Dollhouse

Dichen Lachman first became well known for starring on the Australian soap opera as Katya Kinski. After spending a few years on Neighbours she left and moved to LA, where she now stars on Dollhouse as Sierra, an active in the Dollhouse who can be imprinted with any personality or skills. Dichen was recently kind enough to answer a few questions with us.

Jackal: Having worked on the Australian soap Neighbours, what has the transition to Los Angeles and working on a primetime Fox show been like?

Dichen Lachman: It’s been fantastic. Obviously when I arrived in LA there were challenges getting settled, making friends, and negotiating the new territory was an experience, but an experience that will no doubt add to my character.

Working on Dollhouse has really been incredible. I love the people I work for and with, I look forward to going to work everyday and the challenges that come with it.

J: What are the main differences in how the two are filmed?

DL: When I was working on Neighbours we shot 25 to 26 pages a day. On Dollhouse we do on average about 8. It is nice to have more time I have to say. The scale... The production value is much higher as you might have noticed and I have my own dressing room :) They are really very different.

J: Your character in Dollhouse, Sierra, has a new personality or two each week. As an actress, do you try and create continuity between personalities so that it’s clear Sierra is at the heart of each of them?

DL: I think one of the challenges is to not do that for the most part, as she is not as aware as Echo. So the lack of continuity is really what I have to endeavour to create for now, so you believe I am these different people...

J: How do you approach playing Sierra when she is in blank slate Dollhouse-mode? Is it difficult getting into the head of a character who has no desires or freewill?

DL: It is and it isn’t. That’s a tough question I don’t really have an answer to... I enjoy it...

J: Has it been easy using an American accent in the show? Do you use the American accent in between takes or is it easy alternating between American and Australian?

DL: I enjoy doing an American accent. I tend to just do it when the camera is rolling but sometimes I do it in between. It depends how much dialogue there is.

J: Were you familiar with any of Joss Whedon’s other shows before getting the role?

DL: Yes. I was a fan which made it all the more nerve-racking when I met him. :)

J: Have you had any crazy or surreal fan experiences yet?

DL: Only with Neighbours fans. Are Joss fans more intense? :)