Entertainment Television

Tatiana Maslany is back in 'Orphan Black' 0

By Bill Harris, Postmedia Network

Tatiana Maslany in "Orphan Black."

Tatiana Maslany in "Orphan Black."

Perhaps it's the Canadian in Tatiana Maslany that still allows her to sell herself short, despite all the acclaim she has received for playing multiple clones in Orphan Black.

"The cue is there, right?" said Maslany, referring to the physical transformations she undergoes to portray each clone. "It's like half the work is done, almost."

Well, you know, I have to disagree in this sense: When Maslany physically transforms from clone to clone in Orphan Black, it creates an expectation for the viewer. Maslany's performance then has to live up to that expectation. I would argue that in some ways the physical transformations actually make Maslany's job harder as an actress.

"Right, yes, I get what you're saying," said Maslany, who is from Regina. "And you can compare it, too. You can put Sarah next to Cosima (two of the clones) and people could go, 'Oh, well, there's this (similarity) and that (similarity).'

"But they're clones and I always just leave it at that. I always just say, 'Hey, they're clones, there are some things they do that are the same.' "

It's one thing for a show to claim to be a "cult phenomenon." It's another thing actually to be one. And then it's yet another thing to break away from cult status and become something even more. That's what Orphan Black did in its first season, and it was rewarded with a boatload of Canadian Screen Award nominations.

The Canadian Screen Awards are given out on multiple nights, and Orphan Black already has cleaned up in many categories. The marquee categories are part of the TV broadcast, which takes place Sunday on CBC.

The second season of Orphan Black debuts April 19 on Space.

"The show doesn't sit back on what worked last season," Maslany said. "A lot of weird stuff happens. It's really genre-bending, in a nice way."



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