Welcome to the TVGEN/Yahoo! Chat Auditorium. Our guest tonight is Peta Wilson, star of the hit USA Network series La Femme Nikita.

Crisytina: Peta, what has been the biggest change you've had to contend with in season 2?

Peta Wilson: Season 2 has been a lot easier, more time off, more time to relax. I think that nothing's been too big to contend with. Sometimes the scripts have gotten a little bit more complicated--that's a challenge sometimes, to make them work. And keep the reality within the scene and with the shows. Things have gotten more complicated in the plots, what's going on, where.

Reeeh: What do you think Nikita has learned the most this season about Section, Michael and herself?

Wilson: About Section, people and things are just not what they seem ever. Maybe, I think, she's getting to them a little, she thinks she's getting to their gray areas.

Scottus_T: Hello Miss Wilson, are you as serious as your character?

Wilson: No! I love to talk and to laugh, and I'm very trusting of people. Sometimes, I can be serious. I don't have the same stuff happen to me that happens to Nikita. Poor darling, I feel very sorry for Nikita sometimes.

Sister613: Peta, the show seems to contain a lot of symbolism. Is this planned, or are we (the fans) overanalyzing again? :) Thanks!

Wilson: No, I agree with that. I'm grateful that the fans notice the nuances. Sometimes and sometimes not, in terms of overanalyzing. I love to hear that people are analyzing, it makes me feel I'm doing my job well.

Susan1014: Peta, your loyalty towards your family is such a beautiful thing as is so many other things about you. Since you recently bought some land in Australia I was wondering if you would consider moving home for good someday?

Wilson: I plan to do that one day. I think family is very important and I'm blessed with having a good one. My aunt is with me now, my mother just left. I just bought this land, I'm building a house there. Maybe in 15 years. I like working in America, though.

Tamy_S: Peta, any big plans for the hiatus coming up? Maybe a movie, or are you just planning on relaxing?!

Wilson: Couple of movies. I'm reading a couple of scripts. I've had a couple of offers. But I'm being very choosy. But I think I'll do a movie called Mercy, maybe. It's a thriller. Even if I don't do it, people should go see it. It's a great script. And I plan to watch the foundations be laid for my house. I'd go insane if I didn't have my family around.

Crisytina: Wouldn't you just like to have Maddy alone in the white room, no monitors, for just 10 minutes? LOL.

Wilson: Thank God they saw that! I've been angling for a relationship with Birkoff for a while. No, I don't feel like that about Matthew. But I think Nikita is quite curious about Birkoff. She wonders what he'd be like.

Cullerbeels: In the season opener, were you and Roy really naked or were you wearing something?

Wilson: We were really naked!

Wild_Isabeau: Are you surprised at how many fans you have out here?

Wilson: I'm grateful, I am surprised. And flattered beyond expression. It was my third paid acting job, so I'm grateful. It makes me feel like...it just very nice. Thanks.

UncleWiggily1: Peta, what type of modeling did you do?

Wilson: I made a living as a model for about seven years. I did magazine work, Levi's, commercials, editorials. I did pregnant catalogues, with rubber stomachs. I got hired a lot because people seemed to like me, not because I was the prettiest girl in the room. I did a lot of swimwear.

Sister613: Peta, Joel Surnow suggested that there may be a "mystery" lurking for the fans in some future episodes. Can you give us a clue as to what this mystery is? Thanks!

Wilson: I don't know. You'd better ask Joel. There's some interesting stuff going on, really good. He's good, that Joel Surnow. It's a good surprise, the fans are going to love it.

Paskin: Would you have the guts to "cancel" someone, Peta, if your life was in danger?

Wilson: No. If my child's life was in danger, he'd be gone. If I had to defend myself, I would defend myself as best I could. But I would never want to kill somebody. Just to have Nikita do it is hard enough. But love one another, right? Killing is not cool. I'd try to talk my way out of it. If all else failed, I'd try to hurt him or her.

TnTeee: Do the writers allow you input into the character?

Wilson: Yes, we discuss things. The writers have got it. In the beginning we used to do quite a lot of discussion, but now they understand the character.

We have very clear communication. But I like reading the scripts and not knowing what's going to happen next. It keeps me interested, and I think it maybe makes me more interesting to the audience. And the more you give out as an actor, the more they can offer the actor. But Joel and his crew are really good.

Januarybelle: What is your favorite junk food? Thanks!

Wilson: I like hot chips and vinegar. I like Red Skins. What else do I like? I kind of like French fries with tomato sauce and vinegar.

