Maybe it's commonplace in the U.K. -- I don't know -- but in my experience, guys as attractive as Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber (pictured, left) aren't usually all smart and introspective too. However, instead of the boring personality that so many men of his beauty are saddled with, God gifted Bamber with both hands. A speaker of three languages, the two of us chose to chat in English today (a random decision and not at all because I have no understanding of French or Italian) about all things Lee Adama. If you're a lover of the series, this is a conversation (long, but I swear, worth it) you want to get in on...

Big episode for you last week, huh?
Yeah, I guess it was.

Lee is now Acting President of the Twelve Colonies, which is a big change when you think long-term. The character started off as more of an action guy with dog fights, illicit sex, and all that good stuff, and now he's all political and calm.
I got short-changed, huh? Stuck behind a desk. There’s no kissing and killing anymore. That’s a shame. It’s kissing and killing of a different political, oily, kind. Yeah, it’s what’s great about [Battlestar Galactica] in that we’ve really been allowed to take these characters on a journey. On so many TV shows, the Golden Rule is to establish the character in the pilot and then repeat that formula every week to keep the audience comfortable. That’s the diametric opposite of what [executive producers] Ron Moore and David Eick have set out to do with this. Every character has been transformed, changed, taken to completely surprising places and been spat out the other side as a different kind of person. They all have a heart and a core which is unchanged, but they’ve been on an intense life journey and Lee is no different.

What is at Lee's core?
He’s always been a son, who’s been defined by -- and maybe spiteful of -- a very prominent, proud and stubborn father (Edward James Olmos, pictured right with Bamber), and if there is one thing that’s a through line, it’s that he’s always seeking to challenge himself and to be his own guy within that framework. He did as much of that in the military as he probably could. And now there’s kind of an opening in the world of the presidency, because you’ve got an ailing leader who’s also lost touch a bit with the popular voice. So Lee does what every ambitious young man does. He leaves home and tries to make his own fortune and that’s what the last episode was really all about.

Do you miss the guy that he used to be?
Yeah, sure. From time to time, I see the viper pilots climbing into their birds, being the swashbuckling heroes of the show and there is the element [of nostalgia]. It’s called Battlestar Galactica. It’s about life on a battleship and Lee doesn’t live on that battleship anymore. In that regard, I do feel a bit marginalized and like I’m not getting to have the fun. But as an actor, I find it far more stimulating to joust with words, than I do with fists and joysticks. I really enjoy having to use rhetoric and to duel with Mary McDonnell (pictured below left) is hard work, week in and week out. She’s such a great actress. It’s a fight when Mary and I get up in that Quorum and go at each other, a different kind of fight.

Were you surprised when you found out that Lee was going to take over as president or did you feel it was coming?
I was surprised by how it happened. I kind of knew he was heading in that direction from the beginning of the season, but to be frank, Michael Taylor, who wrote the script, and I had sort of a disagreement over quite how he should become president. I was hoping to explore -- at least in some of the more personal, private scenes -- a more opportunistic, more ambitious, more overtly scheming [ascent to the presidency] in a very pragmatic and purposeful way. And I think Michael was uncomfortable exposing this supposedly idealistic and heroic young character to those kind of Machiavellian machinations. But we kind of hit a compromise and tried to do it unconsciously, beneath the text.

Very interesting, because we actually have seen a different side of Lee as of late. He's resorted to a couple dirty trickster ways, talking to Tom Zarek behind President Roslin's back. Do you feel like he's lost some of his idealistic, moral center?
No, I absolutely don’t. I think Lee has always been someone who wants to contribute. He believes in sacrifices, he believes in service, he believes in helping those around him. I think what he sees in the beginning of season four is a vertical framework that is antiquated and does not fit this sort of fledgling society. The Presidency was a huge office back on Caprica and then it was like the United States presidency suddenly boiled down to the one state of New Hampshire. Is there room for two Houses and a judiciary and all this stuff when you have just one state? The answer is probably no. And I think what Lee sees with Roslin is that she’s someone he admires very much, but she’s been on a torturous journey as the president, personally and politically. She’s lost touch with the civilian voice, she’s become very cozy with Admiral Adama and they've become kind of a de facto autocracy. And I think Lee understands that it’s necessary and probably the right way to govern, but what he feels is that they could do a better job of at least having the illusion of being accountable to the rest of the fleet. So I think he starts off trying to help the President, trying to bring a new, fresh, young sort of face to this leadership, and one that could maybe involve the people, giving them some sort of voice. And then he realizes she’s very much set [in her ways] and she views him as a threat post-trial, and he decides that this isn’t the right way to do things. I think he’s still being the same Lee. He’s got a vision and he’s an idealist, but he’s not afraid [to make moves]. As I'm sure, if you were with Barack Obama in the back rooms and if you were really talking to him as part of his team, he would bare his teeth. He’s got to be ambitious. He’s got to be single-minded and he’s got to tread on some fingers sometimes. Lee’s no different.

