[index]
[Gigi Edgely interview]
[Lani Tupu interview]
[Tammy MacIntosh interview]
[Wayne Pygram interview]
Anthony Simcoe interview, SFX magazine, Interview by Chuck Wagner
There seems to be an unwritten rule in Stateside TV that big, powerful-looking characters who shout a lot have to be played by active or retired pro-athletes who bring a certain sporting fame and lack of talent to their roles. After all, it doesn’t take much talent to act macho. But Farscape is filmed in Australia, which may explain why, refreshingly, the role of the show’s resident bruiser went to an actor who happened to be 6’5” and 220 pounds – Anthony Simcoe.
I’ve been acting for 15 years in film, television and theatre, and directing in theatre’ Simcoe reveals ‘ I’m a young man, but I’ve been around the track.”
Which may also explain by the bruiser in question, D’Argo, has developed far beyond the Klingon Xerox he at first appeared to be.
“Initially, that’s the one area we really wanted to push’ Simcoe explains ‘because he was set up as an archetype, as a blustering warrior. AS soon as we were able to establish that archetype, we spent the rest of our journey trying to soften him up. Every opportunity we can get to push him in directions that aren’t the typical warrior, we try and take those opportunities. It makes him more interesting to write and more interesting to play. I think those heartfelt, sentimental, emotional moments are the key, the pinnacles for me.”
As Farscape’s token actor-who-regularly-gets-buried-under-latex, Simcoe has more of the usual “I see more of the make-up team than my cast mates” stories. “It’s difficult. It’s a lot of stuff. It’s hot and heavy. But it’s much better now than it was years ago. Design is much more efficient, a lot lighter, a lot quicker to put on.”
And what about the tentacles?
“They don’t move independently. They just sort of swing.”
As the show becomes more popular, perhaps more money could be made available for costume modifications? Maybe an upgrade? A motorised tentacle?
“You know, there’s a secret one the Creature Shop’s already made!!’ Simcoe jokes with a dirty laugh Sid James would be proud of. ‘You’re inferring I need one? My tentacles are just fine!”
It’s the humour and intelligence of Simcoe himself, as much as the efforts of the writing staff, which has enabled D’Argo to develop far beyond his original concept.
“I hope the show continues to explore D’Argo as much as possible,’ he agrees ‘ I hope by the time we get to season four, you don’t even think of him as a warrior in one sense. You think of him as an evolving character. It’s quite difficult in SF to give any real dimension to heavily prosthetic, make-up characters. They tend to remain as the archetype in which they’re set up. The make-up dictates so much about what the audience reads, so you want to play against that all the time. I’m hoping with D’Argo, we actually do create a much more complex character within the make-up.”
The Burbank Farscape convention is the second time Simcoe’s made the trip to the states as official ambassador for the show.
“I was here last year’ he says ‘ I did the San Diego Comic-Con. Everyone’s been so generous and kind. Every time I come over here, it’s actually quite overwhelming to feel the positive support for the show. It’s a lot of fun to ride that wave.
I always wanted to be involved in storytelling in some way, whether as an actor or a director working within the performing arts. It’s such a fantastic thing to be able to do through your life, to be able to explore the world through art. If I could paint, I’d do that as well. Any artistic endeavour seems to me to be a wonderful, fantastic thing to do with your life.”
But he has no ambitions to follow that career on the streets of Tinseltown.
“No” he says succinctly to the idea of plying his wares in Hollywood.
No agent in LA…?
“Nope. Not interested.”
It could happen…
“I don’t want it” Simcoe says laughing.
Simcoe is an actor. Australia is his culture. So even though he loves the stage, an offer would have to be pretty remarkable to get him to appear on Broadway or London’s West End.
“That would be cool and wonderful and fine, but why would I chase that? Journey to the other side of the planet, away from my home and my friends and my family? I’ve been lucky enough to work all around the world, but I can’t imagine anyone employing me. I’ve got a thick Australian accent – even though I work on Farscape with an American accent. There’s no problem with me blending in as an American, but it’s just not a goal. It would be cool and wonderful if someone walked up to me and said ‘here’s a million bucks, come and do that’ But why would I come and waiter here, when I could go an do films in Australia?”
“My philosophy is, don’t go to a party unless you’re invited.”