Mary McDonnell Quotations

I am feeling energized, and know, that 43 people who had to die is an interesting fact, as one of the things I'm fascinated by in BSG is that here's this women who was thrust into power, instead of having to work her way into it.

I remember when I saw the rough cut of the series, even with all the little drawings in place of the special effects, I was so pleased at how interested and attached I become to the other characters. I'm a very critical viewer, but this became "real" to me. I'm fascinated by other realities and other realms and I think they exist - and when you have a good writer, it becomes palpable.

Well, I don't know what Ron has in mind, but I do know about the arc of the show. Looking at how intuitive and instinctive Eddie and I play, that is the sort of thing that leads into sexual chemistry. I wouldn't be surprised if it emerged.

Even in France, they learn English right along with French.

Ron allowed us to see right away the private piece of a person about to become very public. I suspect we're going to see more of her very private world - Laura's private experience. I'm not sure yet how public she's going to be about the actions she's going to have to take.

It's even more realistic that she's co-running things with Commander Adama - Thank God it's the brilliant Eddie Olmos playing him! I mean, he has the power on this ship.

Their friends are all speaking English, and it's everywhere in popular culture, which is a big influence on children. Maybe if they were speaking that second language with more people than one or both of their parents, they'd speak it more fluently.

I really think we haven't found a way to allow women to have grace while finding power, particularly in the military. I'm going to get to discover on my feet with Ron and the others what is the truth here, what is the truth of the woman in power, and why do we vilify them, demonize them?

I love the idea of a woman being able to discover the idea of power this way, on such a scale. And I don't know about that, what it means - well, I guess I'd better, or my part's in trouble.

He's very intuitive about human behavior, combined with a wonderful understanding of the scientific/fantasy perception - an understanding of what we can perceive beyond what we admit to. But he doesn't depart from the human being. That means you get to use everything you are and more as an actor.

I do think that it's extremely important with this character show her assuming power with a great deal of grace, and find out how to do things she won't like - the things she's called upon to do.

It is really wonderful for me to understand that there are times in life when your job, and the excellence of your job, requires to not be - have the comfort zone of being popular.

With BSG, sci-fi is the human experience taken beyond the envelope. When I first became involved with the project, I knew that I would be able to play a human being for many years, exploring and reflecting on issues that would impact people's lives.

Actors are part of a certain percentage of people on this planet who have an emotional vocabulary as a primary experience. It's as if their life is experienced emotionally and then that is translated intellectually or conceptually into the performance.

It's really important for actors to feel that they're more than something for hire.

For me, as an actress, one of the most essential things that I need to know is what do I want for and from the people around me in the story.

The Cylons are such a frightening concept - not knowing who is real. No way.

I love to work. I love to have complexity.

That moment was very important because it was political. That's what has to be done, so they struck a deal. She figures his is a well-thought-out motivation that she felt was worthy trade-off. The motivation here is survival, and she has to think like a leader.

I think that in a general sense, the idea of getting comfortable with the truth in life is uncomfortable.

It's phenomenally important to me that, if I'm going to be spending years on a project, I need to be interested in the whole thing. I'm not there to be on my own. And if I'm going to be with these people, I'd best be interested in their work.

We never know all the facts and the more we're mindful of how we deal with people, the more opportunity we have to evolve.

We have to get back to the beauty of just being alive in this present moment.