Just Wondering: Mira Furlan

If you’ve been watching the last two seasons of Lost you’ll immediately recognize the lady in the photo as the “creepy French chick”, Danielle Rousseau. Played by actress Mira Furlan – who is actually Yugoslavian not French – Rousseau has made several appearances on Lost, and is without a doubt one of the most mysterious and complex characters on the island. Having played a major character on Babylon 5, Furlan is no novice to television, which probably explains her ability to make us hate, fear, and sympathize with her character in a single episode. Rousseau has been living on the island for 16 years and lost everyone she came with, and Furlan is able to pull off these unusual attributes in a magnetic fashion. I got in contact with Mira through e-mail to ask her about life on and off the island.

Lost is a show surrounded in mystery. Do the writers keep you in the dark about your character and the island, or do you have a little more insight into Rousseau than we do?

No, I don't have any insight into Rousseau's character, except what my own imagination comes up with. I'm in the dark about everything.

Rousseau has been trapped on the island for at least sixteen years, killed the people she came with, and had her baby stolen. How do you prepare for a role where the character has endured such intense adversity?

Life has mysterious ways of preparing us for such dark stories. I have never lacked inspiration for darkness and pain.

While Rousseau doesn't appear very often, her presence is felt throughout the whole season, why do you think that is?

It's nice to hear it from you. I certainly don't feel that way. I am just an occasional guest on the island and on the show. I enjoy plunging into the painful intensity of that character though, however rarely it happens. It's an exceptional character with a lot of complexity and I'm very happy to have been given the chance to "be" her.

How has being on Lost changed your life these past two years? Any future projects?

I wish I could say that my life had been dramatically changed because of Lost. That hasn't happened. I'm still trying to be the best mom I can to my seven year old son, I'm still trying to cope with the difficulties of life and of the profession and I'm still trying to be the best person I can. Which, I think, is the hardest job for all and every one of us.

What could we expect to find on your TiVo?

On my TiVo you can find a lot of Sponge Bob, Invader ZIM and The Simpsons. In other words, TiVo belongs to my son.

Can you tell us anything about what season three has in store for your character — can we ever expect a flashback episode?

All information you will have to ask the creators of the show. I have nothing to share, unfortunately.

Thanks Mira.

By Gordie Steiner