An interview with Eliza Taylor for The 100

24 June 2014

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How did you get involved with The 100?

When I moved to LA, it was always my plan to get into movies. I’ve enjoyed working in television in Australia for many years now, so I thought movies were going to be my next step. However, my manager rang me and said, “Right… I know we said we’re not going to do any TV. Well, I want you to read the script for The 100 because we’ve got a meeting with the executives tomorrow.”

What were your initial thoughts on the script?

I fell in love with the project straight away because [executive producer and writer] Jason Rothenberg is an amazing writer. The script read like a feature film because it’s very intricate and amazing. Obviously, I went to the meeting – and look what happened! I’m so glad I did because I love the show and I love this character.

What do you like about your character in the show?

I love how strong Clarke is. I’ve played my fair share of dumb blondes in the past, so it’s really nice to be playing a strong, kick-ass character.

The backstory of a character is very important to an actor. How much do you know about Clarke’s past?

[Executive producers] Jason [Rothenberg], Matt [Miller] and Gina [Girolamo] were very forthcoming with where Clarke comes from, which I found really helpful. Clarke’s father was executed and she’s had a huge amount of events happen to her as a young woman. She was locked up; her father was floated into space… She’s been through so much.

What else do you know about her backstory?

The kids on the Ark don’t really go to school; they just train in the profession of their parents. Clarke’s mother is a doctor, so Clarke was doing some medical training. She was following around her mother and learning to be a doctor, which was really interesting to me. The medical training really helps the character on Earth, especially when she gets into situations where someone gets hurt. It’s great because Clarke knows what to do

How would you describe the power struggle when the juveniles land on Earth?

There’s definitely a power struggle when they land. When you throw 100 juvenile offenders into a situation where they have no authority, all hell is going to break loose – especially for the people who are trying to control the rest of the group. It’s an interesting situation to watch unfold.

How much will Clarke struggle with some of the other juveniles on Earth?

She’s going to absolutely struggle at times because there’s a real Lord of the Flies feel to the situation – but Clarke is a kick-ass character and she’s a natural-born leader. I don’t think she realises that until she’s thrust into a situation where she has to take the lead. She’s got a lot to do on Earth.

How would you describe the challenges that Clarke faces?

Clarke is seeing Earth for the first time, which is an amazing experience for her. Imagine looking at this world through the eyes of an infant? We shot the pilot in British Columbia and it was stunning. We were filming in amazing prehistoric forests; they were untouched and beautiful, so I really didn’t have to act too much in those scenes. There were crystal-clear rivers and snow-capped mountains… It was amazing.

All of the Earthbound teenagers grew up on the Ark. How does that affect their behaviour on Earth?

Everything on the Ark is very regimented because it’s so low on resources. In the original script, everyone drinks water out of tiny vials because they can only have a drop of water at a time. That didn’t make it into the pilot, but there are controls on the amount of food they eat, their water intake and the way they have to behave. It’s a really different and interesting world for teenagers.

How much do you enjoy shooting the show’s action scenes?

For me, the action scenes are so much fun. Total fun! I’m really looking forward to doing lots of them on the show. I don’t know exactly what sort of action scenes I’ll have to tackle, but I think there will be a lot of physicality.

What would you like to see happen in the show?

My imagination runs wild when I think about potential storylines because the options are endless. That’s one of the cool things about the show; it’s got a sci-fi edge, so anything can happen. I think that’s really cool.

How much does the sci-fi aspect of the show appeal to you?

It totally appeals to me. My mum’s a total Trekkie, so I grew up with Star Trek and all that good stuff. She is over the moon that I’m part of a project like this. It’s such a big deal to her.

Would you make a good survivor if you were one of the 100 juveniles sent to Earth?

I have no idea. Up to this point in my life, I’ve never had to survive anything. However, I love camping and outdoorsy stuff. That’s my bag. I guess that would help, but I’ve never really done any boot camps or anything like that. When I finish filming the show, I’m sure I’ll be an old hand at survival skills. If there’s an apocalypse, I’ll be sweet.

What were the biggest challenges you faced as an actress on the pilot?

I’m from Australia, and this is my first American production. Everything is shot differently here, so it almost felt like I was brand new to the industry. I’ve been acting in television since I was 11 years old, but this was a whole new scale to me. It’s so much bigger and there’s a much bigger crew on a show like this. There’s a bunch of producers on-set all the time, which was a little challenging and scary.

And finally… Why should audiences tune into The 100?

You should tune into The 100 because it’s going to be a great adventure. We’re only shooting 13 episodes and not 22, so every episode is going to be jam-packed with craziness. I think it’s going to be really, really fun.

ENDS.