Dexter A quick chat with Dexter's Julia Stiles

Best known for her roles in films such as 10 Things I Hate About You and The Bourne franchise, Julia Stiles can currently be seen starring in Dexter, playing Lumen Pierce, a rape victim who persuades Dexter (Michael C Hall) to find and kill the men who abused her.

TV&Satellite Week magazine caught up with the actress to find out more...

As Lumen, you have some serious prosthetic scars. Was it a painstaking process getting them done?
“It took three hours in make-up, but it was really helpful in terms of getting into the character. When I started the show, they could only tell me the broad strokes of what happens to her over the series. The details of what’s already happened to her only come out later. So to really understand what she’d gone through, the most helpful thing actually was going through hair and make-up and having these prosthetic wounds. I could turn her story into a reality in my imagination.”

Lumen expresses a lot of emotion without speaking, doesn’t she?
“My character refused to speak for her first half-hour or so on the show. That was a challenge, to be more expressive without words. I also think that her survival instinct almost came out in an animalistic way – I had a lot of fun with that.”

How much was Lumen changed by her ordeal?
“It’s pretty harrowing and they were such life-changing events that she was almost like a different person when Dexter met her. She can’t go back to her old life. Even if she can move on with her life, she could never identity with or trust people in the same way.”

How does her relationship with Dexter develop?
“Initially she couldn’t really trust anyone, but the process of him earning her trust is something that’s very interesting to watch. Over the course of the season trust is borne out of necessity. Dexter and Lumen need each other for different reasons, and that kind of forces them to co-exist. She needs his help in terms of vigilante justice, and he needs her not to reveal his inner demon. They trust each other because they have to.”

Dexter and Lumen have both been traumatised by terrible events – how similar are they?
“They are kindred spirits in the way that they can’t really relate to the outside world in a normal fashion. And they understand each other. They both have secrets and, in some twisted way, that’s a shared experience. What’s happened to Lumen alienates her from the rest of the world, and things Dexter’s keeping hidden do the same thing, so they sort of bond over that. There’s something almost romantic about the fact that they see each other’s flaws and imperfections, and are so accepting of them. Lumen knows the reality of what Dexter does in private and what he’s keeping hidden, and she accepts him. In a weird way, she admires him for it. Dexter knows the truth about the horrific things that have happened to her that she might be ashamed of, and he is also accepting of her and wants to help her.”

Will Lumen be able to put this behind her?
“That is what’s brought up in the series finale. The thirst for revenge and justice that she has – once that’s quenched, then the real question is will she be able to go back to her normal life and what will she do with Dexter at that point?”

How are things romantically between them?
“It’s interesting, because the fact that she’s been so victimised takes sex out of the equation, at least initially. Their bond is something much more intimate psychologically; they see each other in very vulnerable and unique situations they could never reveal to other people. It’s like they go on this secret adventure and they bond because of it. Where it goes from there takes a long time and progression of the relationship is slow.”

Were you already a Dexter fan?
“I watch the show and I was so curious about how they were going to fit a girl into it. I got hooked on season four when John Lithgow was in it as the Trinity Killer and, when I was offered the role, I went back and watched series one to three.”

What do you like about it?
“I love it because it calls into question the whole idea of right and wrong. You’re rooting for this protagonist to do these things that on paper are horrible and illegal. I guess the conceit is that the people he’s killing are immoral, but the idea of vigilante justice is very controversial.”

Given the dark subject matter, what was the atmosphere like on set?
“I had very few scenes with the rest of the cast, as most of mine were just with Michael. One of his strengths as an actor is that he can play a character who keeps his emotions in check. The most energising scenes were the kill room scenes as there’s a sort of sacredness to them because of their history in the show. There’s a weird sort of ritual to them, and I was really excited to be a part of it. But also at times you have to lighten the mood when you’re doing this kind of subject matter.”

Does Dexter see Lumen as a loose cannon?
“On the one hand he is able to identity with someone else and not have to feel totally alone because of a secret. But she’s a threat and she complicates his life. It’s an interesting dilemma for Dexter to be in and it’s out of his control; she’s seeking revenge and, not only can he not control her, but she could expose him, which is threatening.”

Could we see you back in another TV series – or indeed in Dexter?
“I was spoiled on Dexter because of the material and the schedule, and I’m reluctant to commit to any other series. There’s a possibility I could come back, although I’m pretty busy while they are shooting season six. In any case the story was wrapped up in a nice way – I don’t really know what else they would do with my character.”