2003 Articles and Interviews

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AMANDA’S ARMY STARBURST 2003

For six seasons as Samantha Carter in Stargate SG-1, Amanda Tapping has given this popular series her heart and soul. John Reading meets the actress.

As Major Samantha Carter on Stargate SG-1, Amanda Tapping has spent the past six years imbuing the space-hopping, hi-tech series with much of its heart and soul. The character is as tough as O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Teal'c (Christopher Judge) and Jackson (Michael Shanks), but she's also feminine. Stargate just wouldn't be the same without Tapping or Carter. Fortunately, Tapping has been a constant from day one, and she's on hand again now, as the series returns to the airwaves for its seventh season. Starburst chatted to Tapping on a rare day off and found her to be in terrific humour as she discussed past events, the return of Michael Shanks (and the exit of Corin Nemec), as well as her hopes for Carter's continued development.

Let's start with Season Six. How pleased were you with the year as a whole and specifically with Carter's character arc?

The season as a whole I thought was fantastic. I thought that it was such an interesting dynamic bringing Corin in, or bringing this Jonas character in, and it changed the relationships of everyone and it sort of infused the show with new life. It was a really strange season for us, but I think that it was a really good one.

For Carter?

Sam's development, no, but I'm not complaining. Her job in Season Six was to help move the story forward, doing a lot of explaining or taking us to places. She facilitated stories, but she didn't have a huge emotional mark in Season Six. She was the go-to girl. You need the information, go to Sam. You need something explained, go to Sam. You need some back-story, go to Sam. There wasn't a lot of character development for her. There were certain episodes that I thought were fun to play, like Nightwalkers and Smoke and Mirrors, which were sort of Earth-based stories about 'Who do you trust and who don't you trust?' I certainly had a great time shooting Season Six, but I don't feel that the character of Sam had a huge amount of development.
What would you say the sixth season finale, Full Circle, set in motion for Season Seven?
Well, it sets the stage for Daniel coming back, in that we don't know what happens to him. I guess that everyone knows he comes back because they've done all of this hoopla. So I'm not telling tales out of school. [laughs] Daniel comes back.

Oh yeah? We didn't know that ...

Oh man, I'm sorry. I blew it for you [laughs]. Well, I don't know that Full Circle actually set in motion anything for Season Seven except for the fact that Daniel either makes a huge sacrifice or does something wherein he comes back. It solidifies that he's a part of this team because he's back when we need him the most, but beyond that, in terms of relationships between anyone else, no, though there were obviously the Jack O'Neill moments.

How involved will Carter be in helping Daniel reintegrate into the SG-1 team?

It happens progressively over a few episodes. It happens fairly rapidly, but it does happen over a few episodes and it's little things. It's little, subtle things that he finds or little things that we say to him. So we're all active in it, but most of it is his journey of discovery.

It's got to be deja vu to have Michael back on the set.

Yeah, it is. It's wonderful. It's right back where we were. It's kind of what makes us feel so special, the chemistry between the actors, and when that dynamic is brought back together and you see it again, you go, 'Oh yeah, that's right, this is right'.

Corin Nemec came into a really complex situation, arriving as a popular character left, then trying to fill his shoes, and then leaving as that same popular character returned. What did you make of all that?

God bless Corin, I have to say. The man handled it. He was put in an untenable position, as you say, of having to come in and fill not only the shoes of a very popular character, but a very popular actor and to try and find his way into a dynamic that had been in play for five years. And he was so solid. Rick and Michael and Chris and I barely have to speak sometimes. Sometimes it's just a look and we know what's going on. So he walked into such a tough situation, with all this backlash from Sam, and he handled it so beautifully. He handled it with such class and grace and he didn't push to try to be one of the gang. He found his place in it and he did it very quietly and we all tried to make him feel a part of it, but it was weird. It was just a different dynamic, but he did a beautiful job, I think. And I was surprised when I heard that Corin was going and Michael was coming back. I was really surprised because I didn't now that Michael would come back. I just thought, 'Wow', and I phoned Corin to see how he was with everything because I felt really bad for him. You're on this show for a year and all of a sudden you're gone. He was very cool. He was very classy about it.

Let's talk a bit about Season Seven. We're hearing that Dr Fraiser (Teryl Rothery) may die. She's been the other female on the show all this time, so you must have mixed feelings about this turn of events.

Yep. I don't know what I'm allowed to say. I think that it's out there that it's happening. I actually talked to [co-producer] Peter DeLuise about it because he pulled me into his office. He felt terrible and he was like, 'What do I do? I wrote the script, but I thought that it was the end of the show and that it would air right near the end and that it would be dramatic.' And now they're talking about an eighth season potentially, and he felt terrible. I said, 'So don't kill her. Simple. Make her wounded. It happens all the time.' But it is a phenomenal episode. We've actually shot most of it.

You're not going anywhere, but if it came to an end tomorrow, what would have gone incomplete?

 What would you not have gotten to play as Carter?


Well, I think that we're kind of doing it right now in a couple of episodes, in terms of her sense of humour and in terms of her joy of life. I've talked to [executive producer and show runner] Robert Cooper about finding the heart of this character, what truly makes her tick. When Sam lays her head on her pillow at night, what does she think about? What demons does she confront? Does she question what she's doing in her life? Is her primal devotion to learning about technology, to the team that she works on, to the SGC; is it too much? Is it taking away from other aspects of her life which we don't explore because they don't exist? And should they? As a woman, is she at all concerned about the fact that she may never have children and will only have a career?

Maybe she's not. Maybe she's perfectly happy with that, which is great, but does she ever confront that?

Does she ever confront her lack of family?

Does she ever confront what happens when you lose someone that you love? She did it with Daniel and now with Fraiser, and certainly we've come across situations with the other guys on the team, but what about outside of that? What does she have outside of that?

All of the guys have history and family and children, and they've all had episodes where they've sort of gone to the dark side, run into that well of despair, if you will, and really dug deep to find out what makes them tick. We've never actually done that with Sam. We've had situations where she's been confronted with terror or with a hard decision or with losing her father, emotional moments, but we've never actually discovered what makes her tick, what pumps the blood through her heart. So this is what I talked to Robert about in a very esoteric way.

I said, 'Clearly, it's not an episode of a Sci-Fi action adventure, but is there any way to try and work it in, where she's forced to confront her demons?'

And I think that it would be interesting only because we've done it with all of the other characters. It would also be interesting to see her lose it, because of all the characters she is so ...
Stable?

Yeah, and so in control to the point of almost being anal about it. We're seeing her lose it now more. We'll see it when Fraiser dies. We see it when she thinks that she's lost O'Neill. i'd just like to see her totally got to the dark side and come out of it on the other end, either more committed to the programme or more committed to having a life. So we'll see.


