“I think this season of Helix is so much better than the first one,” admits 27-year-old Jordan Hayes, the Montreal-born actress, who portrays Dr. Sarah Jordan on the hit SyFy series. “This season was shot entirely on location in Oka (Quebec), whereas last time we were entirely in the studio, on a soundstage, which doubled as the Season One’s Artic facility. I think that the location, where we were at, has brought a lot of great things to the show. It’s given it a whole new depth and added a lot of dimensions to the story.”
Helix newcomer Matt Long (Private Practice, Mad Men) has joined the cast as Dr. Kyle Sommer. Long believes that Season Two of the suspense-filled drama is not only exciting for fans of the show but also for the actors who bring the Helix characters to life. “I think the writers had a lot more time this year to sit down and really flush out the ideas, and it’s pretty apparent because this season is incredible,” Long explains. “I wasn’t involved with the last season but it seems like it went a lot smoother and people are happier this season. It’s a whole new story. Helix fans should love every minute of it.”
When Season Two began, earlier this year, the doctors from the Center for Disease Control — Dr. Jordan (Hayes) and Dr. Peter Farragut (Neill Napier) — were still haunted by the deadly Narvik outbreak and the events that took place in high-tech Arctic Biosystems research facility. The scientists reassembled to investigate a deadly outbreak of a new disease on a Windjammer cruise ship. The newest member of the CDC team, Dr. Sommer (Long), a world-class toxicologist whose charm matches his sharp intellect, joined them as the tried to uncover the baffling secrets behind a hideous new virus. Their investigation led them to a mysterious island inhabited by a cult led by the enigmatic Brother Michael (Steven Weber), a charismatic man who, on the surface, appears to be attempting to create a utopian society. After arriving on the island, they reunited with Dr. Alan Farrugut (Billy Campbell), who led the charge in finding the cause of the nasty new virus poised to destroy mankind.
In the series, Jordan Hayes’ character, Dr. Sarah Jordan, is one of the youngest doctors ever hired by the CDC. Her ambition has always been to make her mark on the world of virology drives most of her decisions. Although the events of Season One have given her a new perspective, tempering the naivete that so often led her astray, Dr. Jordan must now balance her ambitions and responsibility with her evolving understanding of who — and what — she is now.
“I think that in the interim between Seasons One and Two, in the 18 months that have passed, Sarah changed a lot,” Hayes explains. “Obviously, in the first season, she went through a lot of stuff she was never expecting. She became immortal and pregnant. I think all those things have changed her. She is definitely more reckless and edgier. Whereas, last year, she was very green and very naive. That was her first time in the field. It’s really fun when the writers give you an arc and let you play something different.”
As aforementioned, Matt Long has joined the Helix: Season Two cast as Dr. Sommer, a handsome, hot-shot toxicologist with a Southern swagger. His Texas-reared charisma can bring levity to even the darkest of situations. “Kyle is quite a character, and I had a lot of fun playing him,” the 34-year-old, Kentucky-native says. “He’s the new guy and he comes in and ruffles some feathers. He likes to give people a hard time. He’s really smart guy and fans will learn more about his specialties as the season goes on.”
“Matt is such a great addition to our cast,” Hayes interjects. “He has really brought a new dimension to the show. He is so great with comedy but he’s equally great with drama, which you will see as the season continues. He’s been a lot of fun to work with.”
Getting personal with Matt Long and Jordan Hayes of Helix:
How much are you like your characters in real life?
Matt Long: “I love Kyle, actually, he’s a lot of fun to play. We are alike in some basic ways. But, I don’t know if there are a lot of actors that would say that they don’t like their characters, because as an actor you have to find something redeeming about the person and you have to believe in what they are doing. You have to believe in it as the character. You have to emphasize with them in some way, even if you are playing a bad person, and I am not talking about Kyle, otherwise, you are judging the person and you are not going to play the scenes and the character honestly. I think Kyle is a blast. I am having a great time with him. I would definitely hang out with a guy like Kyle.”
Jordan Hayes: “I think there are definitely similarities between her and I. She’s very ambitious and she wants, more than anything, to make her mark on the scientific world and I think that’s a pretty commendable trade. In terms of intelligence, she is way smarter than I am. But, there are definitely similarities, but that’s one of the great things about working on a character for so long. You kind of get to know us, as well, as people, so they can kind of curve the characters to get the best performance out of the actors.”
