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Erica Durance at the San Diego Comic Convention on July 28, 2007.
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Having begun its seventh season, the CW series Smallville, the newest interpretation of the enduring Superman mythology and its classic characters, will see Clark Kent (Tom Welling) discover more about his home planet, who his parents were, what his future holds and why he was sent to Earth. While Clark and former friend Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) have become the sworn enemies that comic book aficionados have always known and loved, Clark must also contend with his 19-year-old female cousin Kara (Laura Vandervoort), aka Supergirl.
In suspended animation for years, Kara left Krypton as a teenager with the intent to look after young Kal-El, aka Clark Kent, after he arrived on Earth. However, since she didn’t age when inside the ship, Kara finds herself to be younger than her cousin, and he’s now the one looking after her. Fascinated with Earth’s culture, Kara has difficulty remembering to hide her powers from the world, and her youthful abandon puts her in several precarious situations that land her in hot water and directly onto Lex’s radar.
Discussing the latest character addition to the long-running TV show, executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, along with Erica Durance (who plays Lois Lane) and newcomer Laura Vandervoort, took some time out, during the craziness of the San Diego Comic Convention this past July, to talk with MediaBlvd Magazine.
MediaBlvd Magazine> Laura, what has your journey to get here been like?
Laura Vandervoort> My journey, has been great. I was cast about three weeks prior to filming, and I’m already living in Vancouver. It’s been a whirlwind.
MediaBlvd> Were you looking for pilots, or were you on the audition circuit?
Laura> No, I’m with Smallville, all the way. Before this, I did a four seasons of a show in Toronto, called Instant Star. It’s on Noggin, the N network. I was working on that, auditioning, going to school part time at York University for Psychology in English. So, I was keeping busy, but I’m a happier busy now.
MediaBlvd> Laura, how does it feel to be playing Supergirl?
Laura> It’s been incredible, that’s for sure. We’re going with the D.C. Comics mythology, that she’s Clark’s cousin, Kara Kent. So, it’s been a whirlwind, but it’s a wonderful whirlwind. She’s a strong, independent woman. And, I’ve been learning to fly. It’s great to play her.
MediaBlvd> How comfortable are the harnesses you have to wear?
Laura> They’re really comfortable. Actually, we developed a smaller harness for myself because of the outfit being a little more revealing. They make sure that I’m all right.
MediaBlvd> What was your first day at work like?
Laura> My first day at work, I was nervous, but the cast was great. Erica’s been really helpful to me. They cast has been together for six years, and everyone’s been really comforting. At first, it was overwhelming.
Alfred Gough> She did a great job. I was up there, and it was a scene with Clark and Chloe. It’s hard. She’s coming into an established series with an established cast, playing an iconic character. I think Erica had the same experience in season four, knowing there was a lot of fan interest and curiosity about how it was going to work. Laura is really great.
Erica Durance> She’s fantastic.
Alfred> And, she blends in very well with the cast, which is hard.
Laura> I’m a chameleon.
MediaBlvd> Is the Supergirl film having any impact on Smallville, or is it considered so campy that it doesn’t matter?
Alfred> I don’t think it affects what we’re doing, at all.
Laura> It’s very different.
Alfred> I remember seeing it, and being bored out of my tree. Jeannot Szwarc, who directed many episodes of Smallville, directed the film. And, we will have Helen Slater on the show this year.
Laura> I think the Supergirl movie was made in 1984. That’s the year I was born. I haven’t seen the movie because I wanted to play her my own way.
MediaBlvd> Where does Lois Lane fit in, this season?
Alfred> Lois actually has a very interesting season. She’s going to get hired by the Daily Planet. There’s a young editor brought in to age down the Planet. The Planet is the grey lady of newspapers, and now they want a younger, hipper audience, so they bring in this guy whose name is Grant Gabriel. He takes an interest in Lois, and Lois’ stories, especially when she sees Kara’s ship.
Erica> She thinks she’s crazy. Everybody thinks she’s crazy.
Alfred> But, the editor likes her, and clearly has some romantic interest in her as well. They have a lot of good scenes. It’s very Front Page (1974), actually.
Erica> Yeah, it’s awesome.
Alfred> It’s two machine guns, going at each other.
MediaBlvd> Who will play Grant?
Alfred> Michael Cassidy, who was on The OC, a couple seasons ago. And, he’s terrific.
Laura> We met each other on our first day. We said, “Good luck,” to each other.
MediaBlvd> Is Justin Hartley coming back?
Alfred> He will be back. He’ll be back midseason, for a couple episodes.
MediaBlvd> Will they keep referring to him while he’s not there?
Alfred> He’s definitely somebody that Clark can call on, like the way he called on Lex, in the early seasons. Now he has a new billionaire friend.
MediaBlvd> Is Lois over Oliver?
Erica> Oh, yeah.
Alfred> Lois says she’s over Oliver, but when Lois and Oliver meet again, there’s not going to be any doe-eyed, weeping Lois.
Erica> What does that say about a woman’s pride?
Alfred> But, I think there’s always feelings there. Lois isn’t really a talker.
Erica> She’s a doer.
MediaBlvd> Whose ass has Kara gotten to kick?
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Laura Vandervoort at the San Diego Comic Convention on July 28, 2007.
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Laura> A little bit of Clark.
Alfred> Yes, absolutely.
Laura> And, some girls later on.
Miles Millar> I think what’s going to be a highlight is the Lana showdown.
MediaBlvd> Laura, what Smallville secrets has the existing cast shared with you?
Laura> Tom has been telling me to take a nap whenever I can. He said, “At any moment that you have a free chance, take a nap.” That’s been his one important piece of advice.
Erica> He said that to me too.
Miles> John Schneider’s advice to Tom was, “Take your first paycheck, put it in the bank and never spend it.”
Laura> Too late for me. I never got that advice. That’s my problem. But, I’ll show you my new purse.
MediaBlvd> Does Supergirl come to town and fight everyone?
Alfred> That’s not necessarily true.
Laura> That was just a mistaken identity. She thinks she’s in danger.
Miles> No, she’s good.
Alfred> She’s good, but she’s going to do things her own way. Earth takes a little getting used to.
Erica> Which is great because it gives a lot for Clark to have to deal with. Now, we’ve got another female superhero.
Laura> And, he’s telling me about all of the mistakes that he made. I’m learning from him.
Erica> Yeah, it’s a whole other arc for him to play with.
Alfred> It’s like a big Neil Simon play this year.
MediaBlvd> Any chance of a Supergirl spin-off?
Alfred> There’s always a chance. There could have been an Aquaman spin-off, or a Green Arrow spin-off. You never know.
