Victoria Pratt: About.com Action Adventure 5/5/04

Star of Mutant X

Superheroes aren’t only in the movies. There are some perfectly good mutants on television, and Victoria Pratt is one of them. As Shalimar Fox on TV’s Mutant X, Pratt plays a woman with extra strength and speed from her combined human and animal DNA.

Pratt called up from her LA home one afternoon long after she’d wrapped the third season. We talked about everything from her work on the show to her real life martial arts and fitness training, her academic background and her thoughts on moving into movies.

How have you adjusted to cast changes on the show?
Cast changes are a hard thing. For two years, we had this little family and it’s a close knit family. And we weren’t together when these changes were decided upon. It all happened during our hiatus.

So it was really weird to come back day one of season three without Lauren and John. Everybody knew Karen, our new addition to the cast. We all knew her because it was the same production company that did Adventure, Inc. and we all liked her. So I knew she was going to be a great fit because she was going to be a great fit because she’s got this great positive energy. We get on like a house on fire. We sealed the deal with a couple pitchers of Sangria on a sunny patio in Toronto. We knew from the start we were going to be great friends. And she has just been a godsend on set. We have so much fun.

What does she do?
She and I laugh all the time. And neither one of us have a dainty laugh, so there’s just peels of laughter coming from the set all the time and I love that. I love it, love it, love it, love it.

Who have you bonded with most closely?
You know what? It’s hard to say. I mean, Karen and I, we have that whole sisterhood thing and we’re both complete goofballs. We’re the anti-divas. We’re having fun and we love to goof, but I have a special bond with Victor and Forbes too because they were there at the beginning. It’s just a real weird nurturing set. It’s awesome that way. It’s hard to pick one because you get different things from each person.

Has there been any talk of a movie version of Mutant X?
No. I think we’d probably be sued again.

It was hard enough just getting the show?
That’s the thing. It’s the Marvel world and Marvel’s making all kinds of movies, but I don't think Marvel will be making Mutant X.

So Avi doesn’t come to the set and hang out anymore.
Avi never did come to the set and hang out with us guys.

Do you read comic books yourself?
No, I don’t.

Have you seen the recent comic book movies?
Well, I saw the X-Men movies. They were great. And I saw Daredevil and I’m looking forward to Elektra. And I think The Punisher should be kind of cool too. I like that genre. I never was really into comics as a child and I think if you miss the boat when you’re a kid, you don’t necessarily pick up on it when you’re an adult.

How hard was it to learn film fighting vs. real fighting?
It gets tough sometimes. I fight a lot on my own with a bag, with a heavy bag. So I get used to kicking and doing my combinations with resistance. So when you’re fighting with a stunt person, your intent is to miss. So where I used to be able to set up jumps a certain way after having bounced back from the bag, sometimes it’s harder when you can’t make contact, only because that’s what I’m used to.

When you see the show, are you convinced by the fighting?
We don’t move on in the stunt unless it looks like a hit. So when I see it on TV, I’m generally satisfied that people are going to buy it.

What actresses do you look up to?
Yeah, there are a lot of actresses out there that I admire. I think in my contemporary field, I think Jennifer Garner does an incredible job in this genre. I haven’t seen 13 Going on 30 but I’ve seen the trailers and she looks just adorable in what she’s doing. There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.

Do you have anything lined up for after the show?
Not really. I’ve got a few irons in the fire. We’ll see what happens.

Will you do more TV or film?
Maybe a little bit of both, but I love the show.

How often do you do conventions?
We don’t do conventions for Mutant X.

Not even general sci-fi conventions?
I did them for Xena and Cleopatra. When I get a chance, they are so fun. It’s a nice chance to be able to see all the people that you used to work with, and the fans are so great. They are so committed and just so interested. And I think it’s so neat that from the two episodes season opener I did on Xena, so many of those people have followed me to Cleopatra and then again onto Mutant X. It’s a really neat world.

People don’t bring you Mutant X stuff to sign? Yeah, they do. They download pictures off the internet and stuff like that, but I think because of the lawsuits, we weren’t really able to do any merchandising. So there aren’t any.

You can’t have a Mutant X convention because of the lawsuit?
That’s my understanding. I’m sure there’s a lot more to it than just that.

So no Victoria Pratt action figure?
No.

Do you read the internet sites?
No, should I?

How often do you practice martial arts?
Well, when I’m in Toronto I don’t do much in the way of kickboxing and martial arts. When I’m in LA, I probably do it about four times a week.

What distinguishes your style from the others?
There are so many different kinds and some use a lot of grappling techniques and some it’s just the way you hold your foot when you’re kicking. To be honest, I think that I’ve probably absorbed a lot of different styles through all of the fight choreographers that I’ve worked with. When I was in New Zealand, I did some Thai kickboxing which is just brutal. Way too brutal even for me and I’m a pretty brutal person. But it’s a lot of grabbing of the head and bringing it into your knee. So different fight choreographers use their favorite techniques. Because I don’t go through the whole belt system anymore. I don’t’ pursue that. I don’t have time to go to structured classes like that. You end up picking up a lot of different styles, so I imagine if anyone was to try and analyze my style, they’d be like mm, I don't know.

What was the last belt you held?
God, I don’t even know. It was so long ago. It was when I used to live in Toronto. Because you know, when you try to go to regular classes, it’s every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from six to eight. Well, I work from five o’clock in the morning until eight o’clock at night, so you can’t commit to it. Which is a shame because I really do enjoy it, but I guess when you’re younger and you maybe think ooh, maybe I’ll compete or do something like that, that’s when the belts are important. That‘s why they were important to me. But now I do it for fitness and I do it for self defense, so the belt grading system isn’t important to me anymore.

