Q & A: Why Did You Quit Battlestar Galactica?

I had a recurring role on one of the "best shows on television." What happened?

When I landed the role of Crewman Specialist Cally on the reboot of sci-fi favorite, Battlestar Galactica, I had no idea how it would change my life. I remember vividly walking out of a matinée in a mostly abandoned mall when my agent called. I told her about the obscure art film I had just watched (as actors are apt to do) and my agent responded by asking if I liked sci-fi. I knew immediately what that meant. I got the part!

As an actor, you typically know when you’ve made a good impression at an audition. I remember making a joke before I started about the fact that they were hours behind schedule; I said, are you just filming the show right here right now to save money or what? The director laughed, thank goodness, and once I finished the first scene he said, “If everyone just did it perfect like you, we wouldn’t have to take so long.” Aw shucks. His only feedback was to curb my Canadian accent and sweep my bangs out of my eyes. The rest, I guess, is history?

History is a funny thing. We know it because of what we see and hear and we rely on outside sources to tell us about the world that isn’t immediately in front of us. We are impressionable. We make connections, synthesize, and form memories at imperceptible speeds. And even when we find out we were incorrect about something we once believed, we can never fully erase that first impression. Even so, I hope that those who have a sincere interest in the truth and not just what is served up to them by a salacious media narrative will update their understanding of history based on an honest recounting of events.  

I didn’t quit Battlestar Galactica. That role was pried from my character’s cold dead hands. Here’s what happened:

I was never meant to survive the first season. Or rather, I should say, my character wasn’t meant to survive. I can’t know for certain what conversations happened in the writers’ room, but I genuinely think I have the fans to thank for Cally’s resilience and kick-ass character arc. That and Aaron Douglas’ habit of ad-libbing, so the Chief and Cally always ended up with more to do than dragging our knuckles, so to speak. Despite only having a handful of lines in the mini-series, and the biggest scene ending up on the cutting room floor, Cally ended up developing a nice little fan base that I think influenced the writers to rethink her untimely demise from a gunshot wound in episode three.

Because my character started out as peripheral and potentially temporary, I had no contract like the main players on the show. I had no guarantees and practically no communication about the future of the show. I found out it had gotten picked up for its first full season from online message boards. I found out if I still had a job each week by flipping through the script and finding my name. The show lasted for four full seasons after a successful pilot mini-series and I was, humbly, part of every single one.

Between the second and third seasons, the producers forgot to negotiate a contract with me. It was about time to start filming and they were surprised to learn I hadn’t agreed to a thing. This gave me a bit of an edge in my negotiations, but truly I was so excited to be on the show, I didn’t play hardball. However, I did manage to get a guaranteed number of episodes and a good rate. So when the time for filming the fourth and final season was coming around and I hadn’t heard from my agent, I thought maybe the same thing had happened. It was a big cast, after all. I tried not to sweat it, but maybe a part of me knew and didn’t want to know know. I told myself they would realize eventually and we’d work it out. Then I got the call.

An assistant called me out of the blue to ask if I was available to speak with Ron Moore and David Eick. I said yes. And then I freaked out. I was so anxious and afraid of what they were going to say. I knew what was likely coming, but I tried to stay positive. Maybe a spin-off show? Cally and the Commander had a nice ring to it. I was shaking. I had learned that a way to release pent up adrenaline was to scream, so I did. I screamed with so much force that I lost my voice. I kid you not. So I called my friend in a panic sounding like a chipmunk. He talked me down, my voice came back, and by the time the phone rang, I was ready.

I still think Cally and the Commander would make a great show

They were very gracious as they told me *spoiler alert* that Cally was going to meet her end in the third episode. They said it was absolutely nothing personal, that it was only to serve the story. They assured me I wasn’t the only one “leaving the show” and that it was the last season anyway. I think they said some complimentary things, too, but I don’t remember. They thanked me for taking it so well and I joked that they’d hear about it on the blogs the next day. We had a good chuckle. Yeah, I crack jokes when I’m nervous. It works for me.

That’s about all I remember. Oh, and I drowned my sadness in a pint of ice cream that evening. The process of “dying” on a television show is a whole other story, one I plan to tell. I’ll finish by sharing that I am so grateful to everyone on that show — from the writers to the producers to the actors to the entire crew. We had something very special and, for the most part, we knew it. Even though a lot has happened and time has passed, I still feel like a part of the Battlestar family. I don’t know how else to say it, it was more than a show.

If you’re reading this as a fan of the show, I want to thank you. I will always treasure that time in my life and all the amazing experiences and opportunities I had. Like anyone else with a curious heart and adventurous soul, my priorities shifted through the years and I explored different interests, even careers. I never thought acting was my reason for existing, but I promise I knew what an incredible privilege it was to work on Battlestar Galactica. And if someone ever manages to pull together a sequel, you better believe I’ll do my darndest to be a part of it. Could Cally have been a cylon, after all?

I look forward to sharing more about my experiences as an actor and adventurous spirit. If you have questions you’d like to me to answer, feel free to ask them in the comments below!

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