Eliza Dushku

This week Eliza Dushku dropped by my city for 36 hours. I spent one of them at a restaurant with the actress, discussing her Fox series, Dollhouse, and passing along your questions.

As you may have heard, Dollhouse has been struggling in the ratings lately. This week Syfy boasted more people watched the premiere of Stargate Universe than Joss Whedon’s network show. "Save Dollhouse" campaigns are in full swing, urging fans to watch it live. You can see a new episode tonight at 9 ET and watch previous eps online.

Our discussion begins:

Me: Let’s start with the question so many people are asking, which is, "What can I do to save Dollhouse?" A lot of fans are worried about the show’s future.

Dushku: I know ... and I don’t know. I feel like definitely the studio seemed to understand from last year that DVR is the way these days. With our timeslot on Friday nights, it’s like the majority of people are not watching at that time. I’ve heard people talking about how the Nielsen ratings today are just not very accurate. But it’s amazing, because it’s like everywhere I go — I’ve just been in New York for two days — there is so much Dollhouse love on the streets. So many people love the show, so we’re just keeping our fingers crossed.

We’re still charging ahead and busting our butts, making the best shows we can make and really not paying attention to that. As hard as it is to believe, I just haven’t had it in my head. I know we’re making a quality show. A show like ours, it’s the kind of show where you have stick with it for a couple episodes and not be intimidated by how complex and smart and dark and funny and wacky it is.

And what do you say to people who haven’t watched before — those who are curious but are afraid they won’t be able to get into it at this point?

You know, we do a lot of filling in the backstory. Once you understand the basic premise ... I think people can pick up on it. And then also, just typically of Joss’ work, people find themselves wanting more, and they can get the first season and go back and get into the world. It’s a different kind of show, you know? It’s a big world.

I loved the whole Whiskey storyline. Will we see more of that this season?

We hope so. With the uncertainty of the pickup, we weren’t able to hold on to Amy (Acker), and she’s working on another show. She’ll be back for a few shows, but it was sort of a surprise all around that we did come back.

So what’s happening with Ballard?

I have some bruises coming in from my fight scene with Agent Ballard. (Eliza lifts her arm and shows me some splotchy, purple bruises.)

Whoa, you really do.

Yeah, it was violence and not a sex scene. (Laughs) We’re moving really fast this year. Last year — I think to give people more backstory — things unfolded more slowly, especially at the beginning. And every episode was engagement-based. But as we made the decision to just tear it open, get into all the characters and move it along, there’s so much in the seven episodes we’ve shot. Agent Ballard spent last year trying to get into the dollhouse, now he’s in and is Echo’s handler. And he’s trying to figure out how to protect her and also put an end to the happenings. And Echo is absolutely becoming more self-aware this year. So there’s no more dumbed-down doll Echo. She’s really becoming her own person.

Here I am with the glowing, slightly bruised Eliza Dushku.

OK, so I have several questions from readers here. First one: What is Eliza’s favorite doll "persona" that she has played on so far? — @clandmg

Man, it’s hard ... Maybe it’s an easy-way-out answer, but the fact that Echo has a new skill this year where she can tap into whatever imprint she needs at that time is sort of superhero. When she’s in a situation she’s able to shuffle through, so she’s sort of all-inclusive Echo. It’s a powerful place: She can go from assassin to a more vulnerable Echo and everything in between. Her sexuality, her spyhunter ... she can access them all.

Last week’s episode where Echo was breastfeeding? A little unexpected.

Oh, yeah.

That’s an interesting twist, though — that the dolls can now take on physical changes. Will we see that happen again?

You never know. People always think I’m playing coy when I say I don’t know what’s going to happen. That was one of the things I always loved on Buffy — when those guys go in the writers’ room and close the door, I am always stunned and amazed by what comes out. The speed that they reveal things for the characters ... it’s always a reveal for me too. I like that. If I knew what was going to happen, I may subconsciously play a character a different way.

You can act, and since the Dollhouse episode "Stage Fright" we know that you can sing. If asked, would you take part in a musical? — Sean L.

Um, a musical like an episode? Like a Dr. Horrible? It depends. I’m always up for the challenge. I don’t know how my singing skills are — it’s hard for me to judge. But I like to sing on set ... (Joss) seems to enjoy it. So maybe!

What things that really stand in your mind that make Joss so great as a producer? — Greg H.

He’s confident and authoritative, but he also really listens to people and he really cares about people. He’s an includer. He really empowers people around him, I’d say. That’s the biggest thing. Everyone on the show is absolutely doing their part to make the show great. People don’t just show up for work, they’re really invested because they feel that from him.

I know your mother is a feminist. Is she also a big Whedon fan?

My mother called me today and asked when I was going to be on Dave Letterman. I said, "Mom, it was last night!"

My mom is an amazing woman; she’s not a television woman. She knows more about college courses around the world that study him and she reads articles about him that make her a fan, but I don’t think she’s seen every episode. (Laughs) But me being in this business, I know that she appreciates me being in his hands instead of some of the others.

Open Graves is your most recent horror film. What other movies do you have on your plate that have yet to come out? And are they of the horror genre? — Krizia

I’ve been doing a movie called Valediction in Boston on my hiatus with Ben Barnes and Brenda Fricker, and it’s a really interesting psychological drama. I don’t know when it’s coming out. Also, I’m producing a biopic of Robert Mapplethorpe. We actually went to Florence for a day last weekend to see a Mapplethorpe exhibit. That’s really exciting. And, you know, I’m producing Dollhouse. That has really opened up a lot of doors for me. But on this hiatus and last year, it was all Dollhouse all day.

On the (summer) hiatus I took a little break, I did some traveling. I went to St. Barts and the Bahamas, and then I went to Uganda for a few weeks. So there hasn’t been a lot of time for film roles in the last couple years.

Where are you going next?

I’m thinking about Cuba, also the Dominican Republic. My brother’s wife is from DR and we went down there once. ... Also, the Global Exchange group that I travel with offers trips to so many amazing places. My mother and I have wanted to go to Vietnam for sometime. She teaches African politics, and I’m anxious to explore more of Africa, I just love it. Japan is on my list. We’re may do a grizzly bear excursion through Canada and Alaska as well.

Whoa. That’s some serious traveling. OK, another one:Have you had any ideas for episodes of Dollhouse that were either developed or rejected? — Chris O.

No. In the first season there was an episode ... A lot of people ask me about gay and lesbian themes and characters in Dollhouse. And Joss is known and has previously done some stuff in Buffy, and obviously we’re both major advocates for equal rights. So we had one episode that didn’t make it last year. It wasn’t necessarily because it was lesbian-themed, it just didn’t fit in the storyline, and it was impossible to shoot because it took place on an island somewhere. So it just didn’t come to be. But I’d be anxious to see that happen.

How often do you keep in touch with former Buffy co-stars? — KevThor and Junk

Man, I ran into David Boreanaz ... I see him sometimes. I ran into Seth Green the other night in L.A. I know Sarah had a baby, I only sort of communicate through people. It’s hard everyone definitely has their own lives. With Facebook and Twitter I could track some people down, but it’s been awhile, you know?

I know Eliza is a Bostonian, just like me. I was wondering, when she comes back to Boston, what’s her must-have Boston food? — Melissa S.

Restaurant? I love going to the Town Diner in Watertown. Or I love breakfast places. Tresca’s in Watertown Square makes a grilled bagel egg sandwich that’s just ... We used to bail out on school sometimes and head down to Tresca’s. It’s just buttery and delicious.