There's already buzz about an eighth season. Part of you probably wants to get on with the rest of your career and part of you probably thinks, 'I'm still having fun, so why give up the gig?' So what is your thinking at the moment?


I'm thinking exactly what you just said. And my attitude is: never say never.
 
TAPPING HER POTENTIAL  CULT TIMES  JUNE 29 2003

It's very early in the day, the first cup of coffee has yet to be consumed, but Stargate SG-1's Amanda Tapping is as lively as ever. You'd never guess she'd been up until the wee small hours dancing the night away. We're sitting in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver waiting to collect the numerous items bought by Ms Tapping at the previous night's charing ball in aid of the Canadian Cancer Society where she shopped for Queen and country. Rattling away at 19-to-the-dozen, we begin by discussing Tapping's forthcoming trip to a very special gathering in New York City. "It's called Wonder Women on Air, she explains. "Thirteen women are being honoured. I don't know how the recipients were decided upon or by whom, but I got this completely unsolicited call and was absolutely flabbergasted but delighted to be amongst them. The idea behind the meeting is to bring together women who are considered positive role models in cable and telecommunications so that we can sit and talk to each other about how we can make our industry better and more accessible for other women.

Serious for a moment, Tapping goes on, "For me, this whole year has been about Women and the Sisterhood. I hosted the Women in the Spotlight Gala awards in March. That came about through my involvement with Women in Film and again, I was shocked and honoured to be asked. Initially, I was absolutely petrified to stand up in front of a room full of 500 of the most powerful women in the business and offer up my words of wisdom. But on a personal level, it was positive affirmation from the women in this community that maybe my contribution might make a difference. We talked about how important it is that women support each other because the top tiers in the entertainment business are still predominantly male-orientated and we have a lot to contend with and a lot to overcome. But it's getting better. We've now reached a stage where it's less unusual to find a woman in charge. We have had women at the top before, but they've been somewhat isolated and been help up as an example [of]"Look at what this woman did!? Our way of thinking is more,'How about what this intelligent Human being did?" Not, 'Hey, there's a woman and she's strong and smart and capable.' I don't want to start a gender war or anything like that but I'm all for developing untapped potential. So it's all been about the women this year and it's been pretty amazing."

As a show, Stargate SG-1 has always been pretty amazing and a bit of a trailblazer in its own way. Season Seven proves to be no exception, with Ms Tapping being the first woman to direct an episode of the show. "I am so excited about it," she grins. "I don't know what it's called but it's episode 16, the one right after hiatus. I don't know anything about it other than everyone will be in a good mood because it's the one just after the holidays. I was originally asked to direct the very last episode of the season, which wouldn't air as the last episode but would be shot last. I went up to Robert Cooper[Head of Pipes and Whistles this year] and said, "Please! Are you insane? Everyone's going to be sleepy. Richard Dean Anderson [Jack O'Neill] won't even be there. Please give me an episode that Richard is in and where people have some energy." Her passionate plea worked. "Robert told me they were trying to figure out when I could prep the episode because they needed to give me a light episode beforehand, which is good, but then he said that it might have to be an episode in which I feature quite heavily so would have to get used to the idea of directing myself.

Reverting to self-depreciating humour, Tapping laughs, "I was appalled, of course. I mean, I must be one of the worst. I said,"Robert, I don't know if I can do it. I'm so difficult and awkward. I don't know if I could get myself out of the trailer. I'd really have to smack myself around...' Now, Tapping is universally known as one of the most accommodating and professional actors around, but Cooper saw the joke and pointed out that this way Tapping would have one less actor to talk to. That swung her decision.

Speaking of talking to actors, it's well documented that the cast of Stargate SG-1, although consummate professionals, spend a lot of their time laughing and joking and having a good time. Richard Dean Anderson in particular doesn't seem to pay any attention to any director I've ever watched on this show. So what little trick does Tapping have up her sleeve to make sure he vaguely does what she wants him to do at some stage? "I'm planning a great deal of sexual favours," is her immediate response. "I'm planning a great deal of sexual favours to get him to stand on his mark.? Asked if she's managed to coerce a lot of women to extend these favours, Tapping shakes her head, "No! I'll have to do it myself. You know, quick snogs between takes."

We manage to keep a straight face for all of half a second before we're giggling like a couple of schoolgirls, drawing bemused looks from the very swish clientele wafting through the hotel lobby. Settling into almost grown woman mode again, Tapping says that things might not be such a struggle with Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson). "Michael is going to be great," she states. "He's going to be wonderful because we were all so supportive of him when he directed and we were so proud of him and the opportunity that he had. We were all too aware of the fact that the show he directed was so massive that we just threw ourselves behind him. It was a case of 'Right! Here's our friend and he's got this humongous episode and we're going to give him everything we've got". I know he appreciated it and I think, turning that around, he'll do the same for me. And if not, then I'll just have to resort to giving him sexual favours, too."

Reminded that Christopher Judge (Teal'c) is always looking for sexual favours, Tapping shrugs, "Well, he's not getting any until he does his job." When we've stopped cackling, she says, "Actually, when I told Christopher I was going to direct and said,"You're going to listen to me, right?" he replied, 'I'll do whatever you want. You tell me where to stand and I'll do it.?I think with him it probably will be true. I think if I say, "Christopher, I really need you to stand there", he'll do it without my having to explain why. With Michael, if I ask him to stand somewhere he might ask why and then I'll explain and he'll do it. Michael will challenge me a bit because he wants to make sure I am up for the task and knows I'll respond well to that kind of challenge. Chris will acquiesce pretty easily. Michael will challenge and Richard? well, it'll be down to the number of sexual favours."

Mindful of the earlier part of this conversation and wishing to foster the spirit of Sisterhood and strengthen relations betwee artist and journalist, I selflessly volunteer to assist with this arduous task of wrangling Mr Anderson. Tapping is duly touched. "You know, I so appreciate your offer because I might be a little tired what with directing and all, and if you're willing to help out with that it'll go a long way to getting the mission accomplished." Never let it be said that Cult Times journalists are backward at coming forward, nor would they let a sista struggle away on her own.

Keeping with the teasing, Tapping quietly slips in that the episode she would be directing might involve Carter getting "gasp!" a boyfriend!!!! "So whom should I cast?" she asks. Knowing of her interviewer's fondness for a certain bald billionaire's son in another show in Vancouver, there's a split second before we both shout, "Michael Rosenbaum," thereby terrifying the guests in the foyer yet again. Before we're removed by the management, we try to compose ourselves and resort to highly audible stage whispers. "What's funny is that when this whole thing came up, I asked, "Can he be very good looking? Can he be really hunky?" Robert Cooper said, 'As director, you get to cast him. You can choose who you want." I think it's hillarious. I get to cast my own boyfriend. Sadly, my husband has no interest in being an actor, so I'll have to settle for someone else." Our feeble attempt at propriety and political correctness is lost amid the ensuing risque discussion about checking vital statistics and other... er... attributes before Tapping gets a tiny bit serious again. "In all honesty, I do think that the Carter boyfriend thing is the writers' attempt to address her black widow issue. If it does happen, and it's not a done deal yet, the only thing I have been told is that he won't be involved with the SGC and the problem then becomes that I have a secret job and therefore can't be honest with him."