Wild_Isabeau: Did Nikita like Jurgen in the end? Really?

Wilson: It's a hard question. Gosh, it's been so long. I think she respected him, his chivalry. He was brave. It took Nikita aback. I think in the end she felt kind of bad, because he was in love with her and she never was. She learned a lot of lessons from that.

Goldfingernk: Some advice for aspiring young actors?

Wilson: Study, study, study. No one can use the excuse, "If I just had an agent," "If I just had this or that..." If actors want to act, they should act. If you study hard and work hard, work will come--and don't be discouraged. Try to learn as much as you can. Read a lot. It stimulates your senses. And try and listen. Listen to people and watch them. Try and observe. Keep your ego out of the way. It would take years to answer this, and I still don't know anything.

Stay focused. My drama teachers were: Arthur Mendoza at the Actors Circle Theater in L.A. He's tough but very good. He broke my balls, but he's really good. Tom Waits, not the singer, the actor, is very good. Sylvana Guilado. And Stuart Rodgers.

But don't let anyone ever break your spirit. Don't give your talent away, own it. Own what it is that makes you special. There are teachers out there who are very frustrated actors and sometimes they hurt young talent. So be careful!

Jazzlady_9: What attracted you to the Nikita script?

Wilson: The French film was amazing. And the original pilot was like the film with some good adjustments. What an interesting role for a woman. As a film role for women, I think Nikita will go down as a really interesting role for a woman, whether I played it or not. Not that I'm going anywhere!

Sister613: Peta, I love the bloopers on the Warner Brothers site. How often in the midst of a very serious scene does everyone just crack up laughing? Thanks!

Wilson: Well, when I'm supposed to be really serious, sometimes I get the giggles, and I can't stop smiling. Then I have to try and work myself into a state. And sometimes it happens when we're tired. It's important to laugh, though. Sometimes it gets us through the day.

Roy Dupois is French Canadian and has a really colorful sense of humor. The crew and the cast are very close, you know, it's like a big family. Everyone tries to make everyone feel good at all times.

Hollydream: Do you think that someday we will see Little Nikita and Michael dolls at the local toy store?

Wilson: Hey, let's hope so--and I want a piece of that! People should start writing letters! Demand your Nikita dolls! So in 20 years people can ask me what I do, and I can say, "Hey I live off dolls."

PFrancoise: Is Nikita "buying into" Section philosophy more this season, or is she just adapting to stay alive?

Wilson: She's adapting to stay alive. She does listen. They have done a lot of bad things to her. She's trying to understand their logic. But there is a big difference between her and them. She has a conscience and they don't. Imagine what that's like. She has to tread very warily around them. I can't disclose that. I'm as I've always been. Sometimes you'll see it. I try and leave it in there. I think it's important and so do the writers.

Januarybelle: What is the weirdest piece of fan mail you have received? Thanks!!

Wilson: I've had some weird ones from prison, people telling me how to kill people. I've gotten one from General Goodfeel Pearson, or something, some weird name. He went on to say that he and his wife watch the show every week and really love it. And how they really appreciate the light in me. And I'm thinking, this is really nice and sweet and inspiring! And then, he says something along the lines of: "And what would be really amazing would be when first thing in the morning I go to get my milk for my tea, I'd have a full length photo of you on the fridge naked." And this is the funny thing - my mother told me to look at the address, and my boyfriend had sent it! He's a writer. A writer-director.

Goldfingernk: Was your height ever a problem for you? I'm 6'2" and just turned sixteen.

Wilson: No, listen I'm only 5'10". But I try to walk like a six-footer. It's not a problem. Stand up straight.

I was an athlete I played net ball. I used to hide my height from my opponents, so they'd never know how tall I was. I'd keep that extra inch or two up my sleeve. Height's a good thing. I like to look a man in the eye. And if I can't, I put on heels.

Seadoenay: Peta, you are lovely and a joy to watch as Nikita. I just wanted to say thank you. So many of us identify with the character of Nikita.

Wilson: You know what, thank you so much, because when I first started preparing this role, I thought this character could be anybody, a victim of circumstance, not a drugged-out killer.

Often people are very innocent of stuff. I was always the one who was her in class. The one people would sometimes have it in for. I hoped Nikita would grab people's consciences. I wanted people to feel like they could identify with her point of view.

guest_88d9041: Peta, if and when the last show is shown, do you want Nikita and Michael to finally be free?

