On-Line Chat ~ GEnie 1994
Mira Furlan

This file comes from the Science Fiction and Fantasy RoundTable 2
- Media on GEnie, the General Electric Network for Information Exchange.

<STARR> Okay get on your mark ...get set...raise your hands...

<MIRA.FURLAN> Hi, everybody. Here I am. Ask me questions and I'll try to do my best.

<STARR> OKay go ahead Alan.

<[Alan] A.RAVITCH> Hi Mira...I'm sure I speak for all in applauding your performance.

<MIRA.FURLAN> Thank you so much.

<[Alan] A.RAVITCH> Simple question, I know JMS didn't alter your voice as originally planned, but is Delenn's pattern of speech your own or did you create for the character & how. GA

<STARR> Use your Type Aheads if you got 'em.

<MIRA.FURLAN> It's a matter of acting, not a matter of technical solutions. The role and my own ways are intertwined, as is usual in acting.

<[Claire] C.MAIER> Hello, Mira, I really enjoy your work on B5. Joe has told us a bit about the new commander and that the Minbari didn't approve him. What does/will Delenn think of him? ga

<MIRA.FURLAN> I think we all have to wait and see. It's to early for me to talk about it. ga

<STARR> Go CJ

<[C.J.] C.LAMB> I read that you are from Yugoslavia. Why/When did you come to the US and how did you get your role on B-5?

<MIRA.FURLAN> I came to the US two and a half years ago, when the war broke out. I auditioned for the role in New York. ga

<STARR> Go Tom

<[Tom K.] T.KNUDSEN1> Hi Mira and Goran. I hear that you and Goran have been "lurking " here for a while. What do you think of all the commentary? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> Sometimes it's fun. Sometimes you can be very cruel. It's tough to deal with criticism, of course. But, it's definitely interesting, altough not always pleasant.ga

<[Megatron] P.MESSIER1> Hi Mira. Nice to meet you. Does your headpiece bother you while your performing? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> It's definately not the most pleasant thing to wear on your head. But, I'm dealing with it. I see it as a task that I have to endure in order to play my part. Acting is very often the overcoming of obstacles. On the other hand, It helps me create the character.ga

<[Michael] M.SCHWARTZ19> Hello! I have many friends and co-workers who left or fled from various countries in Eastern Europe. On your arrival in the U.S.,what was your first impression of American culture and society? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> I have been in America before. I fell in love with the city of New York ten years ago.But our impression was that it's TOUGH!ga

<[SHOWMAN] J.VENGROUSK1> I enjoy and admire greatly what you've done with the character; Wonder and Class come across. What would you recommend for someone wanting to see some of your other work? What about any of your husband's work? GA.

<MIRA.FURLAN> You can rent a movie called "When Father Was Away on Business", that was nominated for an Oscar in 1986. Or maybe 85, I can't remember. That one was released on video here. Other films of mine have played in Europe, but not here. My husband and I made a movie together, before we left. It's called "Dear Video" and it's a comedy. GA

<[Fenn] J.HUDGENS> Any chance those others will be released soon over here? Or a way we can get them? (hint) ga

<MIRA.FURLAN> The American market, as you know, is pretty closed for European movies. Everything that has subtitles scares people. Maybe they are just too lazy to read them. ga

<[Glo] G.PEARL2> Hi! How much of the states have you seen so far? And do you like the city better or the country? GA .

<MIRA.FURLAN> I haven't seen much. I still love New York. I've just returned from Nebraska, where I played in Willa Cather's "My Antonia", so I saw the "wild West" (I also went to South Dakota), which amazed me, because for me it was always a myth, not reality. I saw that cowboys are real, not just characters from movies. That was an amazing experience for me.ga

<[Kip] L.GAMACHE> My wife wants to know if you think we'll ever see a love interest for your character on the show? She also says she never really liked Sci-Fi until she saw B-5. As for me, I'd like to say your facial expressions are my favorite part of the Delenn character. They are priceless! You do a great job on them! GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> Thank you very much. It' nice to hear good things about one's work. I can't say anything about my possible love interest. We will all see what happens and what the future brings.ga

