It’s funny to think Lenore Zann dodged the initial audition to play Rogue. As far as fans are concerned, Zann is as iconic as the character she voices. Now, the two have cemented their status as legends in X-Men history after X-Men ’97’s episodes 5 “Remember It” and episode 7 “Bright Eyes.”
The Big Comic Page had the opportunity to sit down to unpack all the emotional baggage fans and the actress have been feeling this season.
The Big Comic Page: How did you feel after the initial read of the script for “Remember It?”
Lenore Zann: It was pretty amazing. It was very intense. I read the script, and it broke my heart because of course I love Remy/Gambit. I’ve talked about this a few times, but I was already grieving at the time. My young niece who had passed away a few months before from cancer – she was only 17. It had broken my heart really. So I was deeply grieving, so when I saw the script I thought I’m going to channel all of my grief into the script.
And when I read ep 7, same thing. I thought as an actor, we often have to do our emotional homework depending on what the scene is that we’re going to be doing. And I said to myself I’ve already done my emotional homework on this one. I don’t need to do any more. So I just channeled it and a lot of people have talked about the authenticity in my voice and that’s because I focused on being authentic and really expressing what grief feels like.
My hope was through my doing that that the timbre of my voice would resonate with people so that they would feel it too, and anybody who had been grieving or was feeling sad could relate to it and maybe it might help other people feel their feelings as well. And in that way have a cathartic experience and hopefully heal and that was my goal.
BCP: Have you seen the episode, and did your feelings change?
LZ: I have seen the episode, and no (my feelings haven’t changed). It was really beautifully done. The writing to start with was incredible, the music, the pacing, the fact that they cut to black worked so well. I’m just grateful to the artists, the writer Beau DeMayo, to Marvel and Disney for bringing me back.
BCP: You and Chris Potter brough the romance of Rouge and Gambit to life. Did you have any conversations with Potter after learning the fate of Gambit?
LZ: Well Chris Potter didn’t play that role, but we had talked earlier because we both knew what would be happening. We also knew that he wouldn’t be coming back as Gambit. So, we were told early on that Gambit would be passing away and therefore Cable was actually a better role for him because he had more episodes so there was that. But AJ who plays the Gambit now, we were both broken hearted about Gambit’s death. It was really hard.
BCP: In episode 7 “Bright Eyes,” Rogue got a chance to stand up to the US government. Did that give you the opportunity to channel some of your political passions as Rogue got to stand up to Captain America? (Fun fact about Zann for our readers: She served as a member of Parliament in Canada)
LZ: (LAUGHS) well, let’s just say it was a lot of fun! Throwing the shield was hilarious. I loved it. And again, I was channeling that feeling of rage and hopelessness. The feelings you get when you’re grieving and you’re going through it, you know. You feel sad, you feel scared, you feel anxious, but at some point, most people go through an angry stage as well. I could relate to that as well, so I channeled that and I channeled my anger into that as well. And again, it was very healing. It was very therapeutic.
BCP: We know you can’t talk about what’s to come, but without spoiling anything, do you think the team could forgive Rogue for the decision to drop Trask?
LZ: Well, we’ll have to see, you know it’s a story, let it play out. In real life, I do not believe in killing people, murder, or even capital punishment. I believe in letting people be in jail for the rest of their life and giving them an opportunity to feel regret and remorse for what they’ve done. However, in this context of this episode and this comic book world I think a lot of people were rooting for Rogue, and as Wolverine said, she did what we wanted to do.
BCP: Rouge and Gambit’s love story is one for the ages. Did you have any concerns or apprehensions when they introduced Magneto’s love triangle to the series?
LZ: Yeah, I thought oh boy, a lot of the Rogue and Gambit fans are going to be upset, but I also realize it’s a story and has been in the comics. It’s not like it came out of nowhere. I believe that Rogue and Gambit are soulmates, but sometimes people have to go through life alone as well. And Rogue, she’s been very lonely in her life and her journey now really, with the death of Gambit, is just beginning. She’s on a mission, and she wants to see it through. She wants to find justice for Remy, and she will do that.
BCP: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us.
LZ: It was my pleasure, sugah.
Zann is just as tough a cookie as Rogue. The voice actress was in Chicago for C2E2 on Friday, then flew out Friday night to get to Pennsylvania for the Lady J DNA’s Mutant and Proud event on Saturday and flew back to Chicago for the conclusion of the Windy City’s convention. And on behalf of the attendees on Sunday, we could not be more thankful she made the trek!
Episode 8 “Tolerance is Extinction” is part one of the three-part finale of X-Men ’97 and will air Wednesday May 1. As final preparation for this week’s episode, writer Beau DeMayo has taken to X and recommended the following episodes:
– One Man’s Worth, Parts 1 and 2 (season 4, episodes 1 and 2)
– Sanctuary, Parts 1 and 2 (season 4, episodes 6 and 7)
– Descent (season 5, episode 12)
– The Final Decision (Season 1, Episode 13)
The writer of this piece is: Laurence Almalvez
Laurence tweets from @IL1511
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