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With big thanks: Amanda has once more suggested she might answer fans' questions in a Q & A. The questions have been gathered through various Internet clubs and mailing lists. Below is a full list of questions that were included in it and Amanda's answers. 
| Question #1 - from Sally Murphy / Morjana Coffman: | In the episode In the Line of Duty when Sam/Jolinar was in a cell and pleading with Colonel O'Neill to not leave her: was it Sam or Jolinar that was doing the talking at that moment? If you weren't told exactly by the writer and/or director which one it was, who did 'you' have doing the talking? Just curious 'cause I love this ep and it's been driving me nuts-which is a short drive for me. | | Amanda: | I can relate to the short drive! In that episode it was Sam pleading. I think it was important to hint at the fact that this wasn't a regular goa'uld we were dealing with. Jolinar, as all Tok'ra, allows a symbiotic relationship, but it was early in the blending so I think Sam had to really struggle to be heard. That entire episode was one of discovery for me, in fact for all of us, because we were introducing this new race. But, in answer to your question, Sam was definitely struggling to be heard and was able to break through, ever so briefly. |
| Question #2 - from Rene Laurings [South Africa]: | Hi, Amanda, Just wondering what the reception was (yours and the other cast members) of the idea of SG1 possibly going on to a seventh season, and what you, personally, would like to see happen for Sam in season 7? Many thanks
Rene Laurings | | Amanda: | We're all cautiously optimisitic about a seventh season. It's a double edged sword in terms of feeling the need to move on creatively and loving the family and security of Stargate. But, the show is still great fun and the character is still interesting to play so I guess we wait and see what happens. If there were a seventh season I would like Sam to expand her emotional base. She is much warmer and nurturing than she was in the beginning but there is always room to grow. I would like more stories that show us as a team in real peril. |
| Question #3 - from Maureen: | I get the feeling you've done a lot of stage work (I've been a prop manager for over 20 years so I can usually recognize an actor who's done theatre - there is always something very special about their performances and you certainly touch my heart, when I watch you), so have you done stage work? | | Amanda: | Thank you. Yes, I have done stage work. Stage is where I got my training and it is still my great love. I studied Theatre for four years at University (Acting School) and we were never taught anything about film or television or even about the "business". In fact, upon graduating from Theatre School I vowed I would never do television. "I wouldn't prostitute myself for my art". Grand words for one so young! Thankfully, I changed my tune and have discovered a whole new way of working and I am loving it! |
| Question #4 - from Nicky: | What do you do to keep in shape? Especially with the long working hours you have it must be kind of difficult to keep up a fitness regimen. | | Amanda: | I work out with a personal trainer on weekends and during the week if I get a late call or if I get off work early. I also have a rowing machine and a treadmill at my house. It is exceedingly difficult to keep at it as the season wears on because we get so tired. I think I could be in a lot better shape, but sometimes sleep wins out over the treadmill! |
| Question #5 - from mingo [Alberta, Canada]: | Amanda, you do a wonderful job at making Sam Carter's technobabble seem natural and believable... you have said before that you like to know what you are talking about when studying these more challenging and generally long string of lines ... is there one theory or aspect of our universe and how we interact with it that just blew, you - Amanda, away with its new found understanding? mingo | | Amanda: | I'm fascinated by all aspects of science relating to our great universe! I think the fact that the ancient Simoans were able to chart our solar system long before "modern" man came and did it all over again, blows me away. Where did they get this incredible knowledge? (My thought is the Goa'uld were here!) Stephen Hawking is always coming up with up interesting theories and I read anything he's written. It's hard to pinpoint one particular theory but, like Sam, I'm fascinated by wormhole physics. Really. |
