Kingston’s Ari Millen tackles multiple clones on Orphan Black
Canadian series returns Saturday with a masculine new twist
Spoiler alert: This story contains spoilers for Season 2 of Orphan Black.
Midway through Orphan Black’s second season, there is a scene in which Ari Millen tenderly feeds milk through a straw to co-star Zoe De Grand Maison. Her lips had been “sewn shut” for going against her family and he was convincing her to confess so her punishment would be over.
Unbeknownst to Millen, it was that exact moment when show co-creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson knew they wanted the actor to play many more roles in Season 3.
When the Canadian co-production returns to Space and BBC America on Saturday (9 p.m.), Millen is under the same pressure lead Tatiana Maslany faced in Season 1: breathing life into four different clone characters (Seth, Rudy, Miller and Mark) while making each one distinctive to the audience.
It’s a task the Kingston, Ont., native takes very seriously and one that he’s taken full ownership of, despite the awards show buzz that’s followed Maslany around for two seasons.
“I sit down in the chair, they put the scar on, they put the hair on, they put the wardrobe on and then I look at myself in the mirror and I say, ‘OK, this is who I am,’ ” Millen told the Star. “I know the work I’ve done, I know the character building and then I let the script do its work.”
For Maslany, who has played nine clones to date, having a more ensemble feel in Season 3 has been a welcome change. Championing the rest of the cast and this season’s guest stars (including Justin Chatwin, James Frain and Ksenia Solo), she notes the show still follows her characters, but Millen’s addition divides the story in a new way.
“I didn’t give him advice or anything, but we kind of compared notes on our fears and common nerves about it,” she explained of their relationship heading into the season. “We just talked about the process from our own points of view. But he’s definitely claimed it as his own, which is awesome.”
When Orphan Black returns, the action picks up where Season 2 left off. Sarah (Maslany) has discovered the existence of the male clones and Helena (also Maslany) is missing, but an even larger issue comes into play when a mysterious corporation attempts to put the sisters down. As for Castor — the project name referring to the male clones — audiences will learn more about them as they also work to take down Sarah and Co., while Rudy exchanges more “pleasantries” with Sarah.
“Helena and Rudy are probably the two most outlandish characters of the clones,” Millen said. “Helena seems to be very damaged and has been plopped down in a place where she’s almost alien, whereas Rudy is maybe suffering from PTSD. He’s the smartest guy in the room, and he likes to prove he’s smarter than you by finding your button and pushing it.”
Whether Rudy is able to push Sarah’s buttons remains to be seen but, for now, Millen is just happy to work full-time in his home country on a show he calls his “dream” gig.
Aside from being a fan before he was cast, Millen is happy for the chance to do some “heavy lifting” and further develop his skills with these new rich roles.
As for perfecting the accents that Maslany seems to flow through with ease?
“I . . . need work,” the actor laughed. “I need time. I’m not one of those people who just has an ear for it and who can nail it right away. I like doing them, but I definitely need time to perfect.”