Camile Wray - Stargate Archive

Jan 26 2010

Ming Na My Husband Was Thrilled I Was Playing A Lesbian

Published by Stargate Archive Team under Interviews

Ming Na’s husband has reportedly been thrilled to bits to here that his wife would be playing the part of Sci Fi’s first ever Lesbian characther in Stargate Universe, so much so Ming Na has taken time out of her busy schedule to answer a very informative interview

I’m very excited to be speaking with Mulan.

That’s great, I’m so glad you’re a Mulan fan.

Do you find that there’s an elite fan base for that sort of thing?

There is a tremendous, large fan base there. Not just with the children, but from the rock and roll stars to the eight-year-olds. It’s a lovely legacy to be a part of.

Your kids aren’t old enough to appreciate that kind of thing yet are they?

Oh sure, my daughter’s eight and she does know that I’m Mulan and she uses that to her advantage at school. She’s very entrepreneurial that way. My son’s three and a half and he watches animations all the time.

Does your daughter sell signed merchandise at school? Do you actually have a Mulan doll?

I have a huge collection from Disney – they’re always sending me the blankets and the sippy cups. I’ve got quite a lot of merchandise – I don’t quite know what to do with it. I don’t feel that I should throw it away but it’s kind of like an odd little treasure box for the children that one day they’ll be like “what are we going to do with this stuff!?”

Are you in a hotel just now because you’re filming?

I travel between Vancouver and LA, as my family are in LA. If you’re going to be stuck anywhere outside of your home, it’s nice to be in Vancouver.

Speaking of merchandise, are you prepared for that sci-fi onslaught?

I guess Mulan prepared me. I don’t know. It’s been quite an eye-opening journey. I used to be quite a sci-fi fan myself, and I used to collect all the Star Wars dolls. I think I still have the Millennium Falcon and the talking Darth Vader somewhere in my garage of paraphernalia. I was a huge fan. I understand the fan base mania that occurs with sci-fi films. I guess it’s a bit odd if once the show airs and does well to be a part of that, but as I grew up on the other side of it, it’s a little geek girl’s dream come true.

What was your favourite sci-fi?

Star Wars is definitely on top of the list. Star Trek is another biggie, and I just love what the director did with the new Star Trek, I thought that was brilliant. I love so many, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Aliens, those are all up there.

You can read the full interview here courtesy of Pink Paper.com »

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A Teaser Of Things To Come For The Mid Season Finale Of Universe

Published by Stargate Archive Team under News

Everyone is shocked when a member of the crew is found dead from a gunshot wound. While at first glance it appears to be suicide, the gun is nowhere to be found. The crew is confined to quarters while a search is performed and when the gun shows up in Col. Young’s (LOUIS FERREIRA) quarters, he becomes the number one suspect. Fearing a mob scene, Young agrees to a trial and cedes command to Camile Wray (MING-NA).

Dr. Rush (ROBERT CARLYLE) convinces Wray to give him control of the science team and carte blanche with the new Ancient interface, previously kept under guard. But before Rush can unlock its secret, or Young’s trial can conclude, both are needed to explore a planet hiding a secret that threatens the Destiny and her crew.

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Ancient, Camile Wray, destiny, Louis Ferreira, ming-na, robert carlyle, universe

Ming-Na Boldly Goes Where Stargate’s Never Gone Before

Published by Stargate Archive Team under Interviews

Chinese-American actress Ming-Na is used to forging new territory. The talented acctress has made a career of playing inspirational, strong, independent women.

The gifted actress has recently taken on a new challenge when she joined the cast of Syfy’s latest original series, Stargate Universe. A self-admitted geek, Ming-Na was excited to explore the sci-fi world and work with a large ensemble cast as a group of civilians and soldiers who’ve been stranded in space aboard the ancient and mysterious Destiny ship.

PlanetOut have a full featured interview with the talented acctress that you can read below :

Thanks so much for speaking to us today. I’m all caught up on my Stargate Universe episodes so I have lots of questions.

Me too! No, I’m just kidding … [laughs]

Well, hopefully you know a lot more than I do! I know you can’t give any spoilers, but there seems to be a big conspiracy looming in the background on the series. Your character knows something everyone else stranded aboard the Destiny ship might not know, right?

Well, yeah. I think I’m up to something that other people might not like.

It’s been suggested people either love or hate your headstrong character, senior ranking IOA member Camile Wray, but she seems very smart and nice! Her bold behavior seemed to be motivated by a risk or stakes that her shipmates are not aware of…

I think that’s what’s so great about SGU — these characters are really put in life-and-death, dire situations …

Every episode! I’m worried!

Otherwise it wouldn’t be fun to watch; it’s an adventure-action series. Just like a sitcom: If it wasn’t a funny episode, you wouldn’t want to watch it. So we definitely need to keep everything very heightened for our fans.

It’s not just about getting home at all. It’s about surviving every day and every new problem.

Yeah, and I think when you’re under that kind of stress, as any human being would, you start to do things that you probably normally would not ever consider yourself doing. And for Wray, I think she was someone who was very much by-the-book. Someone who had a very clear vision of where she wanted to end up, in a position of power. And then ultimately, when she’s thrown into the situation on Destiny, she has to learn to really think on her feet and consider scenarios that I think morally might not rub her the right way. Ultimately, though, she feels it’s in the best interest of all the civilians on board the ship.

And when it comes to tough decisions, Wray didn’t seem to decide with emotion. Is she primarily concerned with their best chance at survival?

Exactly. I think she feels the military is always thinking in a “brute force, gun ‘em down, take over” way. For her, she feels there are other ways to try and manage the situation.

I was wondering — we’ve all known Camile Wray was intended to be an out lesbian character since April …

M: Yeah.