| Question #6 - from Pam: | How are you enjoying Season Six so far? Any anecdotes? | | Amanda: | Season six has been so much fun! It was so weird starting out without Michael, but we all just decided to enjoy ourselves as much as possible. It has gone by so fast. Anecdotes......hmmm....in Frozen the walls of the medical lab were lined with bubble wrap! We had a lot of fun flinging ourselves against the wall to make the bubbles pop! |
| Question #7 - from Michelle: | I read somewhere that you were going to write a story for season six, but ran out of time. What kind of story would it have been? | | Amanda: | I don't know! All my ideas were too esoteric for the show. If we get Season Seven maybe I'll come up with something! This year was seriously so busy for me that I didn't get a chance to write anything and I wish I had. But, crossed fingers, maybe next year! |
| Message #8 - from Julia: | Hello Amanda. In The Void (in which your fantastic acting stood out, by the way) you played a physicist. Although similar in her scientific brilliance to Sam Carter, Eva was a very different type of person and this came over straight away, not only because she had a visible best friend, a home life and a pet but because she handled and reacted to things very differently. Did you enjoy the fact that you got a chance to be a character who didn't have all the answers at your fingertips and was scared and emotional, and not physically able to overcome everybody and everything? Julia PS We all agree that your acting was really outstanding in the film, so it's not just me saying it! :) | | Amanda: | Thank you, you're very kind. The Void was a huge amount of fun for me. I wish the finished product was better than it was. I think the initial edit was far more interesting, but that being said, I had a blast! Yes, I got to play someone with a life! Someone vulnerable! Which was actually difficult at first...the director said I had a bit of a Stargate hangover at first and kept coaching me to be more vulnerable. once he said that, I felt vulnerable! I thought I couldn't act anymore and I was petrified. It fed me in terms of letting go of my control. I then relished the thought of a character who was so different emotionally. Still smart and still ballsy, but more open emotionally. I really enjoyed it. |
| Question #9 from Nicky: | Dear Amanda,
Hope you liked the Stargate/Simpsons print I sent you.
We have seen Carter evolve from a fairly one-dimensional feminist in early season one to an amazing strong, multi-faceted female role model by season six. If Stargate goes into a seventh season how would you like Sam to be portrayed? Is there any areas of her character you would like to be further explored? | | Amanda: | Thank you!!! I love the print!!!!! Awesome!!!!
Sam in season seven, I think I kind of answered it in question 2. More open emotionally. More willing to laugh and show her sense of humour. (I think she'd be a great pratical joker!) |
| Question #10 from Vicky Humphrey [Ontario, Canada] & Jackie Madden: | Hi Amanda, I wanted to know what your plans were for after this season of SG1. (I know there might be a movie but after all SG1 is done.) I read you once had a comedy act; Is that something you are going to try again? Thanks Vicky Humphrey & Jackie Madden | | Amanda: | Hello ontario! I bet the fall colours are beautiful! I miss that. I think after Stargate is done I would like to explore comedy again. I would love to do a sitcom. The comedy troupe is something I am definitely interested in, but we are all over the map globally right now. I also love the world of independent films. At the end of the day though, I am an actor and will take on any project that interests me. Even another series, if it's a great character and story. I think actors have to keep themselves open to all possibilities and experiences. I just don't know what around the next corner for me. It's exciting and terrifying at the same time. |
| Question #11 from Samantha Fox: | Of all the guys that you have kissed on the show who do you think was the best kisser and which scene was the best if you kissed them more than once?
Happy birthday for the 28th. (Two days before mine) and good luck with your acting in the future. You really are an inspiration. | | Amanda: | Happy birthday! (late) Richard ranks as one of all time great kissers in my life. (not as good as my husband, though!) He really is good. I think the scene at the end of Point of View, in which we had to do a number of takes....yeah tough job I've got, I know. |
| Question #12 from Marina [Alberta, Canada]: | Hi, Amanda! What is your favorite Disney character, and why?
