|
 |
Megan Gallagher Chat
People Magazine
November 25, 1996
People.com
|
PDiL/PEOPLE:
Hi everyone! I'm Patrizia DiLucchio, your host, and on behalf of
People magazine I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all of you
tonight.
Tonight's guest is actress Megan Gallagher who plays opposite Lance
Henriksen on Millennium — Chris Carter's haunting new (well,
relatively) Friday night Fox series, a drama critics call television's
darkest hour.
Hey there, Megan! Welcome to cyberspace! Have you done one of these
before?
Megan Gallagher: Yes, I did. At
the premiere party.
PDiL/PEOPLE: Cool!
Brief note about the drill here — this is a moderated conference. It's
being conducted simultaneously on CompuServe and the world wide
web! If you're on CompuServe and have a question for our guest, submit
it to the question queue either by selecting the question icon (in CIM)
or by typing "/question" if you're in ASCII. If you are on Pathfinder,
submit your question via private send to "Questions."
Okay!
So Megan — in your television marital career, you've gone from being
Mrs. Larry Sanders to Mrs. Frank Black. What's it like going from an
over-the-top comedy to a dark drama like Millennium?
Megan Gallagher: They are
completely different projects. You approach the work in a totally
different way. There's never a feeling of transition. Lance has
smaller lips than Garry does. That's another big difference. Next.
PDiL/PEOPLE: (laughing...)
Question: What was it about the
part of Catherine Black that drew your interest as an actress?
Megan Gallagher: I was willing to
do anything that Chris Carter wrote. There wasn't much in the pilot
but I knew that it would be expanded. I just didn't know it would take
six episodes.
Question: Ms. Gallagher, I wanted
to know how did you get started in the acting business and where did
you start. I also wanted to know if your director are looking for any
extras.
Megan Gallagher: I started acting
in my parents living room when I was five years old. My sister and I
put on little plays, that I'm sure were very tedious. I don't think
they need any extras. They have it all worked out. As for acting, I
took drama lessons when I was in high school. I went to Julliard when
I graduated. I do flash back on those days in my parents living room,
though. Next.
Internet Questions: China Beach
was another intense drama. What was it like with Ricki Lake and the
strong women actresses there?
Megan Gallagher: I did not work
with Ricki. We worked in different seasons. The other actresses were
challenging and fun. I do remember the dance parties we'd have Friday
nights, when we shot the jet set scenes. Next.
Question: Why do you think the
American television and movie-viewing public so fascinated with serial
killers and sociopaths in general?
Megan Gallagher: I think in the
post-Reagan era, it's time to deal with the shadow side of humanity.
During that period of time, there was just too much denial
about crime and depravity. In order to balance the scales, we've swung
back the other way, sociologically speaking.
Internet Questions: Can we
anticipate episodes arcing from one week to the next on Millennium
as they sometimes do on X-Files?
Megan Gallagher: Absolutely. Chris
has said from the beginning that he doesn't want this to be another
cop show. There will be many ongoing plots, unsolved crimes and more
than just the Polaroid Guy. And Catherine will figure prominently in
those arcs.
PDiL/PEOPLE: This question must be
inspired by your Larry Sanders experience...
Question: What's your favorite
talk show?
Megan Gallagher: I would have to
say The Larry Sanders Show, if we're talking fictionally. I
would say Politically Incorrect is my favorite right now. Next.
Question: What does Catherine
really think about what her husband does for a living? Catherine
is a clinical social worker. Is it that skill that allows Frank to
stay sane?
Megan Gallagher: Second part
first. There's a big difference between sanity and insanity. Frank has
always been sane, but Catherine keeps him happier and more balanced in
the way that any good relationship should be. I think Frank is a real
hero. She totally supports what he does. It's not only what he does,
it's who he is.
Internet Questions: You were a
regular guest on what I thought was the best new show of last
season, Nowhere Man. What was working on that show like?
