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Gilles
Nuytens
Gilles
Nuytens TSW
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| Cliff
Simon interview |
Date
of publishing: 10th June 2005
Cliff Simon was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He worked
in Europe for 12 years as a professional model and dancer,
and performed for two years at the Moulin Rouge in Paris as
a dancer and lead singer. He returned to South Africa in 1987
where he took up modeling full time, winning the Mr. South
Africa title in 1992. Shortly after winning the title he began
work on Egoli: Place of Gold, a soap, where he stayed until
1999 when he packed his bags and moved to Los Angeles with
his wife Colette.
Cliff now has a recurring role in Stargate SG-1 as the Goa'uld
Ba'al.
Gilles Nuytens: You
play on Stargate since the season 5, your character has evolved
a lot since his first appearance. It has gone through a really
minor part to a quite important one during the season 8. Did
you make any changes in the way you approach your character?
Cliff Simon: I changed the way he
reacts to others. I have tried to make him appear more human,
as in giving him some depth with emotions etc. as I think
this makes a more complete 3 dimensional character as opposed
to being a cartoon bad guy the whole time.
 Gilles
Nuytens: During the season
8, your character has also a humorous side. Is that your idea
or the writers will? Or did that came naturally while acting
?
Cliff Simon: Ba'al's humorus
side started with me and then it seems that the writers have
followed it through which to me as an actor is a sign of good
writing as they are aware of how the character is working.
Gilles Nuytens: What
do you think you personally bring to Ba'al and did you get
any "benefit" from him?
Cliff Simon:
I think I bring a whole new dimension of bad guy to Stargate
as there has never been one of me. I bring my dark side as
Cliff to my character, which is how one as an actor develops
a character.
Gilles Nuytens:
As viewer we feel that there's a
kind of complicity between O'Neill and Ba'al, did you have
any special kind of preparations for those scenes you played
with Richard Dean Anderson?
Cliff Simon:
No those scenes were just spontaneous and reactive ,and ended
up working very well. The art of acting is reacting and so
a scene becomes spontaneous and real.
Gilles
Nuytens: Do you have any
funny anecdote to tell us about the shooting of Stargate ?
Cliff Simon: Nothing in particular,
just that its always fun to work with such a great cast and
crew.
Gilles Nuytens: What
made you audition for the role of Ba'al?
Cliff
Simon: After meeting with the exec producer about
8 months before the character of Ba'al was created we decided
to wait until the right character was written into the story
for me, so Ba'al ended up mine and I was very lucky.
Gilles Nuytens: You
would like to play on stage, which role would you really like
to play?
Cliff Simon: No role
in particular, but it would have to be a hard hitting strong
character with a great story to tell.
Gilles
Nuytens: You spend a couple
of years in Paris and worked at the Moulin Rouge. Could you
tell us some words about the years you spend in France?
Cliff Simon: My year at the Moulin
Rouge in Paris was the best year of my life as I was completely
free. In the way of relationships responsibility etc. I only
had to look out for me. I had been in a stormy relationship
before that for about 6 years so when I eventually broke that
tie and moved to France it was great. Working with all those
people from all over the world was a great experience, my
good friend who was the principal dancer just finished off
awhile ago and we are still friends, saw him in Vancouver
actually whilst shooting Ex Deus Machina, it is such a traditional
dance venue that it was my highlight of my dance career to
work there.
 Gilles
Nuytens: Have you already
shot the " Ex Deus Machina " episode? If it's the case, could
you tell us more about the evolution of your character and
how you act it ?
Cliff Simon:
I finished shooting Ex Deus Machina about 2 weeks ago, I would
love to tell you more but I can't and I think it will be more
fun for all, all I will say is do not miss it, it is a great,
interesting episode plus Beau Bridges and Louis Gossett Jr.
are in it too.
Gilles Nuytens:
Off sets, do you see any other members
of the team?
Cliff Simon: Well
I live in Los Angeles and all the other cast members live
in Vancouver so unfortunately we don't get to socialize together
except when I am up there filming with them.
Gilles Nuytens: You
are also a model and you won the first « Mister South Africa
» contest, do you carry on your career as a model as well
as your dancing one? And how do you run everything at once
?
Cliff Simon: Yes I was a
full time model, worked all over the world and was at the
same time dancing in various big shows. All that came to an
end when I decided to study drama and pursue the acting more.
I dont do any of that anymore. But if asked to do a musical
or dance in a musical movie I would love to.
Gilles Nuytens: I
have a last question, as you spend 2 years in Paris, do you
speak a little french ?
Cliff Simon:
I did learn to speak a little french when I lived in Paris
but I forgot most of it since I haven't had to speak french
for so many years now, I would love to speak french it is
an awesome beautiful language.
Gilles
Nuytens: Thanks very much
for this interview! Looking forward to see you in Ex Deus
Machina!
Cliff Simon: You are
most welcome.
Ok man take care and your website looks great!
|
| Interview
by Gilles Nuytens for Stargate
Ultimate / The
Scifi World |
|