What is your daily workout?
Well, I’m doing rehab on my back right now, so my daily workout, right now I’m not doing any kickboxing or weights right now. I’m just doing some back exercises and just general strengthening exercises to try to get myself back into top shape again.

When did you hurt it?
I hurt myself years ago. Probably eight years ago. I herniated a disc. Luckily, I’m a very strong person. I can deal with it. But it goes out sometimes and I just never really had the opportunity to get it back into tip top shape. You know, all the stuff on the show and I get patched up and sent back out onto the front lines, but I’ve never taken the time to really fix the core problem which is what I’m doing now.

How did you herniate it?
I was just over training when I was doing dead lifts. You get tired at the end of a workout, you’re not paying full attention. I was getting ready for a fitness contest, so you’re not eating any fat in your diet. Your body’s just ready to break down and mine did, which is a shame because I’m galled that my body was able to do that to me. I feel so healthy in every other way but my back steps in every now and then and says, “Uh-uh, you’re not Wonder Woman.”

What is your diet?
I eat a really clean diet. I always have. I eat a lot of protein. I eat a ton of vegetables. I try to go easy on the starches and sugars but I don’t limit myself. Like if I really want something, then I’ll have it. I’ve got a weakness for margaritas. I just try to eat a really low fat diet and then I can have the treats when I want them, you know.

How do you feel about being a sex symbol?
Who’s calling me a sex symbol?

I believe you’ve been on a few lists.
That’s cool if people think I’m a sex symbol.

Why did you leave academics for acting?
I have no idea. It wasn’t anything that I planned on doing. I kind of fell into it and it all really did stem from my academics. But acting isn’t the be all end all either. I mean, there are a lot of other things in my life that will bring me joy if I didn’t act anymore.

When did you lose interest in research?
I’ve never lost interest in it. It’s just I didn’t have the time for it.

Could you help train our next generation of superathletes?
[Laughs] When I was in university, my dream was to be a coach, like a high school track coach. Not to teach at high school, but I remember the Farrells, Jordie and Earl Farrell, they were my coaches when I was in high school. And they were so cool. I thought that’s what I want to be, that’s what I want to do. I like that. And it kept them young. They were hip, they were cool. And I could see that for myself.

Has acting been everything you hoped for?
You know, I didn’t hope for anything. It just happened. So it’s not like I was a little kid saying I want to be an actress, I want to be an actress. And I didn’t tough it out in the trenches for years and years before ever getting a job. My very first audition, I got the series. It’s been grand, but I’ve been really, really lucky with it.

Did you ever have to pay your dues?
Well, I’ve been working some really long hours for the last five or six years and I mean really long hours. Anybody who works on series television knows, and especially women because women spend probably two hours more than the guys with all their hair and makeup crap. I think I’ve paid my dues that way. I’ve really put in a lot of time on set.

Has it been hard to make the transition to movies?
I can’t say that I’ve made the transition to movies.

Is it something you struggle with?
No, I can’t say that it’s a struggle either. I’ve been really fortunate to go from series to series to series. I mean, I know that in the whole hierarchy of things, it’s ingrained in actors and actresses to always want something different, and it’s ridiculous. You see it almost all the time. People get on a show and they fought tooth and nail. How many people come to LA in pilot season hoping to get a series? I mean, almost 95% of the actors out there want to be on a television series. Then as soon as they get onto one, no, no, I want to be a movie star. This television series stuff, no, no no. Well, I’m here to tell you that my very first television series bought me a really nice house and I’m very, very grateful and happy. And my second one has been a lot of fun and it’s helped me feel really stable and it hasn’t been a struggle for me to try to make movies because I’m very happy doing television. As I would be very happy doing movies. You know what I mean? I love to work and I think I’m a little different. I think I’m a people person. I get very attached to people. And I’ve become so attached to all the people on my show, the cast, the crew and the producers. I’m very happy doing a series. And I don’t look at it as settling. I look at it as a really fantastic job that I love. It always bothers me when I see actors who, I don't know, who just succumb to that hierarchy and think that there’s something grand and glorious about doing movies.

© About.com

SciFi About.com 9/4/02: Victoria Pratt

Mutants, Action, and Acting with Victoria Pratt, an Interview

It's no coincidence that Victoria Pratt is standing in front of a "High Voltage" sign. Currently a blue belt in Shotokan Karate, Pratt once worked at the Human Performance Lab at York University in Toronto (from which she graduated summa cum laude). Now she plays kickboxing mutant Shalimar Fox on the sci-fi TV show Mutant X.

Great looks, physical prowess and the ability to act intelligently while standing in front of a blue screen have helped land Pratt a series of action and sci-fi parts, including Cyane on Xena: Warrior Princess(1995), Jackie Janczyk on John Woo's Once a Thief (1997), and Sarge on Cleopatra 2525. Pratt takes pride in the development of her characters and sees Shalimar not has just some foxy warrior, but as a woman of depth and feeling.

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Pratt: The audience can see female vulnerability in this action role. If you take my last two roles, Sarge had very little vulnerability. She was like a machine, like...well...a guy. When they came to me with Shalimar, she was Sarge-like. I told them she had to change and be different from Sarge, and we worked together to make a character that was more vulnerable. She's much more sensitive to the rest of her "family" on the show. She doesn't just charge in and take over.

Shalimar reminds me somewhat of Linda Hamilton's role in the Terminator movies.

Oh, Linda Hamilton is my hero. She was so tough and so strong and so vulnerable at the same time. I think that's what woman action figures are allowed to be: vulnerable, in a way that women are. In the beginning, people think vulnerability will make you weak, but it does the opposite. It shows you're strong enough to care.