Mine is Eeyore, because somehow his gloominess always makes me feel better :) Marina
11 years | | Amanda: | I love Eeyore!! As for a favourite, that's tough. Probably Peter Pan. Always youthful,
always curious, always believing in possibility. |
| Question #13 from Lucy Maria Elmer: | Hi Amanda, Thanks for doing this again. My questions are what have you learnt about your craft through doing Stargate? and what kinda lessons will you take with you when you go? Also did you enjoy SG4 apart from the being ill thing? hehe. It was so lovely to meet you and I still feel really bad about crying on you when I saw you, it was cos I was so happy!!! also wanted to tell you I took your advice from the last Q&A and had my pictures taken. They were natural like you said rather than glamourous and I've started sending them off already. Thanks for inpsiring me always, All my best,
Lucy Maria Elmer xxxx | | Amanda: | Lucy!! You superstar. It was lovely to meet you as well. I was rather ill at that convention...I spent the nights on the bathroom floor of my hotel room, but honestly, whenever I got around the fans I was supported and I felt so inspired and lucky that it was easy to get through the convention. You guys were amazing!! And I knew how lucky I was to be there and that the flu was nothing compared to what a lot of people I met were dealing with on a daily basis. I wanted to clear that up because I didn't want people to think I was whining about being sick. I asked Bryan not to mention it to anyone and then he announced it to the whole auditorium!!! Anyway, what have learned about my craft? Doing a televison series and having the opportunity of working everyday is a wonderful gift. I have learned a lot about the technical aspects of film and about working in that medium. It's a lot different from the stage. You learn to make your work smaller in some ways and more focused to what you convey through your face. It's still acting and it's still coming from the same place but it is more technical and more focused. I've also learned about how to pace myself physically and emotionally. |
| Question #14 from Win Mickleson: | How has the advent of the new Jonas Quinn character altered the team dynamic for you as an actress? | | Amanda: | Hi Win! Definitely, the dynamic has changed. Not so much for me as an actress but definitely for us a team. I think it's brought us even closer together and made us more aware of how important we are to each other. We've played more beats this year that show our friendships and how much we mean to each other. We have also been able to play up the "What's with the new guy?" kind of humour. It has changed the team dynamic for the better in many ways. We don't take each other for granted anymore. |
| Question #15 from Vicki: | I understand you do most of your stunts...at least in the first 2 seasons. Do you still do most of them and more specifically, in Crystal Skull, when you collapse and fall over RDA's shoulder and he had to run and carry you out, was that really you up there as RDA was running with you? | | Amanda: | I still do most of my own stunts! Actually for the first time this year I got Stunt Pay! I was really proud of that. In Crystal Skull, I think it was a dummy over Rick's stunt double's shoulders. |
| Question #16 from Leslie Harris from Texas: | Hi Amanda! What is your middle name? | | Amanda: | I don't have an official middle name. That is to say that it doesn't appear on my birth certificate. Unofficially, Jane. Whenever I got into trouble I was called Amanda Jane. Usually by my father in a loud, deep, bellow. We also used to sing a song together about a little girl called Amanda Jane. To this day I don't know if he made it up. It was very cute. |
| Question #17 from Aline: | First, Amanda, I want to thanx for giving us this great opportunity. As always you're here for your fans
and that shows how nice you are ! Thanx for all :) Kisses from France.
So here is my question : What was for you the funniest episode to make and why ?? | | Amanda: | Thank you! Urgo still ranks as the funniest episode. Dom DeLuise had us in fits of laughter the entire time. Peter directed the episode and we had a lot of fun watching the father/son dynamic. They are wonderful together. Really, I don't know how the editors put that show together because we were laughing so much in every take. |
| Question #18 from Sue: | Amanda, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. My question is about some of the 'hokey actor stuff' you talk about on the Red Sky DVD commentary. What exactly is an actor's second guessing voice and how do you use that to help you in your work on Stargate? | | Amanda: | An actor's second guessing voice is actually a hindrance. It's that little voice that pops in your head, while you're working, and basically second guesses the choice you've made. once you hear the voice you know you are out of the scene and not in character. I think in Red Sky it was more a question of what was working in the scene and the episode. Listen to the voice when you're doing your homework, ask yourself the questions that need to be asked beforehand and then tell the voice to shut up!! Heehee, actors are really crazy people aren't they? |
| Question #19 from Cam [Alberta, Canada]: | Hi, Amanda! My favorite part of your character is that she has a big honkin` motorcycle, that is so cool! Do you ride a motorcycle in real life?
