'Dollhouse' Week: An interview with Tahmoh Penikett

By Rick Porter

    

February 9, 2009 2:30 PM ET

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Welcome to Dollhouse Week. Over the next few days we'll feature a variety of posts about Joss Whedon's new FOX series, which stars Eliza Dushku as a young "doll," someone who can be implanted with any personality or skill set and hired out for missions, only to have her memory wiped and returned to a childlike state when the task is done. First up: Tahmoh Penikett, who plays an FBI agent investigating the highly illegal and seemingly mythical Dollhouse.

Tahmoh Penikett figured that after Battlestar Galactica, he would have a tough time finding parts that offered as much depth as the Sci Fi Channel series. Then he heard from Joss Whedon.

"Joss called me up and told me about the role while I was still doing Battlestar last year. He told me had me in mind for the role and that he was a big fan of Battlestar," Penikett says. "I mean, when you have someone like Joss Whedon call you up and tell you they're interested in you for a role, you listen, and you're excited. And I was. So that's really what it came down to. He asked me to do a network reading, so I did, and the next thing you know I'm on the show."

The call from Whedon, Penikett says, was more than just a chance at a compelling part. It also marks a turning point in his career. "I'm actually at the point in my career where that's happening," he says of getting offered roles as opposed to having to audition. "That was a big thing for me -- it's neat to get to that point, where I actually realize I've garnered enough respect in the industry from my peers and possible employers."

Penikett had a good deal more to say about the show and his character, Paul Ballard. Here's a transcript.

What's Paul's interest in this case?
When he's actually given the case, maybe even beforehand when he hears about the Dollhouse, Paul feels it's morally and ethically wrong, if it actually does exist. The big question he has is, Are these people doing this willingly? They probably aren't. What are the chances of them not doing it willingly? Probably strong with that type of technology.

He's given the case, and I don't think he's given it with a lot of confidence from his superiors that he's actually going to solve it. But he's the type of guy who [when] he's given something -- he's made some mistakes with the bureau in the past, and this is kind of his last chance -- but I think with anything, he's one of those guys who when he starts something, there's no stopping him.

What kind of mistakes? Do you have his full back story?
I don't have the back story completely, but I've made my own choices. I think at one time Paul was probably being groomed for a top position in the bureau, or a long and successful career, and maybe because he rushed in, or maybe because his ambition was a little too great, he made mistakes that way. Paul has a hesitation in him, a distrust in others. He probably chooses to work by himself more often than not, which probably doesn't work too well in the bureau's way of doing things.

Without giving the whole story away, does he get fairly close to the Dollhouse?
Sometimes from the audience's perspective, he's getting really close and not even knowing it. The hardest thing for him is he's receiving leads from people on the set, and there's a lot of information he's getting from an unknown source, so he's not sure what to believe. So I think more times than not, he's actually coming quite close. He's slowly making progress.

Can you talk about the source? Is it like your Deep Throat?
It's an anonymous source who just sends him packages of information. This is where he gets the first look at Eliza's character and sees her; it kind of gives him a face to the Dollhouse. Here potentially is an actual doll. This is potentially someone he can save. There's a connection, too -- he sees her and she's incredibly attractive, but there's something else there, something about her that motivates him and drives him even more.

Battlestar Galactica was so dense and layered ... does it spoil you for subsequent parts?
I think if I didn't get this job, if I wasn't working with Joss Whedon on a show like this ... then yeah, I probably would have been spoiled. Battlestar was an incredible thing -- I think it's going to go down in history as one of the finest pieces of television that's ever been done. ... But this was the perfect transition, if you could ever have one. And yes, the premise of this show does allow for that -- it could be very layered. The potential with this storyline and this premise is endless.

Have there been any big surprises as you've gotten to know your character better?
Not huge surprises, but it's interesting thinking about the direction I got from Joss in some of the first episodes -- I was a little confused. But it's funny, coming full circle six episodes later, I completely understand why. The man's juggling a lot of things -- I'm obviously not privy to the long storyline, and he didn't always have the opportunity to share all that with me. But it was good to kind of question some of the directions and choices he was making for my character in the very beginning and seeing it make sense some episodes later.

So where do you see him going? There has to be a point where he's on the brink of making the case.
I really don't know if he does finally actually get to the Dollhouse. One thing I think is interesting about the character is Paul -- I don't want to give away too much, but I think it's safe to say that once he starts digging deeper, he starts to realize that people who use the Dollhouse, who it caters too, are the uber-rich. People of influence and power -- we're talking politicians, CEOs, people with a lot of power and money. So the more he digs, the more walls he runs into, the more he realizes his physical safety and even his life are in jeopardy. But he's still not stopping. So how far he'll go, I don't know. As much as it takes to take down the Dollhouse, that's ultimately his mission.

I also get the sense there might be some people above him who don't really want him to succeed.
Yeah -- like we said, there's a connection. The people the Dollhouse caters to are people at all levels of government. ... There are a lot of people who don't want him to uncover it. The fact that they're using this highly illegal technology isn't something they want to come out.

Have you had any 'oh my god' moments reading the scripts?
There have been a couple of neat ones just recently. I haven't read all of the ending. We're on the 11th episode [in mid-January, when we spoke], and I'm blown away at where we are already.

Coming Tuesday: An interview with series creator Joss Whedon. Also check out our Know Your Whedon photo gallery to refresh yourself on the hallmarks of a Whedon show.