Posted at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2

When Katee Sackhoff began working on “Battlestar Galactica” five years ago, she saw it as a “paycheck.” She never expected to become a sci fi icon.

But that’s what the 28-year-old and her character, tough fighter pilot Kara “Starbuck” Thrace, have become.

“I didn’t know Starbuck would ever become what she’s become,” Sackhoff told me during a conference call with reporters last week. “I think that so many things had to come together to make that a reality. You know, I think that the writing was perfect and the way that they wrote Starbuck was perfect and so a lot of things had to—all the planets had to align to get this to be perfect.”

Sackhoff said she is also surprised that the Sci Fi Channel’s critically acclaimed series, which begins its fourth and final season at 9 p.m. Friday, has become so iconic.

“It’s become—it’s taken on a life of its own and become something completely different than what I ever thought it would,” she said. “I thought it was just going to be a paycheck.”

I posted previously about Sackhoff’s experiences after winning RedEye’s Best TV Character tourney last year.

But before she set off to snowboard, Sackhoff talked at length with reporters about “BSG,” Starbuck’s past and future and what Sackhoff herself plans to do when the show ends next year.

Don’t expect too many revelations about the upcoming season. But if you read between the lines, you might find a few clues.

So Starbuck gets all kinds of action on the show. Which is tougher for you, a fight scene or a love scene? And is there anybody left among the cast that you really want to have one or the other with?

I’m sitting across the table from my boyfriend right now. I would say that the sex scenes are a lot harder than I think anything that I’ve ever had to do on the show. Because it’s not natural, it’s just odd, it’s very odd. It makes you kind of feel cheap. Like you’re being paid to or being allowed to, in a sense, cheat on your significant other. It’s very weird …
But the fight scenes are really easy and they come pretty naturally for me to be honest. Who would I want to fight on the show? [I’m] still thinking about not wanting to do the other thing with. I don’t know. I think I’ve fought everybody. I can’t think of anyone.
I haven’t fought Sharon so I’ll go ahead and say that. I think that a fight between Eddie (Edward James Olmos) and I would be pretty interesting.

How gratifying has it been that you won over those fans who were first skeptical and negative about Starbuck being a woman and on a larger scale how cool and gratifying has it been that this show, this version gained so many fans in general?

It is completely gratifying in a sense. I think for the full reason that it’s nice to have people identify with the character that you’re playing and appreciate the work you’re doing.
I don’t think I went into this trying to win over the old fans because I think that you can’t ever please everyone and I didn’t want to focus on people that were all ready in a sense, you know, spewing negative energy at me.
So I just kind of did what I did and it’s nice to know that they’ve, some of them have been converted but, you know, and I guess it is a little gratifying to know that.
For all the people who said I couldn’t—that it wouldn’t work with a woman. It’s kind of nice to know that it did work for sure.

What of the character do you think helped make people accept Starbuck as a woman?

What made people accept Starbuck as a woman was that she was just such an interesting character.
I think once people put their guard down as far as the preconceived notions of what the show was supposed to be and just allowed it to be really good science fiction, I think that’s also probably the same time when people accepted Starbuck for being a woman was when they stopped thinking of the old show. Which is, I don’t know, it’d be hard to figure out when that probably happened but probably after the first season.
That cliffhanger at the very end that probably got all the fans hooked.

What should we make of the positioning in that terrific Last Supper picture of the “BSG” cast? For instance, you’re with Anders and Lee is alone, Six is in the Messiah’s position. Are there any hints there you can tell us about?

No. it’s interesting that everyone thinks that there’s something hidden in that Last Supper photo like if you look hard enough you can find there’s hidden messages in it.
To be honest I think we would have had to be in on it to create a hidden message and we were all just there having a photo shoot. So, I don’t, I mean, it is interesting the way people are standing for sure, I mean, the plastic sheath with Anders is interesting. And the fact that they made Tricia (Helfer) the messiah is pretty interesting too. But I wish I knew what they were thinking.

More interview after photo.