The actress thinks this whole issue is particularly important bearing in mind her thoughts on the development of her character this season. "At the beginning of the year, I talked with the producers and said, "We need to find the heart of Sam Carter again. We've lost it.? My feeling is that we need to find out what makes this woman tick. We need to find out what burns her gut and I'm not talking about her emotional heart. I'm talking about what drives this woman. When she wakes up in the morning, what makes her want to get out of bed? It's not just the fact that she loves her job or that she loves technology. It has to be more. All women reach a stage where they begin to question, "Should I have gotten married? Should I have had kids? Am I missing out on a whole aspect of life in favour of what I'm doing now?" It's an issue that people deal with and Sam's no different, so I'm hoping we'll be addressing things like that this year."

Offering up some more glimpses of things to come, Tapping reveals, "They're currently throwing around the idea of an episode where Carter gets stuck alone on a ship and she starts to hallucinate. I think this would be great because it might be another good way of getting to the heart of her." Before then, one episode that certainly highlights the more frivolous side of the major is Space Race. "Yeah! We're shooting that one next and I can't wait. Basically, one of the characters from a previous episode comes back and asks for the use of a naquadah generator in order to modify his spaceship to compete in a race. Carter won't give him the generator unless he lets her help him win the race, 'cos you know, Carter is this motorcycle riding nut totally into speed and power and all that sort of fun. She's thrilled at the chance of being in a race. The guys are all wondering why I'm so 'gung ho' about exchanging technology and I'm like,"So? We all take risks to advance Earth's technology" and Daniel is the only one who cottons on straight away that I'm doing it for fun rather than anything else. It's our video game episode of Stargate. It's speed and racing and dashing through ice debris and cool stuff like that. I also love what they do with Sam in that she wears these fantastic motorcycle leathers and is so not the Carter we've seen before. It's written into the script that I step out of the elevator at the SGC and I'm wearing motorcycle leathers and the idea is to show Carter as the biker girl out on the street who changes at work and then reverts back to this ballsy, fun-loving person when she goes home. We play it that she's smart and sexy and knows it and doesn't apologize for it, nor should she, and I can't tell you how good it is to have the opportunity to demonstrate another facet of her character."

The concierge has arrived, not to throw us out, but to let Ms Tapping know that her auction items are ready for the car. Gathering up her belongings, she has time to mention one of the best things about Stargate's forthcoming season: Tapping is very happy about the fact that one of Stargate's best-loved characters has returned to fol. "It's fantastic that Daniel Jackson and Michael Shanks are back with us," she beams. "All the elements that make Stargate SG-1 work, the dynamics between the characters, the dynamic between the actors has all fallen back into place. I thought Season Six was a great year because we introduced a new element with Jonas [Corin Nemec] that brought something new and good to the show. Things have now come full circle and I'm beyond thrilled Michael is back. Season Seven kicks ass and it's not just because he's back. It's also because his coming back has put everything the way it should be." Aww! There's lovely!

 STARGATE SG1 – AMANDA TAPPING STARBURST 2003

As Major Samantha Carter on Stargate SG-1, Amanda Tapping has spent the past six years imbuing the Space-hopping hi-tech series with much of its heart and soul. The character is as tough as O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Teal'c (Christopher Judge) and Jackson (Michael Shanks), but she's also feminine. Stargate just wouldn't be the same without Tapping or Carter. Fortunately, Tapping has been a constant from day one, and she's on hand again now, as the series returns to the airwaves for its seventh season. Starburst chatted to Tapping on a rare day off and found her to be in terrific humour as she discussed past events, the return of Michael Shanks (and exit of Corin Nemec), as well as her hopes for Carter's continued development.

Let's start with Season Six. How pleased were you with the year as a whole and sepcifically Carter's character arc?


The season as a whole I thought was fantastic. I thought that it was such an interesting dynamic bringing Corin in, or bringing the Jonas character in, and it changes the relationships of everyone and it sort of infused the show with new life. It was a really strange season for us, but I think that it was a really good one.


For Carter?


Sam's development, no, but I'm not complaining. Her job in Season Six was to help move the story forward, doing a lot of explaining or taking us to places. She facilitated stories, but she didn't have a huge emotional mark in Season Six. She was the go-to girl. You need the information, go to Sam. You need something explained, go to Sam. You need some back-story, go to Sam. There wasn't a lot of character development for her. There were certain episodes that I thought were fun to play, like Nightwalkers and Smoke and Mirrors, which were sort of Earth-based stories about 'Who do you trust and who don't you trust?' I certainly had a great time shooting Season Six, but I don't feel that the character of Sam had a huge amount of development.


What would you say with the sixth season finale, Full Circle, set in motion for Season Seven?


Well, it sets the stage for Daniel coming back, in that we don't know what happens to him. I guess that everyone knows he comes back because they've done all of this hoopla. So I'm not telling tales out of school [laughs]. Daniel comes back.


Oh yeah? We didn't know that...


Oh man, I'm sorry. I blew it for you [laughs]. What was put into motion? Well, I don't know that Full Circle actually set in motion anything for Season Seven except for the fact that Daniel either makes a huge sacrifice or does something wherein he comes back. It solidifies that he's a part of this team because he's back when we need him the most, but beyond that, in terms of relationships between anyone else, no, though there were obviously the Jack O'Neill moments.


How involved will Carter be in helping Daniel reintegrate into the SG-1 team?


It happens progressively over a few episodes. It happens fairly rapidly, but it does happen over a few episodes and it's little things. It's little, subtle things that he finds or little things that we say to him. So we're all active in it, but most of it is his journey of discovery.


It's got to be deja vu to have Michael back on the set.


Yeah, it is. It's wonderful. It's right back where we were. It's kind of what makes us feel so special, the chemistry between the actors, and when that dynamic is brought back together and you see it again, you go, 'Oh yeah, that?s right, this is right'.


Corin Nemec came into a really complex situation, arriving as a popular character left, then trying to fill his shoes, and then leaving as that same popular character returned. What did you make of that?


