In Falling Skies Moon Bloodgood: Softer, more cerebral

MANILA, Philippines - AXN Beyond brings first and exclusively to the Philippines and Asia the new blockbuster series Falling Skies. Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, Falling Skies is an epic saga in the aftermath of an all-out alien invasion of Earth where the few survivors have come together in an attempt to fight back.

In the series, Moon Bloodgood plays Anne Glass, a pediatrician who lost her only child in the initial alien attack. She pours herself into her work as a doctor for the “2nd Mass,” a regiment of civilian resistance fighters headed by Captain Weaver (Will Patton) and Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), helping the survivors cope both physically and emotionally with their situation. Anne also develops a close friendship with Tom as a result of their shared tragedy in losing beloved family members.

Having starred in science-fiction movies like Terminator Salvation and TV series Journeyman and Daybreak, Moon shares her love for the sci-fi genre, what she likes most about her role and how she tackled her different character for the series.

Aliens parking over cities have been a common theme recently with shows like District 9, Skyline, Battle: Los Angeles and V. What do you think differentiates this series from the other recent alien invasion franchises?

I think what’s different is certainly our approach to the human story behind it. We’re much more drama with more of a human element. I think Falling Skies successfully marries a good family story with the science fiction element.

You’ve also been part of post-apocalyptic shows before, with Terminator Salvation, and you’re starting to carve a little niche in this genre. What’s the draw for you?

I think I am drawn to science fiction because I’m a fan of science fiction. I like to think you’re generally better at it when you’re auditioning for something that resonates. Because I love it, I tend to want to do those kinds of projects. And then you start to do them, it becomes your thing and a genre I deeply appreciate.

What do you like most about your character, Anne Glass?

I really enjoy the fact that she’s a doctor. I think she’s very admirable. She doesn’t talk about herself often, is extremely selfless, always calm, rational, fair, and with reason. I admire her because I’m not always that way, and she is always selfless and very maternal towards everyone.

What would be the most difficult part of doing the series?

The subject matter is heavy and there’s lot of depth and weight, and you have to take yourself to that level. You’re supposed to be hungry and scared and you’ve lost your family. When we were working, the subject matter weighed on me at times. Sometimes I wanted levity, so I’d go home, watch some comedy on TV and have a beer because I just needed some sort of change. But I think no matter how much I resist it, I gravitate towards these subject matters because I like the drama and that’s where I feel most comfortable.

What inspiration did you draw from, if any, coming into this?

I sometimes think it’s probably not good to use your own life circumstances because that can get tiring, but I did. I looked into myself and my own pain and tried to use that as a cathartic thing when I was doing the role. Then I also tried to use my imagination of what it felt like to live in a world where suddenly, I lost my family, and to lose a child must be the most horrendous thing to ever go through.

The journey is interesting because there are a couple of times when my character breaks down emotionally about her family.

The most compelling part is when Anne had to actually pick up a gun at one point because she gets attacked and suddenly needs to defend herself against other humans and that’s a position that she never thought she would be in. Anne’s first and worst pain was losing her husband and child, the next worst was just losing that innocence against violence.

What was some of the things that really attracted you to Falling Skies?

It is not just one-dimensional — it is science fiction but it is also a human tragedy. It is diverse characters interwoven together, trying to find their humanity and live any kind of normalcy, and re-adjust to the new world that has changed completely from the world that they know.

I was also drawn to playing a doctor and it is something I have never done. I wanted to do something more cerebral, I got to be a little softer and I thought that was a more fun place for me at this time in my life.

Falling Skies airs every Monday at 8:20 p.m. on AXN Beyond.