's terrific. I also receive many letters from Europe and British Isles and now I'm starting to hear more from men, which is neat. The fan reaction has been wonderful and for the most part it's been very much about the pivotal role my character plays in the show and that makes me feel good about what I'm doing."

Busy Tapping

While filming for the third season starts soon, Tapping keeps herself occupied writing a film script and planning a comedy show. Whatever she's working on, though, it must be intellectually and emotionally stimulating. "I've been extremely lucky in that even though I'm tall and blonde I've really stayed away from bimbo, sexpot sterotypical roles which are fading, thank God. I've always for the most part played intelligent women or those with a mission who are still sexy. If I can continue to do that into my forties, by which time hopefully attitudes about women and age will have changed completely, then I'll be quite content," she says.

TV Zone Article Featuring Amanda Tapping: "Sense and Sensibility"
January 1999, Issue #111
By: Steven Eramo