God bless Corin, I have to say. The man handled it. He was put in an untenable position, as you said, of having to come in and fill not only the shoes of a very popular character, but a very popular actor and try to find his way into a dynamic that had been in play for five years. And he was so solid. Rick and Michael and Chris and I barely have to speak sometimes. Sometimes it's just a look and we know what's going on. So he walked into such a tough situation, with all this backlash from Sam, and he handled it so beautifully. He handled it with such class and such grace and he didn't push to try and be one of the gang. He found his place in it and did it very quietly and we all tried to make him feel a part of it, but it was weird. It was just a different dynamic, but he did a beautiful job, I think. And I was surprised when I heard that Corin was going and Michael was coming back. I was really surprised because I didn't know that Michael would come back. I just thought, 'Wow', and I phoned Corin to see how he was with everything because I felt really bad for him. You're on this show for a year and all of a sudden you're gone. He was very cool. He was very classy about it.


Let's talk a bit about Season Seven. We're hearing that Dr Fraiser (Teryl Rothery) may die. She's been the other female on the show all this time, so you must have mixed feeling about this turn of events.


Yep. I don't know what I'm allowed to say. I think that it's out there that it's happening. I actually talk to [co-producer]Peter DeLuise about it because he pulled me into his office. He felt terrible and he was like, 'What do I do? I wrote the script, but I thought it was the end of the show and that it would air righ near the end and that it would be dramatic.' And now they're talking about an eighth season potentially, and he felt terrible. I said, 'So don't kill her. Simple. Make her wounded. It happens all the time.' But it is a phenomenal episode. We've actually shot most of it.

You're not going anywhere, but if it came to an end tomorrow, what would have gone incomplete? What would you not have gotten to play as Carter?

Well, I think that we're kind of doing it right now in a couple of episodes, in terms of her sense of humour and in terms of her joy of life. I've talked to [executive producer and show runner] Robert Cooper about finding the heart of this character, what truly makes her tick. When Sam lays her head on her pillow at night, what does she think about? What demons does she confront? Does she question what she's doing in her life? Is her almost primal devotion to learning about technology, to the team that she works on, to the SGC; is it too much? Is it taking away from other aspects of her life which we don't explore because they don't exist? And should they exist? As a woman, is she at all concerned about the fact that may never have children and will only have a career? Maybe she's not. Maybe she's perfectly happy with that, which is great, but does she ever confront that?

Does she ever confront her lack of family? Does she ever confront what happens when you lose someone that you love? She did it with Daniel and now with Fraiser, and certainly we've come across situations with the other guys on the team, but what about outside of that? What does she have outside of that? All of the guys have history and family and children, and they've all had episodes where they've sort of gone to the dark side, run into that well of despair, if you will, and really dug deep to find out what makes them tick.

We've never actually done that with Sam. We've had situations where she's been confronted with terror or with a hard decision or with losing her father, emotional moments, but we've never actually discovered what makes her tick, what pumps the blood through her heart. So this is what I talked to Robert about in a very esoteric way. I said, 'Clearly, it's not an episode of a Sci-Fi action adventure, but is there any way to try and work it in, where she's forced to confront her demons?' And I think that it would be interesting only because we've done it with all of the other characters. It would also be interesting to see her lose it, because of all of the characters she is so...

Stable?

Yeah, and so in control to the point of almost being anal about it. We're seeing her lose it now more. We'll see it when Fraiser dies. We see it when she thinks that she's lost O'Neill. I'd just like to see her totally go to the dark side and come out of it on the other end, either more committed to the programme or more committed to having a life. So we'll see.

There's already buzz about an eighth season. Part of you probably wants to get on with the rest of your career and part of you probably things, 'I'm still having fun, so why give up the gig?' So what is your thinking at the moment?

I'm thinking exactly what you just said. And my attitude is: never say never.

BBC ESSEX INTERVIEW BBC JANUARY 2003

Amanda: I was born at Rochford General hospital because I'm a twin. So actually, we were living in Benfleet, but the Benfleet hospital couldn't accommodate twins so we went to Rochford. That's where we were born. And... we were living in Benfleet, near Tarpots Corner? Yes, south Benfleet. It was a new estate so there were no roads, so it was all mud, so my mum had to wash the pram down every time she wanted to bring it into the house. That's one of her fondest memories. But.. yeah... the last time I went back to England I went to Essex, my stepfather has family, who are living in Benfleet, so I was able to see the house that I lived in, and tour sorta tour around the area, but it was fantastic. Not that I remember much of it. But . . .

Simon: No. Sure, you don't, but... but your parents were born in Essex, weren't they?


Amanda: No, my mum is from Finchley and my dad was uh ... southeast London.


Simon: So how did they end up in Essex?


Amanda: I don't know, actually. My twin and I were the third and fourth of four kids and this new estate went in and they were able to get into there, and I guess that's why we moved there.


Simon: You were three, and you ended up going to Canada.


Amanda: We went to Canada, yeah. My mum... all her family had moved to Canada. Her parents and her two sisters, and I think with four kids she wanted a little more of a support system. He parents were like, "Oh, you have to come to Canada! You'll love it! You'll love it!" My grandparents emigrated when they were in their 60s. My grandfather was 65 when he came to Canada and he just uh.. I mean he was a good English man. He was RAF, and did all... like I mean he was just...you know... English through and through. And at 65 he said, "I wanna try something else." So he packed up and moved to Canada, and I think that following them was why we ended up here.


Simon: And what was it like when you went back to Essex and saw the house you grew up in?


Amanda: It was weird! I feel such a strong connection to England. So whenever I go there I feel very much a sense of home. And it's not that I have huge memories of living there or am British through and through, but I really feel like that's my home. So, yeah, it was kind of bittersweet. I think, "Oh, I kinda wanna stay here now."


Simon: Do you think having grown up in Canada you've had more options, you know, in your career?


Amanda: It's hard to say, actually, that's a hard question to answer, because I think if I'd lived in England, I probably would have done the same thing. I probably would have... uh... you know, there are amazing schools to study at in England. And the school I chose to study at in Canada very much followed the classic, British theater school philosophy, which is why I chose to go there, but had I been in England, I probably would have studied there, and probably would have done stage, you know, with any luck would have ended up onThe Vicar of Dibley or something.


Simon: And do you sort of... harbor ambitions to appear on the British stage at some time?


Amanda: Yes, but you know, I don't want to be one of those, you know, television actors who say, "Oh yes, once I've done my series, I'm going to come over and wow them on the British stage." But I would definitely love to.

Simon: And what about... you know... your career has been so successful, and I don't want to say "culminates with" Stargate, but that is I supposed what you're best known for . . .

Amanda: But it's been a long haul, I mean, when I graduated theater school, I struggled a lot, and got an agent, and started doing commercials, which is something I vowed I'd never do. And from there slowly built up and got small parts on television series, and movies, and then bigger parts and then bigger parts... and so Stargate was like the next natural progression, to get a series. It seemed to make sense, and I was ready for it when it happened.


Simon: And really has taken off, hasn't it?


