Popularity Of Show Lost On 'Rousseau'

[Sydney]

The first thing to note about Mira Furlan - who plays the mysterious French castaway Danielle Rousseau on ABC's "Lost" - is that she is not French.
The second: She doesn't watch "Lost" all that much.

"I watch on occasion, just to see what is going on," Furlan, 50, said while attending the recent MegaCon comic and independent film convention in Orlando. "I have never really been a fan of a TV show. I don't watch a lot of TV."



Ironically, considering she sat in the middle of a convention that attracts 18,500 fan boys and girls, Furlan remains somewhat baffled by the attraction of shows such as "Lost" (9 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC).

"This," she said, waving her hands at the throng of fans, "I just enjoy it. I just sit back and observe."

Sometimes, observation is not enough. Furlan, one of many celebrity guests at the convention, signed autographs at a table in the massive hall at the Orange County Convention Center. Sometimes that wasn't enough, either.

"Can I get my picture made with you?" a young man, wearing his baseball cap backward, asked Furlan.

He almost panted with hope. Furlan - who is notably composed and poised - merely nodded, "Yes." The man practically leapt over the table, then had a friend snap a picture.

"It's the French Lady!" he shouted.

Furlan offered a mysterious little smile - in itself a surprise for "Lost" fans, since Rousseau is not exactly a smiling kind of character.

Furlan's past is as interesting as the show she is on. Born in Zagreb, Croatia, in the former Yugoslavia, Furlan became a famous theater and film star in her homeland. But in 1991, when civil war broke out, she immigrated to the United States.

She did not return for 10 years. She calls that time her "political exile."

"I did not support the war and was outspoken about it," Furlan said. "And when you are outspoken, you run the risk of being attacked on issues like patriotism and loyalty."

Moving to Los Angeles, Furlan landed a role as Ambassador Delenn on "Babylon 5," a hit science fiction show. She was on it for five years.

"At the time, I did not realize how lucky I was. I didn't know then how difficult it is to have a regular acting job in this country," she said.

After the cancellation of "Babylon 5" in 1998, she appeared in a variety of roles: the voice of Silver Sable on the "Spider-Man" animated series; guest appearances on "Night Stalker" and "Sheena." She also has appeared in a number of theater productions in Los Angeles and with the Indiana Repertory Theater.

In October 2004, she auditioned and was cast as Rousseau, appearing in her first episode in November. She has been on four episodes since then and appeared in a sixth last week.

Furlan, married with a 7-year-old son, said life keeps her too busy to watch "Lost" regularly, much less try to determine what is going on with its complicated plot.

However, she appreciates how the show's creators (J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber), writers and producers concentrate on characters.

"It's character-driven, and it's unusual for a show to be so focused on characters without irony, especially in this country where everything is so ironic," Furlan said.

"Irony is a defense mechanism to avoid the real issue; it's a way to detach yourself. The show suits me as an actor. I am not a detached or ironic person - I go right at it."

As for the complexities of the show that drive some fans nuts, Furlan enjoys that as well.

"What I like about the show is that it poses questions and doesn't give you answers," Furlan said.

She flashed another smile.

"Just like life."

Courtesy of http://www.tbo.com