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For London-born Stephanie Leonidas, performance runs in the family. She has three siblings, two of whom are also established actors, but she’s stepped out on her own – and all the way to Canada – for her role in sci-fi hit, Defiance. Though it’s filmed in Toronto, the show takes place in a future, dystopian version of St Louis, which is now populated by both humans and aliens who’ve fled their own planets. “[it’s] an immigration melting pot story” says Kevin Murphy, the executive producer. Stephanie leads as Irisa, an alien who, it just so happens, looks nothing like her.
Do you feel much of a connection to Irisa?
Obviously playing an alien, at first, felt so away from anything I’ve played before. But the thing that drew me to the script in the first place was that all the alien characters had their own human dramas, and it had heart. I related to Irisa as well. I mean, I love doing all that kick-arse stuff, it is good fun, but she’s also been a teenager growing into a women, she’s dealing with boy problems, dealing with father issues, and with the fact that her real parents aren’t around. She’s going through all sorts of stuff, there are so many issues that people can relate to. I guess that’s what sci-fi does best.
How does it feel to have people relating to your character? And looking up to you?
It didn’t hit me until I went to the conventions around the world. I have lots of girls coming up and just talking about how it really affects them seeing what Irisa it going through, and how it really helps them to see that they are not alone. When you’re filming you get whisked away into telling the story, you don’t think as much about how people are going to perceive it or what they’ll get out of it. And suddenly, hearing all these people, it’s incredible. It reminded me of how I get affected by shows. I think that’s why I wanted to act in the first place, to tell a story that people can get something out of.
It must feel like such a different world when you’re filming, do you find yourself immersed in that?
Definitely. When we’re filming, it feels like we’re on another planet. It’s an intense period of time, especially with Defiance. We’re all out in Toronto together, living and breathing it. And, once I’m in Irisa’s costume, I’m in it for the day. The lunch queues are the funniest.
You must get to know people pretty well.
It’s amazing, it’s like another family.
How is your relationship with Grant Bowler (Irisa’s on-screen father figure, Joshua Nolan)?
Very similar. We are like father and daughter off set. We have so much banter, and we are always playing tricks on each other. Once, we created this whole pretend scene, we wrote it all out and made the crew hand it out to everyone, including him, so he’d think we were shooting it. When he found out, his face … it was classic. It was brilliant. We’re always pranking each other. And he looks after me like a father, he’s always got my back.
What’s it like going to Comic-Con?
It’s been crazy how amazing the reception has been. I always wonder why people want photos with me – it’s nuts.
Do they even recognise you? You don’t look much like Irisa.
I remember people queuing up to see Grant, and a few people asked who I was. I literally could be anyone sitting there. I think they still think that we are kidding them, and at some point some a red head is going to come around the corner. Even my neighbour who watches Defiance didn’t know I was in it.
Finally, do you have any special skills? Irisa is pretty good with a knife.
I like to think that my knife skills have gotten quite good actually! But I guess a secret passion of mine has always been musical theatre, I keep that very quiet.
What’s your favourite show?
Les Mis. My sister was in it when we were younger, so I got to see it over and over again.
Would you consider acting in it, if you had the chance?
Yes. I’ve always loved I’ve dreamed a dreamed, I love that song, so I’d have to probably dye my hair and cut it off, which I’d definitely do.
by Becky Zanker
Photographs by Justin van Vliet
Defiance season two will begin on Syfy UK on September 18, 2014