Amanda: Oh, my gosh, I mean we're just about ready to go back and start our seventh season! And we're all stymied by it! "What? Seven years? oh, my gosh!" "Where'd the time go?" And B. "Wow! We're lucky!"


Simon: Is it a good team, a sort of family atmosphere?


Amanda: Oh, my gosh! Yeah, it really is, and as crazy as it sounds, and people are constantly trying to find the cracks in the Stargatearmor, but we really are an incredible family. We genuinely like each other-love each other. You know, I spend a lot of time socializing with my cast-mates. Just the other day we were at Christopher Judge`s house for the Superbowl, and we get together like that all the time.


Simon: What did you think of Shania Twain's bra?


Amanda: [laughing] Well...


Simon: Is that something you wear and...


Amanda: Yeah, good old Canadian girl...


Simon: For anyone who didn't see it, it was diamond encrusted, I believe.... But it scratched a bit.


Amanda: You know, that's so funny you should say that because there were a bunch of women in the room and we were..."That just looks so uncomfortable! What's on the inside of that thing so it's not hurting her?" That's very funny.


Simon: Probably a security guard looking after it.


Amanda: Please!


Simon: Do you like, sort of, fantasy, because you've appeared in quite a few science fiction programs.


Amanda: It's so funny, because I didn't think that, you know, when I was starting out in my career, that I was a... I wasn't a massive fan of the genre, and now I am.


Simon: Yeah... and do you enjoy getting sort of dressed up in fatigues and that sort of thing, and shooting guns, and...?


Amanda: I have to be honest with you, after six years, not so much. I pine for, you know, a nice frock.


Simon: Yes, yes.


Amanda: And my accessory being a necklace rather than a P-90, but.. you know.


imon: And a bit of romance...you need a bit of romance.


Amanda: You know, someone who doesn't die... would be nice.


Simon: Yes... absolutely.


Amanda: I think they're addressing that this year, Because I joked with the writers, I said, "I'm the black widow of the show." First of all, "Every guy who comes on the show does not have to fall in love with Sam Carter." And secondly, "If they do, could they please not die?"


Simon: Yeah, absolutely.

Amanda: They sort of laughed. We'll see what happens with that.

Simon: You do have the kiss of death, a bit.

Amanda: I do! It's hurting me!

Simon: All right.... And, finally... what about the future? What's the future hold for you?

Amanda: Good question. Right now, I am shadowing one of our directors, Martin Wood. He's directing an episode of Jeremiah, and I will be directing an episode of Stargate this year. So I've spent the last couple of weeks shadowing him, going through prep, and now we're shooting, and then I'll go into editing with him, and that's something that I want to get more involved in, so... directing, definitely, and once Stargate ends, which is in October, when we finish shooting our seventh season... I don't know.

Simon: Will there be an eighth?

Amanda: You know, never say "Never." We said that six was it. I think this will be it. There's talk of doing a movie. And then they would like to continue into a spinoff. And that for the powers that be is the best-case scenario.

Simon: Alright.... Amanda Tapping, thank you very much.

Amanda: Thank you, Simon.

 MSN CHAT MAY 28 2003

DishDiva says: Welcome to MSN Live! It's great to see so many fans from around the world! Do you have a great question for Amanda Tapping? Click the submit question button and enter yoru question now! We are LIVE in Vancouver from the set of "Stargate-SG1." Amanda Tapping is in the middle of a scene and will be joining usonstage shortly. We are rolling. This event wil begin as soon as Amanda finishes her scene. They just called "Action" so it will be a few minutes. It's pretty exciting, isn't it? Your fabulous team of MSN Live hosts today are Ash, Kendrick, Trish, and Mark.And Amanda is joining us right now!

Viqui_bcn in onstage3 asks: Hi Amanda, What are you shooting a few minutes before this chat? Thanks!

DishDiva says: BTW, we have fans here from around the world!@

Amanda: A scene from an episode called "Evolution" and the scene had my dad, Gen. Hammond and Daniel Jackson and that's all I can tell you or else I would have to kill you. That's great!! I'm so flattered and thrilled that people showed up for the chat, thanks so much!! That's so sweet.

SwimmerGirl1978 in onstage4 asks: Do you have any funny stories or bloopers from the Stargate set? And do you have any funny stories from your theater days? Also, hope you enjoyed my fan package from Sacramento. Angela

Amanda: I used the coffee mug, you're incredibly sweet. It's just the day to day stuff that makes us laugh. There's a lot of practical joke things but it shows up on tape. (laughs) I've also had body parts popping out while I was doing some Shakesperean things. That's always embarrassing!

calliesg1 in onstage4 asks: Amanda, you are amazing, has playing Sam changed you in any way?

Amanda: Thank you. Yes, I think it has made me a bit stronger, I'm a bit more willing to stand up for myself than I used to be and I attribute that to playing this charater. AND I can run really fast in army boots and I was never able to do that before. (laughs)

AshtonPress in onstage4 asks: Hi, Amanda. Any convention appearances coming up this year?

Amanda: As far as I know the only place I'll be is in Paris and Reunion Island. While I'm shooting it's hard to get away with this schedule.

findogask44 in onstage1 asks: At last week's SFX convention, Michael Shanks said Sci Fi want another Sam/Jack kiss, and was surprised to find that most of us there preferred to keep the team as friends. How do you feel about this?

Amanda: I like the team as friends, I think that's what makes it work. If there was ever a relationship between Sam and Jack it wouldn't work with the team. We do have fun playing with that. We get to play it in alternate reality and that's fun, but in our reality it's not going to work. It's enough that they have addressed it.

CaptainCalvinNathanCat in onstage4 asks: We heard about a possible boyfriend for Sam. Is it right?

Amanda: Yeah, there is apparently a story, I'm not sure it will happen this year and if this is the last year, then it won't happen. (laughs) It will be a boyfriend off base and it will be interesting to see what she tells him as to what she does for a living and hopefully he won't die. (laughs)

JanetSisterKalyani in onstage4 asks: Hi Amanda! Because of the job of Sam, we knew that Cassy would have been adopted by Janet, but why having developed the relation between Sam and Cassy, and not the relation between Janet and Cassy?

Amanda: I just think because there's not enough episodes in the year. When Janet is on the show she is the medial officer and is saving our lives, there's just not enough time to deal with story lines off the base. There was a story line two years ago that addressed their relationship and it was great for their characters but it doesn't have to continually be brought up.

KirstenSG-1 in onstage1 asks: Do you enjoy exploring the scientific aspects of Sam on "Stargate"? I'm studying physics and chemistry at University in the UK and I find it fascinating!

Amanda: Yes! I love it! I love the fact that a lot of what I say is becoming science fact and a lot of science fiction is becoming science fact. Good for you, I hope your studies go well.

