Salli Richardson-Whitfield has her hands full these days. Whether she’s directing an episode of Eureka, acting in independent films in her “free time”, saving Eureka from itself as Dr. Allison Blake, or taking care of her real-life kids, Salli remains calm as a cucumber.
In all the commotion, she somehow managed to find time to take dance lessons from Eureka’s resident blue-eyed boy, Colin Ferguson. Of course, I know more than a few ladies who wouldn’t mind being swept off their feet by Sheriff Jack Carter.
Fortunately, we were there when she was able to catch her breath and chat about playing a character who’s just as assiduous as she is.
The Flickcast: While there are a lot of women in power in sci fi, Allison is one woman who’s feminine as well. How do you and the writers balance the complexity inherent in Allison Blake: a mother, leader, scientist, and single woman?
Salli Richardson-Whitfield: Well it’s very funny, because when we first started out, the first season or two… When a new director would come in they’d go, “So, a little softer”. They wanted to make sure she (Allison Blake) was never too hard. Maybe it’s just my personality can be a bit hard and cutting. I don’t know, it’s a Chicago thing or something. I’d be like, “I’m not being hard, that’s just how I am. If they’d come to me, I think that’s how I’d say it.”
