In the decade since becoming a full-time actress, Amanda Schull logged screen time in a variety of TV shows but never a starring role.
Schull, a former ballerina who danced with the San Francisco Ballet before becoming an actress, worked often, landing guest appearances in "The Cleaner," "Cold Case," "Bones" and "Nikita." She had recurring roles on "One Tree Hill" and "Pretty Little Liars" before landing a similar gig on USA’s "Suits."
But in the fall of 2013, she got the part of Dr. Cassandra Railly in the Syfy Network’s new series "12 Monkeys" — a lead role that could be a breakthrough for Schull, who grew up in Nuuanu and graduated from Punahou.
As Railly, a virologist pulled into a desperate attempt to stop a deadly plague, Schull stars alongside Aaron Stanford, who plays Cole, a scruffy time traveler sent from the future to save humanity. Schull is in nearly every scene of the pilot, which premieres Friday.
She bears much of the burden of convincing viewers that "12 Monkeys" is a show worth watching.
"It’s definitely not another role," Schull said in a phone call from her parent’s Nuuanu home. "From the very first second I got the script, I approached this differently."
Science fiction fans will recognize the series: It was inspired by — but does not duplicate — the 1995 film of the same name. The big-screen version starred Bruce Willis as Cole, Madeleine Stowe as Railly and Brad Pitt, who earned a supporting actor Oscar nomination.
Schull said she was lucky the Syfy show’s executive producers, Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett, knew her from a lengthy fight scene they had written for her "Nikita" episode. "Nikita," which aired on The CW network, starred Hawaii’s Maggie Q in the title role of the butt-kicking assassin, but the two women didn’t know each other.
"We had this pretty epic fight scene, and, not surprisingly, she won," Schull said. "I didn’t stand a fighting chance even if I did know what I was doing, which I did not."
(The scene is available on YouTube. Be sure to watch to the very end. Find it here: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=7bZlbJFgtCI.)
As Schull auditioned for "12 Monkeys," she was reminded of a TV interview she had just seen that featured Bryan Cranston, the Emmy-winning star of "Breaking Bad."
"He said go after the role, don’t go after the job," Schull said. "It is the character that is most important. And that really resonated with me. And then I got this script, and I really took on this role."
Schull has a difficult time, though, explaining what she did differently to become Railly — and audiences will decide whether she succeeded, of course. Her change could have been inspired by the plot, which is intense, she said. Or it could have been the mindset of her character, who Schull says is smart, admirable and a lot of fun to play.
"I always feel like I immerse myself in a role, but this was just a different mindset," she said. "Something switched in me that allowed me to just understand the role in a way that I hadn’t necessarily embodied before."
Syfy plans to air the pilot and 12 episodes, but no decision has been made on a second season. A possible bonus for Schull: Because "12 Monkeys" is produced by the same company that produces "Suits," Universal Cable Productions, she should be able to stay on both shows if the Syfy series takes off, she said.
"12 Monkeys" the TV series might draw fans who enjoyed the "12 Monkeys" film, but Schull stressed that the episodes will unveil a very different story with additional characters and back stories. Advance copies of the series have drawn praise from a range of viewers, including some who probably know more about Ebola than the Syfy lineup of shows.
"It is on the Syfy Network, but I wouldn’t categorize it as strictly science fiction," Schull said. "The plague element is, of course, unfortunately very timely right now. All of us actors portray everything as based in reality."
The "12 Monkeys" series premiere is at 7 p.m. Friday on the Syfy Network.
AND that’s a wrap …
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Mike Gordon is the Star-Advertiser’s film and television writer. Read his Outtakes Online blog at honolulupulse.com. Reach him at 529-4803 or email mgordon@staradvertiser.com.