Vulnerable? We see that in male action heroes, like Bruce Willis in Die Hard, when he's talking about how he should have been nicer to his wife.

Yes, but that sort of turns off and on. Shalimar doesn't act tough, then vulnerable, then tough again. She keeps it together. She's got that secret love for Brennan, a deep respect for Adam, a sisterly affection for Lauren. You show your vulnerability through relationships, and those feelings are your soft spot. You need to have a soft spot.

And I wanted Shalimar to be "feminine." She wears dresses sometimes and kicks ass in high heels. She cries when she's moved. Sarge wouldn't do that. I think the audience can relate to Shalimar better because of that. In the second season, for instance, there are some scenes when Shalimar freaks out. She sees an old boyfriend, leaps on him, and starts pounding away. The audience reaction to that is great. They're like, "You get him, girl!"

With this character, I get so much to work with. It's all about exploring the more unpredictable aspects in the character, not just fighting people.

What makes up the center of your character?

I think all of the mutants have a conflict within themselves. They want to be normal, and they want to be a part of society in a normal way, but they have these extra gifts and responsibilities that take them out of that world. It's a balance they're all trying to maintain.

But what about Shalimar. What makes her an individual?

I approach my character with the question: What would an animal think? How would an animal respond? A lot of times, it's quick action and no fear, and sometimes it's irrational fear. You don't always know. Shalimar, for instance, has a totally irrational fear of fire. The instinct is to remove herself from that situation. But then, if I were attacked, I would turn around and attack back. I have to go through it each time, figure out which way to go.

Yes, if it were automatic, it would be boring.

That's the thing with sci-fi and action roles. You have to play the danger as real. If you don't play the danger for real, you end up with egg on your face. You have to commit. As long as you do that, you're okay. You can't think about how stupid it might look without the special effects or whatever.

I think women can't be afraid to look like action heroes. It's not always pretty, but when it's on the screen, it translates well to the audience.

Do you think you and other women in action/sci-fi roles get pressure to look pretty all the time?

You default to what you know. Most women don't play like guys do: they don't wrestle, fight, get into brawls. They don't know how to express themselves in a physical, active way. When that sort of woman gets thrown into an action role, she doesn't know what to do. But I'm all about it. I competed in track for ten years and have been doing kickboxing forever.

Did you have brothers?

No.

Too bad.

Yeah, they would be in trouble.

But I was thinking more about what most sci-fi/action female stars have to wear. I mean, some of those outfits! I don't understand how some women can actually act in those things.

It's part of the job to compensate for outfit. The most important thing is to just be good at what you do. You do a good job playing the character, and people will be taken up with your character, not your clothes.

One of my favorite quotes from a sci-fi actor comes from Brent Spiner, who comments that acting on Star Trek is, "a cross between doing Shakespeare and running around with a towel around your neck, pretending you're Superman." What would be your description of filming Mutant X?

Smart grown-ups running around at recess.

Do you think the fact that you guys don't take things too seriously helps audience to enjoy the show?

We take the show very seriously, but we don't take ourselves seriously.

Ah, so you read the scripts all the way through?

I read every script from beginning to end, and I read every draft that I can. I like the show, I like the character, and I want to protect both of those things. We have a new writing team for this season, and while they're great, they might not know things about the character that have been established. I know Shalimar better than anyone else, and I really believe it's the actor's job to protect that knowledge.

So when the writers have a problem with their script, we all work together. There's it's a very open line of communication between us and writers

That's quite rare.

Well, it doesn't help anybody to put out a bad script. If the actor says, "There are too many Ps in this sentence," the writers should help out.

And sure, sometimes the script isn't about you, and you may feel like you're sort of just background pushing the story, but that's your job. You don't take the story any less seriously. You're making the story as good as you can and supporting your fellow cast members, knowing they'll do the same for you.

I hate hearing about actors who don't like the show. There are so many actors out there who'd give their right arm for what I'm getting to do.

So you feel lucky?

Absolutely. I love the show. I love working with these people. We all get along so well.

Hmmm. You hear that from a lot of people, but tell me, do you think the audience can tell if a cast isn't getting along well?

I say, if you watch the show and the characters don't look at each other while they're talking, the actors probably aren't getting along.

Well, there's no shortage of eye-contact on Mutant X. So you think your camaraderie on the set helps the audience enjoy the show?

Sure, but that's just part of it. I mean, it's a great show, and with Mutant X, we're not on some spaceship and we're not in the future. We're living in present day. We're living in the society we live in now. I mean, look around at what's going on with genetic manipulation. The show's premise may be unlikely, but it's not impossible to believe. It's just on the verge of being possible. We're on the streets, and I think that's what makes it scarier and creepier than high-concept sci-fi like Star Trek.

You wear street clothes, not space-suits.

Right. In fact, this second season we reworked the wardrobe a lot, trying to blend into the world better. The first season, the clothes were so fantastical no one could relate to them. Now we're a lot more casual.

Speaking of your second season, how how do you want to see Shalimar grow as a character?

Well, as I said, we just got a new writing team and we love them. They are exploring everyone's personality, and they have all the characters relating to each other in a very real world. When the new head writer handed me my backstory, it was really interesting to see their vision of our characters. I think they're going to bring us to a whole new level.

I know it's important to have all that to work with for your character, but what about the whole sci-fi thing? What skills as an actress do you have to bring to acting in sci-fi? I've always been interested in the trick to acting in front of blue screen. I don't think I could keep a straight face.

Actually, the hardest thing may be working with the dialogue that is completely unfamiliar. It's so much harder to memorize dialogue that isn't the language you speak every day. I think of people who work in a medical series; it's probably harder for them too.

