Kristin Kreuk, who plays Catherine in the TV series Beauty & the Beast that airs on AXN speaks to SHAlINI SAKSENA about the show. Excerpts
What was your reaction when you were offered this roleIJ
Signing on to a TV series is a long commitment, so I was uncertain. But I thought there was potential to create a dynamic character.
How difficult/challenging was it to do this roleIJ
This show was very exposition-heavy in the beginning due to the crime element of the show, and then later due to the mythology. I am rather weak at exposition and that was definitely an area in which I had to improve upon.
What made you say yes to play CatherineIJ
A meeting I had with Sherri Cooper and Jennifer levin (the creators of the show). I really liked them as people and was excited to work with women showrunners.
How was your experience of working with Jay RyanIJ
Jay (who plays the ‘beast’) is a very skilled actor and is also rather ridiculous as a human. He was fun to work with on multiple levels.
You have done movies and TV series. If you had to choose one, what would it be and whyIJ
For me films (and limited series) are interesting because you have an awareness of the full arc of a story and a character. You can analyse the material and know that what is presented to you is the complete arc of the character and I really value this. In TV, you get to explore the character and theme over longer periods of time and in diverse situations, and that can help you explore the nuances more deeply.
Did you see the original series that was madeIJ If yes, did it help you to play your role differentlyIJ
Unfortunately I have not seen the original series. So there was no way that I could take any pointers from it.
What makes this version of Beauty & the Beast different and appealingIJ
This version looks at the qualities of beast in a more internal way. The beast is not monstrous looking (all the time) as he is the product of a military experiment to create human super-soldiers and only turns beastly at specific moments. The beast character is wrestling with his anger and fear and trying to redeem actions he has done that are violent and contrary to the actions he would like to take as the best version of himself. The female character is also trying to redeem and forgive herself. That makes the show a bit more real and people are able to connect with the series.