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Victoria Pratt: The Official Site 5/28/03

Q & A with Mutant X's Victoria Pratt
May 28, 2003

Q) I know that you used to do a lot of running. I also go running as often as possible, but I live in Utah where it can get really cold. I do other indoor exercises, but I think running does a lot of good for my body. What indoor exercises would you suggest I do so I can still stay fit when it's so cold outside?

A) I know what it’s like to live in a cold climate. I grew up in the Snow Belt, north of Toronto in Canada, and I did years and years of running outside. But, if you belong to a gym, the treadmill is amazing - better on your joints than running outside. The stair climber is very good for your glutes, and we all know how important those are. And, the elliptical training machine is wonderful. It’s a cross between a treadmill and a stepper, and that’s my current favorite.

Q) Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

A) I desperately want a dog, but I’ve been told I travel too much, and I’m not allowed to have a dog. So, I have “starter” dogs, which are guinea pigs. Yes, I’m a geek. I have two guinea pigs; their names are Smooth’em and Luella Loo. Smooth’em was named after my greatgrandad’s cat, and Luella Loo reminds me of a girl I used to know.

Q) After "Mutant X," would you consider a sitcom?

A) I would love to do a sitcom. I love comedy. During my last hiatus, I took some great comedy (acting) classes. I think comedy is closer to my personality than the super hero stuff that I do because I’m a goofball and anybody who knows me knows that.

Q) What is your favorite vacation spot?

A) It has to involve sun and sand. You know, there are so many places that I have yet to discover. I’m hoping to go to Spain on my break. But, having said that, the most romantic, wonderful place I’ve been is Fiji. One of the little islands off of Fiji called Yasawa was just fabulous, romantic and wonderful. It was the island next to the one where they filmed the Brooke Shields movie “Blue Lagoon.”

Q) Can you please give us a little more information on Shalimar's history, especially her human and animal DNA that makes her so fast and cat-like?

A) Well young readers, you’ll very be happy to know that we explore Shalimar’s past in the finale episode of Season 2. You will get to learn a little bit about Shalimar’s “Papa” so tune in.

Q) Is “MUTANT X” a much different working experience from "Cleopatra 2525?” And if so, in what ways do the two experiences differ?

A) You know, they’re not as different as you might think. They’re both fast-paced, action shows. Having said that, “Cleopatra 2525” was filmed in New Zealand, “MUTANT X” is filmed in Toronto, and it’s a lot easier for me filming in North America. As much as I love New Zealand, it was really hard to be half way around the world from my family and friends. We were lucky enough to have a great production team and a great cast on both shows. But “MUTANT X,” I think, is a little closer to my heart because it’s a little closer to reality. As an actress going to work every day, it’s just easier to tap into something that feels more familiar.

Q) Do you do any of your own stunts?

A) If you saw me naked, you’d know the answer to that. I’ve got the bruises and scars to prove it. Yeah, I do most of my own stunts. I have a background in kickboxing and shotokan karate, and I’ve been an athlete since puberty. I ran and I played lots of sports, so the fighting and the action comes very easy to me. And I did a lot of stunts on “Cleopatra 2525,” so the harness work isn’t foreign to me either.

Q) What do people/fans typically ask you when they see you on the street?

A) They normally ask, “Is that you?” I think people are just shocked to see me walking around. It’s weird. When they see you on TV, they don’t expect to see you in a store, so they look at you for a while and then go, “Hey, are you that girl on that show, with the catlike thing and the mutant thing?” I was walking in Toronto, and there was a guy in a car who kept looking at me and I’m thinking, “Dude, drive on.” Finally, he rolls down the window and yells, “Hey mutant lady. How ya doing?” I thought it was so funny because people on the street were like, “Wow. Isn’t she offended? That guy just called her a mutant.” I answered, “I’m good, how’re you doing buddy?” I thought it was hysterical.

Q) How does Shalimar compare to other female heroes, like Buffy or Xena? Do you consider yourself a role model for young girls?

A) Well, she’s blonde like Buffy and buff like Xena. You know what? We’re all fighting evil. We’re trying to keep the world a safer place, and I think that’s what superheroes do. In terms of being a role model, I didn’t start out to be one. I don’t go to work every day with that in mind. But, I do get a lot of fan mail from young girls saying, “I want to be strong like Shalimar. I wanna work out and I wanna learn how to defend myself.” Moms write to me saying, “Thanks for giving us something else to look at.” It feels really good when you hear your work validated that way. It’s such an unexpected surprise, although it shouldn’t be because I remember looking up to Lindsay Wagner, the Bionic Woman and Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2, and thinking, “Geez, that’s what women should look like. Women should be strong.” I think that they did shape the way I am, the way I act, the way I see my body and the way I see women, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that other girls look up to me in the same way.

Q) Did you ever have ambitions to be anything other than an actress?

A) Absolutely. I came to acting in a very circuitous way. I have a university degree in kinesiology and worked in a physiotherapy clinic. I also worked at the human performance lab at York University testing lead athletes and was writing a book with a professor when I started fitness modeling, and acting sprouted from that. You know what…there are a lot of other things in this world that can and will bring me joy. Acting is one of them. I plan on opening an oyster bar when I’m done with the acting thing. There’s so much out there, I don’t want to limit myself to one thing.

Q) What was the first paying job you ever had?

A) My first paying job: a summer job, I think when I was 15, a day camp counselor. And my nickname was Flash, I don’t know why.