Since then, Catherine has retained a sense of mystery, but we've also learned quite a bit more about her, including the information that the real woman who she's impersonating has a young daughter now being raised by a killer robot. Terminator returns with new episodes this Friday, and last month I spoke to Manson to find out what her experience has been like on the show and get some hints on what's to come.
IGN TV: Your character seems to have really been able to trick Ellison, who still thinks she is human. Do you think at this point he doesn't suspect a thing?
Shirley Manson: Well, I have great faith in James Ellison. I think he does have an inkling that there's something very, very dodgy with me.
IGN: One of the most interesting, creepy things this season was the introduction of Catherine's daughter and the reveal that a Terminator is raising this little girl.
Manson: Yes. That was an amazing twist. I loved that too. I thought it was really exciting.
IGN: Did you know about that when you were cast?
Manson: No, I didn't know anything! I was explaining earlier to somebody that all I was given to work on about my character was the first script. Literally, I wasn't told where she would go and I didn't know what she was there for, which is kind of hard – particularly for an inexperienced actor. I mean, I've never done anything before, so I was really going into it in the dark. But as the season has progressed, I've been able to inform my character with a little more, in regards to who she is, where she's come from, where she's going. With the introduction of Savannah, the daughter, it really gave me something to grab hold of, in terms of where my character was going. So not only did I love the [story] aspect of it, but it was also very helpful to me.
IGN: I also assume it must have been interesting when you got to play the real Catherine a little bit, in those videos we see.
Manson: Yeah. It was amazing. I think, obviously, I'm in a very precarious position as an actor, in that people know who I am, and they have preconceived ideas about me - which they don't normally have when an actor appears on screen. I made some deliberate choices. I had to make her seem ridiculously akward and not human, and of course people automatically assumed that's not a deliberate choice. So I think the introduction of the daughter and the episode where I go and see the shrink and you see the character I was supposed to be as a true human in a flashback, helped people realize that I wasn't a complete imbecile and totally talentless. [Laughs] So that was helpful to me.
IGN: You also have gotten to portray some darkly funny moments, like the photo shoot.
Manson: That was just a great episode for me. It really was helpful and really helped establish who that character was and why she behaved the way she had in previous episodes. This is a computer that's learning how to be human, and she obviously hasn't gotten it down 100% just yet. She's learning how to do it, and that's exciting for me.
IGN: You have an interesting new dynamic on the show with John Henry, the early version of an AI computer you are helping to teach. How is it to work with Garret Dillahunt in those scenes?
Manson: Well, first of all, I'm a big fan of him. I've loved him in everything I've ever seen him do. I think he's got great taste – as an actor, he's made great choices; intelligent choices and artistic ones, that I really admire. And he's really generous to me as an actor. He's really helped me and is very supportive. I love him as an actor and he's a great human being and a really fun person to be around.
IGN: You guys are often somewhat off in your own storylines. Are you hoping to get some more one on one scenes with characters like Sarah and Cameron?
Manson: Yeah, though I love my boys! I would love to be in other scenes, particularly opposite Lena [Headey] and Summer [Glau] and Thomas [Dekker], but I'm happy where I am. If they choose to let the two worlds collide, so be it. But I have no complaints. I really feel very lucky with how things have worked out for me here.
IGN: I know I'd love to see you in a big fight scene eventually. Are you looking forward to that?
Manson: Yeah! I keep begging for them to allow me to go on a mass killing spree. [Laughs]
IGN: Can you give any hints on what's going to happen when we come back?
Manson: Well, the plot really does take a extreme turns and loops. I got a script today that really did genuinely shock me, so I must assume then that for the viewer, that's going to be equally as shocking. There are some real twists and turns that I think the fans are going to dig.
IGN: The show is much more thoughtful and complex than most people imagined it would be when it was announced. Were you surprised by that aspect of it as well?
Manson: I don't think surprised by it. I know Josh [Friedman] and the team of writers are all very creative people. So I can't say I'm surprised, but I'm proud to be part of a show that I think takes some risks and goes up against the grain of mainstream programming.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles returns Friday, February 13th at 8:00pm ET/PT on FOX.
