Interview with Claudia Black in Dreamwatch Magazine

Claudia Black is preparing to dazzle viewers all over again. Two years after her last appearance as Farscape's resident rogue Peacekeeper Aeryn Sun, Black has returned to the uncharted territories to star in the show's eagerly awaited mini-series revival, The Peacekeeper Wars. Written by Farscape creator Rockne S. O'Bannon and the series' former show-runner David Kemper, the two-part, four hour production propels Aeryn and the rest of Moya's crew into the heart of an epic struggle between the Peacekeepers and the Scarrans, and continues the former Peacekeeper's long voyage of self-discovery.

"The mini-series completes the circle for Aeryn," says Black during a break from recording additional dialogue on the production in Sydney, Australia. "I think it's the way that David had always imagined the show would finish, so I'm happy for him that he's been able to give it a shot."

While Black is contractually forbidden from divulging details of The Peacekeeper Wars storyline prior to its US premiere in October, she is able to confirm that the mini-series resolves all the plot threads that were left hanging by the cliffhanger ending of the show's fourth season finale, Bad Timing. It also brings some major developments for the pregnant Farscape alter-ego and Aeryn's human fiancé, John Crichton (Ben Browder). Black believes that longtime Farscape fans will be thrilled with the way the saga's storylines are wrapped up, even if its climax wasn't wholly to her personal taste.

"I don't normally go for traditional endings," she explains. "I'm a little bit more perverse. But I'm delighted that we've been able to give the fans this opportunity to see Farscape rounded off in a way that's closer to what everyone had hoped and imagined."

RISING SUN

Black's adventures in the Uncharted Territories began in September 1999, after the acclaimed Australian stage and screen actress landed the coveted role of Aeryn Sun. Aeryn went on to become an integral part of Farscape's four-year run, and Black's finest hours included The Way We Weren't, The Choice, PK Tech Girl, The Locket, Prayer and the epic Infinite Possibilities two-parter. But following the show's abrupt cancellation in September 2002, Black had some reservations about the prospect of signing up for the show's mini-series revival towards the end of the following year.

"Generally, I don't like to go back," she admits. "If I've done something for six months or a year, that's normally enough for me. It's a credit to the character of Aeryn that she could captivate my interest for that many years.

"I didn't necessarily feel I needed closure on it in any way, because I'm so used to the nature of this business. I'm so used to shows ending," continues Black, who had previously been in the final year casts of the rural drama A Country Practice and the New Zealand soap City Life.

"You never get the goodbyes that you want, whether it's personally or story-wise. You work on a show for months, you get very close to people, and you have no idea if you're ever going to work with them or meet them ever again. I also had a lot of stuff going on for me personally, so it came at a time when it was physically difficult. I almost wasn't able to do it.

"But we all felt an obligation to respect the people who made this show and put so much energy into it, and to the people who had been watching it and supporting it for so many years. Brian Henson said that if I couldn't find a way to do it, then they wouldn't be able to do it at all. I know how hard Brian has worked for the last ten years on this-he was shopping the show around for four or five years before he managed to find someone who wanted to make it-so I wasn't prepared to be the one to say no. We all just made it happen."

Fortunately, once she started working on the mini-series, Black never regretted her decision. "It was a great opportunity for all of us. It felt socially and personally unfinished. It was great to come back and see the crew. This was a very satisfying experience in that regard, because we had the opportunity to reset the clock and get a second chance."

The Peacekeeper Wars is only the second Farscape adventure to be directed by Brian Henson, who previously helmed the first season episode Exodus from Genesis. "It was a big responsibility for him," notes Black. "I don't think he was expecting to direct. He wanted one of the original directors to do it, and I think he wanted to take more of a producer's role. I think he was very flattered when it was suggested that he be the director.

"He's a lovely, lovely guy. It's nice to work with someone who's so passionate about a project."

JOURNEY'S END?

Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars might resolve all the plot threads from the ongoing series, but it also leaves the door open for further Farscape adventures. Black expects the saga to continue, but doesn't know if she will remain a part of it.

"Farscape is a franchise," she notes. "It's financially viable to keep the brand of Farscape going, but I don't believe I will necessarily still be connected to it, because I might be too old by the time the franchise continues. I don't know what Brian Henson has in store for the show. I'm lucky to have played the role of Aeryn for as long as I have, and I never have expectations beyond what I can see right in front of me. It all depends on how the mini-series goes. I'm grateful for what has happened so far and I think it's greedy for me to expect more."

If The Peacekeeper Wars truly represents the end of her time in the Uncharted Territories, Black certainly won't miss the hard work that accompanied the making of Farscape. "A lot of the time we were working, we had these wonderful guest actors who were incredibly enthusiastic. They'd say, ‘Wow, what a terrific show! What fun to work with these costumes and make-up..' and we'd be so tired, our eyes would be shrouded by the long hours," she recalls. "It was always a great reminder when these people came on, new and fresh. We could see it through their eyes each time as they discovered the puppets and the opportunity to play in a realm that was unique in the Australian television industry. You do get very, very tired when you're working on series television. So when it finishes, you're very sad, but I think the first thing you feel is relief." She admits, "As soon as the series finished, I had more time than I could poke a stick at."

Regardless of whether The Peacekeeper Wars truly does mark her final appearance as Aeryn Sun, Claudia Black feels lucky to have received a chance to make a lasting impression on science fiction TV.

"I've been able to play a really interesting character for so many years, in part because the show was appreciated," she states. "I'm very grateful."