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Klingon, Vulcan, Andorian, even a Q. This lady is a member of a very distinguished group of actors that have played multiple roles in the Star Trek universe.
We hope you enjoy our exclusive interview with Ms Suzie Plakson.
Stuart: Suzie, before we talk some "Trek" with you, can you tell us about your home town and where you grew up?
Suzie: Born in Buffalo-New York, then moved to Kingston-Pennsylvania. Not a particularly fascinating childhood. Suburban. Not all that sophisticated. Lovely though in places - Fourth of July picnics in the park, sledding, school dances, you know, the usual. I suppose movies, literature, music, theatre, all of that, gave me a magic carpet to get away from, what was a lot of boredom. It was fine, if unremarkable.
SB: What was your first acting role, and who was your greatest influence at the beginning of your career?
SP: My first role in an actual play was not one I'm proud of, but still and all it was my first.
Ninth grade, we did "You can't take it with you". I played Rheba, the African/ American Maid, yes, alas, with dark brown makeup. I/ we, were so ignorant, albeit the late 60s, early 70s, so challenged chronologically, and there were no black folks anywhere to tell us how stupid and hurtful I was/We were being, and no white folks, sadly, who new better.
I thought I spotted, during one of the performances, the outline of an afro in the doorway, and suddenly, felt just sick and humiliated and riddled with shame, which must've been what that poor guy was feeling...and I heard later that somebody'd called the NAACP, rightfully, and complained that there was a guy (the guy who played my husband), doing black face. My actor's ego was born, sadly, then too, I was secretly thrilled that I had possibly, "passed". It was the first time I ever thought I looked pretty, though, braces and all, still makes me extremely sad and ashamed though, that my first role as an actress was so deeply painful and insulting to someone.
As for influences, I've always been influenced from so many different professions, the list would be far shorter to ask who didn't influence me. However, strictly as actors, I'd say that in the beginning, the great old movie actresses - Bette Davis, Hepburn, Garbo, Ross, Russell, Judy Garland etc...and all the wonderful UK actresses, Glenda Jackson, Maggie Smith etc...Actually, I'm being narrow minded, limiting it to the women. I was greatly inspired by all the men too, and the literature, the sweep, the beauty, the Art of it all. And there was a watershed evening watching Marcel Marceau when I was fourteen, that helped to sooth and forget a very freshly broken heart by showing me the profound ability of Art to heal and inspire.
SB: You have had many roles in Star Trek, Which was your favourite, and how did you find working with Michael Dorn?
SP: I get asked this first question most often, and everybody gets frustrated when I say that I really can't quite pick a favourite.
The Vulcan had terrific sentimental and humour value. My brother'd been a big fan of the series when I was a kid, so I snuck him on to the lot, and we took a lot of great campy photos before some guard stopped us. I gave my brother my ears - that is, the Vulcan ears.
The half Klingon gal was complex and powerful and obviously, there was a hell of a lot more depth and story going on, though I think the timing of, and the manner in which they killed the poor thing off, really short - shifted the character, the plot line, and the audience.
The (Lady) Q was a blast, and it was fun to have my own face and run around outdoors, instead of in a cave of a sound-stage, but again, I think they short - changed the character ultimately, and the possibilities, but thats showbiz, alas, and nobody asked my opinion. I was just a hired hand, and happy enough.
The Andorian was intense, and fun in it's way, the antennae, "the villainy" of the character, but the physical elements of it, the costume, the makeup, were quite trying. The crew's always great, and was predominantly the same each time, so it was a bit of a homecoming, and the cast were always sweet to me. And Michael? Michael's terrific now, and was terrific then, whats not to love.
SB: Can you describe the morning makeup session on the set for us, and how did you pass the time whilst transforming into various Alien species?
SP: Showing up in the nearly pitch black of the morning, going home in pretty much the same light, it's a bit more existential and strange than I'm comfortable with, truthfully. In the chair, I passed the time chatting, trying to hang onto lines, trying not to fall asleep, silently wishing I were in Tahiti, or my living room. That being said, it's aesthetically cool and fun when it's done, you know, "Groovy - I'm a space chick!" and I do like to transform. But I'm a wuss, and I don't like being in the stuff for fourteen or so hours and thats why they have to pay me to do it, and thats why they call it a job.
On the other hand, it's a marvellous gift to act from behind, as it forms a natural filter, and it's easy to play pretend.
And I must add, just as an all-round nod, God bless Michael Westmore, exponentially, he was the essence of kindness, humility, expertise, gentleness to me always, And one of the very rare humans I can say that about in Hollywood.
SB: You are about to release a CD, can you tell us about the album and what inspires you to write your music, and about the songs you wrote for Dustin Hoffman?
SP: Okay, the CD, thanks for asking, it's actually still in progress as there is one song for which we can't get the rights, and we're adding / I'm writing two more.
The version for sale now on the website, that I've just sold in Vegas and Germany, is a limited edition.
In truth, I hadn't planned on making an album, not in the least. I'd been singing a couple of lines to a friend at a party, and her boyfriend, who'd been a drummer for a lot of big rock bands, happened to walk past and just made a sort of lovely, off handed comment about my singing, and that night, he went to my website and, the next day he called and came over and insisted I had to go sing for his friend, Jay Ferguson.
I hadn't known a thing about Jay's bands - Spirit of Jo Jo Gunne - or his solo work, or his gold and platinum records and all the rest of his vast experience or music, which was a good thing. I would've been completely mute and intimidated. We all hit it off beautifully and easily, and I realised this was a place I could record a song I'd always wanted to write honouring my father, who'd passed on some years ago. It's the second song on the album called "The Tennessee Rifle Company". I'd never really been a big fan of country music, until, mysteriously, he passed away, but he was, and the song tells why. Anyway, I just planned to give it to my family and leave it at that.
And then, the more I worked with Jay, well, "Good Luck Charm" (the name of the album) just kept on going and growing, and it seemed that a body of work was being born, and why stop, as it was so much fun and so satisfying. It's been such an honour and a pleasure to work with him, he's a brilliant, wizardly producer and a truly exemplary human being, and it's been a joy unparallelled to create and sing this sort of singular country - flavoured stuff, I never really knew I had in me. Where it goes, nobody knows, but it's been a blast of a ride.
The Dustin song. We'll, thats a long way back now (and not on the album, by the way), but I wrote it as a gift to him for my experience on "Wag The Dog". He'd been so spectacular to me, and he'd played the piano in the house in which we were filming, and asked me to sing a bit, now and then, and was just so sweetly encouraging in so many ways, that I wanted to give him some truly all-time great, unique gift. And one day he'd turned to me in the trailer and said something that touched me very deeply, and I knew I had to write him a tribute song, ala "Dear Mr Gable", only something a little jazzier, 'cause thats his thing.
SB: Whats up next for Suzie Plakson, are you currently working on any other projects, and do you have a message for your fans in Australia?
SP: I'm still in the process with the new version of the CD, and finishing a sculpture commission.
For my fans...
We'll, (a) Thanks ever so much for being there, (b) I can't wait to get there and see all of you, (c) My living room colour is actually called "Ayers Rock", even though it looks nothing like the actual Ayers Rock, as far as I can see, (d) I absolutely worship Michael Leunig, how lucky you are to have him, (e) This rash of genius Aussie actresses / directors, etc, makes me wonder where the theatre / film training is down there that produces such brilliance, (f) I think thats all for now, (g) God bless, be well and happy!
Suzie's website and new CD can be viewed here.
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