In the flashback to last season when Starbuck was temporarily killed off, it seemed like people were expecting her to return. It doesn’t seem like there was an element of surprise for various reasons. Do you think in a way it could have been handled better both either in the show in terms of the post show handling?

I don’t know. I mean, I know that you can only keep a secret a secret for so long. I know that as soon as I showed back up at work, it was going to be on the Internet.
I do think they should have left me out until the very end. I think bringing Starbuck back in Episode 16 kind of like, what the hell was that, you know? Why not, you know, wait until 20? But, you know, I guess, in Ron’s (creator Ronald D. Moore) mind he had a bigger cliffhanger and I guess to have a bigger cliffhanger than Starbuck coming back from the dead is—only “Battlestar Galactica” could pull that off.
So I don’t know. I mean, would definitely have told the main cast from the very beginning having to deal with all of that with the crew and the cast and it was really—it’s not something that I’d like to do again. That’s for sure.

I just wanted to talk to you about how you’re feeling now that the show is ending and how the rest of the cast is feeling.

Well, I can’t speak for the rest of the cast so I don’t know how they're feeling. As far as how I’m feeling, like, it’s interesting. Like there’s a side to me that actually, you know, the selfish side of you that wants to go on and play different roles. So there’s an excitement. We kind of get to go off and play these new characters. That’s why you became an actor is to not play the same character for ten years.
So it’s kind of nice. I think that it is sad just because I don’t think—the work environment on “Battlestar Galactica” is absolutely amazing and I don’t think it’s something that comes along a lot.
I’ve done so many canceled television shows I can tell you that it's not normal to enjoy going to work and to enjoy the people you work with. So I know that chances are I’m never going to find that again so that’s sad as well.
But as far as moving on with the show, I don’t think that’s really—I’m really going to feel the pain of it until the very end.

What do you feel like the impact of the show has had maybe on the SciFi genre for the channel?

Well “Battlestar Galactica” did for SciFi was they treated it like a reality.
That’s what was so interesting about our show is that we never relied on the science fiction of the show to drive the show. We relied on the drama and the human condition and those really important questions.
That’s what we depended on for the show and because the show could move it along and most science fiction shows rely way too much on the bells and whistles.
So I think that it kind of opened doors in science fiction to realize that regardless if it's—science fiction is just a setting. It’s not a show, it’s a setting. It’s where something takes place. It should never have been what the show is. … What the show has probably done is that it proved that that could be done.

Last year you won RedEye’s very first—or Starbuck won—RedEye’s very first best TV character contest.

I know, trust me, like all my friends are going, “You’re behind. I’m going online, you’re going to get back ahead.” It was really funny. Everyone, we kept checking it everyday to make sure where I was.

Well, everyone here is wondering how your life has changed since then?

Since I won best character on RedEye? That’s funny. It’s changed my life drastically. I can’t go anywhere anymore, everyone recognizes me. And they constantly walk by me and they go congratulations on beating Kiefer Sutherland.
You know, things like that, yeah, all the time.

All right. Seriously did you know that Starbuck would become such a popular and kind of an iconic character when you signed up to do this?

Oh of course not. I didn’t even know the show would become as iconic as it is. It’s become—it’s taken on a life of its own and become something completely different than what I ever thought it would. I thought it was just going to be a paycheck.
And so no, I didn’t know Starbuck would ever become what she’s become. I think that so many things had to come together to make that a reality. You know, I think that the writing was perfect and the way that they wrote Starbuck was perfect and so a lot of things had to—all the planets had to align to get this to be perfect. So, I don’t know. A very interesting question, yeah.

At the end of last season a couple of the actors playing the final five Cylons weren’t too happy to find out that they were Cylons. But if Starbuck turns out to be a Cylon or an agent of the Cylons, will you be pleased or displeased or indifferent?