You gotta do what you gotta do to ultimately get things done.
Exactly. If you’re going to exist in that world, that’s how you make things happen. You have to be squeaky clean on the outside, but there must be an element of you that is steely underneath. And that’s what I think makes the character interesting, and why I thought [last week's] episode was a good opportunity to show him behaving that way. I don’t think it would make people think less of him, because you realize he’s just a young, ambitious guy who senses an opportunity to get where he wants to get, and be where he feels he needs to be.

If Roslin returns, which I’m of course assuming she will, will there be a big power struggle between the two of you, with Lee trying to retain control of the interplanetary White House?
Well of course I know the answer to that already. Suffice it to say, that is something you can anticipate as a viewer. Presuming she’s not dead, you've got to think, there are two presidents now, what happens when she comes back? Of course they’ve been clashing thus far in their roles, so you kind of do expect an even bigger face-off when she returns, though Lee has never lost respect for the her. When we were jousting, Mary and I, I tried always to remember that he does deeply admire her. He just feels that she is needful of help, and when she refuses it, he becomes a bit more competent because feels that what he’s got to offer [is valuable]. He needs to introduce some kind of change in to the way this Quorum works. Let’s not forget the Quorum was an old-fashioned mode of representing twelve planets, which no longer exist anymore. So the whole thing is an anachronism that he’s trying to freshen up, and yeah, when she comes back, inevitably there will be some friction.

And how about with the Admiral? Lee is his son, but he has these overwhelmingly strong feelings for President Roslin, so whose side does he take? Will there be friction between the two of you?
Again, you anticipate there will, but I’m not going to say what actually happens. We’re getting close to the mid-season climax and what I can tell you is that the episode is fantastic and Lee being President is part of it. It's kind of monumental, there’s lots to anticipate, lots to look forward to, and that’s what our show does. It delivers these conflicts, but it’s always surprising. Expect to be surprised by what actually does happen.

Have you finished filming the series finale already?
No, we’re just about to start filming the finale. It’s actually a double episode, possibly even a triple episode, but yeah it’s one big story.

So you know who the secret Cylon is?
I know everything. We’re just trying to keep the answers as close to our chest as possible, which is very hard to do these days.

Do you ever wish that Lee was the secret Cylon?
I never really did, but sure, there’s a part of me that would really enjoy a change like that. There’s a funny thing that happens when your character becomes a Cylon. There’s a sense that you’ve been betrayed as an actor because you’ve been playing one thing all along when actually you were something different. But once all the guys that got to do it realized what an opportunity it brings, they’ve all relished it. It's a tremendously rich thing to play that kind of duality. So yeah, if it turned out to be Lee, that would be really exciting and I would love to do that.

Any more sex in the works for Lee and Kara (Katee Sackhoff, pictured left)?
You know, it doesn’t have to be the act of sex for sex to be in the air between them. I think there’s always that tension, there’s always the knowledge of previous aborted attempts at whatever passes for their relationship, however weird and screwed up it is.

We haven’t seen a lot of them together this season.
No, we haven’t and that’s just sort of indicative of the story. They really have done everything short of get married and divorced or have a kid or whatever. And so I think the writers have been less involved with that one this year.

It’s cool that the writers don’t exploit that relationship, even knowing how much the audience likes it. But I assume we will see them paired up more in the second half of the season.
Yeah, you will. You'll get a bit more.

