Interview: 5 Questions with Jeff Teravainen of DARK MATTER
It is astonishing how much Jeff Teravainen has accomplished in his professional life. The actor, best known for his work as Lieutenant Anders on the hit television show Dark Matter, has trained as a race car driver, won awards as a recording artist, has been the voice of the Olympics and Hockey Night in Canada on CBC, and has appeared in over 25 television projects…and the man is just getting started!
We recently had the opportunity to have an email chat with the accomplished voice talent/actor regarding his expansive career thus far. The following are our highlights.
Scene Creek: The two Syfy/Space Channel shows that you’re a part of-Dark Matter and 12 Monkeys-both have huge and very passionate fan bases. What has been the most unique fan response that you’ve received?
Jeff Teravainen: Just having fans is pretty unique to me! These shows are international hits. To me that is the most surreal thing. People from across the world wanting to interact. Some do photo collages, others just say nice things. I’ve really enjoyed it as to me, I’m just another actor from Toronto! I think of myself as something like a cousin compared with the Raza crew being the immediate family.
SC: In a recent episode of Dark Matter, your character may or may not have died. There’s now a very active ‘Anders Lives’ hashtag on Twitter where your fans are begging for your character to be brought back. How do you respond to that outpouring of support? Is there a chance your character may return?
JT: Again, I am amazed, touched. It is wonderful to think Anders connected with people. I put everything I had into him. Joe, the show runner, recently in an interview said we did not see a body, so you never know. So I hope the phone will ring? My favorite role!
SC: You worked very closely with the incredible Roger Cross on Dark Matter, especially in season 2. What would be something about him or working with him that people would be surprised to know?
JT: He was going to be a commercial pilot… Smarts there! Roger makes everyone on set feel great. A very relaxed guy who remembers everyone’s name and story. That is remarkable.
SC: You starred recently with Brooke Shields on the Hallmark movie Flower Shop Mystery: Snipped in the Bud. What did you learn from working with her?
JT: She is kind of an icon. Absolutely zero attitude and super sweet. Constantly she shot scenes in below minus 20 weather and nothing but cheerfulness. I was amazed how she was learning big scenes the night before as she had so much. We’d run lines in hair and makeup etc and then BANG! she was ready to go. Because we were up in North Bay, we all kind of hung out together in the hotel bar at night. It was a real blast. We hit it off right away and that made it easy. She was a big childhood crush for me after all!
SC: Your upcoming stint on the Syfy show, The Expanse, is shrouded in mystery. Can you give us any details about the show or the character you’re playing on it?
JT: It will have to stay a mystery for now. All I can say is this show is like Dark Matter and 12 Monkeys, it’s amazing. I was already a big fan from episode 1 last year. After watching the first 3 episodes, I forced my wife to watch the show. Now she is hooked too!
