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From Starburst #282 February 2002
Transcribed by Becky
THIS COULD BE A CASE FOR DOGGETT AND REYES...
Interview: Robert Patrick AND Annabeth Gish.
By Jean Cummings
Robert Patrick anbd Annabeth Gish play FBI Agents Doggett and Reyes, the new custodians of the X-Files. Here the actors talk about the expectations and the responsibility of continuing this long running show...
For the best part of eight televisions season, Gillian Anderson as Scully and David Duchovny as Mulder were the undisputed, irreplaceable stars of The X Files. But when Duchovny announced he wished to leave the show, Robert Patrick was cast - not to replace him, in the words creator/producer Chris Carter - but to be a new partner for Scully.
Now Gillian Anderson is in her last year of her contract and Annabeth Gish is being groomed along with Patrick to continue the legacy of Fox TV's most successful drama. It appears that the future of The X Files is with Doggett and Reyes. Here, Patrick and Gish explain how they feel about their roles, and admit that they intend to relish their opportunities.
"Last year everybody was curious as to how I felt joining the cast," patrick says, "and I said then that it was highly pressured and that I wanted to focus on the work. I said then that it's s brand new character, we'll see how he fits in. I worked as hard as I could and just waited to see what happened. Fortunately, I think everybody responded well to Doggett and by the time we presented the season ended, I didn't feel any of that pressure.
"Now I'm having fun!" he exclaims. "I'm having fun with Annabeth in exploring what's going on in our relationship because it is new. We're getting used to working each other, first as actors and second in our characters. Yet, I still have the relationship with Gillian and her character, so it's really getting interesting for me. I loved working with David last year and that's pretty much what we're both focusing on. I think they did a great job with their characters over these eight years, and we can only try to work hard and do as good a job as they did."
"I think it's interesting," Gish adds, "in that Doggett and Reyes weren't intended to be replacements, or even just next generation. It's literally just an evolution - two new, distinct characters who get to go down into the basement and study these cases. The legacy of Mulder and Scully is certainly not something that we want to threaten."
As for the pressue of carrying on that legacy, the actress says, "I think there's a little pressure, just in terms of being a new cog in the machine that is so well run, which is The X Files. It's unsettling at times, but that's when you have to focus
Patrick agrees. "They've written some great characters for both of us. They're new characters so the scripts that are coming in are different, they're new to The X Files. There are brand new characters, seen through different eyes, so it's been great."
As for their character's place in the show. Patrick says with a laugh, "I don't really know where I'm going! I have no idea what's going on with Doggett. I think a neat part of the show is that we're questioning authority and the higher-ups above us and whether of not they're telling us the truth. I think that's good for everybody."
Gish is enthusiastic to explain a little about her character in the series. "Monica Reyes is an instinctive, psychic, spiritual FBI agent," she says. "She uses her intuition on cases. She is, I would say, more of a believe than the sceptic. She has initially come to the X Files to continue her work with ritual abuse, but also because she is trememdous care for John Doggett."
"Lucky Me!" Patrick adds with a laugh. " I was attracked to the show initially, as a viewer, because I didn't know what I was going to see each week. It was so well done. The production values were incredible and the stories were just great. People like to see good stories and that's why the show is continuing. That's why they can introduce new characters and people are going to tune in. Even moreso now, when you're getting what looks more like a movie than a TV drama.It's a little one-hour movie each week that you see on your TV. Even then, part of the attraction is that you don't know where the stories are going to go.
"I also think that the show's pretty intense," he continues. "It's got a whole new intensity to it and I think the writers are having fun trying to scare the audience. I hope it stays like that for the whole season, too."
Speaking of the audience, Patrick acknowledges that a unique facet of The X Files is the secrecy that surrounds it. "You run into people on the street and they want to know what's going on, what's going to happen. What's going to happen with Scully's baby, you know? These kid of things and this show will get them thinking again. They'll want to know what's up with Annabeth's character. And we have another new actor joining us, Cary Elwes, so everyone's going to want to know what's happening."
"There's a lot of secrecy involved with it and I'm amazed at the things that they write," he continues. "Every time we get a new episode and they pass out the new scripts, you want to read it and see what's going on. I love to find out what's happening next because from week to week we just don't know."
"I've been working as an actress since I was thirteen," says Gish. "and I don't think I've ever had such excitement. I mean, every week or two weeks we're all kind of clamouring to open the new script and see what's going to happen next. It's a little like living on the edge but it's very very exciting. In the five episodes that I've shot already I've done things I've never done in my life. Things I would have never known how to do. I mean, in a nutshell, I've been a bad ass. I'm not normally that in my personal life. You know, holding a gun, being agressive and tough, those kinds of things."
As for responding to fan's inquires, Annabeth says with a chuckle, "It's kind of fun. I really think it's good to be able to toss about these nuggets of information to people, but you don't have to tell them everything. That way they have to watch to catch up on what you are saying. You get to draw them in."
While Patrick is indisputably looked upon as the new male lead of the series, Annabeth is still sharing time with Gillian and had a little time with Duchovny. "I had one episode last season, or two, that we worked together," she explains. "I think the legend of Fox Mulder will never die. He's down there in that room. But I have Patrick to work with every day and really, that's a gift. And it was advise from Patrick that Annabeth serves her well today. "When I got the job, Robert had two words for me, "Sleep now." And those words have proven to be phrophetic because we work such long hours each week! But the advantage is as you can see, week by week the evolution of the story."
"I can remember when I went for the role. I was very honoured but I was nervous and wanted to do a good job. I had to audition my fanny off. Now, it's thrilling because basically you strap yourself into the roller coaster and hang on for the ride, just to see where they take you. And yet, you know, as soon as I was there, I thought it was a good fit. I felt instantly like I was where I belonged."
From the same issue -- X-Files review :: GA Exits X-Files
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