<[Norma] N.GOLDSMITH> Hi, Mira. How long does it take to get the make up and prosthetics on? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> About 3 hours. Sometimes I have to be on the set at 4am. ga

<[Phil] P.POSNER> Hi Mira - I would simply like to say how much I enjoy your work on Babylon 5. I really appreciate the depth that you have given to the character Delenn. I also particularly like the nuances of your facial expressions and body language. One question: How do you like playing the mysterious and complex Delenn, compared to other parts? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> I love playing Delenn. It's so often that female characters just fulfill a function in the story, they completely depend on the male characters, they don't have any power, brain or independence, so this is a wonderful change. I like her strength, her mystery. I'm enjoying it. I also come from a very, very macho culture, so I'm appreciating it even more.ga

<SF-HENIGAN> Mira, Goran ,it is so nice to have you both with us. Have you found that it is different in the way you act/direct here in the US than from Yugoslavia/Europe? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> It is and it isn't different. The basics are the same, of course. But there are all these business things here (agents, unions, etc.) that we are not used to dealing with. ga

<[Susan] S.FOX-DAVIS> What was show business like in Yugoslavia? What sort of productions were you involved with when you lived there? Plus, an unrelated question. When is your birthday? I am working on a birthday list. <smile> GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> The market was, of course, much smaller and, also, I was a very well known actress, with a lot of stage, TV and movie credits. Here It's a constant fight, not only for me, but for everyone. Many more elements are involved, besides the quality of one's work (publicists, agents, etc.)....My birthday is September 7.ga

<[Mark] M.WHITMAN10> Hi Mira. Thanks for taking the time to be with us. As an actress, which first season episode of B-5 was your favorite. And why? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> I loved "Soul Hunter", "Legacies", the two last ones, "And the Sky Full of Stars"... I loved playing with David Warner, John Vikery...ga

<STARR> The last ones are Quality Of Mercy and Chrysalis.(And Babylon Squared too)

<WALTS> I have heard other actors state that they are only one or two scripts ahead in a series plot development. How is it for you in B5. And do you find your fans confuse your character with you? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> I can't say that I know much ahead of time. That's how it works. My fans probably don't recognize me when I'm outside my make-up, which has its good and bad sides. I try to concentrate on the good sides.ga

<[Kurt] K.HARVEY> Hello to you Mira & your husband from way out in the Pacific :) To me there seems to be a resemblance between the Minbari and the Elves of folklore. Is this intentional? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> I wouldn't know, but there probably are many element from various mythologies involved in my and other alien makups on the show.ga

<[Bear] C.BRYANT3> Welcome to both of you. How do fans in the US differ from the fans in your native country? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> I don't know much about fans here, except from their letters that are usually very sweet. But they don't bother me in the street and all that, which they used to do in Yugoslavia and which I hated.ga

<[Kevin] G.W.HOFFMAN> Early in the season, there was this character in Delenn's room. Delenn reacted furiously. There was a glowing triangle on her forehead. I would like to know more about the triangle. ga

<MIRA.FURLAN> The triangle is the sign of the Grey Council, to which Delenn belongs, as you might have noticed during the last few episodes. That is all I can say. GA

<[Daniel] D.KORN1> Science Fiction as a genre, both on the screen and in books, has a certain uniqueness (due to the "fantastic" elements) that can't often be seen outside of the genre. What exposure, if any, did you have to SF (screen or print, American or not) before you began casting for B5? GA

<STARR> Next question will be the last one... I'll open up briefly for you to all say goodbye.

<MIRA.FURLAN> I did not have much exposure, but I had the basic ones. I've read Bradbury, Asimov, I've seen Kubrick, "Star Wars"etc. etc. ga

<[P12+] BOB-WALKER> In not knowing much ahead of time, have you ever had a script handed to you where you thought "if I had known this last month, I would have played that differently"? GA

<MIRA.FURLAN> There were moments like that. But sometimes it's actually interesting not to know what's ahead of you. Just like in life...

<STARR> just a moment...

<MIRA.FURLAN> I have to go now. Thank you so much for all your sweet words to me. it means a lot to me. Keep on watching...Love Mira. ga