+3 Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort. Photographed by Isaac Alvarez. Makeup: Michaeline Becker using Kevyn Aucoin. Fashion Stylist Ali Levine. Assistant Photography Gregory Macias.
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort. Photographed by Isaac Alvarez. Makeup: Michaeline Becker using Kevyn Aucoin. Fashion Stylist Ali Levine. Assistant Photography Gregory Macias.
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort. Photographed by Isaac Alvarez. Makeup: Michaeline Becker using Kevyn Aucoin. Fashion Stylist Ali Levine. Assistant Photography Gregory Macias.
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort. Photographed by Isaac Alvarez. Makeup: Michaeline Becker using Kevyn Aucoin. Fashion Stylist Ali Levine. Assistant Photography Gregory Macias.
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort. Photographed by Isaac Alvarez. Makeup: Michaeline Becker using Kevyn Aucoin. Fashion Stylist Ali Levine. Assistant Photography Gregory Macias.
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort. Photographed by Isaac Alvarez. Makeup: Michaeline Becker using Kevyn Aucoin. Fashion Stylist Ali Levine. Assistant Photography Gregory Macias.
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort Talks Season Three of Bitten
Laura Vandervoort. Photographed by Isaac Alvarez. Makeup: Michaeline Becker using Kevyn Aucoin. Fashion Stylist Ali Levine. Assistant Photography Gregory Macias.
You may know her as Lisa from “V” or as the cousin of Kal El, aka Clark Kent, in the show Smallville. But now, Laura Vandervoort has taken on the world of werewolves.
Laura stars as Elena Michaels, the only female who has survived the transition of being an ordinary human to an extraordinary werewolf in the Syfy series Bitten. With season three of Bitten about to shoot, Laura gives us a deeper understanding of her character as well as some insight on other projects she has lined up.
For those who don’t know, what can you tell me about your character and the show Bitten?
I play Elena Michaels, the only female werewolf in the world. Bitten is based on the series of novels by New York Times bestseller Kelley Armstrong. The story follows the struggle Elena deals with finding her place in the world. Growing up in the foster care system, molestation and many other childhood skeletons have left her guarded, troubled, and hardened, yet stronger. After being bitten by her boyfriend and college professor, she again feels betrayed in life. Elena yet again has to find her place in the world…the human world or with her new family, the pack. Bitten is more than a werewolf series. It is about the relationships within a family, between man and woman and their need to conceal their identities in an unaccepting world where everyone is looking to hate and tear down anyone different. It is a dark drama, high action series that I am so proud of be a part of.
What was it about the script or the storyline that intrigued you to audition for the show?
I actually did not audition. After working on an Eone/Syfy series called Haven, I was handed a script called Bitten. Bitten is also an Eone/Syfy Channel/Space Channel series and I was told that our executive producer (JB Sugar) had me in mind for the role of Elena. I believe Haven was a great introduction to Eone. After reading the script and speaking with our incredible EP JB Sugar, I fell in love with the concept. What intrigued me the most were Elena’s flaws. Her childhood and her need to belong in the world and to be normal. We all feel that way. The fact that she was so human, struggling, broken down and got right back up again was a draw for me. Despite her horrible and unfortunate experiences as a child, Elena is still so strong…I fell in love with her. In addition, the fact that she was dealt the wolf card and managed to draw from her own strength to survive the change (when no other woman had ever survived) was also an interesting twist.
In the past two seasons, how has your character grown through the series?
She has grown immensely! Season one, Elena struggled with where she belonged. Her heart said one thing and her mind the other. She tried to hide who she really was. Tried to push the wolf within her down. It was almost a symbolic moment… in season 2 when she finally accepted herself, her true self…the wolf. She chose to be with her pack, her true family. People, who accepted her and saw her as an equal, valued her presence and accepted her flaws. Elena definitely still struggles at times but has come into her own. Her confidence and strength have grown. It is a beautiful thing when a woman is comfortable being exactly who she is, no apologies. Looking forward to seeing where our writers take her this year. We begin production on season 3 in a few months!
On this show and many others, you are required to do a lot of stunts or fighting scenes. How do you prepare for these and do you have any expert training?
I grew up doing martial arts so I am actually comfortable with the stunts and physical portion. At 19, I got my second-degree black belt. I stopped training after that but try to keep fit with yoga, spinning, Pilates, hiking and my trainer Michelle Lovitt here in LA when I have downtime. For the major stunt sequences or choreographed fights on Bitten, we have a wonderful stunt coordinator, John Stead. John trains us usually on the weekends or in between scenes, teaching us the technical portion of the fights. Because time is often limited to learn the sequences, he video tapes our stunt doubles and sends us the videos to memorize at home. Our cast is always eager to do as much themselves as possible.
I noticed in your filmography that you do a lot of shows that is fantasy or has to do with you being an alien or having powers…is this by chance or by choice?
No…[laughs]. When I was cast as “Lisa” from “V” on the TV series Smallville, I was introduced to the world of fantasy and Sci Fi. After Smallville, came the TV series “V” which was also a Sci Fi series. I think the wonderful fan base of the genre helps with this. I did fall in love with how Sci Fi portrayed woman. The women are always equal to the leading men, strong, independent and intelligent. That in itself is something I lean towards. So I do not necessarily go looking for this genre but I am grateful when the stars align.
You have been featured in both film and television is there a particular route you want to pursue more in the industry?
I am honestly happy to be a part of both. If I could do both, I would be thrilled. There are pros to both! TV allows you the time to develop the character, grow with the audience, become a tight knit family with your cast and crew and with that, comes a comfort level to explore the craft. With film, you are constantly changing…you shoot for a few months intensely as one character, meet new people you often would not meet and then move on to another. As long as I am working and challenged, I am happy, regardless of the budget of the project and size of the screen it will appear on.
Are there any other genres or other projects that you are interested in going into besides acting?
I am beginning to become curious about the other side of the camera. A few years ago I wrote a children book in hopes of creating a series of them. I had met many young girls at comic conventions who were tomboys and wanted to be superheroes themselves. I thought about their role models, the action figures of woman with unrealistic body types. The book was created for them. ‘Super Duper Deelia’ was about a young, quirky, unique, intelligent and willful girl named Deelia who discovers on her birthday, that she in fact has super powers. Passed down from her Grandmother, it follows her on her journey dealing with these newfound abilities all while navigating the drama of school. I have teamed up with Shaftesbury in Canada and we are now working hard on creating a live action TV series for kids! Stay tuned!
If you were not acting, what do you think you would be doing now?
I always enjoyed writing. I believe if I had not gone into acting when I was 12 years old, I would have pursued something within that field.
I also noticed on your bio that you partook in the PETA campaign, what is your stand on animal rights?
I am an animal advocate. I grew up around animals and always wish to protect them however possible. If I believe in something and have the opportunity to help, I do. PETA, The Humane Society and World Vision Canada are all organizations that do incredible things. I recently went to Africa with my sister and World Vision Canada, to get first hand knowledge on their new program “Starting Strong.” It was an eye-opening and incredible experience.
Lastly, what is next for Laura Vandervoort and what can we look forward to?
Season 3 of Bitten! The cast is excited to get back to work. In addition, hopefully in time, my children’s series will be in production in Toronto. It will be my first experience as a creator and executive producer. I can’t wait to see what new experiences it will bring.
