When we last left “Defiance,” Irisa still had some Voltan keys inside her body. Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) lost re-election and it looked like a coup was happening before Datak Tarr (Tony Curran) could even take office.
Earlier this year NBC-Universal held a press day for their summer shows, including Syfy’s “Defiance.” I got to sit down with Stephanie Leonidas, who plays Irisa, but the real Stephanie Leonidas, the sophisticated Brit without red hair and forehead extensions. She told us what to expect from Irisa in season two of “Defiance.”
CraveOnline: Do people recognize you from “Defiance” when you’re out and about?
Stephanie Leonidas: No, never. Never, never. Occasionally now but mainly when I’m at a convention or something for “Defiance.” Otherwise I think we look so different, and I smile a lot which doesn’t help.
So not a huge amount which is kind of fun really. It’s fun to play somebody that nobody recognizes. It’s fun to play someone that’s so different. I guess that’s always the aim as an actress to play completely different roles.
This thing inside Irisa isn’t going away, is it?
It’s not. It’s not going away but it’s not coming back in the form that maybe people expect. She’s deeply haunted. She has a really dark secret that she’s trying to hide desperately from everybody.
In turn, that sort of kicks all her relationships aside. She’s on a real lonely journey. She’s not in any way ready to talk to Nolan about it. So their relationship from the very beginning starts off in a really rocky place to say the least.
Are they physically separated?
They are physically separated, but you see them come together in the first episode. Nolan meets Irisa in L.A. which for them is also very odd because it’s outside of Defiance, it’s outside of the Badlands. It’s a place that they’re not comfortable in.
It’s strange and Irisa would never admit it, but Defiance almost became home for her, but now she’s going through this incredible journey. It’s taking her everywhere and she doesn’t really know herself what’s going on. Through the episodes we’ll start figuring out what’s actually happening.
Do you think it’s ultimately good for Irisa to be more independent and on her own?
Definitely as a girl growing up, for her I think it would be good but the way that she is on her own is not good. I know I keep saying it, but she’s in a dark place. She’s in a place where things could get really bad for her so being alone is probably not the best thing right now.
Is Nolan still the sheriff after the coup?
No, no. The E-Rep are in town. They’ve pretty much taken over and Nolan and Irisa are these lone rangers again, but kind of on their own journey. Even though sometimes they may be physically in the same room, they almost grow apart and it’s heartbreaking through season 2, watching them go on these journeys without each other. They’ve got some pretty epic stuff to sort out.
How much better do you feel you know Irisa in season two?
You know, I feel like I lost Irisa in season two. I feel like she was lost to what was happening to her. I think we see a new Irisa in the way that she’s not quite herself. I think by the end of the season I was just desperate to find Irisa again. Yeah, she’s not the same girl that you saw in season one.
How vital was it for her to meet other Irathients?
Hugely, especially in season one. I think when she met Sukar and Rynn, it was incredible for her. She was also very conflicted because she found a family in them that she couldn’t really find in Nolan because he, as much as he brought her up, he brought her up as a human and she’s not a human.
She obviously is going through loads of stuff that Nolan can’t help her with. Season two focuses more about her journey and nobody can really help here there, not even the other Irathients.
With the turmoil in Defiance, is Irisa even involved in the Tarrs trying to run the town?
I think we have a few moments, but Irisa really isn’t interested in anyone on her journey at the moment. She’s very focused on figuring out what’s going on with her. It tracks in some new characters.
You will definitely see Irisa cross paths with a few people this year that maybe weren’t in season one and also some strange new relationships that she builds through the season.
Have you done any more work with the video game?
Not a huge amount. Although there’s an Irathient that comes into the show and I have a lot of dealings with her. She’s a hot new Irathient so I think people will really take to her. It was quite exciting having that crossover and it must be hugely exciting for the person that created her.
I’m sure that there’ll be more competitions along the way. Grant was actually doing some stuff for the game yesterday. There’s some exciting bits and pieces but again it’s all tied in with story.
Is season two more physically demanding for you?
It was definitely a lot more physically demanding, yeah. Irisa goes crazy, and crazy in a way that’s unlike Irisa as well. I think it’s important that people realize that it’s very unlike Irisa in many ways. Yeah, there was a lot of stunts. I think most days that I was in, I would be doing some kind of stunt.
When it’s that cold in Toronto, does it make the stunts more difficult?
Definitely. You get brain freeze after a while. I think it’s hardest just to remember your lines in that cold. I think we were all relieved to actually have some physical stuff because it kept you warm. Yeah, the stunt people are great.
Shelly, the stunt coordinator, she’s brilliant at making sure everybody is safe. We’ll rehearse things before the day of shooting so that it’s safe and we all know what we’re doing.