And you're right about the blue screen, but like I said, you have to commit. At least it's a lot easier on Mutant X than Cleopatra. On that show it was all put in afterwards. We felt really stupid in the beginning, then only marginally less stupid as we went on. With Mutant X, there's much more to work with.

But still, I just stared down a stuffed animal!

© About.com

Victoria Pratt: Coming Soon.net 5/5/04

Victoria Pratt on Mutant X
Source: Fred Topel May 5, 2004

Victoria Pratt, who plays Shalimar Fox on TV's Mutant X previewed one of the last episodes of the season, which finds her in some hairy predicaments. "In the last episode we shot, which isn't necessarily the last one that will air, Shalimar goes undercover in a circus," Pratt said. "I actually got to train with the circus and we're trying to figure out what routine I could do, because it's not like I had tons of lead time to be able to train and stuff. So we came up with this cool bungee trapeze routine. I was doing cherry drops off of a trapeze at 40 feet. It's just cool stuff, like the closest you can come to flying really. It's just so amazing. I don't know necessarily how dangerous it was but I think it would've turned a lot of people's stomachs."

With the daily grind of a weekly TV series, Pratt didn't have months and months to train like the actors on feature films who go through specialized boot camps for each project. She had to work her training into her tight schedule. "We set up a big bungee apparatus in the studio that I could pop in on my lunch hours and stuff like that. I went to the different facilities around town with the circus trainers. I don't know how much time I actually got to put in on it, but I loved it. So whenever I could, it was something I really wanted to do."

Pratt is of course experienced with wirework from the show's many fight scenes, but she said the circus work was completely different. "The wirework for fight scenes is a lot more almost violent. The bungee is so soft and you have to work the bungee yourself too. So it's a workout too. The harness, they're just picking you up and flinging you around. You have to work to keep your body where it's supposed to be in space, but you've got riggers yanking you and moving you. With the bungee, it's you. And it's just the coolest thing. You control the movements that you do, like in the air when you're throwing semis and back layouts and doubles. It's your momentum and your balance that make you do the trick. When you're doing wirework for stunts, there are a lot of other people that come into play."

Mutant X airs in syndication.

© Coming Soon

Out of This World: The Mutant X Star Shows There Is Intelligent Life in the Universe

By John Chase; Photography by Carlo Dalla Chiesa

Call it arrested development or a deviant fetish, but there's something appealing about a bright-eyed, good-natured girl who can, without a second thought, stomp your ass firmly into the ground.

Having just been clocked in the head by actress Victoria Pratt for making an offhand remark about some of her fans, FHM wisely refrains from blurting out more offensive comments.

When not provoked, Victoria is all smiles, warm and bubbly, and the picture of friendliness as she talks about her acting career. The 31-year-old Ontario native isn't even supposed to be doing any of this action-hero stuff on TV. Though she hates to admit it, she graduated summa cum laude from York University in Toronto with a degree in kinesiology (that's the study of body mechanics). She then took a job as a scientist in the school's human performance lab. "I don't want anybody to think I'm smart," she says. "That would be the end of my career as we know it!" When Victoria later co-authored a fitness book with a professor, it drew the attention of the publisher of MuscleMag, who convinced her to try fitness modeling. That led to acting classes, and two day after hiring an agent, Victoria landed her first role in director John Woo's short-lived TV series Once a Thief. Since then, she's acted in recurring roles on several of the major fantasy shows, including Xena: Warrior Princess and Cleopatra 2525. She now stars as Shalimar Fox -- a cat-like genetic wonder with both animal and human DNA -- on the syndicated show Mutant X.

But in the end, it was the topic of "cyber-dork fans" on which FHM connected with the lovely Victoria. Or more specifically, her hand connected with our face.

From the feel of the sting, it seems as if the fighting you do on TV must be real.
I've studied Shotokan karate, Kyokushinkai--I have a blue belt--and kickboxing.

Have you ever used your powers for evil?
Um, not really.

So that's a yes.
I've never gone kung fu on somebody's ass. I've only really had to defend myself once. I was backed into a corner by a guy and I kneed him in the balls hard. After he doubled over, I gave him an uppercut. That sobered him up. He was bleeding from the lip and crying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

You handed a guy his ass?
I kicked his ass -- and I was wearing a dress and heels. It was a good lesson for him. You don't do that to women. You don't frighten them to the point where they feel the need to defend themselves.

Especially one who is built like a rock.
With violent tendencies! You don't pick on the violent ones. That's just stupid.

When was the last time you had to deal with an unruly fan?
I was doing a promotion for Labatt's beer and Harley-Davidson. We'd go to bars, they'd set up a bike with two Labatt's girls, and guys would line up to get their pictures taken with us. This guy comes upp and I put my arm around him, and before I can stop him, he gets his head in my armpit and licks me. He just couldn't get enough of my armpit.

Mutant X has lots of action. Do you perform your own stunts?
I do a lot of my own stunts, which is why I get cuts and bruises everywhere. I had to jump off a roof last week for the show, and I landed really poorly. On Cleopatra 2525, I once got kicked unconscious by a stuntman. It seemed as if I were getting hurt on that show every week. I got kicked in the head and -- boom! -- I was out for the count. I suffered a concussion.

What the hell kind of name is Shalimar Fox anyway? It sounds like a low-budget Bond-girl name.
I know. It actually comes from the Marvel comic. I'm really disappointed they didn't somehow fit "vagina" into my name.

© Mutant X Interviews Index

Victoria Pratt: The Official Site 5/28/03

Q & A with Mutant X's Victoria Pratt
May 28, 2003

Q) I know that you used to do a lot of running. I also go running as often as possible, but I live in Utah where it can get really cold. I do other indoor exercises, but I think running does a lot of good for my body. What indoor exercises would you suggest I do so I can still stay fit when it's so cold outside?