Megan Gallagher: It was rather
confusing, because it was never clear what my character's involvement
was in the plot. An actor needs that kind of information. Basically
the show was about an amazingly expensive, complicated international
plot to screw with one guy's head.
Question: Megan — I am a fan of
Millennium, and admired your work in Nowhere Man too. Can
we expect to see some more interesting plot points for Catherine to
get involved in soon in Millennium?
Megan Gallagher: Glad you asked
that. There is a show coming that is as important for Catherine's
character as the pilot was for Frank's character. The episode December
6 is when the fun begins. Mark your calendars. Next.
PDiL/PEOPLE: I am marking my
calendar even as I type...
Question: Millennium's
atmosphere is so Gothic — does that spill over on to the set? What's
the atmosphere like when you're filming?
Megan Gallagher: The next two
shows after that are also hers. You'll see her at her job. Now to your
next question. Actually, it is quite dark. The production design team
and art department are really good at their jobs. They create great
props, great dead, charred bodies and things like that that are pretty
gruesome to see. It's really gross. You just think, this is exactly
what this would like.
Question: Chris Carter's show
The X-Files is a huge cult and now popular favorite. Does that put
extra pressure on Millennium?
Megan Gallagher: It sure does. We
try to cope. Millennium needs some time. The X-Files has
many different kinds of episodes. You never know what you're going to
get. Millennium needs to find that, and to develop the
relationships. Which reminds me, Catherine will get more screen time
starting on December 6...
Internet Questions: Do you think
Chris Carter feels boxed in by his premise. It doesn't leave much room
for humor.
Megan Gallagher: I think that as
time goes on and the relationships deepen, the show will find its own
kind of humor. Irony, perhaps. Look for the special animated episode.
Question: It's interesting that
you and Larry Hertzog split ways after Nowhere Man to work on
competing shows: he on Profiler and you on Millennium.
Ironic? Comments? (Personally I was hoping you would fall for Mark
Green on ER...)
Megan Gallagher: Hi, Ric. I didn't
know he was on Profiler. That shows how many times I've seen
it. The reason they brought me on ER was to have a romance with
Anthony Edwards, but then I got the Millennium pilot. I had a
great time on ER, though. It was the same producers who did China
Beach. Next.
Internet Questions: Half
seriously... If Millennium is a big hit, will the name change
after the year 2001?
Megan Gallagher: No, I think
Millennium applies to anything around the millennium. After that,
it will be Millennium Plus.
Question: The episodes that have
aired up to this point seem to have dealt mainly with Frank and have
left the rest of the family in the background for the most part. How
do Catherine and the child deal with Frank's work? How much does the
girl really know about what he does?
Megan Gallagher: Well, Dave, she
knows everything that a person can know about what goes on in another
person's mind. There will be plots that explain our relationship,
where Frank will be at home with Jordan while Catherine is working.
Starting December 6, by the way.
Internet Questions: Some people
feel that Millennium is too depressing. Will this point/tone/
premise ever change?
Megan Gallagher: Yes. It will work
on other levels. Right now, many of the shows have been centered
around Chris' idea that the first six episodes be like the pilot. Some
people seem to find that a bit relentless and depressing, but that
will change. There will be other kinds of plots.
Question: What is it like to work
with Chris Carter? And — Is Lance Hendriksen as dark and brooding in
person as he seems in his portrayal of Frank Black?
Megan Gallagher: Well, I love
working with Chris. He's a tremendous guy, a great writer. And Lance
actually killed a guy on the set last week, but don't tell anybody.
Question: Megan, you've done a lot
of TV work! What have some of your favorite roles been?
Megan Gallagher: Actually, my
favorite roles have been in theater, but on TV, my faves were Slap
Maxwell and Larry Sanders. I think I actually prefer doing
comedy.
Internet Questions: The big debate
in internet news groups seems to be...is Frank Black psychic?
Megan Gallagher: Technically, no.
