SPOILERS for Episode 3 -- Interview - Torchwood: Miracle Day
The Dillon Casey Interview - Torchwood: Miracle Day and Nikita
When you are hot, you're hot! And sometimes you are just smokin' hot! On-Air On-Soaps Podcast recurring guest host, Dillon Casey, has been one busy actor of late. The Canadian star known to soap fans mostly for his work on SOAPnet's MVP and Being Erica, is about to set primetime television on fire starting this Friday night, July 22nd. That is when the much talked about controversial sex scene that features Dillon with Torchwood: Miracle Day star, John Barrowman (Capt Jack Harkness) has its premiere on that hit series latest episode, Dead of Night on the STARZ network at 10PMEST.
And the scene is getting much attention! Yesterday, the BBC chose to ban it from the UK version of the series, with sources telling UK's Digital Spy, "It wasn't that it was a gay scene that worried people, but just the fact that it was such an explicit sex scene full stop. Even though the show airs after the watershed, it has a lot of young fans who would have been shocked at the graphic nature of the sex." But thus far, Americans will see the full scene. And so we asked Dillon to discuss the making of this extremely intense and sexually charged moment in his career.
Now, on the heels of all the hullabaloo over two men getting it on, came word late last week that Dillon had been cast in the hit CW primetime series, Nikita, in an exciting primo role! Apparently, he could eventually become a love interest for series regular, Lyndsy Fonseca, who is very familiar to soaps fans for her run as Colleen Carlton on Y&R. Dillon fills us in and gives us an exclusive peak at his new character that is set to shake up the canvas of Nikita come fall.
Witty, funny, direct and endearing, are just some of the adjectives we would use to describe Dillon. And we ought to know, as we sit next to him and laugh for hours at a time when taping our podcast. We hope you feel the same after reading his take on his latest career moves.
MICHAEL:
I have read several interviews with Torchwood: Miracle Day star, John Barrowman, and he talked about the sex scene with you! Are you aware of this?
DILLON:
I have had some of the interviews by John Barrowman sent to me, and I have read some of them. I find it so funny. First of all, he keeps calling it boysex, which I am going to kill him for! (Laughs) I am a man first of all. (Laughs) It is full on mansex, I guess. Basically, Capt Jack Harkness had a lover who died recently. So, he goes out to a gay bar to let off some steam, and he meets me, the bartender, who is just ready to go, and we hook-up from there.
MICHAEL:
The word is out on Friday's episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day. It is being hailed as a very racy sex scene between you and John. Would you say it is?
DILLON:
It is definitely very racy, and as racy as it gets. Torchwood; Miracle Day is a very confidential show and very confidential about story. But, I will tell you it is a very explicit.
MICHAEL:
John Barrowman is very open about his sexuality, which is part of what makes the Torchwood franchise so fascinating… don't you think?
DILLON:
The part John plays, Capt. Jack Harkness, is a hero, and on the show he is not a homosexual. The character is an omnisexual. So that means he will have sex with men, women, aliens, and it just doesn't matter. Any person or thing he is attracted to that is also attracted to him, he will have sex with. He is not a slut, but the lines of sexuality have been blurred from the world in which he comes from. John Barrowman is a charming great guy, and he is very open about his sexuality and he made that very clear on set, too! (Laughs) He told me right before they said, "action"… "Dillon, just so you know, I might get an erection." And they said, "Action". (Laughs) But I guess I took that as a compliment.
MICHAEL:
He said he was very turned on in the scene!
DILLON:
It's a hot scene!
MICHAEL:
So, did you have any idea you would be having full on sex when you got the role, or did that come after?