Spunky_Mr_Snickers in onstage4 asks: has richard dean anderson pulled any macgyver stunts out of his back pocket on the rest of the crew yet? lol

Amanda: (laughs!!) No, not that we've noticed.

lams9999 in onstage4 asks: Dear Amanda, have you ever been to France before and do you speak French ? Thanks a lot for coming in Paris! Herv?

Amanda: I'm thrilled to be coming back. I have a good friend in Paris, it's one of my favorite cities. I do speak French un petite peu.

SG-Board in onstage4 asks: Hi Amanda, I'm studying Egyptolgy in Germany and I wanna know if you're also interested in it, or do you like physics more?

Amanda: I'm actually quite a history buff and I'm fascinated by that aspect of the show. It works the mythology with science and human perspective.

Claris85 in onstage1 asks: What is the most rewarding part of being a part of the Stargate SG-1 family? "Remember love survives eternity"

Amanda: It is a family, the fact after 7 years there's this huge relationship that transcends the show. We talk about how no matter how hard we work we laugh every day and that's a gift.

thorismymaster123 in onstage1 asks: Any memorabele OFF screen moments with Richard Dean Anderson?

Amanda: Not that I can discuss in public. (laughs)

DishDiva says: Oh you naughty girl you! LOL

starcrossed55 in onstage3 asks: amanda what is it like working with a bunch of guys?

Amanda: I'm used to that dynamic. It is a priviledge to be the only girl but it's also like being Rudolph and I'll never be part of their reindeer games.

becca_carter in onstage1 asks: "Stargate" is an amazing show with thousands probably millions of fans what do u think makes it so success full? lots a stargate love becca xxxx

Amanda: What makes it successful is we don't take ourselves too seriously. We have a great sense of humor and are fallible present day human beings and we have great writers.

MajorSam-O in onstage4 asks: Hey Amanda, not sure if you remember me, but it's Jenny! i met you at the North Shore Winter Club, and GateCon2002, i just wanted to know, how's ur dog, Abbie doing!!??

Amanda: Of course I remember you, Hello! Abby is doing great! She's 4 years old now. She's a cuddly baby wolly mammoth.

FreakNastyJackie in onstage1 asks: Do you have a Favorite epesode?

Amanda: I think my favorite will probably be "Heros" which hasn't aired yet.

StaragateGirl in onstage4 asks: Do you meet up with the cast sometimes, off screen? P.S. Ur amazing Amanda, I am a huge Fan, Zinah

Amanda: Thank you. Yes. Christopher, Michael, and Don and I get together.

CharlieSilverStargate in onstage4 asks: Hiya! Ty for doing this chat! Will Sam's reaction from 'full circle' about daniel not visiting her, be addressed this season?

Amanda: That's a great question and I don't know. There was a scene written in Full Circle and it got edited out. I think they've just moved on. I think for Sam it's more about the fact that he's back rather than him visiting her. So she's happy he's back.

The__BlueOrchid_ in onstage4 asks: Who of the team has the best sense of humor? Who pulls the most practical jokes?

Amanda: Every single one of us will say it's us. Probably Christopher is the biggest.

TheOriginalMelon-SA-2 in onstage4 asks: finally! do you actually understand any of your characters specialist subject since you have played her for so long?

Amanda: Yes I do. And I take pride in that, I work really hard to research what I need to know. I draw diagrams and break it down so that I understand everything I am saying. I don't think I could save the world from a black hole but in principle I know how it works.

Janak0785 in onstage4 asks: Hi amanda, president doc from gaters.net here, was just wondering if you take an interest in the online fandom, maybe even ehem, snoop around gaters.net by any chance? ;p

Amanda: I've been on Gaters.net and Ascfi and I do occasionally but I don't have a lot of time. I just check and see what's going on.

Thor05421 in onstage1 asks: Hello Amanda, which kind of movies do you like? What's your favourite?

Amanda: I'm a huge documentary fan. The movies I like right now, I don't know that I have a specific genre. I'm not big on high speed chases and I like foreign films. I'm an art house filmy girl. I've often said my favorite movie is "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" but I think "The Prime of Miss Jean Brody" is really my favorite.

tb350 in onstage1 asks: I really love your character. She's a great role model. Do you feel any pressure because of this?

Amanda: Yes. But it's pressure I put on myself. I feel a responsibility to live up to the generous spirit that has been showed to me. I get so many letters and I feel a huge sense of responsibility to keep the character good and also myself when I go out. I see it as a responsibility but also a blessing.

Meg_744 in onstage1 asks: Hi Amanda, it's so great that you're here !! thanx a lot. I wondered do RDA and MS steal Abbie's dog biskuits? Meg *big hug*

Amanda: RDA has but MS no. I buy a special brand just for him.

1707O?Neill in onstage4 asks: Amanda, what do you think about the Episode "Prometheus"? I Think its a great episode.

Amanda: I enjoyed it. I had a fundamental problem with Prometheus, I didn't want to take them on the ship. I did have a great time shooting it and MacGyver my way out of the room.

SG-1Psychopath_ in onstage4 asks: Greetings from Bristol. Do you prefer filming episodes based on Sam and her emotions, more than episodes based on the whole team or another character, or do you prefer to do an episode focussed on you and one or two other characters only? From Becca

Amanda: It's hard because I love stories that focus on the whole team and getting into trouble and getting out together. Having said that there's a story coming up with Carter that can be emotional and as an actor you need that challenge. Michael had one a little bit ago. It is fun to do a whole team episode.

StoicBrett_Maverick in onstage4 asks: If you could choose one person to be a guest on the show, who would it be?

Amanda: Maggie Smith. Actually I could think of a hundred others like Dawn French and Carol Burnett, together.

lozbrunnettestar64 in onstage4 asks: Can you tell us when any more episodes are out and give us a peek in what happened?

Amanda: Daniel's got a big episode called "Life Boat" coming up where he's taken over by other entities. We're also filming "Heros" right now where we have to overcome something quite horrific. I'm having an episode coming up where I'm stuck on a boat myself. I guess I could give away the whole season. (laughs)

happysleepybeauty in onstage4 asks: Hi! Amada, I am extremely excited and it's great to chat with you!!! What's Sam like in season7? I like funny, witty Sam. ^^ Thanks.

Amanda: That's sweet. She still gets to be funny/witty Sam, her sense of humor has grown. This has been a serious year for her. You know what it is, it's a progression from last year, she's still growing and hopefully fans will enjoy that. I did get to do an episode called "Space Race" where I got to play Adventure Sam and that was fun.

DishDiva says: And the producers are about to usher Amanda back on set. The cast and crew are waiting for Amanda to wrap up. Makeup is putting touches on Amanda.

Amanda: Thanks for enjoying funny/witty Sam .

