Exclusive Interview: Kate Drummond Discusses Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Her Character Anna Grimsdottir and Much More
AMANDA DYAR: Your acting career took off back in 2006. How long had acting been a passion of yours and how were you able to make the transition from teaching into acting?
It was an innocent question from one of my students that prompted me to officially leave the classroom and pursue my acting career full-time. I was teaching the kids about Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I Have a Dream” speech. I had the students create their own “Dream Speeches” and it was a really big deal. The kids were so excited to share their wishes for their futures, and then one of my little ones asked me what my dream was. I told her that I always wanted to be an actress. She just stared at me, confused, and then so plainly asked, “Then why aren’t you doing it?”
It was such an awakening. Leaving the security of my classroom was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. I sold all my stuff, rented my house, packed up my dog and moved to a basement in Toronto. It was life changing. You know, jumping into the unknown is hard for anyone to do. Change is not easy. It’s way easier to stay in the safety zone, but I knew that I would live with this regret for the rest of my life if I didn’t take this leap of faith. I was so blessed to have the support of my family and friends as well. Acting is my calling. I’m designed to be doing this.
KATE: When I was called in to audition for “Anna Grímsdóttir” it was listed as an “undisclosed project” but I was completely aware of the video game series and of this character. I was so stoked! I auditioned just like I would for any film or television role and after a series of callbacks and what they call, “chemistry reads” with other actors, I was cast as Anna. In fact, I remember exactly where I was when I received the call telling me I’d booked the role. I was sitting in my truck, in the parking lot after a voice gig and I cried. Yup…real tears. I was so excited because I have loved video games since I was a little girl. Do I see myself acting in video games in the future? From your lips to God’s ears! I certainly hope so. This medium is so incredible. I’ve had so many highlights in my relatively short career and this is definitely one of them.
AMANDA: Splinter Cell: Blacklist was the first video game in which you've acted. What was one thing you enjoyed about most acting in the game opposed to working on television shows and movies and was there anything you disliked about the entire experience?
KATE: I loved the level of make-believe involved in performance capture. Performance capture takes our voice, body and facial movements and synchs them in real time with our animation so whatever we were doing as actors, our animation was doing. It translated directly. We relied on our imaginations and the detailed descriptions from the creative team for the whole shoot. It was like theatre because we had next to no props, and had to visualize everything in our minds. We had no other job than to just jump into these incredibly intense situations and live there with each other. Another perk of video game acting is that you don’t have worry if you’re having a bad hair day! I didn’t dislike anything, to be honest. Wearing heels and a head mounted camera for 8-10 hours a day was challenging at first, but I got used to it and they became part of my second skin.
AMANDA: Grim is obviously an established character in the Splinter Cell universe. What role does she take on in the new game and how did you approach the role to make her feel authentic to the character in prior games from the series?
KATE: Grim is the technical operations manager of 4th Echelon that is made up of Charlie Cole (David Reale), Isaac Briggs (Dwain Murphy) and obviously, Sam Fisher, played by Eric Johnson. Sam is the leader of 4th Echelon however; Grim felt that she should have been put in charge so this, along with their history, creates tension that is most palpable. Anna provides technical support for Sam on the field, analyzes data and challenges Sam when she feels he’s making a bad decision. They both have very strong personalities and don’t always agree on the strategies, so it makes it interesting. It’s a challenge stepping into the shoes of an established character because you want to honor the years that other actors and creative members have put into her life. As well, the fans of the game have invested time into the characters like Anna, so I wouldn’t want to just change her. I think I naturally carry with me some inherent traits of Anna Grímsdóttir. When I play her, the script informs me of the way she and her relationships are evolving. I’m sure a few of my own nuances come into it too. She’s a great character to play.
AMANDA: Gamers are obviously looking forward to the release of Splinter Cell: Blacklist later this month. What were your thoughts on the game and what is the most exciting new feature in the game that you think fans should look for when the final version is released in just a couple of weeks?
KATE: I think this game is kick ass, to be honest. I can’t say too much about the plot, for obvious reasons. No spoilers! There's so much information out but I'm happy to hear there is still a lot for the player to discover: single player, coop missions, Spies vs. Mercs, the customization level, the gadgets… it’s mind-blowing actually. The team at Ubisoft Toronto has worked relentlessly and poured their hearts into this game. Splinter Cell Blacklist is like a hybrid of all the best parts of the previous Splinter Cell games. I think it has taken the ceiling and made it the floor and I’m excited for the fans to get their hands on it.
AMANDA: You will also star in the sci-fi television mini-series CAT.8 later this summer. Tell us a bit about the show, what character you play in the series and where fans can watch CAT.8.
KATE: CAT. 8 is a sci-fi disaster miniseries starring Emmy Award® nominee Matthew Modine (The Dark Knight Rises, Weeds). A breakthrough in global defense backfires, and launches a fireball four times the size of Earth towards our planet. Matthew is the renegade scientist with the fate of humankind in his hands, and I play his ex-wife and mother of our child, played by Kalinka Petrie. Currently, it’s playing on SPACE Channel in Canada and on REELZ and DirectTV in the US. It’s also coming out on BluRay and DVD on August 13. All my family members are getting it for Christmas.
AMANDA: One other project you've got coming up is the television movie Clara's Deadly Secret. Can you tell us about this upcoming film and if you have any other upcoming roles we should know about?
KATE: Clara’s Deadly Secret is a great thriller. I can’t give too much away because it’s in still in post-production. I play the role of Jane Jenkins, a mother who is tormented by the death of her daughter. I read the script and asked to audition for the role because I was so compelled by her story. I’m used to being cast as strong, serious women but this role took me to the other end of the spectrum. I think it should be released some time this year. You can also catch me in an episode of Covert Affairs in Season 4.
Currently, I’m producing my first play which is an original piece written by Laureen Vonnegut. We’re hoping that it will be on its feet early next year. I am also the host and creator of an online reality cooking show, A Jock’s Guide (www.ajocksguide.com) that donates 100% of its proceeds to KidSport Ontario. It’s a twist on the traditional cooking shows because I can’t actually cook. The how-to videos are unscripted and quite disastrous at times but the recipes are great. I love this project because it keeps me creative and I get to support a cause very near and dear to my heart.
To learn more, visit the official Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Kate Drummond websites.