After reading a brief statement regarding the upcoming release of the Babylon 5 collectible card game from Precedence Publishing, Ms. Furlan settled down to answer questions from the press. The card game is "the first [Babylon tie-in game] I'm really going to know and play," she promised. "You can have ten endings to the same story [in the game]. I'd love that."

The subject of acting came up, as it must, and Furlan's experience was unique: having worked on both sides of the old Iron Curtain. The system of acting in the former Yugoslavia was "completely different". Socialism meant a steady if meager pay, but fame in a socialist country had it's downside. "All the bad aspects of fame. [Under] socialism, everyone owns you." This could get creepy in this "very macho-quality country" when the possessive stranger was a big lonely guy, with some of his friends. Even going out shopping wasn't always an easy option. "I had to hide."

This, compared to the adulation of fandom in the West, and presumed separation of star and consumer. "It's something I didn't experience... Sci-fi fans are kind and gentle. I love them."

Of course, the commercialism of the West is unsettling for her. "Whatever products they make, they never ask us... You realize your work doesn't belong to you. ...It's a weird feeling... coming from a Marxist country. -It's definitely exploitation!"

And speaking of voltatile issues, Furlan was asked about the various controversial subjects Babylon 5 takes up. "There's a lot of subversiveness, too... Everything is questioned in Babylon. I'm all for that."

On the religious aspects of the show: "[Religion] is one of the main aspects of human life. ...It's not this or that religion [being portrayed]. It's what we humans need from religion."

And on women's roles, she applauded the strength of the female characters on Bab 5, as opposed to the rest of tv. "Female roles usually are just a function of the males'," she commented disapprovingly. "I think we all know that."

But by and large, the questions centered around Furlan's life as an actress. When she first came onto the Bab 5 set, her first major role in the West, her reaction was one of "coming home," and the actors, "these are my people".

Some sound bites we scribbled down:

Playing off Sheridan... "fills me with satisfaction."

"You want a different angle. You want that piece of hair removed. I never watch the dailies."

And our favorite quote: "Delenn is such a rich role, you can't really label the actress who plays it."

January 16 was mentioned as the scheduled release of first Turner network movie, which relives Delenn's role in the Earth-Minbari war. -Rumors of a Bab 5 theatrical movie? "I heard a rumor as well. It would've been nice." She also politely suggested that she's available for roles after the last season runs its course.

And all these quotes in that luscious, smooth voice we all love. Naturally, we gave her a copy of the Yamara book with our blessings.

Godspeed in all you do, Mira!

-Manui & Adams-