Last week, the Admiral really divulged the extent of his feelings for Roslin. Do you feel like Lee’s connection with Kara is similar?
Yeah I do. I think it’s getting more mature. He’s already expressed his love for her and he's said everything that needs to be said, and they’ve consummated it physically, and there were problems, and then they had an affair. There’s nothing that hasn’t been stated about it, and yet there’s so much implicit guilt about their relationship with the adultery and the dead brother. They’re almost siblings, so it’s almost incestual at a certain point. And militarily, it’s probably not according to protocol either. But in season four, I think their relationship is, in a way, even more screwed up because Lee thinks she’s died and come back to life, and there's a strange acceptance in him that he doesn’t really care if she's a Cylon or whatever she is. He knows something weird happened, because he saw her explode. And I think that maybe changed the relationship and made it more platonic in a way and much more spiritual, because they understand that there’s always going to be a connection between them, without having to be in each other’s pockets or dominate each other’s lives as was the case up to that point. And it’s weird. It's definitely a weird relationship in season four.

Is Dualla (Kandyse McClure, pictured right) totally out of the picture now?
I have to say that, you know, they kind of split at the end of season three and Lee now lives on Colonial One and she lives on Galactica, but there’s a big Dualla story coming up that will answer all your questions before the end.

Do you feel like the show is ending at the right time?
Yes, absolutely. I read Ron’s ending and it’s absolutely brilliant. The best thing I’ve ever read. It’s amazing. He’s a very talented writer and he’s delivered something extraordinary. I’m playing this character and I feel like I’ve done everything I want to do with him. I get a bit frustrated with him, with the idea that he’s a hero with a conscious and he’s always trying to do the right thing. We’ve put him in so many corners and I’ve enjoyed all of them, but I’m worn out of thinking of ways to push him to be interesting week in and week out. It’s time for all of us as actors to do other things. So I wouldn’t have it any other way right now.

Would you ever consider doing a big-screen movie of Battlestar?
Sure. Of course I would. I’d be reluctant to go back and chop out more episodes of the show just to fill more air time, but if someone was going to do something genuinely different with it and spend a significant amount of money to make it big screen, so that we'd be able to do things we have not been able to do with the tight budget we’re on, then that would be a tremendous opportunity to really celebrate the show. I would do that as a fitting conclusion to the whole experience.

Is anyone seriously talking about it?
A feature film in the theaters is not going to happen unless [original show creator] Glen Larson is involved and Glen Larson is pretty antithetic to the whole Galactica journey we’ve been on. I think any feature film would be more his vision and wouldn’t necessarily have any of us involved. I just think it’s a legal thing, because he owns the movie rights and we own the TV rights. So the other possibility is that we make DVD movies of the show in the future and that’s something they’re talking about. But it’s a whole big issue because we’re all out of contract as of the finale and the finale is an ending, so how do they go from there to these movies? Do they have to go back into the past and do side-stories? Until they give us scripts and ask us to be involved, I can't say whether or not it would be a good idea. We wouldn't want to do something that could possible dilute or dissipate the quality that we’ve had thus far.

Comments

As much as I'm looking forward to the tension/battle over the presidency when Roslin returns, and the identity of the last cylon (my vote still goes to Dualla), if by the end of the show there isn't some kind of closure (preferably a HAPPYish one) between Starbuck and Apollo I will be incredibly fracked off.

Great interview though, It's nice to know that he gets frustrated with the way his character is handled sometimes, because to me at times it's felt as if they don't know what to do with him half the time.

Dee | Jun 6, 2008 12:43:43 AM | #

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Wonderfully insightful as always, and lots of little hints as to what may be coming without any real spoilers. Fantastic interview.

Beyond Insane | Jun 6, 2008 5:46:17 AM | #

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Wonderful interview. Jamie had me breaking out in startled laughter right at the start. Loved his little hints and his confirmation of my call that Lee was manipulating Romo in SQN.

Anastashia | Jun 6, 2008 6:50:50 AM | #

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Great interview. Thanks Beyond Insane for pointing it out. Probably one of his best so far this season.

No real spoilers but definitey makes me look forward to Lee's story in the rest of season 4.

If he's filming the finale...YAY Lee is still alive. But come on...a little Lee and Kara happiness would be nice...LOL

bamberfan | Jun 6, 2008 6:57:07 AM | #

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I can't wait for the ending and as much as I love BSG, I don't want them to make movies if it will frak up the ending they already have (assuming I am happy with the ending!)

