Interview with a vampire—Canberra style

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If you see superheroes, wizards, elves and aliens near EPIC this weekend, you’re not imagining things – Oz Comic-Con is coming to town.
Opening its doors (or should that be interdimensional portals?) for the first time in our own Gotham City on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August, Comic-Con is a weekend dedicated to all things comic related—including artists, panel talks, special guests, costumes and displays of comics and specialty merchandise. And among the guests is one of my three favourite vampires, Elijah from the Originals.
In a departure from my usual crushes on punky, Eurotrash vamps (think Spike from Buffy and Eric from True Blood), Elijah is a sophisticated, suit clad immortal played by New Zealand-Canadian actor Daniel Gillies.
Currently in Australia to film Season Two of the ABC drama The Newsreader, Daniel is also known for his roles in Virgin River and as the modern version of Jane Austen bad-boy Whickham in Bollywood’s Bride and Prejudice.
Regardless of whether the role is a hero or villain (or a little in-between like Elijah), Daniel shares that it’s important to him to have compassion for his characters and understand how they’ve come to be.
“I don’t see anyone as a villain, they’re heroes in their own minds so I try to understand what’s going on inside them,” Daniel says.
This proved to be a challenge for Daniel in the 2021 New Zealand film, Coming Home In the Dark, where his character, Mandrake, terrifies a school teacher and their family after a chance encounter on a walking holiday.
“He’s a complex character and I had to find compassion to understand what had created him. I was so nervous preparing for filming and struggled to find him, but it’s important to find love for your villain,” Daniel says.
And rather than a slasher road trip film (although be warned it is very violent and disturbing) the film is a psychological drama about guilt and complicity in historical institutional abuse.
“It’s the best thing I’ve done, and I think it’s one of the best films of 2021,” Daniel explains.
Coming to Canberra to talk about all things TV and film, for Daniel being part of Comic-Con is something he’s looking forward to.
“There’s something wonderful about the immediacy of contact at the events. They used to be regarded in the industry as extremely niche but now big stars like Chris Evans take part. I equate it to bands on tours,” he says.
“I love that I’m someone’s hobby and that projects I’ve done are something people enjoy. I always think I’m not going to be as ‘mythic’ as the characters I play so I just try to be kind, and really everyone is so kind and supportive.”
When I say that being part of fandoms has helped get a lot of people through tough times since COVID-19 hit us, Daniel agrees whole heartedly.
“Now we’re all emerging from our caves I love that geekdom has become an empire.”
When I ask if there’s a fandom he follows, Daniel shares that he’s become a convert to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
“I’m a huge geek for it,” he laughs, “In fact I was watching YouTube videos just before we started chatting.”
And while there might not be UFC bouts going on at Comic-Con this weekend but there’s a whole lot to experience, with New York Times best-selling comic writer Tom Taylor, speculative fiction writer Cat Sparks and actors Bernard Curry (who you might recognise from Once Upon A Time) and Chai Hansen (who played Jordan Kyle in Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments) among the guests.
With cosplay competitions, console and tabletop gaming and panel discussions running over the two-days you can enjoy and celebrate your fandom in whatever way you like and whatever age you are. See you there?
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Oz Comic-Con Canberra
When: Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August
Where: EPIC
More information and tickets: ozcomiccon.com
Feature image: CW