McKenzie Talks 4400
Jacqueline McKenzie, star of USA Network's upcoming SF show The 4400, told SCI FI Wire that she wanted in on the limited series the minute she read the script. "I'm the kind of actor who looks for human stories," McKenzie said in an interview. "I like stories about the human struggle, and I saw a lot of that in this."
The 4400 explores what happens when thousands of people who've disappeared over the past 50 years all return at once. McKenzie, an Australian actress whose credits include Deep Blue Sea, plays Diana Skouris, a researcher at the biomedical division of a government agency. She's partnered with Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch of SCI FI Channel's original miniseries Steven Spielberg Presents Taken), an agent who, as the government begins an investigation to keep tabs on the returnees, discovers a connection between the return of the 4,400 and his comatose young son.
"I thought that my character, as drawn, was really at the front of the investigation and would be interacting with these people who had just returned to Earth, having disappeared for a long time," McKenzie said. "They're now integrating back into society. I felt the human stories of these people, the impact of returning to Earth on their lives and on them as people, were really interesting to me."
McKenzie said that the production was as fast-paced as it was challenging. But, she said, "It was not so tough, because I always felt I was in really good hands. For me, it's not so much about how long the days are or how much money you get paid. It's all about the art, for want of a better word. I felt the script was so wonderful and promised so much. The director, Yves Simoneau, was such a great guy to be with and to work with. And it was great working with Joel. He's a really sweet guy, a lovely and generous human being. We became very good friends on this. I hope it does well, so that we could all come back and do more. If it happens, I'm there." The 4400 will debut as a two-hour special at 9 p.m. ET/PT July 11 on USA Network, with subsequent hours airing Sunday nights until Aug. 8.