Well I think the reason the four actors were upset about being Cylons is that I think you play for years making choices as a character and then to realize all those choices you made would have been different had you known.
It’s interesting, it’s kind of like you get the wool pulled over your eyes for four years and then lo and behold, your character’s something completely different.
I would be completely indifferent. I have love for this character and I think we all do, but I—they were pretty angry. I still think Michael Hogan (Col. Saul Tigh) hasn’t come to terms with it. I don’t think he’s ready to accept it yet. So …

I got to say you really blew me away on “Bionic Woman” and I think you’re great on “Galactica.” How did you juggle these two great characters at the same time and what do you like about these sort of, you know, action heavy sci-fi roles?

I always had to remind myself of who I was, because I think that the two characters were so different but could have been played so similar.
I always had to make sure that I knew where I was and let go of the other story line, even if I was working on both shows in the same day.
So for that, Starbuck comes so easily to me now that even the lines and the dialogue, I don’t even memorize the dialogue anymore. The writers know my way of speaking so well, or so much, that Starbuck’s dialogue is just so easy to memorize, and it's—that’s the writing.
But “Bionic Woman,” I always had to talk myself into it and make sure I was where I was supposed to be.
And as far as the strong characters are concerned, I have this deep affinity for these characters. I think that I’ve reluctantly turned into the go-to tough girl in this business and I’m ready to do a job that requires no blood and guts and ghosts or anything. So, a nice little romantic comedy with James McAvoy would be fantastic.

Could you talk a little bit about how this season we’re going to handle the marriage between Starbuck and Anders?

If I knew, I would tell you. I have no idea. We are at episode 14 right now in shooting—in our shooting schedule and I am no closer to being able to have any questions answered from last season than I am now.

It’s not really being played up then?

Without giving too much away here, I think that there are more important issues being dealt with right now on the show for these characters than what Starbuck is and how her marriage is.
There’s a lot of really heavy things happening right now and I think that her marriage to Anders is the least of her concerns.
But at the same time it would be interesting to ask those questions because we don’t identify this thing as a person. Is her marriage even legal? I don’t know …
But as far as me handling it, if it ever gets broached. I think Starbuck is starting to feel compassion for the things she hates the most.
I think … what the show has always kind of asked is that if you found out tomorrow that your best friend or your mother or something was a Cylon, would it make your experiences that you had with that person or thing less important to you?
No, it’s the same emotion, the same feelings, the same thing that you had experiences with. They're just different than you always thought they were, it doesn’t mean that it is less, it’s just different.
And I think that that’s something that they’re starting to remember. And as far as Starbuck coming back—if a member of my family or my boyfriend died, I would do anything to have them back. So, do people care any more what you are as long as you’re there? That’s an interesting question.

Your boss, Ronald D. Moore, is directing I think his first episode now or just recently and have you worked with him and how was that?

I’ve got to say he’s the first director I’ve ever worked with that after every take he says thank you. … I found that after a take I stood a little taller, I was a little happier and I was like “Wow, that must have been really good.”
Even though I didn’t ask him because God forbid, he said “No I was just saying thank you, but that was shit Katee. You’re going to have to go again.”
So he was a great director. Granted I only had one scene with him but one thing that I noticed that I’ve never had happen before and it goes to—speak to his character as a person. He’s a fantastic man.

I know that your character is one of the more rebellious, impulsive characters on the show. After playing Starbuck for four seasons, have you picked up any of her, you know, hard core habits or anything like that? Or her love of poker or anything?

No, I still have never played a game of poker. I still don’t smoke cigars. I haven’t picked up anything from her I don’t think
I think that her strength and her conviction is something she believes in is pretty interesting. I would like to be able to emulate that.
And then just her belief in what she has to say is really impressive. I think so many times women in general, but people as well, apologize before they say things for fear—like we give a disclaimer, like “This is going to sound stupid.”
And I know there’s women do that all the time, like “Forgive me for asking this question,” like the question doesn’t have any merit. Well every question does.
I think that that’s something that I’ve learned from Starbuck. My mother used to say that as a teacher, like no question is stupid, there are no stupid questions, there are only stupid answers. That’s what my mom used to always say so—so that’s something that I hope to take from Starbucks.