A) I know what it’s like to live in a cold climate. I grew up in the Snow Belt, north of Toronto in Canada, and I did years and years of running outside. But, if you belong to a gym, the treadmill is amazing - better on your joints than running outside. The stair climber is very good for your glutes, and we all know how important those are. And, the elliptical training machine is wonderful. It’s a cross between a treadmill and a stepper, and that’s my current favorite.

Q) Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

A) I desperately want a dog, but I’ve been told I travel too much, and I’m not allowed to have a dog. So, I have “starter” dogs, which are guinea pigs. Yes, I’m a geek. I have two guinea pigs; their names are Smooth’em and Luella Loo. Smooth’em was named after my greatgrandad’s cat, and Luella Loo reminds me of a girl I used to know.

Q) After "Mutant X," would you consider a sitcom?

A) I would love to do a sitcom. I love comedy. During my last hiatus, I took some great comedy (acting) classes. I think comedy is closer to my personality than the super hero stuff that I do because I’m a goofball and anybody who knows me knows that.

Q) What is your favorite vacation spot?

A) It has to involve sun and sand. You know, there are so many places that I have yet to discover. I’m hoping to go to Spain on my break. But, having said that, the most romantic, wonderful place I’ve been is Fiji. One of the little islands off of Fiji called Yasawa was just fabulous, romantic and wonderful. It was the island next to the one where they filmed the Brooke Shields movie “Blue Lagoon.”

Q) Can you please give us a little more information on Shalimar's history, especially her human and animal DNA that makes her so fast and cat-like?

A) Well young readers, you’ll very be happy to know that we explore Shalimar’s past in the finale episode of Season 2. You will get to learn a little bit about Shalimar’s “Papa” so tune in.

Q) Is “MUTANT X” a much different working experience from "Cleopatra 2525?” And if so, in what ways do the two experiences differ?

A) You know, they’re not as different as you might think. They’re both fast-paced, action shows. Having said that, “Cleopatra 2525” was filmed in New Zealand, “MUTANT X” is filmed in Toronto, and it’s a lot easier for me filming in North America. As much as I love New Zealand, it was really hard to be half way around the world from my family and friends. We were lucky enough to have a great production team and a great cast on both shows. But “MUTANT X,” I think, is a little closer to my heart because it’s a little closer to reality. As an actress going to work every day, it’s just easier to tap into something that feels more familiar.

Q) Do you do any of your own stunts?

A) If you saw me naked, you’d know the answer to that. I’ve got the bruises and scars to prove it. Yeah, I do most of my own stunts. I have a background in kickboxing and shotokan karate, and I’ve been an athlete since puberty. I ran and I played lots of sports, so the fighting and the action comes very easy to me. And I did a lot of stunts on “Cleopatra 2525,” so the harness work isn’t foreign to me either.

Q) What do people/fans typically ask you when they see you on the street?

A) They normally ask, “Is that you?” I think people are just shocked to see me walking around. It’s weird. When they see you on TV, they don’t expect to see you in a store, so they look at you for a while and then go, “Hey, are you that girl on that show, with the catlike thing and the mutant thing?” I was walking in Toronto, and there was a guy in a car who kept looking at me and I’m thinking, “Dude, drive on.” Finally, he rolls down the window and yells, “Hey mutant lady. How ya doing?” I thought it was so funny because people on the street were like, “Wow. Isn’t she offended? That guy just called her a mutant.” I answered, “I’m good, how’re you doing buddy?” I thought it was hysterical.

Q) How does Shalimar compare to other female heroes, like Buffy or Xena? Do you consider yourself a role model for young girls?

A) Well, she’s blonde like Buffy and buff like Xena. You know what? We’re all fighting evil. We’re trying to keep the world a safer place, and I think that’s what superheroes do. In terms of being a role model, I didn’t start out to be one. I don’t go to work every day with that in mind. But, I do get a lot of fan mail from young girls saying, “I want to be strong like Shalimar. I wanna work out and I wanna learn how to defend myself.” Moms write to me saying, “Thanks for giving us something else to look at.” It feels really good when you hear your work validated that way. It’s such an unexpected surprise, although it shouldn’t be because I remember looking up to Lindsay Wagner, the Bionic Woman and Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2, and thinking, “Geez, that’s what women should look like. Women should be strong.” I think that they did shape the way I am, the way I act, the way I see my body and the way I see women, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that other girls look up to me in the same way.

Q) Did you ever have ambitions to be anything other than an actress?

A) Absolutely. I came to acting in a very circuitous way. I have a university degree in kinesiology and worked in a physiotherapy clinic. I also worked at the human performance lab at York University testing lead athletes and was writing a book with a professor when I started fitness modeling, and acting sprouted from that. You know what…there are a lot of other things in this world that can and will bring me joy. Acting is one of them. I plan on opening an oyster bar when I’m done with the acting thing. There’s so much out there, I don’t want to limit myself to one thing.

Q) What was the first paying job you ever had?

A) My first paying job: a summer job, I think when I was 15, a day camp counselor. And my nickname was Flash, I don’t know why.

Victoria Pratt: 11/8/2001 SciFi.com Chat

Victoria Pratt

ChatMod: Okay. We're about ready...

ChatMod: Victoria, can you type?

VictoriaPratt: I think so...

VictoriaPratt: Yes!

ChatMod: Great!

ChatMod: Hi everyone, thanks for joining us here. This evening we're thrilled to welcome Mutant X actress Victoria Pratt. Victoria Shalimar Fox, the most stunningly gorgeous member of Mutant X. Shalimar is fiery, feral, a sensual beauty utterly in touch with her primal self. Blessed with both human and animal DNA, Shalimar embodies the strength, speed and cunning of the entire animal kingdom.