If not, how did that aspect of Sam's character get written into SG-1? Cam
9 years | | Amanda: | I am actually not allowed to ride a motorcycle in real life because of the show's insurance policy. I used to ride with my cousin when I was younger. It got written in because of an episode where we were staying on Earth for some downtime. The writers originally had Sam working in her garden. I thought that she should be doing something more mechanical and suggested that she work on a motorcycle, preferrably a vintage bike. The Props guys found this beautiful 1940's Indian motorcyle and we were able to use it! |
| Question #20 from Wendy: | If it was up to you, would you keep SG-1 for another season, or would you leave it and wrap it up with the film? Because I think one more season would be enough but I don't want to ruin what you have so far by making too many seasons? | | Amanda: | Good question. If we could wrap up everything in a film that would be great! But there are so many things we need to wrap up that I think we can still make an interesting sesaon. I think one more season and then a film! That would be perfect. |
| Question #21 from Lynne: | Dear Amanda, do you still wear the combat bracelet? If so has it been brought into any of the stories of season 6? My very best wishes to you and I look forward to season 6 starting in the U.K. very soon. | | Amanda: | Thank you. I still wear the bracelet. Everyday, everynight. It's so much a part of me now I forget that I'm wearing it. It hasn't been brought into any episodes but it is definitely visible. |
| Question #22 from Vanessa: | What were your favourite moments from season 1-6? | | Amanda: | Wow, huge question!!! I wil give you just a couple or else we'd be here for years. Riding in a helicopter for the filming of Solitudes and shooting on the glacier. Sunrise up in the mountains when we shoot on location. Watching the special effects guys set up the big explosions....and then watching the big explosions. Getting a morning hug from Jan Newman in the make up trailer. Getting a morning kiss from Chris Judge. Morning hugs all around are a great way to start the day. Shooting Urgo. Cracking up in the middle of a take (any episode) especially when we all do it together. Making Don Davis laugh...very easy. As you can see, it is hard to pinpoint specific moments. The general feel of the show is so special that I will always cherish the atmosphere on our set and the sense of family and of play. |
| Question #23 from Erin: | In the episode The Other Guys, was the entire episode the tech guys' fantasy or just the ending? | | Amanda: | The entire episode was his fantasy....at least that's how I saw it. Until we brought back one of the guard characters and I realised that what happened in The Other Guys must have really happened. So , in truth, just the ending.......I think. Seriously, it seems open to interpretation. |
| Question #24 from Tracy Whitehouse [Birmigham, UK]: | Did you ever think Stargate would get to 6 seasons and in what way(ways) do you think Sam has grown from the 1st season? | | Amanda: | We had no idea it would go this long! Wow. Sam is more well rounded, more open, more feminine, more accesible, more compassionate. She has come into her own as a woman and as a human being. She doesn't feel the need to prove herself in a man's world. She has a better sense of humour. I think her interactions with the other characters have shaped and developed her. Some of Jack's sarcasm has rubbed off on her. She doesn't take herself too seriously anymore. She is a better person, a better scientist, and a better soldier than she was in the beginning. She has grown up in a lot of ways. |
| Question #25 from Adele: | Amanda,
First of all I want to CONGRATULATE you on winning the Leo Award, it was truly desevered, I'm so happy for you. How does it feel to own it and what was your initial reaction on winning the award? By the way, you'd better get use to it, Amanda. :)
Stay Gold | | Amanda: | Thank you Adele! The Leo was a huge shock! I truly did not expect to win. I was sitting at the Stargate table and Andy Mikita asked me if I had prepared a speech and I just laughed and said "Oh. Andy, I'm not going to win. I don't expect to win. I haven't prepared anything." When my name was called I looked at the producers and Andy and Martin Wood and they were all jumping up and down and applauding. And I couldn't believe that my name had been called. All the way up to the stage I kept thinking..."Oh no what am I going to say!!!" I spoke from the heart. I don't remember what I said. But I was really far more excited than I thought I'd be. My husband was out of town, so JR Bourne was my date for the night. He was very sweet and it made the evening more special to share it with him. |
| Question #26 from Nadine [Wedel, Germany], Mathias & Elonka: | In November (1.-3.) there is the first SG-Con in Germany (Ludwigshafen). I'll be there and it would be great if you came too! I know lots of people who would love to meet you!
