5 minutes with... Colin Ferguson

Colin Ferguson

Colin Ferguson has shrugged off his tag as Hollywood's 'nearly man' with success in A Town Called Eureka.

The 37-year-old Canadian actor's career hit the skids when the US version of Coupling received poor ratings and was cancelled.

But he has bounced back to star as Sheriff Jack Carter in Eureka, which returns to the Sci-Fi Channel in November.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE LATTER HALF OF SERIES THREE?

In the second half, we introduce a love interest for me - her name is Tess Montana, and she's played by Jaime Ray Newman. What's great about that is that they've finally put me in a relationship with somebody. You play it unrequited for so long and you just want to do some scenes with somebody. Also, at the end of the season, my daughter may or may not leave town.

YOUR CHARACTER HAS HAD AN ON/OFF FLING WITH DR ALLISON BLAKE - WHAT HAPPENS THERE?

So I assume he has two love interests! I think it's like the Ross and Rachel thing in Friends. If we get it together, I just don't know where we go - I don't know what the longevity of that is. Tess may or may not leave town at the end of the season, so that's one of the major cliffhangers.

WHICH LADY WOULD YOU PREFER JACK TO FIND LOVE WITH?

I think I'm smart enough to not choose one of them, but I've been acting with Salli Richardson-Whitfield forever and she's fantastic. It's always nerve-wracking when someone gets cast as your love interest, because if you don't get along it makes for really long days. Jaime has this bubbly energy to her, and it was nice to have that energy come into the show.

HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER MANAGE TO DO HIS JOB IF HE LIVES IN A TOWN FULL OF GENIUSES?

I think he's smarter than he lets on, and part of the thing that makes him fun to play is that he's completely okay with being seen as the idiot. He obviously isn't, as he solves all the crimes. He'd love a bit more respect, but if it doesn't come that's irrelevant. His job is to protect, and if that means he gets hit socially, then he takes a hit socially.

ARE YOU SURPRISED BY A TOWN CALLED EUREKA'S SUCCESS?

I'm always surprised. You go to work and you do what you do, and if you're fortunate to have a hit and find an audience, it's so gratifying. I'm very grateful because it's been a nice ride.

DO YOU ENJOY THE SCI-FI ASPECTS OF THE SHOW?

Yeah, I like science. I like exploring and keeping up to date with it. I think more and more these days, everybody does. Ten years ago, you could really be old-school and do something that wasn't at all scientific, but now you just can't.

HAVE YOU STARTED FILMING FOR THE FOURTH SERIES?

We start shooting on March 18 for 22 episodes, which will take us through to the end of next year. I gather that the plan is to introduce another love interest eventually, which should be fantastic.

YOU DIRECTED AN EPISODE IN SERIES THREE, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

It was amazing. What I liked most about it is that I'm not in it as much as I usually am, and other characters get to hold the series for a while. It's a great exercise for them and really fun to see them shoulder that load and rise to the occasion. It was really nice to watch.

DID YOU CONSULT THE SHOW'S MAKERS AT ALL?

It was pretty much on my own back. Having shot so many episodes, you end up very much having a keen eye as to what to do on this show. I also directed a movie this summer for the Sci-Fi Channel, and that was a totally different experience because it was with none of the same crew or the same sets. That was great fun but for very different reasons. It's called Fossils, and it's one of those Saturday-night movies where a giant creature attacks Oregon.

WILL YOU DIRECT ANY EPISODES IN SERIES FOUR OF A TOWN CALLED EUREKA?

I think they want me to do at least two, maybe three episodes next year, which is a really nice vote of confidence on their part. It's fantastic when people think your work is okay.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER QUITTING ACTING TO DIRECT FULL-TIME?

I think so. I enjoy getting the story earlier and going through the process of really helping the story turn into what you think it should be. I find that very rewarding.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO STAR IN FILMS IN THE FUTURE?

It's hard, my agent has been talking about that. Everyone would love it if I could stay in town for a while, but you've got to strike while the iron is hot and I'm always out of town these days. Finding the time to do a film is difficult, and I'm not sure I have the time at the moment. Maybe in a year I'll slow down and look at doing something in film.

WHAT SORT OF ROLE WOULD INTEREST YOU?

I'm really enjoying doing the dramatic comedy. I just like that - there's something about it that works for me, and after four years I'd like to do more of it.

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