David Blue: All Across the Universe

From vampires to fashion photographers, David Blue certainly likes to cross genres when it comes to his television credits. Now he can be seen crossing galaxies as the character of Eli Wallace on Sy-Fy’s newest incarnation of the Stargate franchise, Stargate Universe. Abbie Bernstein met up with Blue to chat about his latest role…

Had you watched any of the previous incarnations of Stargate?

Yes! I’m a huge fan of TV and movies and stories in general. Some of Stargate: Atlantis, I couldn’t get my hands on, but I have seen every episode of SG-1 and I’m a huge fan of the original movie. And I’m friends with Claudia Black and Michael Shanks.

How are the sets for Stargate Universe?

They’re absolutely brilliant! The set designers, they don’t do a two-wall or three-wall experience. You’re not having to look out and see all the cameras. The truth is, we have the ship and it looks like it works and it acts like it works, and we get to play inside of that. It makes our jobs almost unfairly easy, because when you look around, you feel like you’re there; there’s less acting that you really have to do. We got to do our weapons training in front of the set from Stargate: Atlantis, which was a trip!

So is Eli likely to engage in some weapons combat soon?

The actors playing military characters had to try out the different handguns and automatic rifles that they’re going to use throughout the season. I knew that at some point I may or may not have to use weapons too. But the truth is, I just thought it was really cool, and I’ve always wanted to learn that, so I asked if I could sit in. They’re really careful; a lot of military personnel watch and look up to the show, and the weapons training is all approved by the U.S. government. So they’re allowed to see Stargate and they want to make sure that they get it right for our troops.

They let Joe Flanagan from Stargate: Atlantis go up in one of the F-16s….

Oh, I would love to do that! It’s been a dream of mine. I used to want to be a fighter pilot or a Marine when I was younger. I would absolutely drop dead at that opportunity and would love to work alongside some military people throughout this show. They’re great people and if they could ever give me that gift, I would absolutely accept it.

You said that you wanted to be a fighter pilot or a Marine when you were younger, so what made you end up becoming an actor?

Well, the military thing actually wasn’t my choice; I wasn’t able to join the military. But acting has always been something in the background of my life, since I was five; it’s always been something that I loved but never thought that you could make a living doing. Playing characters, I get to be adored, I get to be a vampire [on Moonlight], I can do all the things I’ve always wanted to do, a piece at a time. It’s one of the things I love about acting: I get to be everything for a little while and I get to experience the world!

Did you have any opinions about your Stargate Universe cast mates – Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips or Ming-Na – before working with them?

Absolutely! I watched ER from Season One to the end, and Chun Li in Street Fighter – oh, my God! – so I love Ming-Na’s work. Lou Diamond Phillips – I’ve been giving him crap, because everyone remembers him as Richie Valens [in La Bamba]; the truth is, I remember him from Stand and Deliver. Robert Carlyle – 24: Redemption, 28 Weeks Later, The Full Monty, Trainspotting – some of my favorite movies!

So as I always tell people, it’s not like the casting sold it for me, but it was the icing around the cake. I not only get to play a good role with an amazing script that drew everyone to it, but I get to work with these people, which is like a gift.

Are there any previous Stargate characters or actors you’d like to work with?

Somebody brought this up to me and I thought it was the coolest idea ever: If Eli and Rodney [McKay] could have a head to head, I think that would be the most interesting thing to watch in the world. I don’t know if that can happen or if that will happen, but that would be a blast! But they’re kind of removed from each other. We’re on the Destiny and they’re on the base, which is now in San Francisco, I guess.

But who knows? I hope that’s in the future, because David Hewlett seems like a great guy, I’ve heard nothing but good things. Our characters aren’t the same, but we kind of come from the same perspective, so the two of them fighting and/or discussing would be entertaining to me.

How many seasons of Stargate Universe are you signed up for?

At the moment, we’re just trying to get through this one, which has been hard work, but really rewarding so far.

Stargate Universe is currently airing on Sy Fy in the US and Sky One in the UK.