The Official Stargate SG1/Atlantis Magazine: How did you feel last season about McKay developing a relationship that led to a marriage proposal?
David Hewlett: It was neat. That episode was so funny because I came onto the set and was like, “Look, here’s the deal. You have a beautiful botanist on a little tropical paradise on Atlantis and what do I do? Panic? C’mon!†That’s what they are so good at doing with McKay. They put him in situations where anyone else would either enjoy themselves or excel. It’s like Moonlighting. You don’t want those things to work out where there is no tension any more. McKay single is a much more dangerous and entertaining character than when he was comfortable in a relationship. I’m hoping it will be revisited because it was such a final thing for her, and I don’t think McKay has figured it out.
What’s it like working with your real life sister, Kate, as your onscreen sister, Jeannie Miller?
It’s funny. One of the notes we got from Martin Wood when we first worked together was, “Don’t forget you guys are brother and sister.†I was like, “But we are brother and sister!†What’s funny is, we’re horrible to each other, as our characters and in real life. I have teased her mercilessly since the moment she was born, and she gives it back in spades. The instant I realized my little sister was probably going to be my arch-adversary was when I had quit high school. The family was at home upset about it, and my father was very angry. We came down for the first breakfast after I told them I wasn’t going back, and we were sitting there in silence with everyone eating their cereal. My little sister, who at that time was probably nine years old, starts singing, “Beauty school drop out, go back to high school.â€
Looking back, how did you prepare for McKay as a much older person in the season finale, The Last Man?
It’s generally the best thing to play, because by the end of the season you’re so tired you feel 1000 years old anyway. Basically, I allowed myself to move slower and complain more. That was actually a funny Lorne moment with Kavan and me as old men, because we are just the crabbiest suckers on set. The two of us as old men was like shooting Grumpy Old Men in space. It was just fun because as you get older you get to play all the little aches and pains out. I think I was born to be old.
With Amanda Tapping around a little less, and Robert Picardo coming in, it’s a lot of transition. How have the changes been?
It’s a bittersweet thing. Change is always nice on a show. It gives you something nice to play. Amanda is the reason I’m here. If she hadn’t given me the freedom that she gave me to play McKay the way I did way back in Stargate SG-1… I owe her a lot. Selfishly, I just really enjoy working with her. One of my favorite episodes last year was Trio with the two female icons of sci-fi, as far as I’m concerned, and me. I was like, “I want more of these in a box!†From a character standpoint, it’s fun to mix that stuff up, but I’m hoping we will see some more of Amanda.
Read the full interview in the 100-page special edition of The Official Stargate SG1/Atlantis Magazine – on sale now!
News article courtesy of the official Stargate Website