DishDiva says: So, Amanda, thanks for taking the time to talk with your fans around the world. Thanks Amanda!

Amanda: Thank you, I've said this before, There but for the grace of you go I. I wouldn't be here without you and I hope you will enjoy the 7th season.

 MANY HAPPY RETURNS STARLOG  JUNE 2003

Smiling at the new season, Amanda Tapping is delighted to keep exploring with Stargate SG-1.
Everybody, meet Dr. Tapping. "I feel like a scientist," Amanda Tapping says. "I feel like I could save the world from a black hole. No, I don't really believe that, but it is interesting. I do have a certain level of confidence talking about scientific things that I've sort of learned by osmosis.
"A few months ago, I was in New Zealand for a convention and a fan asked me a very technical question about an aqueduct and hyperdrive engines, and I came up with this answer that even blew me away. I stopped, and the people who were sitting around me said, 'Wow, you really know how that works.' And I went, 'Yeah, I guess I do.' It shocked me. It was just completely impromptu. This man asked me a question and I said, 'Well, you can't do that because it's like mixing water and oil in the... and duh-duh-duh-duh.' And I thought, 'Oh my gosh, I know stuff.' I was proud of myself.

Tapping isn't really a doctor, she just plays one on TV. And thanks to the SCI FI Channel, the actress will continue to portray the estimable Major Samantha Carter on Stargate SG-1 for at least one more year. "We really thought that Season Six was the end," says Tapping, who - like co-stars Richard Dean Anderson, Christopher Judge and Don S. Davis - has been with the series since its inception. "We all acted like it was the end. 'OK, this is it. This is the last season. Let's just have fun!' And here we are, coming back. Who knew? Stargate's ratings [last year] were the best that they've ever been. And I don't think that the cancellation of Farscape had anything to do with us coming back. I don't think it was contingent on that, as far as I understand the situation. I guess that ratings forStargate were so high that they said, 'It would be silly to stop it now.' There were a number of logistics in terms of getting Rick signed on for a seventh season, but once he was on board, then 'Boom!', we were back."

Future Fates

Anderson's decision to return to the show was nearly as big a surprise as SCI FI's decision to renew the series. The actor, who heads the cast as Colonel O'Neill, had long expressed his desire to move, to get back home to America (Stargate films in Vancouver) and to devote time to his family and various environmental causes. Of course, Stargatemight very well have gone on without Anderson, but if that had happened, would Tapping have stuck it out anyway?

"I think I would have stayed on if Rick hadn't returned," she replies. "I don't know, though. We fortunately never had to deal with that possibility. It's a good question, but I'm not sure how to answer that. I probably would have [come back]- as long as I felt that they were still doing the show the way it needs to be done, which is keeping the same balance and quality of stories. I probably would have stayed. It's a hard one, though, because if Rick had said no and we came back anyway, it might not have been the same show. They might have brought in a new lead, and that could have changed everything.

"Was I surprised that Rick came back? Yes. We all thought Season Six was it. At the wrap party after Season Six, we were like, 'OK, we'll keep in touch.' Then I went to dinner with Rick when I was down in LA. At that point, we knew that there were discussions with Rick about coming back, but he told me, 'I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen.' It was a strange situation when you think about it. We had the wrap up party and really thought it was over, but even then we heard rumblings that they were trying to get Rick bad on board. So we all walked away thinking it was over, but realizing that there was a chance it might not be. We just didn't know. And the crew was pretty anxious. Because it's such a fun show to work on - and many people have been with it a long time - everyone was saying, 'OK, if it's coming back, let us know so that we can keep our jobs.' "

Season Seven will see plenty of changes, but first, let's take a look back at Season Six, in which Stargate aired on SCI FI, not Showtime, and fan favourite Michael Shanks (who played Daniel Jackson) was gone, replaced by Corin Nemec as Jonas Quinn. "I have to be honest with you and say that we don't notice that much of a difference on a day-to-day basis," Tapping says of the Showtime-to-SCI FI transition. "We're up in Vancouver. We do our jobs, shoot the show and play the characters. None of that has really changed. Every once in a while, someone will come down to the set and say, 'Woo-hoo! We got great ratings last night!' But in terms of logistics of shooting Stargate or anything different happening on set, no, we don't really notice any of that. We're just so far removed from the loop. We're making the same show. It's just airing on SCI FI instead of Showtime. And Corin is wonderful. He's a very nice guy. He had an unbelievably hard job, coming in and trying to fill Michael's shoes. Corin carried it off with great class. He tried to establish his character and wasn't pushy about it. He allowed us to settle into the idea that he was there. Corin was never in your face."

Stargate's writers blended Jonas into the SG-1 team nicely, but not so seamlessly that everyone was hugging and kissing within a few weeks. Carter, in fact, didn't want Jonas to join the Stargate team. Some fans still wonder if that had anything to do with Carter feeling threatened by an intellectual equal. Tapping insists that wasn't the case. "I don't think it was that she saw him as a threat," the actress says. "I think that she was concerned that he wasn't ready. Judging by what his life was like back in his home world, back on Kelowna, she felt that he wouldn't be prepared for what was going to happen in the Stargate.

"There's a certain naivete to Jonas because he hasn't experienced the things that everyone else on the team has gone through. So there was some genuine concern on Carter's part, because this unit is such a well-oiled machine, and to throw someone in with no experience is a scary prospect. I don't believe that Carter was at all threatened by Jonas. She loves to have people around who are intellectually equal to her. But I don't know how much Jonas will be around next season. I do know from the first couple of Season Seven scripts that I've read that he is in them, but I don't know to what extent he'll be with us beyond that.

Past Adventures

Sticking with Season Six episodes, issues and events for a few more moments, Tapping reports that she liked a number of individual shoes. "I really enjoyed shooting 'The Changelling,'" she says. "Chris Judge wrote that episode, and it was a departure for us. It was a different kind of episode. This show has a certain 'cool' factor. Every once in a while I sit back and go, 'Wow, I'm working on a cool show.' That's how I felt doing 'The Changelling.' We were riding around on a fire truck and cars were pulling out of the way. It was very cool and kind of goofy. I also liked 'Descent', where we got to sink the set. That was another sort of 'I work on a really cool show' episode for me. I liked 'Shadowplay,' because we had Dean Stockwell as our guest star. He's a wonderful actor and a really funny man with a very dry sense of humour.

"We've been lucky to have some classy, talented guest stars like Ronny Cox, Tony Amendola and Carmen Argenziano [who plays Sam's father, General Jacob Carter] on the show, so when I heard about Dean Stockwell, I was freaking out. I'm a huge fan of his, and he's a very lovely man. It sort of raises the bar on our show when we have people of that caliber come on. Characterwise, I thought that 'Nightwalkers' was very good. We were on Earth and not in the SGC and not in uniform. It's always fun when we get to play around in civilian clothes. During Season Six, Carter helped facilitate stories, but she didn't have any big stories herself. There weren't any major Carter moments or episodes, but she helped move stories along. So Carter had a lot to do during the season, but there weren't any great emotional stretches."