So, my question is: Are you planing to come to the Gatedays? It would be so great!!! Thanks for answering,
Love | | Amanda: | I am already committed to a series of appearances in Australia in November. So, I will miss England, Paris and Germany. I hope to make it there in January/February. But that is still up in the air. I would love to come. |
| Question #27 from Philip Huff [Machester, UK]: | Dear Amanda, My question is: If the Stargate program exsisted in reality and the world was about to explode, and you could only dial out once, which world would you dial to and why? | | Amanda: | Wow, that's hard. I guess the obvious answer would be the Alpha site. Earth's next home if something were to happen. But, if I could choose....maybe the nice beach planet from Brief Candle....I just have to find a way to get Kynthia out of the picture! |
| Question #28 from Heather: | If you could choose another occuaption what would you do? | | Amanda: | I'd own a pottery studio in a artists community or on an island. I'd live like a hippie. I think however, I might get bored. So I would probably make documenatries and travel the world in search of stories. |
| Question #29 from Jackie: | Hi Amanda
Congratulations on the Leo award! I hope it's the first of many.
Do you plan to stay in touch with the rest of the cast after Stargate finishes? | | Amanda: | Absolutely! We stay in touch with each other through hiatus and we spend a lot of time socializing during the year. These people are family. |
| Question #30 from Mesh: | What aspects of your character do you feel were not explored at all? A number of Star Trek actors, like Armin Shimerman and Andrew Robinson had the chance to write about their characters in novels. If you had the opportunity, would you like to outline a novel or a script about Sam Carter, and write or co-write it? | | Amanda: | I think Sam's fairly well rounded except for her astounding lack of luck with relationships. I'd like to see her in a serious relationship and see how she handles it. I'd also like to explore her nurturing side. I think she'd be an interesting mother. I don't think I'd want to write or co-write a novel about her...but maybe a script. Maybe a story on where she's at five years down the road. |
| Question #31 from Melissa: | Amanda, what do you think the future is for Sam and Jack in season six.? Is there a possibility of them getting together? | | Amanda: | Alas, no. There is not a chance of a fully realized relationship in season six. But, Rick and I have chosen to show moments between the characters. Sometimes it's just a look or a certain physicality that shows their feelings without saying anything and without it getting in the way of the team or their mission. They are too professional and committed to what they're doing to let a romance mess things up. But, you'll definitely see "shippy" moments. |
| Question #32 from Katie McCloy: | This sounds like a stupid question, but, what color are your eyes? In some show closeups they look grey to me, but other fans always seem to assume they're blue. Which is it? Or does it depend on the clothes, the day, the lighting, etc? | | Amanda: | Blue/grey. But depending on what I'm wearing they can look green, blue or grey. |
| Question #33 from Michelle: | Hi,
I'm a mother of two little girls. I want to preface my comment by saying that I thoroughly enjoy your portrayal of a strong intelligent woman who is not afraid to be one of the guys. My question is: When you think about how to portray Sam Carter in a given scene do you ever feel a sense of obligation to young women? Because Sam is so bright are you afraid that she will appear one dimensional and thereby unappealing? Guess that's a two parter! LOL Thanks again for doing such a wonderful job! Michelle: A Northeastern US admirer | | Amanda: | I am hugely aware of how Sam comes across to young women. I get so many amazing letters from young women. That being said, I don't write the episodes and the writers have managed to develop this great female character. Sometimes I have to fight for certain things to be put into scripts or taken out. Sometimes I win, sometimes I don't. But, everyone seems to be aware of the need to keep Sam real and honest and believable and strong. There is a sense of obligation, but not in a negative way. I'm really proud to play Sam and really heartened by the letters I get. As for her being one dimensional, there is definitely fear of falling into that trap. Thankfully, she is fallible, she is human and she is more than a smart woman. I sincerely hope she isn't unappealing. But, you can't please everyone. I think she is infinitely more likable now than she was in the beginning. Tell your girls to always be proud of who they are and to be proud of their great mom! |