Wilson: Don't know. I'd like how I'm feeling about Mike at the moment so it's hard to answer for later. Nikita would be frightened. I can't speak for both of them at this point. Their relationship is so out there.

Wrigleylfn: If you had to classify a turning point for Nikita's character, what episode would epitomize that turning point?

Wilson: I think "New Regime" was a real turning point. Because she had to choose. She could have killed operations and Madeline and all of them. She could have disposed of the Section, but there was risk involved, they could have killed her. They were in a weird way like family. But every bloody episode is a turning point.

Alex_guy: Peta, do you use stunt doubles frequently?

Wilson: Yes I do. Although, I do all the fight sequences. I'm scared of heights, so the doubles do that. But I try to do as much as I can. There's insurance on these shows, and if you hurt yourself there's no show. So I have to be careful.

Fredyvilla: What do you think is your best quality?

Wilson: Gosh! What's my best quality!? This is what's so tragic - look how quickly I'm answering this! When I'm warming up, there's a moment, you say, what makes me special? I always say, my truths, my honesty. And that's what I bring. Sometimes too much so. I got a big Australian flapping off.

Patti_lee_98: What part of Australia are you from?

Wilson: I mean flapping mouth. I'm from all over, army brat. My mother lives in Carnes, and my father lives outside Sydney.

Buffstudd_16: What do you like in guys?

Wilson: That's hard! I don't know, jeez, they're different from women. They're necessary. And sometimes they're delightful. I like honesty in a man. There you go. Nice lips are good too. A good kisser, too.

Speedfreakcollagen: Peta, do you ever feel pressured to be a good role model, so that young kids can look up to you?

Wilson: No, I DON'T FEEL ANY PRESSURE EVER!!!! I don't know, I try not to think about that. That's not really an actor's job, it's just to do their job and act, and be conscious and aware of things going on around them. To make a difference in the roles they play.

EdithSidebottom: Do you have any desire to work behind the camera?

Wilson: It's the writer's responsibility. I'm the actress! I'd like to produce, yes, very much so. I've got a couple of things up my sleeves, actually. I won't say what, I'm learning. I'm a producer!

I've always been on the stage. My father said recently that he was proud of me. Playing the piano when I was a kid, I was always entertaining. I appreciate behind the scenes, but I'm liking acting now. I'd like to do one film a year--that's really good as an actress. And produce the rest of the time.

Henryd51: Who decides your look for Nikita?

Wilson: We all do really, you know. It all dictates you see? We read the scripts and there's where it begins. It takes on color. We take risks. We go, what the hell! I'm very lucky, they've all got amazing taste. They're almost all Canadians, you know!! Look out!

Shauri98: Are you as comfortable with technology in real life as you seem to be on the show?

Wilson: Well, I'm more of a hands-on person, myself. I'm not uncomfortable with technology, but I'm sort of easing into it. I drive a '57 Thunderbird for goodness sake! But I'm very curious - about most things.

PixieStix6: Can you really shoot a gun?

Wilson: Well, yeah, I really shoot a gun on the show. I used to work with a guy called Tireon Mortell when I was preparing the show, and we shot a lot of guns. But I get scared, they could kill someone, they're freaky.

AmyJoKG: How many hours a day do you work out? Do you diet?

Wilson: I kind of just try and eat right. And when I need to lose weight, I eat properly. I try to work out an hour a day. I do yoga and stretch as I need to. I drink a lot of water and laugh a lot.

Hollydream: If you could work with anyone, who would it be and why?

Wilson: Too many!! Too many! Jeff Bridges is a big dish. So is Dennis Franz. There's so many people. I wished I could have worked with Montgomery Clift. Laurence Fishburn, Ellen Barkin, Gena Rowlands I adore, she's wonderful. Any actor that wants to play ball.

BeautifulMist: Who's your best bud on the set - who do you hang out with?

Wilson: Judy. I like 'em all, I'm buddies with them all, I have my moments with all of them during the day.

Hollydream: What is the weirdest thing you have done acting-wise?

Wilson: I don't know, acting is all strange. It's strange to be of a different mindset.

PjHarveyRULES_00: What's it like working with Roy? Is he as serious as his character?

Wilson: Roy is very serious, he's a very serious actor. But he has a very good sense of humor, and he's very eccentric, I think, and very intelligent. Very sharp. We're very different. I learn a lot from my experience with Roy.

I just want to say thanks so much for your questions, it challenges me to think. Thanks for your support and loyalty. Be well, and nice to meet you all on the Internet.