Moonlight Set Visit Part I: We Chat with Jason Dohring and Sophia Myles
Moonlight fans rejoice! Private Investigator Mick St. John is returning to CBS on Friday, April 25th for the first of four all-new episodes. And he’s bringing along some mighty shocking twists that will have you chewing the skin off the back of your hand. You’re not going to want to miss what series creators have in store for you this spring. Don’t worry, we’re not going to spoil the fun. You’ll have to tune in if you want to see what fans will be talking about all summer long. Trust us, some mighty juicy stuff is about to seep out of the seams of this first season sensation.
A series about a vampire-turned-private investigator, Moonlight gained quite a bit of momentum as an audience favorite when it premiered last fall. Sadly, that searing thrust of energy was cut short by the writers’ strike. After only twelve episodes, the show was put on indefinite hiatus. Fans everywhere were faced with the heartbreaking possibility that another awesome show might be lost to the annals of television history. Now that the strike is over, there is nothing to worry about. Production has picked back up again and everyone involved feels pretty confident that there will be a second season. Even though the original episode run has been slightly stunted, these four new episodes premiering this spring will run without a break or a sandwiched-in repeat.
When we last saw Mick St. James (Alex O’Laughlin), he had just turned mortal. Sadly, he could not share this experience with his intended love interest Beth (Sophia Myles) because she refused to see him after the death of her pending fiance Josh. This episode, titled “The Mortal Cure”, left audiences in a horrific state of limbo. Now, the gang is back to wrap up these dangling plot threads. Will Mick return to his vampiric state? Will he and Beth finally hook-up? Will we finally get to see Josef vamp out? All these questions and more will be answered soon enough.
We were recently invited to the Moonlight set over on the Warner Brothers lot for an advanced sneak peek at the upcoming episodes. We also got a chance to talk with all of the key cast members including Jason Dohring, Sophia Myles, Alex O’Laughlin, and Eric Winter. As soon as we arrived in the WB parking garage, we were escorted to the Moonlight sets. Harrington Apartments, Josef’s office, and Beth’s beachside home are all housed in one single studio barn, as are Mick’s office and the Buzzwire studio.
Walking through Josef’s office was a bit dangerous, as the place hasn’t recovered from the blowout experienced before the prolonged hiatus. Debris littered the floor, with huge gapping holes in the walls, and the roof torn open like a sardine can. On the table sat a book of fabric samples. At least his desk looked in tact. Just outside Josef’s doorway sits Beth’s beach house. Even though it has been built on a set, it is totally livable. The inside is decked out in seashells and sweet comfort. Once inside, we took a seat on the couch, where Jason Dohring was waiting to be interviewed.
SOPHIA MYLES
Are you going to incorporate your new shorter hairstyle into the series?
Sophia Myles: No, they haven’t done that yet. I had extensions in my hair for the first half of the season. I have very fine hair, naturally. When I took the extensions out, it completely destroyed my hair. Note to any girls out there, don’t start with any extensions. It is a recipe for disaster, especially if you have fine hair. I had to have the last extensions cut out. Now they are wigging me. They are still able to use the front bit of my hair. It is all fake. It is all Hollywood, baby.
Have you been surprised by the success of the show?
Sophia Myles: Yeah. When I came into this, I didn’t have any expectations. Its blowing my mind how the show has had this snowball effect. It is really thrilling. The thing we love most about it is our fan base. They are giving blood to make people more aware of the show. That says something in and of itself. They are donating blood to the Red Cross to insure that CBS gives us a second season.
Did you go and give blood for the blood drive?
Sophia Myles: No, I haven’t yet. I think its because we are foreigners. There is some law stating that we can’t. I was definitely up for it, though.
Where would you like to see your character go in season two?
Sophia Myles: I don’t know. It is really interesting. Sitting back and looking at it objectively, I don’t see how there is a happy future for Beth. My advice for the girls out there? Do not get involved with a vampire. Because I know what it entails. A vampire and a mortal cannot conceive a child. She is going to age, he is not. I don’t know if this is going to work. They are madly in love with each other. Hopefully that will take care of everything else. Right now, she is just starting to think of the realities of the situation. When it is a human and human relationship, you do get to that point where you want to know if there is a future. So I suspect that there will be some sort of ultimatum for these two at some point.
Are you opposed to being turned into a vampire yourself, or are you waiting until your thirties?
Sophia Myles: I don’t know. I think it is an option that she will certainly think about. But she has to learn the realities of it. Mick hasn’t given her any kind of solid commitment. If I am going to get turned into a vampire, I’d like to see a nice big diamond on my finger.
Moonlight returns to CBS on Friday, April 25th with four all-new episodes. Be sure to check back soon for the second part of our set visit, where we speak with both Alex O’Laughlin and Eric Winter.