Legend of the Seeker Star Bridget Regan Confesses
The actress on her role as Kahlan in the adaptation of Goodkind’s books.
by Matt Fowler October 31, 2008

Wizard’s First Rule: People are stupid.

Nice.

It’s not really as contemptuous as it sounds though. It basically means that people will believe what they want to believe, making them susceptible to lies and trickery. They let their emotions rule their decisions, not reason or intellect. And if you happen to know the other nine Wizard Rules they you are undoubtedly a fan of The Sword of Truth fantasy book series by Terry Goodkind. And if you’re a fan of those books, then most you’ll most likely be tuning to the Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert produced Legend of the Seeker, a new syndicated series based on the Goodkind series. Be sure to check our our full preview of the show.

I had a chance to sit down and have some words with the lovely Bridget Regan, who plays the role of Kahlan The Confessor.

GN TV: Are you still in production right now?

Bridget Regan: Full on man. Right in the thick of it. We’re there finishing up nine right now and then I’ll get back and we’ll shoot the tenth episode the day after I get off the plane.

IGN: Were you familiar with the Terry Goodkind books at all, or were they something you discovered after being cast for the role?

Regan: When I was in the process of auditioning I tried to find out as much as I could regarding plot and character quickly, which was a bit unfortunate because then once I actually started reading the books I knew what happened. I missed some of the wonderful moments of surprise that the books have.

IGN: How faithful is the TV show to the books?

Regan: You know, what I think is faithful are the characters. Richard and Kahlan. I think that Craig (Horner, who plays Richard Cypher) and I are really staying true to who those people are in the book and their relationship. A lot of things happen really early in Legend that will happen later in the book, and there are some things that don’t even happen in the book that happen in the series.

IGN: How is it filming down in New Zealand?

Regan: It’s great. It’s perfect for the show. It’s absolutely perfect. The crew and everyone who’s working on it…there’s been so much filming there since, you know, Lord of the Rings. They worked on King Kong and Narnia, Last Samurai. There’ve just been a lot of movies that have been filmed there.

IGN: Including the Sam Raimi produced Hercules and Xena.

Regan: Herc and Xena were there too of course. I mean that’s really where it started.

IGN: So what you’re saying is that Sam Raimi discovered New Zealand.

Regan: (laughing) Yes, he discovered the country. He put it on the map. Peter Jackson was like “Great idea. I live here.” No, but it’s perfect for the show because we do shoot outside so much. In terms of the life experience of me going and moving to New Zealand for the show has really worked well in my favor in terms of the acting work because Kahlan has given up everything to fight this mission. And I kind of gave up everything I knew to go and do the show so it worked out pretty well.

IGN: Your character, Kahlan, is a Confessor. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Regan: Oh…It’s so hard.

IGN: In just two sentences. Go!

Regan: Absolutely not.

IGN: Just three words. Go now!

Regan: Even in the book she (Kahlan) says that “it’s so hard to put into words.” And I fought to get that line in the script and I got it, so I was very happy about that. I said it, but I hope it doesn’t wind up on the cutting room floor. It is very hard to explain but it’s a power that you’re born with that’s passed down through the mother and it’s a power that’s held in at all times so it’s more of a release for this power whenever she touches someone. When she touches someone she releases this power into them. Terry Goodkind wrote that it was “additive magic.” It feeds on all the love that a person has within them and adds on it and takes it and turns it into love for the person who “confessed” them, which would be me. At that point, their soul is gone and they’re completely devoted to the one that confessed them. They call it, like, being like a slave for them. It really comes to that. Finding the truth. And getting the truth out of people. And there’s no way out of it.

IGN: Is Kahlan the last of her kind?

Regan: In the book, she is the last. She’s the Mother Confessor. She’s the last one standing. But it’s not the case in the series. Which I was heartbroken about. You know, I’m so defensive of the book at this point, and I am incredibly protective of Kahlan from the book. And people have told me that I should be that way. I mean, I signed on to the project with just the book. It was her character in the book that made me want to do it.

IGN: Can you talk a little about meeting Lucy Lawless? What was that like for you?

Regan: She’s married to Rob Tapart and they have a beautiful home in New Zealand and we had dinner there. Also when we went to Queenstown to shoot the promo we had some more dinners then.

IGN: Did she have any advice for you?

Regan: She is just lovely woman and there’s been some great advice that she’s given me and Craig. You know, mostly not regarding the genre or anything but mostly things about being a lead on a show that’s “fast turnaround” and the kind of stamina you need and the kind of energy you need to have in order to enjoy your work.

IGN: How many of the Goodkind books are covered in Season One?

Regan: It’s most just Wizard’s First Rule, but there have been little plot things that are pulled from other books.

IGN: What is the Wizard’s first rule?

Regan: People are stupid.

IGN: (laughing) Exactly. Going forward with Legend, is the plan to cover the rest of the books in the series?

Regan: I think so. I mean there’s certainly no shortage of material. He’s written so many books and I’m just on the second one right now.

Legend of the Seeker premieres Saturday, November 1st in syndication.

Check the official website for your local time and channel.

Found on IGN TV here: http://tv.ign.com/articles/925/925984p1.html

Leave a comment | RSS | TrackBack

No Comments on "IGN TV Interview"

No comments yet.

Leave a comment