http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/114/1145698p2.html
Erica Durance Readies for Smallville's End
IGN: At this point, do you have a pretty good idea how it's all going to wrap up or are you still waiting to see?
Durance: They're dangling the carrot in front of all of us. I think that we all want to do something that will do justice to having a show that's been around for ten years and I think that's what we're looking to do. Right now I'm at the point where I think we have seven episodes left, so that's all I can say. Honestly, the one that is the next one up has just come hot off the presses.
[Editor's Note: For those curious, this interview was conducted on January 14th.]
IGN: You have a couple of months of production left now. Is it changing the vibe on set, knowing the end is almost here?
Durance: I believe everyone has a different way of dealing with it. I know for myself it's just a little surreal and strange, because I still have to stay so focused on what's happening, because there's still so much work left. But then you also know that… I feel a little sentimental. You go by and they'll be a set that's already gone and some of those kinds of things. But it really teaches you to enjoy the moment and the people that you're with. And try to make every scene as wonderful as you can make it and enjoy it and that's what I'm trying to do.
IGN: Few shows make it to Season 10. What do you think it is that has helped Smallville endure? I know that among the shows I cover, it's got what is easily one of the most passionate fanbases.
Durance: Well I think in a way you answered your own question, as far as that's concerned. You can only stay if people want to watch you. People have been very supportive and loyal, through all the ups and downs. I mean I wasn't there in Season 1. I've only been there for seven years, and they accepted me. I'm not even supposed to be part of that mythology. Yeah, there were moments where people kind of stepped back, but then they threw their arms around me and they were really supportive of me.
I just think it's the old standard of the fact that it's a story that is well told and it's a beautiful story. And we all love that good vs. evil story. We love that larger than life person that can make everything okay and all the support that's around it. I think people like to get lost in that fantasy world. I certainly do! I love all of those kinds of shows. I love fantasy shows, I love sci-fi. I'll gobble that up in a second. And I can't get enough of it! Even if they do another incarnation that's similar or whatever, I just go, "Okay!" I think it's two-fold.
And I think that just from my perspective going onto the show, it's a vibe of kindness and professionalism and everybody wants to do a good job. You don't have any of that toxic energy that I think sometimes causes shows to fall apart. There's a lot of people there and nobody has an ego and they just love what they're doing. And I think that makes a difference.
IGN: Is there a certain beat or something specific you'd like to see occur for Lois before the series ends?
Durance: You know what's funny, I get that question a lot and I have certain ideas of what I like. But I find that I don't actually like to
- things I want Lois to do, as far as this or that. I think that I want her to become restful with herself. And I think that will be found in the fact that she gets that grounding of who she is and what her purpose is. So if they can work that into the story and really make that specific and she settles in the fact that, "I am this journalist and this is how I fight for what is good and truthful..." That's what she's seeking. She wants to make a difference too and I think that's why Clark fell in love with her, is she seeks 'truth, justice and the American way,' right? She wants that! And she's just trying to find her way to get to it. And so hopefully that will be her grounding point.
IGN: The 200th episode, "Homecoming," had some really interesting material, where we got to see what I guess I'd call 'the classic Lois of the future.' ...wow, that's a confusing description. [Laughs]
Durance: [nodding and laughing] Yeah, yeah!
IGN: Was that fun for you, to get to jump into that Lois we know?
Durance: Absolutely! And having the glasses [on Tom]… He's so modest and cute about it with the glasses and I'm always trying to shove them on his face and he's like, "Ah!" It's just so classically the way that Clark is anyway, so it was really great. And we had the guidance of Jeannot [Szwarc], our director -- who'd even worked with Christopher Reeve before -- so we had a really good guiding hand. But because I'm a fan of the mythology, I was totally titillated by the idea. "Oh my gosh, we're doing it!" And people are looking at me and I'm going, "I know, I know! I'm stepping outside of myself, but look at what we're doing!" I'm always kind of the peppy one that's doing that.
You know, you see Clark in the old getup where he looks like [classic] Clark in the elevator. That shot, I was… That was a super fan moment. I went running up to him and I went, "Oh my god! You look just like Superman!" Then I go, "Yeah, yeah, yeah… I know." He just laughs.
IGN: I know Tom has his own feelings on it, but would you like to see him in the suit?
Durance: [Laughs] I've said this many times. Who wouldn't want to see Tom Welling in some tights? I have different reasons for it, because I know him very well and it would be very funny, but I think that Lois would love to see Clark fulfill that and become Superman. Being true to form, Lois wants to support him in his way. I don't know if that's ever going to happen from Tom's perspective. But I would love to see him fly. That's what I'd love to happen.