Interview with Torchwood’s Gareth David-Lloyd

AE: A lot of folks are saying that they’re really happy with the new tone of Torchwood’s second season. One person said specifically that Ianto is a little more “ninja,” a little more quippy, a little bit more fun and little bit less morose than he was. Are you happy with the way the character’s developed over the two seasons so far?
GDL: Absolutely. And that was completely intentional. He’s got these dry comments now that come from a positive place, rather than a sort of negative place. And he’s the same as Jack, he’s the same in purpose, so wherever that’s leading, this dry, outside-the-box look on the world, all his intent is coming from a happier place.

AE: The whole show seems to have lightened up in the past season, which is fun. It’s great to see a range, the scope that it’s gone across. We hear there is a line of action figures that may be released?
GDL: Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard as well. I don’t know if it’s true, but that would be great.

AE: If there are, what do you think Ianto should be wearing? What kind of accessories should he have?
GDL: I think there should be the suit that he wears, and then there’s Ianto with what he’s wearing in “Countrycide” because Ianto strikes me as the man with the perfect equipment and costume for every terrain and country. So you could do a whole line of different costumes: space Ianto, desert Ianto . . .

AE: I’m sure it would be actually quite popular, especially over here. In terms of the way that season three is shaping up, do you know if there’s another love interest for either Jack or Ianto in the works?
GDL: I don’t know anything about that, but one thing is I’m sure it’s not going to be anything I can imagine right now.

AE: A fan wants to know, in terms of the attention that Wales has been getting from of the show, as a Welshman yourself, are you happy with the extra exposure? Do you think it’s fair and balanced?
GDL: Absolutely! It’s been really good, especially for Cardiff. It’s so nice, it’s such a vibrant, sexy city and Torchwood and Doctor Who has really energized and helped that. So I’m really pleased and I think Wales is going to get more recognition and [start] making lines on the map.

AE: A lot of fans are asking if you are going to make an album any time soon.
GDL: We’re thinking of releasing an EP by this summer, but we want to make sure the quality of the work is absolutely right, so it might be a little later. But hopefully we’ll have an EP before the summer is over. Some blues covers and some original tracks as well.

AE: Another fan asks, if you could change one thing about Ianto, what would you change?
GDL: The way he sticks his head to the side when he’s holding his gun. I’m gonna work on that straight away. He sticks his head out. Not all the time, but sometimes I’m holding a gun and I look a little too relaxed. My knee is bent and my hip is slightly sticking out to the side.

AE: So in your daily life you usually don’t hold a gun like that ?
GDL: I don’t usually hold a gun. No one probably notices how I hold the gun, except me tearing apart my performance.

AE: A lot of folks are saying that you have a scene-stealing quality, which is obviously a compliment . . .
GDL: That’s a great compliment. That speaks to the writing as well. I think I said a line in a certain way that they really liked, so then they have been kind enough to give me a bunch of really brilliant, punchy lines that you can do a hell of a lot with. So it’s due to the writing as well as to me.

AE: I know you’ve done some live events, like the Rift Torchwood event is coming up in London--
GDL: Yeah, I’ll be there.

AE: And you’ve done some signings. What’s it like meeting fans face to face?
GDL: It’s really flattering because you don’t really see it, well, I didn’t see it before I started meeting fans, how much it means to people. It’s really overwhelming sometimes. It’s really nice. I always enjoy meeting the fans even though I feel like sometimes I don’t deserve all this attention and the gifts. I think it’s just really, really flattering.

AE: What’s the most outlandish fan encounter that you’ve had or the most interesting gift?
GDL: A little porcelain Ianto. It was made of fiber or clay or something. It was brilliant. It was like Ianto in a waistcoat with that purple shirt and like wide-eyed looking out. He sits on top of my TV. It was cool.

AE: Oh, that’s adorable! I bet if you had a line of them on your website, they’d sell like hotcakes.
GDL: Yeah, well whoever made that doll. Maybe she can do a commission.

AE: Is Valentine’s Day big over there?
GDL: Yeah, it’s as big as it is over there.

AE: Do you have any special plans for it?
GDL: I’m spending it with my girlfriend, Sarah, in London.

AE: Fantastic. Hey, London’s a romantic city if you want it to be.
GDL: Absolutely.

AE: Great. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us and I know our readers will be just gaga to hear their questions to you answered. Best of luck with season three.
GDL: Thank you and take care.

Torchwood airs Saturdays, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on BBC AMERICA

Michael Jensen contributed to this article.