Are you surprised by the number of fans that the show has gotten or have you gotten any really surprising fan mail from someone that you wouldn’t expect to like the show?

No, not really. I think the most interesting thing is when I get mail from high school or their parents or something and they're like, “Hi, Katee—just wanted to say hi, we still live in the same house, come on by.”
That’s interesting when a friend of mine doesn’t know how to get a hold of me and sends mail to my publicist. I’m like, “What are you doing, just call my parents, you idiot.”

I’m wondering if you could speak a little bit about Starbuck's sort of mental state going into season four and what finding Earth really means to her?

She’s very fragile; she’s extremely lost. We’ve never seen Starbuck so alone and so lost. And she's a little distressed, not only because of the way that people are treating her but because of the questions that her coming back has raised in her own mind. And as far as—what was the second part of the question?

Just what finding Earth and the sort of mission that she’s on.

Right. I think it’s her revolution. I think it's her end. I think that she’s putting so much weight on this one thing, this one task that she believes that is her destiny that I think she wouldn’t let anything stand in her way, anything, which I think when that is the case, you’ve got a very scary person on your hands when they’re unwilling—completely unwilling to sacrifice everything to accomplish something. That’s scary. So I think that we’re going to see a lot from her this season that isn’t—kind of like a shell of her former self, at the same time a lot of her doing things that you don’t necessarily don’t agree with. So…

And have the producers told you what exactly happened to Starbuck during her supposedly dead time?

No, we’re on episode 14 and I've read 15 and nope. Yeah, I don’t think we'll figure that out until the last second.

What I’d like to know is when you saw the script for Razor at the end where the Silent Hybrid makes the prophecy that Starbuck is a harbinger of doom, what was your initial reaction and as the season has progressed, how has that reaction changed? Either strengthened, lessened or whatever?

I think that when I read that very end I went “Of course she is.” Like what else could happen to Starbuck, I’m like, “Come on, lay it all on me.”
The worst possible thing and there you have it, fantastic, she’s going to kill everybody, great. I think that that is something that has been carried through the entire season so far.
As far as whether or not anyone knows, you’re going to have to wait and find out on what it really means. It could mean so many different things.

What is the best memory or experience that you’re going to take with you from your time on “Battlestar” and then also what one physical thing or prop or piece of the set would you take with you if you could to remember the show?

That’s easy. I’m getting in my flight suit with my helmet and my gun belt and driving home. I’m going to bronze that [frakking] thing, I swear to God. I’m going to bronze it and put it in my bathtub so every time someone comes over and showers, they have to stand next to that flight suit.
It was hell for so many years that it’s only appropriate that I get to take it with me. Granted I have to drive over a border so maybe I’ll put the guns in the trunk and write prop on them. But shop at the American Government, that’d be great.
The cast and the crew [will be best memory]. I have made so many friends on the show. I mean, Steve McNutt our VP has been like my dad for five years and constantly telling me to be safe.
So I think that, and then also the friendships that you form that are through the show but you are able to maintain outside of the show. That’s really important because when you do a show you have these grand plans of staying in touch with these people and nine times out of ten it never happens.
I haven’t spoken to Richard Dreyfuss or Marcia Gay Harden [since doing TV’s “The Education of Max Bickford”]. You never do. Unless you find a common ground outside of the show, those friendships don’t last.
And so I think that what I’m really proud of is my friendship with Tricia Helfer. I’m very proud of that, it’s my first adult friendship I guess, like the first friendship I’ve developed as an adult that hasn’t been a friend since I was, you know, 17. And so I’m proud of that and I’m proud that we’ll be friends forever or for a long time at least.

When you and the cast are sitting around, do you ever theorize on who the final Cylon is going to be and also will we find out before the end of this first run of episodes?