Is she officially out on the show yet? Has Wray spoken about her romantic relationship?

There was a brief moment, when she was on Kino, the little floating camera we have. That’s been a great, wonderful device to use as far as being kind of voyeuristic. Very confessional, very “reality TV,” so to speak. At that moment, she mentions Sharon (Reiko Ayelsworth). You don’t quite know. .. she says “if anyone ever finds this … please tell Sharon my last thoughts were of her.” So it’s been hinted at.

But the November 20 episode changes all that?

Yeah! “Life,” the episode that airs where she [Wray] gets to go back to Earth. At least, her consciousness goes back to Earth. We have another device called the Communication Stones. It’s an ancient device where we get to at least visit Earth through our minds and another person’s body.

To read the full interview head on over to PlanetOut »

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Ming-Na Gives The Low Down On Stargate Universe

Published by Stargate Archive Team under Interviews

In a recent interview with IGN Stargate Universe actress Ming-Na gives the low down on the up and coming Stargate Universe.

IGN TV: When you joined this show, how familiar were you with Stargate?

Ming-Na: Quite frankly, I wasn’t that familiar with it. I think I had vague memories of seeing the original movie and maybe an episode or two, but I hadn’t kept up with that franchise. And I told them that. But for me, in a way it was good that I didn’t know about the previous Stargates, so that I could come into it with new perspective about how to play the character.

IGN: It looks very different from the other Stargate series, with a grittier feel. Did you get the idea that was the intent?

Ming-Na: Absolutely. More in your face, where it just had elements of almost a reality show that everyone is so used to and the voyeuristic approach to showcasing an episode of almost anything these days. And what’s fun for us as actors is that because we don’t know where the cameras are half the time, we just pretty much have to play it like a theatre piece and just be fully invested in it, each and every take.

IGN: What can you say about your character?

Ming-Na: I play Camile Wray. She’s an IOA officer – head of the human resource department. She’s very complex. She is a woman in a very male-dominated world of the military, as well as the diplomats that she works with. When she’s stranded on Destiny, along with everyone else, she has to sort of figure out who she is in that environment, and her ultimate goal is to still get these people back to Earth, when it seems like everyone else’s goal – the military and the scientists – is to continue to travel through the Galaxies.

IGN: Robert [Carlyle] has said his character, Dr. Nicholas Rush, is far from what you’d call a people person. What does Camile make of him?

Ming-Na: Well, I don’t trust him. I don’t trust him at all. But at the same time, I know that I need him to help me get to my goal, which is getting everyone back home. Because I know he has the knowledge of the Stargate and no one else does.

IGN: At Comic-Con, it was revealed your character is a lesbian.

Ming-Na: That’s right.

IGN: How much room is there in the storyline for romance?

Ming-Na: Well, I think it’s great with a show like this that anytime she is in a scene with a woman, you don’t know… There are so many layers that can be played into it, whether she is just being a friend or whether she wants to get something more out of it. I think the audience sometimes can decide that more than I’ll let on.

IGN: Have you quickly learned the ropes with the Stargate terminology?

Ming-Na: I’m still learning! I’m a sci-fi buff, but some of this quantum physics stuff is definitely way over my head. Physics was not my forte!

IGN: As a writer for IGN, I have to ask – do you get approached about Street Fighter still these days?

Ming-Na: Yeah! Chun-Li was kick ass! She was a good character to play. I thoroughly enjoyed working on that film.

IGN: I went to a Van Damme double feature at a revival theatre a few months ago and everyone applauded when they showed the Street Fighter trailer.

Ming-Na: Seriously? I told ya! It’s weird how some projects become cult classics or cult favourites. You never know. Sometimes the campier they are, the more they inspire a following.

IGN: Do you still have the Chun-Li costume?

Ming-Na: Oh, let’s see, those fishnet stockings in red… Maybe, yeah!

Interview courtesy of IGN

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Aug 15 2009

Internet Outrage For Latest Stargate Universe Casting Call

Published by Stargate Archive Team under News

Stargate Universe is already raising the eyebrows of multiple organisations casing a global outcry for the recent casting call.

Featured below is the casting call:

[ELEANOR PERRY] (35-40) and quite attractive. A brilliant scientist who happens to be a quadriplegic. Affected since childhood, her disability has rendered her body physically useless. However, after being brought on board the Destiny as the only person who may be able to save the ship and her crew from certain annihilation, she is given temporary powers that enable her to walk again and to finally experience intimacy.sptv050769 .Strong guest lead. NAMES PREFERRED. ACTRESS MUST BE PHYSICALLY THIN. (THINK CALISTA FLOCKHART).

Critics have challenged what appears to be an insensitive description of a disabled person, such as calling her body “Physically Useless” and suggesting that she would never experience true intimacy throughout her life without the full use of her extremities.

In response to the global outcry Executive producer Brad Wright has released a statement intended to help clear up matters in a recent online community posting.

Recently, a casting breakdown was released to agents for a upcoming character in our television show, Stargate Universe. The character, Doctor Eleanor Perry, is a brilliant scientist at the top of her field, who also happens to be a quadriplegic. As part of a science fiction conceit that is core to our series, Perry’s consciousness is temporarily exchanged with one our series main characters, Camile Wray, who is a lesbian.
In the course of the story, Perry has the experience of being able bodied for the first time since she was a child. At the same time, Wray, temporarily encumbered by Perry’s physical disability, experiences the unconditional love of her life partner.
The language of the breakdown was insensitive and inaccurate, and we sincerely apologize to those who may have been offended. The audition pages that have been under scrutiny were from an early draft and released out of context. It is our desire and intention to portray both characters with dignity and respect, while remaining mindful of the ethical issues we’re raising.

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