If you were stuck on a desert island with just one album to listen the rest of your days, which one would it be?
Matt: “I would be tempted to say The Beach Boys, because I am a huge fan of theirs. I would have to say that Pet Sounds is one of my favorite albums of all time. But, one album is difficult to chose, because I am also a huge Rush, Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull fan, too. In 2013, I saw Ian Anderson do Thick As A Brick, in its entirety, in Toronto, and it was incredible. I would say Thick As A Brick is my second favorite album. That’s a hard choice.”
Jordan: “I probably take something like Moondance by Van Morrison, because I grew up on Van Morrison music. Either Van Morrison or Cat Stevens. I saw Van Morrison in 2010, maybe, at a concert in Ottawa and I was blown away. It was pretty cool.”
What would you be if you were not an actor?
Jordan: “If I wasn’t an actor, I would try to make a career in golfing. I’d probably be a pro golfer. I have like an 11 handicap. I don’t get to play enough, though.”
Matt: “I’d be someone who worked outdoors, because I’m a pretty decent outdoorsman. My wife and I love to go backpacking. We always plan a big trip or two. We have a baby now, so we haven’t been for the last couple of years. But, I’d probably be a really good guide. And, I’m pretty handy when I’m out in the wild. I mean, I can’t start a fire with two rocks or anything like that. Usually, when I go out in the wild I carry a lighter, matches or a fire-starter. If it were a survival situation, though, I’m sure I’d figure out a way to get the flames going.” (laughs)
If you could adopt one super-power which one would it be?
Jordan: “Definitely time travel. I think it would be cool to go back to the 60s for Woodstock. Or, maybe even go back to ancient Rome to hang out with gladiators.” (laughs)
Matt: “I’m pretty simple kind of guy, so I’d say to fly, because it seems like it would be a lot of fun.”
Do you have a dream role you would like to play in the future?
Matt: “I’d love to do a western, because that is my favorite genre. I have been saying that for so many years, but one day, I will. One of my favorite westerns is The Searchers, but I don’t know if I’d want to remake it because it is so fantastic. I would never want someone to redo that. But, it might be cool to remake one of the old (director) Budd Boetticher westerns. I don’t know if I could play the Randolph Scott character, but it would be fantastic. Not many people know of Budd’s films and they are so good, especially the ones he did with Randolph Scott. It would be awesome if someone could do those and do them well. I’d love to be a part of them.”
Jordan: “I would like to play a boxer. I think that would be cool. Actually, anything athletic. I haven’t gotten to do that yet. Maybe something like Million Dollar Baby, which is one of my favorite movies.”
What is the most romantic thing you’ve ever done…and did it work?
“I don’t know if people would consider it romantic, but we I got engaged we went climbing…and it did work. (laughs) I love the mountains. I had lived in LA for about four months and I took my then-girlfriend up to Mt. San Antonio, which is about 10,000 feet. It was like a perfect day. The clouds were starting to roll in, the sun was getting a little low — getting a little orange and purple — and there was snow on the summit. It was just unbelievably gorgeous. There were only two other people up there. I had the ring with me, I got down on one knee in the snow and proposed to her. She said, ‘Yes,’ so I guess it worked. I was always my dream to propose on the top of a mountain and I got to do it.”
Jordan: “Now that is really romantic, Matt! I seriously cannot top Matt’s story. (laughs) I’m not big on romance. But, once I wrote ‘I love you’ to a guy on a bathroom counter with Q-Tips. That’s about as romantic as it gets for me. (laughs) I guess it worked.”
What makes Season Two of Helix a must-see show?
Matt: “I think the coolest thing about this season is the switch, back and forth, between the future and the present day. It’s so original and interesting. There are things that happen in the present day that are so completely outrageous. They are not even at the end of the season. Huge stuff. So, I think fans will really want to stick with Helix until the end of this season, for so many reasons.”
Jordan: “This season, I think there are a couple of really great payoffs for fans who are really into this story. If people are really into special effects, the cool stuff that happens with the virus and the bigger budget stuff, there is a lot of that coming. There are a lot of reasons to stick around. It’s only going to more and more suspenseful and exciting.”
Helix airs on Fridays at 10p.m.EST & PST / 9:00p.m.CST on the SyFy Channel.
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