Thanks for the interview, Korbi!

liznlucky | Jun 6, 2008 7:15:15 AM | #

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"a hero with a conscious"

CONSCIENCE, people. Not the same as "conscious," ie, awake.

Considering how Romo manipulated Lee in the trial eps, a little payback is good--but taking somebody's dog to give to Romo? When there may not be a single breeding pair in the whole fleet? Lee would lose my vote over that.

Great interview. It's always nice to read an interview with Jamie--I can't think of any other actor who's half as intelligent and articulate.

| Jun 6, 2008 8:46:09 AM | #

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I keep thinking the 5th is Roslin. The bald head she reminds me of a hybrid. Maybe the cancer isnt cancer. But the have hinted so much that it is her makes me wonder if it is not.

Also am i the only idiot that had to go look up antithetic:)

CHASE | Jun 6, 2008 9:51:53 AM | #

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Great interview, Korbi. I agree that it is nice to read an interview with someone that has more than half a brain (I, too, had to look up antithetic).

Richard | Jun 6, 2008 10:14:54 AM | #

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I love Jamie. He has some of the most thoughtful and interesting answers I've ever seen in interviews.

Thank you for this!

Jo | Jun 6, 2008 1:04:15 PM | #

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I think I'm in love.

Patty | Jun 6, 2008 1:16:37 PM | #

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Actually, I believe the proper usage is "antithetical".

Siansonea | Jun 6, 2008 9:56:28 PM | #

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You know, I wish Jamie had got his way and Lee was revealed to be more ambitious than he was in Sine Qua Non, which I think is probably one of the worst episodes of the series. Had Lee been able to be both ambitious AND idealistic, a.) it would have been an interesting side of Lee that would develop the character a bit and b.) make all the Romo Lampkin crap seem justified.

I think Jamie nailed it on the head that there was an opportunity to show a bit of Obama in Lee- and also blur the contrast between him and Roslin (who also believes that she is following ideals-- even if they are not the will of the people). I really enjoy the decision to make Lee turn to politics, but it would be so more believable if he showed himself to be a politician and not just, you know- a knight in shining armor.

A fantastic interview.

Japhy Grant | Jun 7, 2008 12:00:01 AM | #

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You know it's funny he mentions New Hampshire in terms of the government size, because as a resident I can tell you we have the largest legislature aside from the US Government - 400 Representatives in the House and I believe 20 Senators, plus a Governor and Executive Council (which splits the Executive Branch). And somehow, it works, but I guess that's because our Governors have always been pretty down to earth - the last one that tried to pull Roslin-like moves got tossed at the end of his first (and only) 2-year term! :)

Mike In NH | Jun 9, 2008 11:22:56 AM | #

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is the author Korbi Ghosh gay or a just a female in love with Bamber?

because, Jamie Bamber is obviously "out-of-the-closet", since I have personally seen him do "Gay Pride" commercials in Canada last Fall on Bellexpress sattelite TV.

the author has an obvious crush on this man, and that seemed unprofessional and out of place for the interview.

sdeens | Jun 9, 2008 2:04:25 PM | #

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R u out of your mind, sdeens? Oh right, you are. Her picture is at the top, the author is duhhhhh a girl, and unprofessional, i dont think so. As a longtime BG fan, I really enjoyed reading this. U obvs just wanna push buttons by saying Jamie Bamber is gay. He is not gay, and if he is WHOOOOOOOO CARES?? What does that have to do with anything? Your comment is unprofessional.

P | Jun 9, 2008 5:00:14 PM | #

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Wicked interview! thank you. They do fantastic work on BSG. Hands down the BEST show on tv and I cannot wait to find out who the 5th cylon is!

Yeah I had to look up antithetic too just to make sure it was opposition. I think it was used in the correct context. It can also be antithetical.

lostalias | Jun 10, 2008 11:09:24 AM | #

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um, bamber is married. and has a trio of children. maybe he supports gay rights, but he's definitely not in or out of the closet.

lulu | Jun 10, 2008 2:59:19 PM | #

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Bamber and family: http://tinyurl.com/59t7ek

I guess sdeens can't imagine that someone might just care about peoples rights, without it being personal. Sad.

Art Carnage | Jun 11, 2008 7:47:49 PM | #

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