| Question #34 from Mary: | Who's your hero? Your childhood heroes? | | Amanda: | My childhood heroes were and still are my Mum and my grandmother. My grandmother is 101 and strong and opinionated and funny. My mum is strong, smart and really kind. I think the older I get the more I admire these women and what they struggled through to be the women they are. |
| Question #35 from Fasola: | Amanda, you joked about Richard Dean Anderson's MacGyver days when you were shooting Solitudes. Can you give any other examples of this kind of thing? And do other members of the cast also do this? | | Amanda: | We keep the MacGyver jokes to a minimum. We just make fun of Richard now. He has a great sense of humour and is the first to laugh at himself. We usually walk away from him when he launches into some story about his past and now he's taken to chasing us down and saying "Hey, where are you going??? I wasn't finished!" In season one we hung off his every word. But we've learned a thing or two since then! |
| Question #36 from Richard: | Could I ask why you are so embarrassed about your laugh? It is the most adorable laugh I have ever heard and I can't imagine why you'd like to hide it. | | Amanda: | Thank you. I think I sound like a chipmunk with a machine gun. When I was in high school, my friends used to dive under their desks or tables whenever I laughed. They said I sounded like a machine gun. So I stopped making noise when I laughed. I finally started making noise again and I still sound funny. I've learned to live with it now. I think we should all laugh long and loud and often! |
| Question #37 from Lisa: | If you were asked to appear in Coronation Street, would you say 'yes' and what sort of character would you like to play? | | Amanda: | Yes!! I would say yes! I'd like to work at the Rover's so I could see all the goings on. But, I'd settle for going into the Rovers and ordering a pint of Lager and Lime and one of Betty's hotpots and then fading into the background. |
| Question #38 from Rebecca: | If you could go back in time, is there a role you took in a film or on TV that you wouldn't have chosen if you had another chance? | | Amanda: | I think there roles I'm not proud of necessarily but I can't regret anything. Every role has given me a chance to grow or learn or meet new people. Everything happens for a reason. That being said, there are performances that I would change now, but like I said I can't regret anything. |
| Question #39 from Mandy: | Do you feel pride that you have changed so many people's lives by the way you portrayed the character of Sam? You have changed my 10 year old's life in a huge way. I can never thank you enough for it. | | Amanda: | Gosh, thank you. Yes, I feel immensely proud, but more importantly I feel blessed and committed to making myself worthy of the praise I get from people like you. I can't thank YOU enough. |
| Question #40 from Peter: | Assuming Stargate SG-1 finishes its run at the end of Season 6, would you prefer to work on another long running series, or do you think a variety of projects would appeal to you more? | | Amanda: | Hard to say at this point. I would consider another series if it was a good character and a good story. But not right away. Maybe some smaller projects right now. Stretch my acting muscles a bit. |
Thank you everyone for your questions and for your incredible support. I'm sorry it took me so long to respond!
Also, if you sent a letter in the last year I am responding to those right now. Again, forgive my delay. I endeavour
to get back to everyone and it takes some time. Thanks again!!!!
Love,
Amanda |
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