But it sure seems that way, doesn't it? I do know he was one of the
original Psychic Friends, right there with Dionne Warwick.
Question: Is Hollywood easier or
tougher on actresses today than it was when you were starting out as
an actress?
Megan Gallagher: I think it's
probably about the same, although they don't appreciate you as much
when you're over 29. Somebody said there are three categories for
actresses in Hollywood — the bimbo phase, the lawyer phase and Jessica
Tandy phase. I'm definitely in the lawyer phase.
Internet Questions: Slap
Maxwell was absolutely brilliant! Was there ever any thought of
taking it to cable when it failed on the network?
Megan Gallagher: I think they did
try to shop it around but at the time, there were no takers. The
problem was that they would have to have done the show with either Jay
Tarses or Dabney Coleman. They'd had a falling out and wouldn't work
together. The show couldn't go on with both of them.
PDiL/PEOPLE: That's a
pity...because it was a great show and it would have grown into
its audience — much as Seinfeld did. Speaking of which...
Question: You've been in a lot of
hit TV series — Dallas, Hill Street Blues, LA Law,
Larry Sanders. Do actors develop a kind of sixth sense when
shows they're in are going to break big?
Megan Gallagher: I did not do
Dallas. There is another actress, Meg Gallagher, who was on
Dallas. I was in high school at the time. I was NEVER NEVER NEVER
on Dallas. I swear I get fan mail all the time saying I loved
you on Dallas. Please tell your friends and neighbors I wasn't
on. You never know when a show will break big. And generally the shows
I'm in fail really big. The shows I like don't tend to get huge
numbers.
Internet Questions: I'm sure
you're asked this frequently...but what advice would you give to
aspiring actors?
Megan Gallagher: Don't do it. Get
some therapy. If all that fails, then pursue it. And study. And keep
your day job.
Question: How much time do you
spend in Vancouver? And is it tough to organize a life in two
(count 'em!) places??
Megan Gallagher: It is tough, and
very expensive. I have an assistant in Vancouver to help me with my
life. She's worth every penny. And I miss my dog, Henry. I took him
for five days and he was miserable. Next.
PDiL/PEOPLE: The question that we
have to ask all actors (it sez so right here in the rule
book...)
Question: What would be your idea
of the ideal role?
Megan Gallagher: It would be one I
already got to play. It would be Harper in Angels In America on
Broadway. The spectrum of emotions I could play is great. It's funny,
terribly sad, outrageous... like a female Hamlet. Keep watching
the show. There are a lot of different episodes coming up, going off
in many different directions.
Internet Questions: Is
Millennium attempting to build a core cult audience and then reach
out to the mainstream as Carter did with X-Files?
Megan Gallagher: I think that it
would like to be mainstream a bit quicker than the X-Files. I'm
sure it will make it quicker. Give us a couple seasons to flesh things
out. It's a different show, and it will develop in its own time.
Internet Questions: Do you know
why Fox has decided to pressure Millennium fans on the internet
to shut down our fan pages?
Megan Gallagher: I didn't know
anything about this. I'm sorry if the fans are upset by this. Next.
PDiL/PEOPLE: Final question for
the evening: (drumroll!)
Question: Do you ever see yourself
moving out of acting and into directing or producing?
Megan Gallagher: I would like to
remain an actress, but am very anxious to direct and produce. I want
to return to my roots, working in my parents' living room. Hopefully,
the audience will be bigger this time...
PDiL/PEOPLE: And so we've come
full circle...back to your parents' living room! Megan, thanks! It was
a pleasure chatting with you like this. And we hope that we can induce
you to come back some time.
Megan Gallagher: Thank you for
having me. Thank you thank you thank you. Keep watching the show, it
will be going into a lot of different directions. By the way, December
6 is when the Catherine episodes start. And the Polaroid Guy will be
back, if anyone is wondering. Thanks. Bye.
|
|
