Interview: Gus Lynch Gus Lynch is an imposing character, which helps explain why his career so far includes lots of roles as security guards and similar strong-arm types in such films as Saving Silverman and such TV series as Night Visions and Special Unit 2. In Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers, Gus plays Tirk, a Drazi — perhaps the first of that alien race to serve the Interstellar Alliance and become a Ranger. We spoke with Gus during a set visit coinciding with a B5 fan gathering in May at Vancouver's Simon Fraser University. Q: Let's talk about your character, Tirk. The Drazi aren't exactly considered the most intelligent beings in the universe, are they? A: I guess the old joke applies — "strong as an ox and almost as smart." What's the line in the script? "Not the sharpest knife in the drawer." But I don't think Tirk is just stupid. I think that's a misrepresentation of the Drazi — at least I hope it is! I think it's more that they are simplistic — they see [situations as being] black and white and have trouble with the gray. I'm hoping that when Tirk is confronted with gray areas, drama will ensue. He's among the first, if not the first, Drazi in the Rangers. But that doesn't necessarily mean he's a new recruit — he's been waiting around for quite a while to get a commission, and Captain Martel, because of the unusual circumstances, gives Tirk the chance. I really hope we can take advantage of my character to get to know the Drazi more, because they haven't been given as much space in the original series as some of the other races. I've seen on some of the computer message-boards people talking about the Drazi — that they are one-dimensional, that they are stupid. Some of the people love the Drazi; some aren't wild about them. But I think you'll find that if you go back to the beginning of Babylon 5, there's been a misconceptions about nearly every alien race in the series. They need the right story arc, so that you can get to know this race. I think that is one of things that will be accomplished. Q: Do you have a favorite scene? A: I love the naming ceremony. That was the first scene I shot, and it was so great when the first scene you shoot is the scene where you meet all your other crew members and introduce yourself. It really made the rest of the work fall into place. It was nice to sort of establish these relationships and connections with the other actors. I also get to do another fun little piece with the some of the alien diplomats, which hasn't been shot yet, and also a scene with Mackenzie Gray [who guests as Minister Kafta] and the captain. Q: What was it like to get into the Drazi make-up? A: It takes a couple of hours [to put on and] about an hour to take off. It's a slow adjustment. The first time I put it on, it was pretty much a shock to the system for about half a day. Slowly, over the course of that day I acclimated to it. The one thing that I am amazed about is how much expression I'm able to keep in my face through the make-up. I was afraid that I would be the voice behind the mask. But everything comes through. You cock one eyebrow and smell something — it all comes across just like it was my face. It really does feel like a second skin. Q: What's your background? A: I have a BA in theater, and trained in New York at the [famed Lower East Side experimental theater] La MaMa. I have a stage-heavy background at this point. I've been acting in front of the camera for about three years now. All the work I've done in front of the camera has been right here in Vancouver [including the upcoming eighth film in the Halloween series, Hall8ween: The Homecoming.] Q: Are you a sci-fi fan yourself? A: Oh, yes. I started playing "Dungeons and Dragons" when I was eight years old. I've always had a videogame deck in my house. That's definitely where I come from — more fantasy than sci-fi, because I wasn't quick enough to pick up on the highly technical stuff. Battle axes, swords — these things I understand.