ChatMod: Victoria was born in Chelsey, Ontario, Canada. She graduated summa cum laude from York University in Toronto. She has written books on fitness and bodybuilding, and she has graced the covers of numerous fitness magazines.

ChatMod: Victoria is best known for her role Sarge on the series Cleopatra 2525, and the recurring role of Cyane in Xena: Warrior Princess. Victoria's other credits include the HBO movie Blacktop and John Woo's Once A Thief.

ChatMod: Brief word about the drill. This is a moderated chat -- please send your questions for our guest to ChatQ, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on ChatQ or type "/msg ChatQ" on the command line - only without the quotes.)

ChatMod: FIRST QUESTION:

ChatMod: to : Vicky, I love your acting and I was wondering that since you are Canadian how did the effects of 9/11 in the U.S. affect you and the cast of Mutant X? How did it change your life and how did you find out about it?

VictoriaPratt: I saw it happen on the news with the rest of the world.

VictoriaPratt: John Shea who is a part of our cast is from New York so he was understandably upset, as we all were.

VictoriaPratt: We stopped shooting for a couple of days and then tried to get back on track.

VictoriaPratt: It's scary because as an actress you sign up for a life of constant travel -- and the first time I flew after 9/11 was a bit nerve-wracking.

VictoriaPratt: But we can't live our lives in fear.

VictoriaPratt: I think Canadians are a little bit insulated from the events of the 11th but everybody realizes they're living in a different world now.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: Victoria, some of the fans here tonight know you from Cleopatra but haven't seen Mutant X... How would you describe the show and your character?

VictoriaPratt: First of all -- shame on you for not watching!

VictoriaPratt: So, about the show:

VictoriaPratt: it's the story of genetic tampering, Genomex was a secret part of the US government that experimented in genetic manipulation.

VictoriaPratt: Adam was the chief biogeneticist.

VictoriaPratt: When he realized that Genomex was up to no good, he left the company and tried to save the people whose lives he had altered.

VictoriaPratt: Mutant X is a collection of these people whom he is trying to help. Mutants!

VictoriaPratt: We are fighting against Genomex, trying to prevent further destruction and further experiementation.

VictoriaPratt: My character is Shalimar Fox.

VictoriaPratt: She has been genetically crossed with animal DNA -- cat, fox etc.

VictoriaPratt: She's playful and she likes to kick butt!

VictoriaPratt: She's Adam's right hand.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Vicky, Did you actually bungie jump in the kilohertz ep?

ChatMod:

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: That was a tricky stunt.

VictoriaPratt: I'm only insured to four stories.

VictoriaPratt: I did a swan dive off a four story building into an air bag.

VictoriaPratt: they cut this with my stunt double doing a decelerator swan dive from a ten story building.

VictoriaPratt: Then it cuts to me in a harness being dropped from about 20 feet off the ground to pick up the kilohertz.

VictoriaPratt: So what you see is me doing the initial dive, my stunt double in the middle and me at the end. You don't see the airbag.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: I'm wondering, do you know if Adam at least cashed in his stock options before he left Genomex? Hope so... They've been doing fairly well lately...Oh never mind! :) NEXT QUESTION:

ChatMod: to : Vicky you are such an inspiration to many women out there including myself. Does that play a part in your acting that many of us watch you because you are a great role model and help build strength within us?

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: That's so flattering.

VictoriaPratt: When I was a young girl I remember movies like Terminator 2 and Alien and the TV show The Bionic Woman. They all had such strong female characters.

VictoriaPratt: I really believe they helped shape who I am.

VictoriaPratt: I really believe they helped shape who I wanted to be.

VictoriaPratt: If I can provide that sort of inspiration for the next generation of girls or for any woman who likes or needs strength, then that's amazing.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Hey Vicky! This is Holly - I won the set visit from LCA a couple weeks back -- Just wanted to congratulate you and the rest of the cast on an awesome job!! I am so loving the show!! After working on two other series - Xena and Cleopatra - are you happy to back working in another hour show - are there other acting oppotunites you are looking into for during breaks from the show?

VictoriaPratt: Hello again, Holly!

VictoriaPratt: I'm very happy to be back in the hour format.

VictoriaPratt: In terms of story, it lets us explore a bit more of our characters.

VictoriaPratt: The workload is the same.

VictoriaPratt: As for my hiatus, that won't be coming up until March. Hopefully I'll be able to sneak in a really cool project.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : what exactly is a ferral? is it close to feline or what?

VictoriaPratt: A "feral" is animal -- Shalimar is part feral meaning that she's part animal. She's a wild child!

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: Several people are wondering if more mutants will join the team as the series progresses?

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: Ummm -- who knows?

VictoriaPratt: I think our team of five is a good number. If you have more regular characters than that, you don't really get to know any of them well enough. I think some will just in and out for episodes here and there.

VictoriaPratt: If one of us needs to be replaced, then obviously that will happen.

VictoriaPratt: If Shalimar goes on a chocolate binge for example...

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Victoria, is Cleopatra truly over? Is there some way we could learn more about that 'alternate reality'? What happened at the end?

VictoriaPratt: Cleopatra is so-ooo over!

VictoriaPratt: It is just done and I don't know what happened at the end.

VictoriaPratt: We just packed up and went home and that was it.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: Victoria -- tell us about your career arc :) You became well known in the fitness field shortly after college. How did you become a writer, and from there move into acting?

VictoriaPratt: I started taking acting classes while I was fitness modeling.

VictoriaPratt: It took me two years to get the courage to find an agent.

VictoriaPratt: I was exceptionalloy fortunate to land a series on my first audition -- John Woo's Once a Thief.

