[IMG:L]With Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his days at the helm of the Firefly behind him, Nathan Fillion returns to the “earth that was” for a more domestic life on Wisteria Lane.
Fillion joins the cast of Desperate Housewives this season as Adam Mayfair, a gynecologist who moves into Mike Delfino’s (James Denton) old house with his wife Katherine (Dana Delany) and daughter Dylan (Lyndsy Fonseca). When Hollywood.com caught up with the actor, he was still tight lipped about the new neighbors, but added, “I think they both have their little secrets that they would rather die than reveal.”
Hollywood.com: How did you land a role on Desperate Housewives?
Nathan Fillion: [Marc Cherry] called me up and asked if I would like to participate and I said “Yes, absolutely, of course, that would be really, really cool.” He said I’d be working with Dana Delany and he didn’t know but I had worked with her six or seven years ago on a show called Pasadena. My episodes never saw the light of day but we hit the sheets like mad. I played a minister and we were having this torrid love affair. Vancouver was very hot that month. That was a lot of fun so I was very excited to be working with her again.
HW: Have you worked with any of these actors in the past besides Dana?
NF: Doug Savant was on Firefly with us. James Denton was on Two Guys and a Girl ages ago. Like seven years ago. I worked with a bunch of different people in the past. It’s always a nice surprise when I arrive somewhere and find that.
HW: Katherine and Adam move into Mike’s old house. What’s the story behind this new couple?
NF: I’m her new husband. She moved away and came back…Dana’s character used to live on the street. The house was owned by her aunt, who Mike rented from. There’s a lot of history. They point out houses to me all the time–this one has had three fires, that one had a fire, this one burned down. They tell me all about it.
HW: What else is happening on Wisteria Lane this season?
NF: There will be some humor, some back-stabbing, some lies … it’s not a difficult show, it’s got an interesting pace, its got a lot of laughs. I’m not shooting at anybody, no spaceships.
HW: Will we get to see you take your shirt off?
NF: No! They’ve been very kind and let me keep my shirt on so far. But I’ve seen the show and I know what’s coming.
HW: Does that mean you are hitting the gym these days?
NF: Yes. I do have a trainer–Greg Joujon Roche. He has me doing a lot of abs, stomach work, which I hate doing. I’m nowhere near the ‘pack.
HW: Were you a fan of the show?
NF: I watched now and then, but sporadic episodes. I have someone filling me in on everything.
HW: Can you compare coming into an established show like this with starting one like Firefly or Drive?
NF: On Drive we thought, “I hope we don’t get canceled, we’re having a great time, while it lasts,” because there are no guarantees in Hollywood. But [on Desperate Housewives] they have a confidence. They’ve worked hard and they’re doing something right. But they’re not snotty about it, they’re very welcoming. They’re very open. Coming into any show as a guest is a challenge in the best of times but they’ve been so warm and welcoming to me.
HW: Is it nice to take a break from all the action?
NF: It sure makes it easy. I stay very clean, no bruising–until we start getting into those bedroom scenes. Then I’m sure we’ll be bouncing around.
HW: Is it a relief to join an ensemble and not feel like you have to carry the whole show?
NF: I never had that feeling of I’m carrying the show on my own because everything I’ve done I felt like a team member. I’ve yet to have that burden. But certainly I have a feeling of being along for a great ride. I don’t have to worry about driving. It is a lot less pressure. They’ve done all the hard work already. The hard work has been done. They blazed the trail.
HW: This isn’t your first time playing a doctor. Waitress was a great movie!
NF: Thanks very much. I’m reprising my role as a gynecologist. I’m good with my hands.
Desperate Housewives airs Sunday nights on ABC
