Dollhouse

With Dollhouse now in production for its second season, I was able to speak to one of the show’s stars, Olivia Williams, at FOX’s recent TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour party.

Williams’ character, Adelle DeWitt, has proven to be quite formidable in her defense of the Dollhouse and what they do there – though we also discovered she had her own secrets last season. Williams spoke to me about her character’s point of view, plus the new elements introduced in the unaired episode "Epitaph One", which is now available on DVD and online – If you have not seen "Epitaph One", be warned that spoilers for that episode follow.

Q: Joss [Whedon] has talked about how the cast had a tough time Season 1, because none of the episodes were shot in the right order. Was that a bit discombobulating?

Olivia Williams: Well, I hadn’t done episodic TV before and I felt very much like when I first made a movie and I said, "I’m going to give myself over to this experience entirely and try and just roll with whatever happens." There were some pretty extraordinary things that went on, like getting shut down for three weeks – I didn’t know that was possible! And then I didn’t know it was possible to cancel a show before you even made it! So all the time I was going, "Wow, that’s weird…" But I tried not to get thrown by it. So now I feel like I can pretty well take anything! [Laughs]

Q: As your somewhat referenced, Joss’ fandom is such that there were far more eyes on your show before it even premiered than is the norm for a new show. Did you quickly realize people were really paying attention to everything because of his involvement?

Williams: Yes and I was completely out of my depth in that respect. I didn’t know that when I took this on and I’m just so happy that… As an actor, all you want is for people to watch what you do and to find whole pages of your dialogue being quoted on the internet as genius writing… you want to sort of be a conduit for good stuff and that people are listening to what you say and appreciating what you do is such a thrill. That’s why you become an actor, so it’s great.

Q: How is it for Adelle in Season 2 having Ballard part of the dollhouse?

Williams: She is constantly trying to morally justify herself, and work out how she can use him – which is what she does best.

Q: Your character definitely seems to think she’s in the right with the things she’s doing and has her own perceptions about what lines should be crossed…

Williams: Until she starts shagging her own employees! [Laughs]

Q: [Laughs] Yes, yes.

Williams: There’s a lot of skeletons yet [to be revealed] in her cupboards.

Q: That episode with Victor ["Spy in the House of Love"] must have been a great episode for you to play.

Williams: Yeah, it was great. It was one of the reasons that I took the show and one of the kind of lollipops that was promised me before I signed the contract. I thought that was such an interesting thing from a moral point of view. She sells people what they need and then she’s obviously justified it by saying, "This is what I need." She’s the greatest tale of loneliness that the story depicts and she shows that loneliness isn’t confined to the obvious people. And it was great, because I finally left my office! Eliza [Dushku] was getting to go to all these great locations! "Excuse me… Can I leave the loft?"

Q: Topher still hasn’t.

Williams: I know. Well, he can’t… he’s got too much work to do! But he gets to fool around with Sierra once a year on his birthday. How lovely was that episode?

Q: How was it playing more of a motherly relationship with him towards the end of "Epitaph One"?

Williams: It’s much more like who I am, really, so that was really nice. We English love coming over here and playing the hardnosed baddies, but it was nice. Joss said to all his actors that were there anything you’d like to cover, you can tell him, "I’m always perceived as this, but I have this within my range." And he knows my kids, so I think he saw that [quality] in me to play that, which was lovely.

Q: In "Epitaph One", you have the scene with Topher where he’s seemingly totally lost it, and you have the scene where you’ve brought Laurence Dominic back from the attic. Did you ask Joss, "What the hell is going on?"

Williams: Oh yeah. I still don’t understand! I need the fans to come and explain to me what’s going on. Actually, my favorite scene to date was that scene with Reed [Diamond] when he shot the whiskey out of my hand and I said, "At least you didn’t shoot the vodka." It’s writing like that that makes you want to be an actor. It’s just such a joy.

Q: Is it fun for you knowing that you now have these pieces of a puzzle from "Epitaph One" that you can work towards?

Williams: Yes! You don’t know the answer and neither do I, so we’ll see! We’re all very excited.

Dollhouse: Season 2 premieres Friday, September 25th at 9:00pm ET/PT on FOX.