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Palm Beach Post
February 23, 2003
Dungey pleased with new role
by Kevin D. Thompson - Cox News Service
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Until recently, Merrin Dungey didn't have
much to do on "Alias," ABC's Sunday night thrill ride spy drama.
As cheery Francie, restaurant-running confidante and best buddy of
Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), Dungey would nod a lot, offer
soothing advice and lovingly question if everything was OK after the
CIA's sexiest agent returned from yet another death-defying mission.
That all changed, however on the show's spectacular post-Super Bowl
episode in which the real Francie was murdered by -- get this! -- an
evil Francie double!
Suddenly, Dungey, a former stand-up comic who also has recurring
roles on CBS' "King of Queens" and Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle,"
became an icy assassin who could wipe out a small Third World nation.
We caught up with Dungey, who dished about her new character
direction and her obsession with "Friends."
Question: Isn't kicking butt more fun than being Sydney's do-nothing
best friend?
Answer: What do you think? It was important to have that (other)
role, though. It shows what Sydney's life is like and it gives a
balance. As much as it isn't as complicated to play, there is
something in that.
Q: But weren't you frustrated that you didn't have much to do?
A: I felt restrained. Particularly this year, there were times when I
would walk into my trailer and see all these aprons. And I was
like, "Am I Florida (Esther Rolle's character) on "Good Times"?
What's going on in this restaurant?" I was really feeling left out of
things. I would literally walk in on every scene and be, like, "Hey
guys, you wanna try some cookies?"
Q: Francie versus Sydney in the ultimate catfight. Who wins?
A: I don't know. I've been working out. Jen looks good, but I think I
could take her.
Q: Where did you learn those dagger-like looks Francie shoots at
Sydney? You look really evil.
A: Why, thank you so much! My friend Kevin (Weisman who plays
Marshall, the geeky gadget maker) called me the other day and
said, "My little sister had nightmares about your eyes." I don't
know -- we all have a little anger in us.
Q: When did you find out your character was going to change?
A: I've known since last season. (Series creator) J.J. (Abrams) has
always had this in his mind. He told me at the end of the year to
start training and I didn't know exactly what was going on, but then
he filled me in. For the last nine months of my life, I've been
running around like a real-life Sydney Bristow keeping secrets from
my family, friends and boyfriend.
Q: What kind of training did you do?
A: I called Jen and asked her, "Who is the best?" And she (told me
about a kickboxing expert) who's worked with John Cusack, Sean Penn
and David Lee Roth. He teaches a style called "Ukidon" and it's nine
ways of fighting from meditation to how to kill someone.
Q: Can you kill someone in real life?
A: I tell ya, I feel a lot safer when I walk down those dark alleys
alone at night. He showed me a few moves where you can throw a
certain hit to the throat. It's the hardest training I've ever had to
do in my life for anything. After my first session, I called Jen
sobbing 'cause everything hurt so much. She was like, "Go home, get
in the tub, have a glass of wine, it'll all be better in the
morning." I can't believe she's been doing this forever. I have even
more high praise for her.
Q: With roles in three shows at the same time, are you the hardest
working woman in show business?
A: It's entirely possible. I'm sure some people would beg to differ
and want me to share some of the wealth, but I'm so grateful.
Q: Talk about your love for "Friends" and why there are so few black
people on it.
A: I'm an enormous "Friends" viewer. It's a sickness with me. If I'm
in the makeup trailer, it's on. Everyone gets really mad at me. I'm
so obsessed with the show, it doesn't matter how many times I've seen
it. I'll say there have been a handful (of black characters,
including Dungey who played a wedding coordinator) that have gone
through. People give them such a hard time and it's unfortunate.
Q: They don't even bump into black people.
A: It's a very weird place in New York that they do live in. That is
odd. But that is their life and their little world.
Q: What show was funnier? "Friends," "Seinfeld" or "Murphy Brown"?
You've been on all three and should know.
A: "Friends." It happened when I was in my 20s and it happened at the
right time for me. They were my friends. I've done "Murphy Brown" _
hey, I was on all of those shows. Jesus! I rule! I'm very excited and
pleased with my resume.
Kevin D. Thompson writes for the Palm Beach Post.
© The Palm Beach Post 2003
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