VictoriaPratt: The writing is something that I've always done.

VictoriaPratt: It's almost a logical step for an actor to want to write.

VictoriaPratt: We read so many scripts, and it becomes painfully obvious which ones are really good and which ones are really bad.

VictoriaPratt: Reading really bad scripts makes you want to write really good ones.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Vicky your wrodroe is awesome! your the best dressed mutant! any chance there going to be auction off some of your duds..like the leather jacket?

VictoriaPratt: Hey girlfriend!

VictoriaPratt: They will have to peel those garments from my stone cold [dead] furry body.

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: I love my wardrobe too!

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: Several people are wondering if you know if any Mutant X merchandise will be available soon? Can you see yourself as an action figure? Also, any convention appearances planned?

VictoriaPratt: Where there's a hit show, merchandise isn't far behind.

VictoriaPratt: What person hasn't dreamed of having their own action figurine?

VictoriaPratt: I just hope they don't make her furry or with rows of nipples!

VictoriaPratt: I love doing the conventions.

VictoriaPratt: There aren't any planned for us as of yet but they always pop up.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : will shalimar become romantically with any of the guys on her team in the future or what?

VictoriaPratt: We were picked up for 44 episodes.

VictoriaPratt: That will give the writers plenty of opportunity to play with my love life.

VictoriaPratt: It seems like people can't decide who they want Shalimar to hook up with.

VictoriaPratt: Any suggestions?

VictoriaPratt: Maybe we should viewer poll.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: STATION IDENTIFICATION:

ChatMod: Just a reminder. We're talking with Mutant X actress Victoria Pratt. This is a moderated chat -- please send your questions for our guest to ChatQ, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on ChatQ or type "/msg ChatQ" on the command line - only without the quotes.)

ChatMod: to : If you had to live the rest of your life on a stranded island and you could bring 3 things with you, what would you bring?

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: I'd take tequila, lime and a tiny umbrella.

VictoriaPratt: If I'm going to meet my maker, I want to offer him a proper drink.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : How has working with TJ been for you? Is it easier for the both of you to have the chance to work on some episodes together?

VictoriaPratt: If we didn't work together, we'd never see each other.

VictoriaPratt: He's a great director. He's hip and fun and energized and has a great vision for this show.

VictoriaPratt: It's a pleasure.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Is Adam Shalimar's father? or is he the father figure for the group since he is responsible for there being mutants? (partly atleast, he feels he is)

VictoriaPratt: We haven't really explored the extent of my relationship with Adam but you're not the first one to question it. Some people think it's a father/daughter thing, others think we're lovers.

VictoriaPratt: He's definitely the mentor figure for the team.

VictoriaPratt: And yes, he does feel incredibly guilty/responsible for our condition.

VictoriaPratt: Adam and Shalimar have a special relationship because she was the first one he found and they've built the team together.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : First, I would like to say you are a wonderful actress and I really like your work on Mutant X. Well, since Shalimar is part animal and in particular feline. Does this mean she will go through the feline cycles as well?

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: No doubt the writers have some wonderful surprises in store for me.

VictoriaPratt: Again, it's hard for five main characters in the cast because each character really only gets a heavy episode maybe once every five or six episodes.

VictoriaPratt: So it's hard to say when that would happen.

VictoriaPratt: Watch out, Adam, Brennan, and Jesse!

VictoriaPratt: (when that happens...)

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Hey Vicky can you give us a layout of your daily routine when you're shooting?

VictoriaPratt: I usually get up about five AM, pour some coffee into my system.

VictoriaPratt: I go through hair and makeup with Clara and Ava.

VictoriaPratt: And it's a long day of acting and sitting around waiting to do your acting.

VictoriaPratt: If I wrap early, sometimes I get to fit in a stunt rehearsal or a wardrobe fitting.

VictoriaPratt: We usually wrap at around 8:30 PM.

VictoriaPratt: And then I go home and do a workout.

VictoriaPratt: I have a great cardio machine at my house.

VictoriaPratt: And I read my scripts on it or watch TV.

VictoriaPratt: Then I do a little routine of abs and some Pilates exercises.

VictoriaPratt: Then lights out for Shalimar!

VictoriaPratt: Not too exciting, is it?

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : How can I get abs like yours with only about 1 free hour a day?

VictoriaPratt: But that's what weekends are for...

VictoriaPratt: No problem!

VictoriaPratt: Use that hour to do some intense cardio activity i.e. running, or my favorite -- kickboxing classes.

VictoriaPratt: You need to do cardio that works your whole body.

VictoriaPratt: Then you need to borrow ten minutes more and do a multitude of abdominal exercises.

VictoriaPratt: That's only half the battle though.

VictoriaPratt: You'll never see your abs if you eat a high fat diet.

VictoriaPratt: I eat lots of lean protein, veggies, pop corn, and I drink tons of water.

VictoriaPratt: I givce myself treats but I don't allow myself to eat a lot of fatty foods.

VictoriaPratt: I don't even have butter, margerine or oil in my house.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Larissa and I were wondering if you had any plans in the works for an official website. :D

VictoriaPratt: I know I'm a loser.

VictoriaPratt: I don't know, I'm sorry, I'm not very good at that end of things.

VictoriaPratt: the last time I touched my own computer was probably last July -- over a year ago.

VictoriaPratt: It's probably died of neglect by now.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: STATION IDENTIFICATION:

ChatMod: Just a reminder. We're talking with Mutant X actress Victoria Pratt. This is a moderated chat -- please send your questions for our guest to ChatQ, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on ChatQ or type "/msg ChatQ" on the command line - only without the quotes.)

ChatMod: to : whats been your favorite episode/scene so far?

