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Newsletter 14 (2000)
This interview is property of the DXF (German Xena Fan Club). Copying this in any way without written permission is prohibited. All rights are (c) by the DXF 1999.
Exclusive Interview with Ebonie Smith (M'Lila)
When you got the role, did you know how popular the show was? Were you a "Xena" fan by any chance? Do you watch it on television?
At the time I auditioned for the role of M'lila, I did not realize how popular XENA: Warrior Princess was! I had seen previews of the show on television, but had never seen an episode. I knew, however, that my father was a huge fan of "Xena" so before the audition, I talked to him about the show and the characters.
How did you get started as an actress? Could you tell us which TV shows and movies you appeared in?
I began acting when I was just six years old. My first television role was on a famous television show called "The Jeffersons" this show was on the air for 11 years! - have you heard of this program? I played the Jeffersons' granddaughter "Jessica." I have since worked on many different television programs. At age 9, I worked on the film Lethal Weapon, starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. We did not know at the time, that this would be the first of FOUR Lethal Weapon films in which I would play Danny Glover's youngest daughter, "Carrie." I was 12 in Lethal Weapon 2, 14 in Lethal weapon 3 and 20 in the most recent Lethal Weapon 4! The Lethal Weapon films saw me grow up from a little girl to a young woman! Working with the cast and crew of the Lethal Weapon films was a great experience. Mel and Danny are great guys, they are friendly, down to Earth, playful and very family oriented. Most of the crew are familiar with each other from working together on prior Lethal Weapon films. The set was always a warm, fun environment to work in - Mel and Danny were always pulling pranks on set!
What are the main differences between a movie set like "Lethal Weapon" and a set for a TV show?
There are mainly three different types of productions: Feature film (Lethal Weapon), Half-hour comedy for television (Seinfeld) and One-hour television drama (Xena:Warrior Princess). For a television comedy, there is a five day work week. (four days of rehearsal, one day to tape before a live audience. Half-hour comedy shows are taped on a set at a studio. The script (only 20-25 pages) is rehearsed in chronological order, from start to finish, and is taped this way as well. Shooting a production on "film" makes all the difference in the world! Filming is a very technical, tedious process that requires precise lighting for actors and set. At least 90% of the time is spent "setting-up" a shot! A feature film takes months to complete, compared to a half-hour comedy which only takes a week. Most of scenes are shot on location. Because Xena and Hercules are shot on film, the working environment is very similar to that of a feature film. Scenes are shot out of order, based on location and weather. It takes two to three weeks (8 days of principal photography) to complete one episode of "Xena"!
Which is your proudest achievement as an actress? Do you have any favorite actors and actresses?
My role as "M'lila" in Xena is one of my prodest achievements as an actress, the character was a 3 dimensional character that demanded a range of emotion. She was out of this time, out of this world and unlike any other character I've ever portrayed in my 15 years in the film and television industry. My favorite actresses are Angela Basset, Susan Sarandon and Gwyneth Paltrow. My favorite actors are Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joseph Fiennes.
How did you get the role of "M'Lila" on "Xena"?
My agent called me for the audition for the role of M'lila in late May (1996). She faxed me the sides (a portion of the script) and the description of the character. When I saw the words "films on location in NEW ZEALAND," I had a feeling I was going to get the part, I don't know why, but something cosmic told me that I was on my way to New Zealand. I liked the character M'lila from the start! She was strong and wise yet kind and a ultimately, a real friend to Xena. My mother helped me put together a costume for the audition. I auditioned with young women of all ethnicities for the part of M'lila. There are a very limited number of roles available for people of color in Hollywood. I really admire the Xena and Hercules programs for their openess with regard to casting people of all ethnicities.
Did you receive any special training for this role?
My character, "M'lila," spoke Gaelic, the language of her homeland, Northern Gaul. While I was in New Zealand, I worked daily with a language coach who instructed me in the proper Gaelic pronounciation of my lines. Most of M'lila's stunts were done by a stunt person who was trained in Martial Arts. Ironically, my stunt double was an Asian male, donned in my wardrobe and covered in brown make-up so that the edits matched! In the scene in which M'lila fights Caesar's men and takes an arrow in the back to save Xena, I worked with a stunt choreographer. He choregraphed the scene - it was so much fun beating up those Roman soldiers!
What did you like most about filming the "Destiny" episode? Is there anything you didn't like?
The "Destiny" episode provided my character "M'lila a range of emotion. She was agressive, combative, threatening, fearless yet kind, gentle, protective and wise all at once! It was a challenging and exciting role! I enjoyed working with the cast and crew of Xena. Everyone was kind and enthusiastic about their work. The crew was very professional. The "Destiny" episode was directed by Xena producer, Rob Tapert (now Lucy's hubby!). He was a great director to work with. I was also impressed by their costume department - they actually have a full team of designers and seamtresses that make the costumes by hand with the finest materials. Working on Xena gave me the opportunity to travel to New Zealand for the first time! Fortunately, I had quite a bit of free time between shooting scenes to see Auckland and the countryside. The most difficult part of filming the "Destiny" episode was the nighttime shoots in 3 degree weather (celsius)! It was soooooooo cold! I'm a California girl so the cold weather was tough for me (especially in June!). Fortunately, my costume was not as skimpy as some of the others I've seen! The crew made an excellent effort to keep us actors warm with hot water bottles and robes between takes!
Did you sing "M'Lila's song" yourself or were you dubbed?
Although I learned the lyrics and sang the song on the set, my voice was dubbed over for the on air episode.
Would you like to do another episode on Xena, maybe as a different character?
I would love to do another episode of Xena! It would be nice if M'lila's spirit could return to Earth to help get Xena out of a snag. But I would love to portray a completely different character as well - the possiblities are limitless!!
What was it like to work with Lucy and Reneé? Are you still in contact with the people involved with the show?
Lucy Lawless was a dear to work with! She was completely down to Earth and friendly. Not to mention that she is a remarkable actress. She speaks with an American accent in the show (she is a true Kiwi) and although she has a stunt double, her job is incredibly physically demanding. Unfortunately, I did not have any scenes with Renee. I met her once during a cast meeting and found her to be quite nice.
What are your current projects? Do you want to pursue a career in acting, or do you have other plans? Is there a specific role you would like to play in the future?
I have been acting on television and in film since I was six years old! I graduated from the University of Southern California in May of 1998 with a degree in Film Production and Chinese Language and Culture. I intended to focus on my acting career for now. Ultimately I would love to do work that combines my love of acting with my passion for foreign languages! I just recently did a guest spot on a new fall show call "Roswell." In November I plan to go to Michigan as "M'lila" for a Xena Publicity event!
Have you ever been to Germany or Europe?
This summer, I traveled to Europe for the first time! In 3 three weeks, I visited cities in France, Italy and Spain. I intend to return to Europe next year to visit Germany, Switzerland and the British Isles. My great-grandmother is German, I would love to go to Germany and research any relatives I may have there.
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