DILLON:
Basically, I got a breakdown for the part. They were looking for a character who was comfortable having intimacy with a man. I thought that meant kissing. So I thought, "I am cool with that, no biggie, I can do that." I went in and did the audition and they gave me the part. Later, I went in for the wardrobe fitting and the wardrobe lady said to me, "So, we have your nudity waiver you need to sign." And I went, "Oh, this is the first I heard of nudity. Why do I have to sign a nudity waiver?" And she goes, "Well, it's for your sex scene with John." So that is the first I heard of the sex scene, and again the scripts are very confidential. But I knew this show was awesome and I wanted to be a part of it. Of course, after I heard of the sex scene, as a straight guy, there was a moment of "What have I gotten myself into?" But I would have thought that if I had to sign a nudity waiver to do a sex scene with a woman on a show, I would hope it would just be tasteful and not just gratuitous.
MICHAEL:
I would think it would be the same if you were shooting a sex scene between a man and woman and they yelled, "Now get naked Dillon!"
DILLON:
There were moments when I was doing MVP where I thought, "I hope this is not gratuitous ass shots!" With regards to Torchwood, I did think for a bit, "Am I just coming on here to do a sex scene?" I have never had any contact like that with a man in a sexual way, so the nerves started to hit, but then I thought, "What the hell! This is my job. I am an actor. Homosexuality does not bother me, so let's do it, and let's go for it." And right away when I met John, he was an awesome guy. And Russell Davies, the creator of Torchwood: Miracle Day, was an awesome guy. Everybody made me feel really comfortable. It worked out really well.
MICHAEL:
John had nothing to do with you being selected for the role, or did he?
DILLON:
I think he definitely did.
MICHAEL:
I think so, too! (Laughs) Was he there when you auditioned?
DILLON:
No, but he told me later he saw my audition tape. I had my clothes on for the interview, by the way! (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
Have you seen the final edited version of it?
DILLON:
Nope. But I knew where the camera was and what was going on. So I have an idea what it looks like. But, I have been told not only is it sexy, but it is a very beautiful scene.
MICHAEL:
I was floored yesterday to see the BBC decided to cut the sex scene when they air this episode there, but the US is not cutting it. Usually, it's the reverse. I think the US can be behind the rest of the world when it comes to sex scenes on television.
DILLON:
I read an article that said it was one of the raciest sex scenes ever on primetime television. I think it all depends on Torchwood: Miracle's Day's timeslot in the other markets or countries for who could be watching TV at a certain time. It does not matter it's a gay sex scene at all. I think if it was a racy heterosexual sex scene, it would be the same scenario, or at least I would like to think so.
MICHAEL:
After you finished taping the sex scene, what did John say to you?
DILLON:
It was like, (Laughs) "Peace, bro. Good working with you!" (Laughs) It really was not awkward after we shot it. I remember we had not talked for a while after the taping, because John is really busy with the show. I finally saw him at the Torchwood: Miracle Day wrap party and I said, "Well, you don't call and you don't write!" (Laughs) But seriously, I could see how it could be awkward, but John is such a professional and we have the same sense of humor, which is great. I knew right away after talking with John I could trust him in the scene.
MICHAEL:
Recently you faced, like many before you, a little twitter hiccup that developed when you tweeted something, and then some people were saying you were homophobic!
DILLON:
I made a stupid tweet with just my sort of sense of humor. I now understand that there are some hard-core fans of Torchwood, which is great. And, because of the nature of Capt. Jack Harkness, people can have a political stance on it and have their views. There are also people out there that are looking to get offended, and sometimes have a chip on their shoulder. I guess the tweet offended them. Then, I made that Living in L.A. with Dillon Casey video, which is my satirical video series on FunnyorDie which should have cleared it up for some people.
MICHAEL:
Since you are up in Toronto with your family, will they watch you in Torchwood: Miracle Day?
DILLON:
You know what? Now that I know the scene got cut in the UK, I am curious to know if it got cut in Canada. I am not sure if they would show a scene like that. My dad actually kind of wants to see it, but I would not watch it with him. I can tell him the time and the channel. (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
Then…all of a sudden last week you landed a role on the hot CW show Nikita! Tell me what went down and how it all happened?
