Since her debut in The Clone Wars, Asajj Ventress has captivated fans with her lithe look, seductive aura, and deadly skill with two lightsabers. Giving voice to a character which is quickly becoming a fan favorite of the series, Nika Futterman brings a seething and sultry quality to the role of the notorious Sith apprentice.
We asked Nika a few questions about her role as Ventress, and of the intriguing relationship she seems to share with Obi-Wan Kenobi:
How did you first get involved with The Clone Wars?
I got involved with Clone Wars the usual actor way... I auditioned. It was crazy -- one of those auditions you really have to work for! I can't remember how many times I auditioned for the part, but it seemed like a million!
Your voice has a very seductive, sultry quality. Do you enjoy bringing this aspect to Ventress' character?
My "real" voice is pretty deep, but definitely not as sultry as Ventress's -- she can't help but be sexy! I love playing her that way. I think it's one of those elements you add to a character that make them multi-layered. She's crazy sexy, but also amazingly intelligent. She's freaky looking, but the voice makes her ohhhh so confusing. I think it makes her scarier too, and I love playing scary characters!
There seems to be a vague banter occurring between Ventress and Obi-Wan -- what's up with that?
Ahhhh, Obi and Ventress! Well, I think Obi is confused! I think he wants her, but hates that he does! He's both attracted and revolted by her! He needs to kill her, but maybe some part of him believes he can save her from the dark side. Ventress feels something, but she's become so hardened that she pushes down any feelings she could ever have for Obi. They definitely respect each other's power.
You've played in several Clone Wars episodes thus far, including the movie. Do you have a favorite performance?
How could I ever pick my favorite moment? Every moment is fun with Ventress!
Before Asajj, we'd never really had any real exposure to a female Sith before. What qualities do you think you bring to this character that couldn't be effectively expressed in a male Sith?
When you introduce any female character, especially one from the "dark side", you are inevitably going to get many layers. It seems to be easier to play a bad guy as just pure evil. With a female such Asajj, you can't help but wonder what made her this way. So that's what I think this character can bring to the table -- a real sense of history, not just the wars in the galaxies, but the personal, internal war that is not always easy to show in a male character.