No. Maybe. No, no, maybe, I don’t know. Does that help you at all?
I think that we’ve been told who it is. I personally don’t believe it. I think that that’s something that’s going to be kept to the very end.
I don’t think that it would be smart to tell people because inevitably things always get out on the Web and to have to keep that secret for a year.
I think the directors maybe should shoot maybe like five different endings. And whichever character doesn’t get [killed] they should just make that the final Cylon. It’ll be like, some random character from the first season that had one line. It's fine, that’s who it’ll be.
No, so I don’t know. We do talk about it sometimes but as far as who it is, I don’t think any of us will know for sure until we see it on television.

So it won’t be in the first run then?

No. I don’t think so. I haven’t seen the episodes though and I don’t pre-read scripts so I couldn’t tell you. I personally don’t know who it is, no.

How do you think your character's journey or as well as the other character's journey of this drama parallels to the reality that people live that everyday and what things might people learn from watching it?

I don’t know. People always ask me this question how she’s evolved and she has. I think that she’s finally someone you can depend on and I don’t think she was before.
But I think what keeps her going—and if this is what people can take from her—is her desire to love and her desire to have people love her keeps her going.
Her relationships with Adama and Lee has probably kept her alive and I think that that’s something that’s very important. I think that that’s extremely important.
I’ve talked to a lot of soldiers who say that what keeps them going is that they get to come home. So it's got to speak to any relationship that we’re happiest and most willing to accommodate. [We can handle] life and all its ups and downs when we have love in our lives.

Ron Moore has said that he’s not interested in doing a “Battlestar” feature film. Do you think you could change his mind and if so would you be interested in doing that film?

No, I wouldn’t want to change his mind. I think he’s right.
He said what would end up happening is that you would have to focus on one or two characters. What’s so brilliant is that it's been a four-year movie with time to tell these stories about each person individually and really have you become invested in those characters. To do a two-hour movie I think takes away from what we’ve been able to do for so long. It really does take away.
I don’t how do you pick which two characters and when you pick those two characters are you going to flip off the other 17 main characters on the show?
I think he’s right. At the same time, as a performer I think that when I am done with the show, I’m done with the show. As much as I love the job or don’t love the job the last thing I want to do is come back and do it again, when I’ve already done it. Granted, talk to me in five years if I haven’t worked. We'll see. But as of right now I have no desire to do a movie.

Just think of sort of the tail end of Season 3 it seems as though Starbuck was sort of moving more towards being a spiritual figure instead of a more action-oriented figure. How does that affect how you play the character and do you think that that’s something that’s going to be developed in the new season?

It doesn’t affect how I play the character to be honest. She’s always been religious and it's not that she’s changed, it's that she’s opened up her eyes and allowed something else to come into her life. She’s the same person. It’s just another aspect of who she is, but she’s the same person. It really hasn’t changed the way I play her at all.

If you were in total control of how your character ended up toward the end of this last season, how would you have your character go out?

Die. Maybe something will blow up again on the ship. I don't know. I just, I don’t think that there is any way to end it with her being happy.
What I do wish for her is peace. In whatever form that comes in I’ll be happy with it. But that’s what I want. I want for her to finally have a sense of calm in her life. That would be very interesting and whether it comes with death or some kind of transcendence of some sort, whatever happens that’s what I want for her.

Admiral Adama has been a father figure for Starbuck for a very long time. In the Season 4 previews, it seems like the Admiral really doesn’t know what to believe of Starbuck upon her return and is initially very skeptical. How does that, from someone like him, affect Starbuck and her mental state?

I think that’s the worst thing that could ever happen. Here’s the person that she—depending on his attitude towards her—I’m trying to figure out how to say this—she gets her validation and she gets everything from him. He kind of sets the mood and the tone for how she feels about herself and to have that person doubt you is I think the worst thing that could happen to her. Because as far as she’s concerned, regardless of what she is, she’s the same person she was when she left. And I think the worst thing is she wants his trust.

What’s next for you? Are you looking for another action role?

Oh God I don’t know what’s next. That’s the joy of it.
Do I want to play a character just like, Sarah Corvus or Starbuck? No. I’ve already done it. I’m looking for things that are complete opposite from those two characters.
Whether or not if people give me the opportunity to do that, I don’t know. What’s interesting is five years ago I couldn’t get anyone to think I was tough and now I can’t get anyone to think of me as the way they did five years ago.

Of all the “Battlestar Galactica” cast, who is it you most enjoy acting against? Do you have a particular favorite?

I love working with James [Callis] and Trisha [Helfer] for sure. The two of them are so much fun so. James because you never know what he’s going to do.

What surprised you the most about Starbuck's evolution throughout the last three seasons?

I think what’s surprised me the most is—wow, I don’t know. That people consistently depend on her shocks the crap out of me. That has always been very interesting to me is that people still ask her to like go save the world, like that. It’s constantly interesting for me so, that I think for sure.

In what ways can we expect her character to evolve this season?

I think that she will hopefully have a resolution of some sort. I think that that’s something we can finally depend on. But at the same time, I really have no idea. I would love for her to find peace. And I think that if there’s any justice in the world that she will actually have that because she’s been through so much hell. … I think it’s only fair that she get a little peace toward the end.

Could you give us some more teasers as to what we’re going to see in this final season?

I think that everyone’s going to be very shocked for sure. I think that there is probably going to ruffle a few feathers very well and I don’t think that there’s any way to make everyone happy.
I said to Ron Moore from the very beginning “Please don’t wrap everyone up in a pretty little box, put a bow on it and say (unintelligible).” He would never do that because that’s not real and “Battlestar” has always been based on reality.
I think that he will give it an ending that is fitting of that, of “Battlestar.” And, you know, make it not pretty, which is hopefully what will happen.

Is the relationship between Starbuck and Apollo something that could ever work out or are they in a bad cycle of repeating mistakes?

I don’t think that Lee and Kara will ever be happy together. I don’t think that they’re meant to be together. I think that they’re meant to be best friends, they’re meant to push each other, they’re meant to have those arguments that drive you. That’s the purpose that I feel that they serve in each other's lives.
I don’t think that they were ever meant to love each other. I don’t think they’ll ever end up together; I never did really.
If there’s anyone that she would actually allow herself to be happy with and be with, it’d probably be Leoben Conoy [a Cylon]. Anders is too weak for her emotionally. Lee is too much of a boy scout. He makes her feel guilty for her anger and her—who she is, her faults. … And so if there was any person that she could let her guard down with and be happy with, probably Leoben.

The show is far too mature in theme for little girls. But as far as big girls go, what do you think your character gives them?

I think when this first started, I was 22 and I think Starbuck was comparable in age, maybe a couple years older than me. … What I think it gave us a glimpse of was a young woman who didn’t depend on anyone and knew what her purpose was. And I think we don’t see that. Through the years we’ve learned that she’s got this vulnerability and she’s screwed up and she’s…

And you think she was a young woman who people could depend on?

No. No, I think that she was so concerned with herself and escape in a sense. I think people depended on her just because she was so good at what she did, not because they actually trusted her. But I think that’s how she’s changed and progressed and grown as a person and as a soldier. And I think that now, she’s probably one of the most dependable people on the show.
I’ve never really seen a strong female character on a show and whenever I did they always needed a man to hold their hand. I think that that’s what’s interesting about this show is that everyone is equally vulnerable and equally needs help. There’s no bias on our show and I think that's maybe not what Starbuck has done for women but what the show has done for women.

The nature of Starbuck's return is a big mystery this season. We don’t know if she’s the original, a clone, a Cylon or some figment of Lee’s imagination, so from an acting perspective, have you made an internal choice to play Starbuck as one of those possibilities?

No, I think it’s a strong enough internal choice to play the fear, to play that she’s lost and I think if I play that it leaves the door open to question what she is. I think our show is all about playing the reality of something. And how do you play the reality of knowing that you are something when you don’t really know what you are? You play the question; you play the uncertainty.

You were so brilliant as Sarah Corvus of course you’re brilliant as Starbuck. [“BSG” exec producer] David Eick is talking about making a TV version of “Children of Men.” Would that interest you or would you still rather do a romantic comedy?

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