DILLON:
I came back to Toronto because I was planning on climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa with my family at the end of July. So I had to come back and get my shots and vaccinations and make sure my visa was all good. I had an audition for Nikita set up in L.A, but I told them I was going to be in Toronto during that time. And since Nikita shoots here, they often see people for casting calls. So I went in and did the audition and three days later my manager called me up and said, "You are their first choice!" And as an actor, that is something you just really don't want to know, because that could put you on the edge of your seat, and makes it more nerve-wracking. (Laughs) So he told me that, and that put the Kilimanjaro trip on hold. And then a week later, they told me the part was mine, and I started shooting this past Sunday.
MICHAEL:
And you are playing Sgt. Sean Pierce. What can you tell us about him and for Nikita fans who cannot wait for season two to start this fall?
DILLON:
I am playing Sergeant Sean Pierce, who is a badass army tour specialist who is brought to Division to make sure Division can find Percy's black box. And if you know the show, you know what that is. And basically, Sean is a streamlined badass marine, and all he cares about is getting the job done.
MICHAEL:
He is all about precision then?
DILLON:
He is described as the thinking man's solider. He is very analytical.
MICHAEL:
Well, that must have been a stretch! (Laughs)
DILLON:
(Laughs) But he is very methodical and he throws a curve ball to Division and their plans. He does not necessarily share the same morals and end game as them. He is also there as a potential love interest for Alex, played by Lyndsy Fonseca. It was also nice to meet Melinda Clarke. I am a big fan of hers from the OC! You know the legendary, Julie Cooper from the OC. (Laughs). And ye
sterday I shot my first action scene where I shoot up people, where I was shooting blanks, whereas in my Torchwood scene, I was not shooting blanks! (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
(Laughs) And you know soap fans know Lyndsy Fonseca for her time as Colleen Carlton on The Young and the Restless! So we hear your new role on Nikita is recurring?
DILLON:
I am on several episodes. Nikita is one of those shows where you can get shot at any moment… so we shall see. Honestly, it comes down to how inspired the writers are. As an actor, you can't worry about that. You just need to do your job and not put so much pressure on yourself, as that is never good. I think there are probably times where a show casts somebody and then they come on to a set and go, "What did we just do?" And then they try to get rid of that person. But I think if somebody and the storyline inspires the writers, and if they see something happening between myself as Sean, and Lyndsy as Alex, then they will want to write for it. But if they don't see it, then it won't happen.
MICHAEL:
Nikita premieres September 23rd on the CW. When will you debut on it?
DILLON:
I am in the first episode when it premieres!
MICHAEL:
So you have Torchwood: Miracle Day on Friday, and Nikita in September…
DILLON:
Yes, but what I am really looking forward to is the release of the motion picture Creature that comes out on September 9th in movie theatres nationwide. And I have to tell you, it is an awesome throwback horror movie, with no CGI effects, or any of that stuff. It is my first leading role in a movie and I am very excited. The movie is about a group of kids who are going to New Orleans to party, because one of them has to go off to war in Iraq. And they get diverted to a little shanty shop in the middle of the swamps, and they should not have made that turn! So I play the character of Oscar, who organizes the whole trip, and that is all I can tell you!
MICHAEL:
So maybe you will grace us with your presence at the On-Air On-Soaps podcast when you are not so busy? We love having you do Stump the Soapers with us, but we miss you in the studio!
DILLON:
I am always open for a podcast. I have so much fun doing it.
MICHAEL:
Because Carolyn Hennesy and I are so insane? (Laughs)
DILLON:
Well… (Laughs)… the phone interviews are one thing, but I just love being in the booth.
MICHAEL:
People tell me they love you on the podcast because you are fun and goofy, and you add another dimension to it. I think it's because you are younger than us, and because you don't come from a background on daytime soaps! (Laughs)
DILLON:
Maybe I am kind of like the guy who is on the outside looking in on the whole thing going, "What? What are you guys talking about? How did that happen?" So then I have an outside perspective on what is going on in the soap world. We have a lot of fun. Hopefully, I can get back to the booth soon! Stay tuned.
source: http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/interviews/the-dillon-casey-interview-torchwood-miracle-day-and-nikita/2011/07/21/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter