During those moments when steely nerve and adrenalin are required, actress Agam Darshi likes to search for her “inner Kate.”

It’s a reference to the former Calgarian’s full-time gig these days playing Kate Freelander, scrappy sidekick to the enigmatic Dr. Helen Magnus on the Vancouver-shot sci-fi mind-bender Sanctuary.

For instance, at the time of this interview, Darshi was looking to her alter-ego for inner strength in preparation for a day of intense fight training with a stunt co-ordinator. Last winter, when the self-described unco-ordinated actress attempted snowboarding for the first time in Banff, she found herself thinking, “What would Kate do in this situation?”

Kate isn’t just good at fisticuffs, but fairly co-ordinated, as well. She’s also dark and complicated and irreverent. Before she crossed over to become part of Magnus’ noble team, she was a shameless con artist and gun-for-hire for the shadowy and antagonistic Cabal organization. All of this makes her quite different, not only from Darshi, but also from many of the girl-next-door types she has played in the past.

“At the beginning, when she’s first introduced, she doesn’t really have any loyalties to the good guys or the bad guys,” says the 28-year-old actress, in an interview from Sanctuary‘s Vancouver production office to promote the show’s third season. “She just basically works for whomever pays her, and eventually gets taken in by the Sanctuary, because she needs them and they somewhat need her. She has been really fun to play, because she’s not the type of character I usually get cast for. It’s been really, really great to exercise that side of me and to play someone who’s so much tougher.”

And Sanctuary can be a tough world, particularly for young actresses not used to the sort of obsessive fanboy attention sci-fi shows can attract. Sanctuary centres on the complex, multi-dimensional adventures of the 158-year-old Magnus, a scientist who leads an expert organization that searches for, helps, and occasionally protects extraordinary beings called “abnormals.”

As with many shows of its ilk, Sanctuary has a fan base that can be both fiercely loyal and curiously possessive. This often means that new blood can get a frosty reception. Darshi joined Sanctuary in Season 2, not long before Dr. Helen Magnus’ reckless daughter, Ashley, was killed off in a somewhat controversial manner by the show’s writers. Fans were initially not amused with the arrival of a spunky new female presence who seemed designed to fill the gap.

“Kate Freelander is somewhat of an abrasive character and, at the beginning of Season 2, she’s kind of a hard pill to swallow,” Darshi says. “When the show aired, I would read threads on the Internet, which was the worst idea ever. People can be kind of tough. I never felt like Kate was a replacement, and I don’t think anybody did on set. Obviously, I understand why the fans would think that, but they were quite resistant to Kate even more, because they felt she was a replacement for Ashley.”

Nevertheless, Darshi has settled into the role, and the early friction seems a rare moment of strife in a career that appears, at least on the surface, to be quite blessed.

Born in England, Darshi moved to Canada at a young age. She left Ottawa with her family at of 14 and came to Calgary. She eventually studied visual arts at the University of Calgary and minored in theatre, with the intention of becoming a professional photographer. But after taking a class at Calgary’s Company of Rogues actors’ studio in TV and film acting, an instructor suggested she get an agent. After moving to Vancouver in 2004 to be with her sister, she took his advice and booked her very first audition, becoming a regular on the Canuck teen drama, renegadepress.com.

Darshi followed up with guest roles in TV shows and smaller parts in some very big films, including 2012, The Watchmen and Snakes on a Plane.

Meanwhile, she co-founded the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival, which is now in its second year. While Darshi was born in England and moved to Canada at a young age, her family is of Punjabi background. Darshi started the festival to “celebrate South Asian filmmakers” and educate people that South Asian film goes beyond Bollywood, and its performers are capable of doing more than reinforcing racial stereotypes.

“As an actor myself, I’m sensitive or aware of how minorities are portrayed in the media,” she said. “I wanted to create a film festival that showcased how a lot of South Asians out there are doing a lot of amazing stuff. The talent isn’t necessarily talking in an accent or wearing a bindi.”

Sanctuary airs Friday on Space. Check local listings.

   

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