INTERVIEW: Apolo Ohno, Danica McKellar fight off ‘Tasmanian Devils’ in Syfy movie

Danica McKellar, famous for her role on The Wonder Years, and Apolo Ohno, world-famous Olympic athlete, team up to take on some nasty creatures in Syfy’s new original movie Tasmanian Devils. The title of the film is fairly self-explanatory: Audiences can expect monsters the size of grizzly bears, plenty of stylized violence and “Oh no!” shouts from the cast members.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox took part in a roundtable phone discussion with McKellar and Ohno about their roles in the film. Answers have been slightly edited for brevity.

The highlight of working on this Syfy movie …

McKellar:  I think it was the people; the people – the actors were really fun to work with and the crew was amazing. And just getting to get up and go to work with such an amazing group. Not every set is super fun and friendly to be on, and this was a great one.

Everybody was collaborative, the director was great, the producers were great, all the actors had such a great attitude, we all knew that we were coming together to make a film that’s just going to be fun, entertaining and it was a joy. It was a real joy. Everyone was really super sweet.

And I got to bring my son on set a couple times, so that was kind of fun too. … He was 1 year old at that point. So people were like, “Oh he’s a little sweet-pea.” And, of course, I just melt in front of my son so it was — that’s always fun.

Ohno: I had a blast working with every single person on set, from when I arrived in Vancouver and we started filming to when I left. You know, to me it was an honor to be able to work with people and be able to connect. And everybody was so welcoming and just kind and it was just fun. It was a very pleasant experience. I think I was lucky — very lucky.

On Ohno’s butterflies over acting for the first time …

Ohno: I have butterflies right now just talking about it. I — you know it was something that was so outside of my space. And you know, people who watch the movie are going to laugh and be like, “Oh really?”

But it’s you know — I think we’re always our own worst critic. So we try to give our absolute no matter what, no matter how big or small the role is and no matter you know, what type of a character we’re playing. So whether I’m dying slowly or I’m smiling and happy as can be, you know, you try to — you just try to be your best, so absolutely. If I — I think if I wasn’t nervous at all, there would have been an issue.

On trying to play the roles seriously …

McKellar: No, to me you play your character, you know. You always play your character. It’s just like, even if you’re doing huge comedy, even then you’re playing your character and the comedy comes from the situation. … You never want to pull your punches, you play your role and then the fun, campy side of it comes from the actual writing and the pacing and the editing and the special effects and all the rest of it. That’s my experience. That’s how I see it.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Tasmanian Devil premieres on Syfy this Saturday, Jan. 19 at 9 p.m.