Source: Caprica City - Nice Ass: An Exclusive Interview with Leah Cairns
(German Translation: Caprica City - Netter Hintern: Leah Cairns im Exklusiv-Interview)
Date of Publication: June 10, 2007
Written by: Mirco Neubauer (xshrekx) & Peter Glotz (Pedda)


Aboard "Battlestar Galactica", Lt. Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson is the senior Raptor pilot and Sharon Agathon's ECO. Lt. Edmondson often appears to be bitter - as if she were burdened by a dark secret. The person playing Racetrack, however, is far from being bitter.. In fact, in her interviews, the actress usually comes across as pretty open-minded and easy-going. An impression that was reinforced when we had an opportunity to talk her.

At the moment, Leah Cairns works on the second season of "Kyle XY" . Before that, she had a recurring role on the critically acclaimed Canadian series "Godiva's". On top of that, she was lucky enough to act alongside Al Pacino in the direct-to-DVD movie "88 Minutes"..

Her first appearance on "Battlestar Galactica" was as Boomer's ECO in the first season finale "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 2". Since then, we've seen Racetrack in two dozen episodes. In her interview with Caprica City, the actress talked about her travels, her experiences in Germany, the crew of "Battlestar Galactica", and sometimes weird results of doing ego-surfing on the Internet. And about her butt.


Caprica City: Since we are a German website and you travel a lot: Have you ever been to Germany? Or would you like to visit our country sometime in the future? Is there anything specific you'd like to visit, or experience, or try in Germany?

Leah Cairns: I've been to Germany twice. Once in 1993 and again last year. I had a very good German friend who I have since lost contact with that I stayed with in Berlin. (If anyone knows Richard Hoep the Bio-Chemist please tell him that I am looking for him!!) I really loved Berlin and would love to go back. Last year I checked out Munich which is truly a beautiful city! I think that next time I would like to visit the countryside.


Caprica City: Apropos of travelling: In your "The SciFi World" interview, we learnt how much you like to travel. In light of that passion of yours, what might be the reason for you working in Canadian and American productions only?

Leah Cairns: Believe me its not from lack of trying! I have gone against my agent's advice and auditioned for really bad movies just because they were filming somewhere exciting. I've just never managed to book one yet! A good friend of mine (actually he played Flat Top in an episode or two of BSG) just booked a movie that shoots in India for 5 weeks. Its very hard to make me jealous but I am freaking GREEN with envy!!!


Caprica City: Between your travels around the world, and around 2002, when you started acting professionally, did you find the time to go to College for a while or try any other jobs? Any profession you'd say: not a chance in hell I'd do this! Or the other way around: If I wouldn't be an actor then I'd be...?

Leah Cairns: I was a student at the University of Victoria. I would do semesters here and there between trips. I finished just over two years worth of credits before I quit. I was doing a double major in Environmental Studies and Geography. It was interesting, but I was learning so much more on my travels that it just didn't seem worth the time and money in the end.

A job that I wouldn't do? I couldn't work in a slaughter house. Or a meat deli. I don't do well with dead animals. I could also never be a chef. I'm terrible at cooking! If I wasn't acting I'd probably be working at my friend's NGO in India. Its called One! International. Check it out. A job I'd love to do? I think it would be cool to be a whale or dolphin trainer. Or a scuba instructor.

As for other jobs I've done....I started serving when I was 16 and let me tell you I used to be a fantastic waitress! I've also worked in Japan as an English teacher where I taught mostly children and developed a program for teaching toddlers and babies. I also hostessed which is how I financed most of my travels. I worked for Child Haven International at a children's home in South India and in North India I taught English and helped build a school ( i.e. I carried rocks) for an organization called SECMOL. I also built kitchen countertops for a little while but the overalls just didn't do it for me.


Caprica City: What is your opinion on "Battlestar" conventions?

Leah Cairns: I've only been to one but I had a great time.


Caprica City: Can we hope to see you in Europe sometime?

Leah Cairns: I can only hope!


Caprica City: Should we beg the organizer of a German convention in November to invite you?

Leah Cairns: Yes! Yes! YES PLEASE!!!


Caprica City: Is there a crew member on the set of BSG who is never mentioned but vital to the success of the whole enterprise?

Leah Cairns: Hmm.....I'm not really sure who is mentioned and who isn't. Well one day the coffee truck that caffinates us all broke down on the way to set and we almost had to cut the day short. It was a very long and painful day. I don't think we could do the show without him.


Caprica City: And the last "Battlestar" question: We all love Racetrack and hope she stays with us until the very last episode. But some of us guess that in the end a lot of the characters will die. What do you wish for Racetrack? Should she live happily ever after or go down in a blaze of glory?

Leah Cairns: It would be cool to go down in a blaze of glory but only if its in the season finale. If Racetrack dies I don't get scripts delivered to my door and that my friends would be a tragedy!!!


Caprica City: If you had the time, money, crew and cast, what dream movie project would you like to realize?

Leah Cairns: I'd make a documentary about some aspect of life in India. Pick one...any one.... they all fascinate me.


Caprica City: You acted (partially) nude in both 'Godiva's' and '88 Minutes'. How are actors approached regarding these things? I guess, you don't just get the script and play the nude scene.

Leah Cairns: I hate to tell you, but yes you do. The script comes out and you hope that you've limited the trips to McDonalds drive thru.


Caprica City: How do you prepare for something like that?

Leah Cairns: Shave.


Caprica City: What was the experience like?

Leah Cairns: Its easy for me as long as the other actor feels comfortable also. If he's feeling weird or shy then my job becomes infinitely more difficult.


Caprica City: And how does it feel to see the scene from "88 Minutes" with you wearing only an apron dress cut into the trailer to promote the movie?

Leah Cairns: I thought....nice ass! I've never seen it from that angle before...not bad.

Caprica City: You work for both TV shows and motion pictures. What are the differences in your opinion? Which one do you like more?

Leah Cairns: The big difference is the amount of time you get to shoot a scene. Features can afford to play with the scenes, rehearse a little and get tons of coverage. TV world is much faster paced. I've worked on a couple of shows where as long as the camera was in focus and the actors got most of their lines right we'd move onto the next scene!! It can be really tough to move that fast. HOWEVER, I love the family atmosphere created during a TV series. You get to work for months, sometimes years, with the same people. I'm all about community so I really get off on that.


Caprica City: In an interview you told your fans that you ego-surf. What was the most unusual, interesting or funniest piece of information you found out about yourself that maybe you had not known before?

Leah Cairns: Hmmm? Good question! I read on a BSG appreciation thread that I really "Butter someone's Muffin" I'm not really sure what that means but my sister bugs me about it all of the time. Also I've read that I'm 5'0 which isn't true. I'm 5'5 thank you very much! Oh and come to think of it there are a few fans out there that think I'm the girl on Justin Timberlake's video Sexy Back...sadly I'm not.


Caprica City: Did you discover some weird fan stuff?

Leah Cairns: Weird? No not really. Well maybe a few things. A photoshoped pic of Racetrack as a Goth chick was a little odd.....


Caprica City: What are you currently working on and what can you tell us about it?

Leah Cairns: I am currently on an ABC Family show called Kyle XY. I don't wear a helmet, a rubber flight suit or get naked so its a whole new world for me!