VictoriaPratt: My favorite episode was Fool for Love.

VictoriaPratt: It was very emotional and really the first time on television that I've been given the opportunity to display any range at all.

VictoriaPratt: I had such a great time.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : What other interests besides acting and writing are a big thing for you?

VictoriaPratt: I love to travel.

VictoriaPratt: I have become addicted to gardening.

VictoriaPratt: This morning I planted heavenly bamboo and red banannas at my house here in LA.

VictoriaPratt: I love it, love it, love it.

VictoriaPratt: ga

VictoriaPratt: Wait --

VictoriaPratt: I also plan to open an oyster bar in the future.

ChatMod: Not the kind of plants you could have grown in Ontario...

ChatMod: Mmmm...oysters! In LA?

VictoriaPratt: One of my favorite things to do especially when traveling is to check out oyster bars and seafood restaurants.

VictoriaPratt: And I also have a tequila collection -- which I never touch, of course!

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Hey Vicky -- me again -- things seems fairly quiet and routine on the set the day I visited. Have y'all had much opportunity for bloopers or practical jokes on the set?

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: Oh, every day is full of bloopers.

VictoriaPratt: Nothing truly horrific has happened yet.

VictoriaPratt: I think a lot of our bloopers have happened before we actually get to set.

VictoriaPratt: As for practical jokes, we have to be careful in our studio -- it's very dangerous with the floating stairs and the water everywhere.

VictoriaPratt: But we like to keep people on their toes.

VictoriaPratt: Lauren and I as well as the hair and makeup team sneak up on each other and "honk" each other [I'll let you guess what that means!]

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: Several people have asked if you miss working in New Zealand? Is it different being in LA, in the heart of the "business" as it were?

VictoriaPratt: I miss the people in New Zealand.

VictoriaPratt: I don't miss filming there.

VictoriaPratt: Even though we had a great cast and crew, it was really hard being on the other side of the world from my friends and family.

VictoriaPratt: I love being in LA.

VictoriaPratt: I've set up my home here.

VictoriaPratt: But our show is filmed in Toronto...

VictoriaPratt: I'm lucky I have friends and family in Toronto.

VictoriaPratt: We have an incredible crew. We got most of the people from La Femme Nikita and they are very much a family unit.

VictoriaPratt: Lauren and I were talking the other day.

VictoriaPratt: We said that on our days off, we would just as soon be at work -- and I think that's a great tribute to the people that we work with every day.

VictoriaPratt: Having said that,

VictoriaPratt: I just love coming home to my house and my hubby and my garden in LA.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Any aspirations to direct one of these days?

VictoriaPratt: I'd love to direct.

VictoriaPratt: I think our show would be incredibly difficult.

VictoriaPratt: We don't have novice directors on our show. It's a very ambitious undertaking.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Victoria, when was the FHL shoot done? And, did you discuss SciFi with the other actresses?

VictoriaPratt: The FHM shoot was done in March or April, I can't remember which.

VictoriaPratt: The shoot lasted three days.

VictoriaPratt: Three girls per day.

VictoriaPratt: It was such a busy day that we didn't get a lot of opportunity to chat.

VictoriaPratt: They process each girl sort of separately and it's a whirlwind of costume changes and separate mini-photo shoots.

VictoriaPratt: We bearly had a chance to catch our breaths.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: to : Vicky what do you thik of all those magazines airbrushing the body you worked so hard to build?

* VictoriaPratt laughs *

VictoriaPratt: I'm assuming you're talking about FHM and Maxim.

VictoriaPratt: I don't really understand why they want to airbrush my muscles out of the picture.

VictoriaPratt: I think now my body might look more acceptable to the main stream than it did a year ago.

VictoriaPratt: I have a photoshoot tomorrow for the magazine called Loaded; and one next weekend for Stuff Magazine.

VictoriaPratt: I guess we'll find out whether or not they like my new presentation.

VictoriaPratt: There's nothing we can do about it.

VictoriaPratt: I did a photo shoot for American Health and Fitness. Those ones aren't airbrushed.

VictoriaPratt: It should be on the stands soon because I just receiverd and advance copy.

VictoriaPratt: I was pretty happy with those photos.

VictoriaPratt: ga

ChatMod: Victoria. Last question! And thank you so much for logging on, you've been a wonderful guest! What advice do you have for anyone who aspires to become an actor or an actress?

VictoriaPratt: Well, first of all it can happen for anyone.

VictoriaPratt: You just have to be prepared for every opportuhity that arises.

VictoriaPratt: That means taking acting classes and finding a reputable agent.

VictoriaPratt: I never thought it could happen to me.

VictoriaPratt: But when you break it down and approach it like a business or a project, it's completely attainable.

VictoriaPratt: I think it's also important to look at yourself and figure out what you have to offer.

VictoriaPratt: At the beginning, play to those strengths.

VictoriaPratt: If you're really physical , then play that up for action roles.

VictoriaPratt: If you're just drop-dead gorgeous, then the vulnerable ingenue type might be for you.

VictoriaPratt: Movies and television programs cast so many different kinds of characters.

VictoriaPratt: No matter what you look like, you can find something for yourself if you're willing to work at it and don't mind rejection.

VictoriaPratt: I think that's the hardest part.

VictoriaPratt: Good night and thanks to everybody for logging on and chatting with me and thanks so much for watching the show. We -- I! -- appreciate it so much and the fan support is reflected in the numbers we have been getting and hopefully, will contine to get.

VictoriaPratt: I'm off to a Survivor party now.

VictoriaPratt: Good night!

ChatMod: Victoria, thanks for coming! Thanks to the audience too for your many questions. We'll open the floor now. Good night everybody!

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