Mira Furlan,who plays the ethereal Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari Republic on the epic sci-fi show Babylon 5, recently spoke with us regarding her feelings about her character and the show, its resonance from her own loss of her homeland of Yugoslavia and her first brushes with American SF fandom.

What’s Left: How did you first get involved with Babylon 5?

Mira Furlan: I got involved in the most usual way. My agent sent me to an audition.

WL: Were there any surprising differences between television work here and in Yugoslavia?

MF: Everything was much slower in Yugoslavia. This concept of money and the connection between money and time, that time was money, didn’t exist. There, productions were much slower paced. Here everything moves much faster, which is good, becaue I got bored with things moving so slowly.

WL: The decision to leave your homeland must have been difficult. How do you feel about the breakup, and current US involvement there?

MF: It's a long story. I have many different thoughts in my mind about it. The more you know, the more confusion there is. It's never black and white. I think the future is highly unpredictable. Yes, it was a very hard decision. Leaving behind your life, your career, your language, which is the basic tool of an actor. But our world was destroyed. There was nothing left there.

WL: This must make Babylon 5 seem very poignant to you.

MF: I'm always amazed at all the connections at the situation, between myself and Delenn. Somehow it all makes weird sense that I'm in the middle of it all. I'm very proud to be involved. I was trying to keep my sanity in my own country, but it was interpreted as insanity. When everything around you is crazy, what is sane?

WL: What is your general impression of Delenn?

MF: It's a very interesting character and a very unusual female character. You very rarely get female characters who are spiritually and intellectually strong, but sensitive and emotional. I've rarely played a character with her depth, dignity and integrity. Female roles are reduced to a function, to function for male characters. To get such an independent character is very satisfying.

WL: I read another interview where you mentioned that you initially felt like you weren’t really acting through all the Minbari makeup and prosthetics you were wearing, that you had less opportunity to really practice the craft of acting in the role. Has this feeling changed?

MF: It was a strange experience. My face has never been covered with so many layers of rubber (laughs). It was a challenge to find ways to express yourself, not to lose you. I think I've learned a lot through that. It reminds me of something Andreas Katsulas [who plays G’Kar on the show] said on the first day of shooting: "All acting begins with a mask." Somehow, it's kind of going to the essence of acting and trying to see who you are. It's kind of conquering the obstacles, and it gives you a certain freedom. Delenn has gone through a great many things and it raises questions: Is it at all possible to stay the same and change so much?

WL: Your character has been through more changes than just about any other in the series, from her physical transformation to her censure from her government. How do you think this has affected her?

MF: I think I'm trying to always remember what she was in the beginning and how I perceived her when I first read the pilot. I want to stay true to that, while opening her to these elements of humanity in her. Even through the lighter part of her. It's a process. Every new episode gives me something. It's always a surprise. We are reading those scripts as children, and mature as we learn more of the characters.

WL: JMS [J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of the show] has stated that there are a lot of classic literary references in Babylon 5, such as calling G’Kar his Cassandra. With all the Classical stagework you’ve done, and continue to do, do you notice this a lot?

MF: All the heroines of great classical literature, all the references to- Antigones, which I recently did on the stage here in L.A. reminded me a great deal, people who have rebelled against the system and tried to stay true to themselves. Many things reminded me of Delenn From time to time the scripts really come to the level of great literature.

WL: Given that you are participating in a series that has its entire course fairly well predetermined, do you have any concerns as to what may befall your character?

MF: What do you mean?

WL: For instance, what if Joe planned for Delenn to become a horrible, evil force on the show?

MF: (shocked tone)Does he plan to do that?

WL: Not as far as I know, but-

MF: (laughing) Everything is always possible and nothing is always secure. That is life, but I don't think Joe has some horrible plans with Delenn. Maybe Delenn has a dark secret somewhere... I don’t know.

WL: What would you say the greatest similarities and the greatest differences between yourself and Delenn are?

MF: It's kind of hard to determine the boundaries. Where do you begin and end, where does Delenn begin and end, what are you bringing to the character. I wish I had her ability, her belief. Sometimes I really feel that I'm floating around in the world, feeling displaced, feeling that I no longer have a home. Delenn may feel the same way. She has great strength, I don't know that I have such strength. Life doesn’t allow me to be very fragile. Maybe I could take something from Delenn.

WL: How far along are you in the shooting schedule currently?

MF: We’re currently shooting the fifteenth episode. Time is flying. Soon we'll be done. It does feel strange [to be over halfway through the series]. Time flies much quicker when youre doing that kind of job. You don't really acknowledge the passage of time.

WL: How have your first brushes with science fiction fandom been?

MF: It was at first a shock. It was such a great surprise for me. I had the experience of losing my audience, and the people who knew me and appreciated me. To find a new audience is really a great thing for me. The fans have been extremely kind, and it means a lot when people appreciate what you do. I really admire their loyalty. It’s been great so far.