In October 2007, Luciana Carro was in the coastal community of Scheveningen (The Netherlands) to attend her first convention in Europe, Utopia 8. During her stay, she kindly granted German BSG fansite Caprica City and the Luciana Carro Fanboard a half-hour interview.

Find out about her thoughts on conventions, Kat being turned into merchandise, the intensity of working on Battlestar, the rivalry with Starbuck, fan reactions to it, slow dancing with director Michael Nankin, getting star struck for the first time, and the Harry Potter series, among other topics.

You can discuss this interview here on the Fanboard, while you can find a German translation here at Caprica City.


Caprica City/Luciana Carro Fan Board: I understand you don't come to Europe very often, and you've never been to The Netherlands before. What are your first impressions?

Luciana Carro: So far, all I've seen is the hotel and the street over here. But I like the people, they're very warm. I'd love to come back. I'll get to see a bit more of it on Monday, that'll be exciting.


CC/LCFB: After Vcon in Vancouver and All-Con Texas, this is your third convention, and the first outside of North America. How does your latest con experience compare to the others?

Luciana: Well, for the one that was in Texas, a lot of people were dressed up – outfits and such stuff. It's different because this one is in Europe and people in Europe are a little different. It's a little bit more intimate here. Which I like, I can see everybody's face here over and over again.


CC/LCFB: When exactly did you realize that Battlestar Galactica is not just an average show but inspires scores of really dedicated fans to engage in a wide range of activities, such as creating fan art or gathering for events? Was there a crucial moment?

Luciana: That was probably in the middle of season two, because in season one I really didn't know which kind of show I was on. I didn't really know what was going on. I didn't get the scripts before my episodes, so all I knew was I'm going in there to say a few lines. And then, when I started reading the scripts. I went "wow, these are really good". You never know when you're shooting them what it's gonna be like after they've edited it. When I realized the quality of the show I was like "wow, how lucky am I? I'm on a great show!" And then when I went to the con in Dallas, that was when I really realized there's a really big fanbase of really loyal fans.


CC/LCFB: Oh, and speaking of 'non-average show': Recently, it was announced that your character will be turned into two different action figures or toys.

Luciana: Of course, I already got my order in. I don't know if they're going to send me any, I hope they do, because it's me. My fans let me know that I was getting an action figure. I wouldn't have known that.


CC/LCFB: Too bad the figure re-uses Starbuck's body.

Luciana: Yeah, I know. And she is a lot taller than me. It's okay. It's a dream come true to get my own action figure. Sometimes dreams really do come true.


CC/LCFB: Should your Barbies be afraid of being pushed aside? What does your family think about the figure?

Luciana: Yeah, it'll get into the front row. I'm sure they're already ordering them over there [in Italy].


CC/LCFB: What are the scenes, moments and persons that make up your personal Battlestar experience?

Luciana: Well, I was really lucky to work with some great directors that I really grew to love. Michael Nankin being one of my favorites. And he actually was my director for "Scar" and for "The Passage". He just really let me do my own thing. They always played some music when they were setting up, and he was like 'slow dance with me' in between sets, between the shots. It is so surreal, everybody is doing their job, setting everything up, the green screen, and Michael Nankin is slow dancing with me.


CC/LCFB: What were your most intense moments during your time on the sets of Battlestar?

Luciana: Definitely that last episode, "The Passage". That was really staying in character because I really was sad through the whole thing. And "Final Cut" where I stayed in character, too, during the whole thing. And luckily that last scene where I was in sickbay, I was so ashamed. That was the last scene that we shot so I was drained, I was tired from screaming and kicking all day. Those were some of the most intense scenes I've ever done so far, at least on television.


CC/LCFB: Because of all the green-screen screens, you didn't have that many opportunities to work with most of the main cast, did you?

Luciana: You saw the scenes I did with Edward [James Olmos] and everybody else, so there were some. You know, like in the rec room and stuff like that. But for the most part I was by myself. It was second unit, especially for me when I came in. It was all about me, really. I met Mary McDonnell at the second unit, but I never really got a chance to act with her. But I saw her act. I really wanted to see some of the Cylon stuff that goes on on the basestars.


CC/LCFB: What did you think or feel about having your name tag placed under the CAG sign at the very end of "The Passage"? Did you even see that before it was aired?

Luciana: That's really special. I didn't know [they'd put up Kara's photo next to hers], but it's making me cry already. That is really special because I was really sick of fighting, even as an actress you get sick of fighting the same character all the time. You want them to get along because we really were so similar. That was really special that they promoted me back to CAG [Commander Air Group]. I keep saying "me", but it wasn't me, it was Kat. (laughs)

But I really feel close to Kat, Kat was really special to me. There are times that I really wish that there would have been more of me and Starbuck getting along. That would've changed the storyline a bit because ultimately they wanted someone to go up against Starbuck. She needed somebody to, because she was frakking up. She was becoming unmanageable and out of control. Very irresponsible.


CC/LCFB: Kat was one of the pilots – or soldiers in general – that chose to stay aboard Galactica while many others settled on New Caprica and lived a very different life. Was it because flying was Kat's one and only thing?

Luciana: I think she just felt very loyal to Galactica. And I think because of her past and stuff like that, she joined Galactica to help people and felt really loyal to the people on the ship.


CC/LCFB: Would you have liked to return as Head-Kat teasing Starbuck?

