Erica Durance Interview

By: Izumi Hasegawa

Izumi Hasegawa: Let’s talk about this Comic-Con reaction. We heard it went over very well inside the room.

Erica Durance: It did. I think there were like 6,000 people in there, which was shocking to me — it always is when you’re up there in Vancouver doing your thing, and then you come down and see how positive people are. People are so jazzed and so supportive of all of us. It was really nice to be able to have the whole cast down, and I think that was part of the appeal. And then, of course, they freaked out when Tom [Welling] came out, which was hilarious. It was so great.

IH: He hasn’t done any appearances here in a while.

ED: I haven’t seen all the appearances he does, but I think this was a big deal.

IH: The show is making it to the ninth year, which, for what you guys are doing, is very rare, especially a genre like this. Were you surprised when you got the ninth season pickup? Or were you thinking, “We’re definitely getting another season”?

ED: I never think, “Oh I’m getting another season.” I make the best of where you’re at and what you’re doing, because this business is so fickle and transient, and I’m just thankful to all the fans that watch it and keep it on the air. I think it’s helpful, because it started out with him young and all the characters young and growing into it, so it can have a longer existence and change, and bring in new characters, which I think people will see a lot more of in this season and get a bit of their pay-off for all their patience.

IH: How is that going to go into the next season, and what’s with the arc like that?

ED: They give me little hints. I think you’re going to see a lot more of that triangle. She’s so smitten with the red-blue blur and yet is undeniably drawn to Clark, and I think, over this season, they’ll be able to see how much they depend on each other on so many levels, and I think there’s still that fondness to the comedy side — the banter and that sort of thing — but also just try to figure out how they feel about each other.

IH: Is there still something with you and Oliver as well?

ED: No, she’s done with Oliver. She found the real deal. No…the beauty of that relationship with Oliver that I liked is that it’s one of the first times you see Lois in something that’s mature and where she really opens up and is really vulnerable with someone. I don’t think you will forget that first love, and I think she loves him as a friend and she sees him downward spiral, so there’s a lot of that interaction. I heard that he starts to regret his decisions to get rid of Lois, which I say ha ha [laughs], so now it’s more a triangle of two guys vying for her attention, which is a nice treat for Smallville. Usually it’s all the women salivating over Clark, so it’s fun. I go on the set…start to be smitten, boys, it’s your turn.

IH: The character is yours now. As you are getting scripts or as you are saying lines, do you ever alter anything? Do you ever help to make the character your own, or is it pretty much the dialogue that’s given to you spot on?

ED: As an actor, there are a couple of challenges. First, I’ll read it and I’ll know instinctually if there’s something she doesn’t do. They have been really helpful, but they’re so good, it doesn’t really stir that much. If it’s a little off, we talk about it, and then I go, “Is it Erica, or is it Lois? Who’s not comfortable with us?” So then I have to be really honest about it and go, “You know what? She’s human. Maybe she would do that.” So there’s a lot of give and take in that, but definitely I’ll be able to tell when I read it right away if it’s doesn’t go right.

IH: When you get a script, are you excited when you find out that you’re doing a lot of action, or do you feel like a little less action would be okay?

ED: Depending on if I had just done a lot of action, then I’m like…but I love it. That’s what I enjoy about playing that character. One week, I’m doing two days worth of fighting and then walking around with bruises, and the next one, I’m in some romantic scene, and it’s just all over the place. I love that about her.

IH: Can you talk about your costume they created for you last season?

ED: Oh my gosh, what a riot. [Laughs] I looked at it originally and some people really hated it, and I just said, the thing about Lois is she’ll try anything. She’ll do stuff, but she’ll also be the first one to say, “I was wrong; let me make it right,” and that’s what she did in that episode. She risked her life. She jumped in to save her friends. But she’s like, “I’m sorry,” and I think that’s what makes her human. I think the suit was hilarious ’cause I couldn’t sit down.

IH: Would you like to see the return of the outfit?

ED: No, I wouldn’t! [Laughs] I couldn’t breathe, eat or sit, but it was a fun one, for sure.