And that lack of emotional stretches carried over to the relationship between Carter and SGC chief medical officer Dr. Fraiser (Teryl Rothery), who shared precious few scenes together. That was a bit of disappointment - not only because Carter and Fraiser are essentially the only women on the show, but because they share a vested interest in Fraiser's adopted daughter, Cassandra (Colleen Rennison). "I don't think that Teryl and I had as much to do together this season as we would have liked, but it's such a comfortable relationship," Tapping explains. "The writers haven't made it a competitive relationship, which we're both so glad about. So often you get two women on a show and they're constantly battling each other. That was so not a part of what we wanted to present. We wanted to show two very strong and intelligent women who are great friends.

"Obviously, we also have the bond of Cassandra. That wasn't really a part of the storyline this season, but it's almost impossible to continually bring in peripheral characters and continue our main storylines. Otherwise, we would be shooting a soap opera and Stargateis not a soap opera. It's kind of the mystique of Stargate that all these characters are out there, and occasionally are referred to without being seen. That sometimes has to be enough. So I'm not displease that we didn't deal with Cassandra, because we couldn't; we can't constantly bring it up. I think the fans know she's there. Every once in a while there will be a comment like, 'Cassandra and I are going to rent a rowboat this weekend. Do you want to come?' That's enough to give you a sense of what's going on with that relationship. I acutally think they handle it quite well."

Considering that Carter is all-business most of the time, Tapping appreciates any lighthearted moments that the show's writers give her. "Oh my God, absolutely! Absolutely!" she enthuses. "I cherish those moments. I beg for those moments. And the writers have really warmed up the character of Carter. She's much more accessible. She's much more human. She doesn't take herself as seriously as she used to. I think she has really developed as a person, and she's much more fun to play now that she used to be. I love the moments when they let her lighten up. It's really a 'less is more' situation. If they had made her too accessible in the beginning, those moments she has now wouldn't be as interesting. That's the beauty of having the long run that we've had. Even when we first shot the pilot, we knew that would would have two years ahead of us. It's a luxury to play out a story arc, a character arc like that, and to know you'll have the time to do it in little bits and pieces. You don't have to throw everything in all at once. The character has time to develop. And we've had that luxury right from the start."

The responsibility of handling Season Seven falls on Robert Cooper, who will serve not just as executive producer but also as show runner when the series returns to the air with new episodes. Brad Wright left off, though Wright will remain with Stargate as a consultant. "It has been great with Rob," Tapping raves. "He's fantastic. He has been with the show for such a long time. But I can't tell you yet how his approach to running Stargate is different from Brad's. That remains to be seen. We've just started shooting. I can tell you that they are both very approachable. That is the great thing about the Powers That Be upstairs in the production offices. They're all very easy to talk to. Brad had always been my go-to guy, but Rob is a nice man and I don't think there's going to be a huge difference. Brad will also be very much involved, even though he won't be the show runner. He'll still be around."

Present Tense

The Season Six finale "Full Circle" aired in late March, and Season Seven will debut June 13. Production is underway now in Vancouver, and the Stargatecast and crew have already wrapped production on the two-part season opener, "Fallen" and "Homecoming". Those episodes deal in part with Jackson returning to the SG-1 fold and Jonas contending with a threat to Kelowna - and even find Jonas and Jackson sharing several scenes together. Tapping won't reveal details about anything else Season Seven-related, other than to note that she will assume the director's chair for an episode at the year's halfway point.

"Stargate is an episodic show, so I don't see doing anything too differently," she says. "But I've wanted to direct for a very long time. I asked, I think, back in Season Three. So I'm thrilled that they've agreed to let me direct. What I've been doing to prepare for it is shadowing Martin Wood. He has been one of our directors for a long time. He's wonderful, and I've shadowed him while he has directed Stargate and Jeremiah, which is another Showtime/MGM show that films on our lot. I've gone through prep and shooting with him, and just the other day we were editing. So I got to see from start to finish the whole process of creating an episode. As an actor, you rarely get to see everything that happens. We're usually on set while they're prepping the next episode, so I never get to see the full arc of how an episode works. It's fascinating to me, to watch the process. I'm like a big sponge. And I can't wait to boss Rick around for a week. I just want to say 'Action' and then 'Cut' and then him to do it again and again and again!"

Chance are that this next season will bring the show to a close, though everyone said the same thing about Season Six. Assuming that Stargate does wind down after the next batch 22 episodes, there could still be more missions for the exploration team. A Stargate SG-1 feature film is a definite possibility, and Tapping sounds at once amped and nervous about the prospect. "I think given the right script I would be a fool to say anything except I'm very eager to see Stargate on the big screen," she noted. "I would love to see a Stargate movie - but only if it's done really well. And I think that with Brad writing the feature it will be done very well. Brad still hasn't let us read it. Chris Judge and I leaned over [co-executive producer]Michael Greenburg's shoulder one day while he was reading the feature script, and he pushed us away and said, 'Don't worry, you guys are in it.' "

At some point, however, even if Stargateemerges as a film franchise, Tapping will need to get on with the rest of her life and career. Starring in Stuck - a short film about a doctor who is accidentally pricked by an HIV-infected needle -gave the actress a valuable experience outside of the Stargate Universe. "It was a complete change of pace, and it was very exciting for me, too, because I was filming Stargate at the same time," she recalls. "I was completely exhausted. We shot Stuck on weekends, and rehearsed for two months. It was like rehearsing for a play, which was just a wonderful experience for me. It was refreshing to play somebody who was so different from Carter. Even though I was really tired, it actually kind of revitalized me for Stargate. It gave me another creative outlet. The film is being submitted to festivals. Hopefully, we'll get it out there for people to see."

Tapping already knows what, beyond the steady work and the regular paycheck, she'll remember as the best part of her Stargate ride. "The family," she says. "Without a doubt, the family that this group has formed has been the best part of this experience. We are so close, and most people don't believe that. Six years on [the air] and we're still getting along.

"I spend more time with these people than I do with my own family. It's amazing to have that strength of relationship and that kind of history and to know that at any given moment I can call any one of them up and they'll be there for me. We've got that not just with the cast but also with the crew. Most of this crew has been with us from the very beginning, and I think that speaks volumes about the atmosphere on our show. It's like coming into a house. When we have guest starts, they're like, 'Wow, your show is really fun to work on. You guys are so great.'

"It means a lot to us," Amanda Tapping concludes. "And it's important to us that people who come to our set feel comfortable and like a part of the show."