Luciana: That would've been cool. Unfortunately, that's not the case. (laughs)


CC/LCFB: After "Final Cut" and especially after "Scar", your character Kat got a lot of flak from dyed-in-the-wool Starbuck fans. In fact, Kat became one of the most controversial characters in the active fandom. Did you even get hatemail or something like that?

Luciana: No, I never really got any of that, although every once in a while I go online and start reading the message boards. Then I realize that I don't really want to read the message boards because, yeah, that does get to me.

You know, I try not to, and people always tell me when I got such reactions, I'm doing a good job. Yeah, but sometimes that hurts my feelings because I understood why Kat was acting the way she was. And sometimes I don't understand why other people didn't.

But hey, everybody got his right for an own opinion. So I try not to read any of the mean stuff that people say. Sometimes I do [check the boards], but my mother does more than I do. I try to stay away from it but sometimes I'm up late and I can't sleep, you know, subconciously my fingers start to type in [the adresses]. Ego surf, and it crashes my ego sometimes. (laughs) And sometimes it flatters my ego. But ego is bad anyway, so who needs an ego? (laughs)


CC/LCFB: It's been already more than a year since your last shoot. Have you ever been back to the sets? Are you planning on attending the fourth and final wrap party?

Luciana: No, because I don't live in Vancouver any more. I live in Los Angeles now. If I get back before the season ends, I'll definitely go back to the set and say hi to everyone and hang out. I didn't go to the third season wrap party. I can't remember why, I was in Toronto I think, visiting my family.


CC/LCFB: What can you tell us about Snowglobe, your upcoming Christmas-themed movie of the week, to be aired on ABC Family in December?

Luciana: Well, when I originally auditioned for that it said "lead role". But now that I shot it, it's not really a leading role, more a supporting role. It was really fun, she was eight months pregnant. She's typical Italian-Cuban, loud and very family-oriented. My character's name is Gina. And I think Gina's main call in life is to get married and have kids. She really doesn't have any aspirations beside having a family, getting married early and having kids. I knew it was comedic, it was really funny.


CC/LCFB: Your character is eight months pregnant at the beginning of the movie – will Gina give birth towards the end?

Luciana: I don't give birth at the end of the movie. It's Disney, I don't know if they do that. (laughs)


CC/LCFB: Speaking of roles in other movies: You had the opportunity to work with big stars like Will Ferrell, Al Pacino and the Wayans brothers. What can you tell us about these experiences?

Luciana: Oh yeah, well, the interesting thing about Al Pacino is: I don't usually get star struck, but I got star struck with Al Pachino. I really did, I was so nervous to meet him. My hands were sweating. I worked on that movie with Rene Russo, too. When they said "okay, we're going to take you to the set now", I was sweating and I was like "Oh my god, I can't believe I work with Al Pacino!".

I got there and he was sitting on one side, and Rene Russo was sitting on the other side. I was so nervous that I didn't say hi to him and went to Rene Russo. I said "Oh, hi Miss Russo, so nice to meet you". I guess Al Pacino must have realized that I was totally star struck. He put out his arms and was like "Oh my god, they casted you perfectly". I was like "oh" and he gave me a big hug.

When I saw him working I was really amazed because he really gets into character before the shot. We spend some eight hours with him, and he kind of stays in character. His character had a heart condition in the movie, and ten minutes before we were shooting I saw him by himself and he was holding his chest. I was like "should we get him a Medic?"... because he's getting old. (laughs) I said "Mr. Pacino, are you okay?" and he said "yeah, I'm fine".

Then I realized he was actually getting into character because his character had a heart condition. He was playing it before the scene, even knowing that in the scene he never plays it. That's pretty cool.

And Will Ferrell is not what he's like on camera. When he's off camera, he's pretty quiet. But as soon as the camera goes on, he makes up his own lines, does his own thing, you don't know what's coming at you. Good improv, that's for sure. I practised my improv with him.


CC/LCFB: Now that you got star struck with Al Pacino, you know how all these people feel when they see you

Luciana: I guess so. Al Pacino is a whole other level, though.


CC/LCFB: At the moment, there's a lot of tough talk about huge strikes in Hollywood – may we ask what that would mean for you, personally? Do you have a contingency plan?

Luciana: Yeah, it will affect all of us. The strike is needed, though. They got good valid points and hopefully it won't last that long and resolve everything so we can get back to normal. I think I'm going to do a play and keep my mind on this stuff.


CC/LCFB: TV and theater isn't the only art on your mind. In the "Favorite Books" section of your MySpace profile, it says you love the Harry Potter novels. What is it about the books or movies that appeals to you?

Luciana: Harry Potter... I haven't watched the movies and I'm not going to watch the movies until I finished reading all the books. I tend to like the books better than movies anyways. What do I love about Harry Potter? It's just so magical. I mean I started to read it and I totally got warped into that whole world, the Harry Potter world, and I can't put the book down.

I only read two of them so far, that's all I had time to read and I wished I'd bought the third one for the plane ride because I'd be able to get through it all in one sitting. But when I leave the book, when I have to stop reading, I feel like the story's going on without me. So I have to get back because the Harry Potter world is going on without me, you know? I'm addicted. I'm hooked on Harry.


CC/LCFB: Is there a question that you always prepare a neat answer for, but never get asked? Well, here's your chance to give us a hint.

Luciana: Oh gosh, that's a tough question. I'm not a preparer. I don't prepare for things and I kind of wing things. So, no, I don't really have a question I wish somebody would ask.


CC/LCFB: Luciana, it was a pleasure talking to you. Thank you very much for the interview, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your stay.

Luciana: Thank you.