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Q&A: Mary Lynn Rasjkub talks '24'

TV Interview: Mary Lynn Rajskub

© Rex Features

At our recent 24 fan event, series star Mary Lynn Rasjkub was good enough to take part in a Q&A session following a screening of the show's final episode. For those of you who missed out on meeting the actress better known as CTU's Chloe O'Brian, we present a transcript of the chat below!

How were you originally cast as Chloe?
"I had never watched 24. I mostly did comedy stuff before. Having just had a really bad CSI audition, I got called to audition for 24. My mom was a huge fan of the show and so she said, 'You have to go, this is the greatest show'. My agent sent me some copies of the show [and] I went having crammed as much as I could before the interview. I met [producer] Joel Surnow and he said, 'You're great, I'm writing a part for you. I know there's nothing on the page, but you're great'. I felt very validated and fantastic about myself!"

What was the mood like the last day on set?
"I started in season three. We had the best crew, the best people around us. A lot happened to me on that show. I was successful, I bought a house, people started recognizing me. I eventually got married and had a kid. These are all people you're working with 12 hours a day, so as much as the content of the show was emotional, it was emotional to leave the people you'd been working with."

Was there ever a chance that Chloe could be killed off in the final season?
"I don't know. I take offense at the idea! Although I know that it certainly could have happened at any point, my instinct was that it wouldn't happen. As far as being killed off, I didn't really wake up thinking about that. The one thing I worried about was when I took over CTU. That role can become a lot of exposition and... I was worried it wouldn't be in their best interests [for] my character. I didn't want to become head of CTU and have all these expository scenes. I wanted the transition to be believable, that my character had all this power."

Which was your favorite season overall?
"It's all been a really great experience, and very different. The first season I did was really exciting because I didn't really understand what I was doing! Very early on, I remember kind of sticking out. I thought I was going to be fired early on and so it's been a really cool evolution into people liking me because I'm helping Jack."

Do you have a favorite scene or moment from your time on 24?
"A lot of people tell me their favorite was me shooting the bad guy in season four. That was up there. Whenever I get to act outside of CTU, I really like it. I like it when I'm emotional too. Like when Edgar died! Through the glass, that was a good one. Watching his body fall!"

What is your take on some of the issues 24 raises, with regards to politics and torture?
"Avoidance. I like to avoid those issues! People ask, 'Why does Jack fight so much?' You know, nobody would watch if he was a zen master! It's equal to what people will watch."

24 fans have picked up on certain phrases that kept cropping up...
"There were so many things. Sometimes we'd omit them [on purpose]! 'Damn it' is one of them. I would say 'I'm working on it' 20 times. [Others were] 'I've almost got it', 'Within the hour', 'The schematics...' and 'Send it to my PDA'!"

Do you think the show could have continued or had it reached a natural end?
"I think in some ways it's good to end, and we had a good long run, but in other ways I think it could' have gone on forever. People know what the formula is, but you're still involved in it so long as you can tell the stories in a different way It could have gone on."

Is there anything you miss about the show?
"I got used to wearing the same outfit. Now when I'm on a show, I'm like 'What do you mean I have to change my clothes?'"

24 - Season 8 is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.

Are you a 24 fan? Enjoy the Q&A? Leave us your thoughts below!

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