Science Fiction Fan Favorite Amanda Tapping Opens the Door to Sanctuary

Not so very long ago, an actor or actress who created a memorable television character had to wait at least 7 years before taking on another regular TV role. That rule doesn't apply to Amanda Tapping, a science fiction fan favorite who played Samantha Carter in the popular series Stargate SG-1, the Stargate Atlantis spinoff as well as some direct-to-DVD Stargate movies.

Tapping made a smooth transition from Sam Carter to Dr. Helen Magnus, the lead character on the SyFy channel series Sanctuary. "I have a very supportive and gracious fan base-bless their hearts. I have been very lucky, I have to say," Tapping told Associated Content via telephone.

"When I made the transition, we decided to do a physical transformation as well, so there was no vestige of Sam Carter in there. That was really important to me that in order to honor Sam, in order to create this new character, I have to completely change things up," she said.

Dr. Helen Magnus holds her cards close to the chest

In the simplest terms, Sanctuary is a show about all those things that go bump in the night and lurk under the bed. Dr. Magnus and her team search for those mysterious things, sometimes offering protection to scared creatures that lurk in the shadows for their own protection.

Tapping describes Magnus as a woman who holds her cards close to the chest. "The way I've chosen to do it, it's a survival technique for her. She has seen so much. The swing of Magnus, at the base of what she is all about, is incredible loneliness," Tapping said. "She's watched everyone she's ever really cared about and loved die--and she's still here. She has seen the worst of the human condition. She has been involved with the best and the brightest in our history."

"It's not about trying to kill off these crazy creatures"

In a departure from traditional science fiction stories, Sanctuary, as the name implies, offers protection to those beings that are simply different and scared. "They are very much in need of protection as we are. It's not about trying to kill off these crazy creatures and save the world. It is about saving them from the world," Tapping said. "We're also a revisionist history show where we are using these really cool characters from the past."

Season 2 of Sanctuary now available on DVD

As Tapping and the other cast members ramp up for Season 3, fans now can buy the complete Second Season of Sanctuary on DVD. "Every episode has commentaries, usually by Martin (director Martin Wood) and me, but we usually bring in guest stars. They are quite fun-you get fun little tidbits from that, but they are also quite humorous," Tapping said. "Starting late September or early October. Season 3 premieres and, because we have the luxury of 20 episodes, it actually gives us the chance to do some really big story arcs. I am so stoked about this season and that we have more opportunity to play."

Sanctuary: The Complete Second Season now is available on DVD. The set contains all 13 episodes, commentaries and several behind-the-scenes features.