After facing down killer robots from the future in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR and the wrong end of a loaded weapon in TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, actress Stephanie Jacobsen could use a break. Unfortunately, she won’t be getting one anytime soon and can currently be seen in the CW’s MELROSE PLACE reboot playing med student by-day/call-girl by night Lauren Yang. Is Jacobsen aware just what she’s signed on to and was she a fan of the original series? All these questions, plus one or two lingering TERMINATOR-related ones can be found after the jump.
Before we get into your role on the new MELROSE PLACE, I first have to ask about your work on TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. Did you come on board knowing Jesse (Jacobsen’s ill-fated character) would have an expiry date?
Stephanie Jacobsen: I don’t think anyone knew if she had an expiry date. And I don’t know how certain we are that Jesse has actually expired! I mean you never saw him [Derek] pull the trigger. It’s actually something Brian [Austin Green] and I debate.
Are you saying that had TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES not been unceremoniously cancelled, we might have gotten the chance to see Jesse again?
Yeah, I think so. i think that there would have been a definite possibility. But it’s just one of those things that you can’t say because the chips didn’t fall.
How does it feel to finally play a role that doesn’t involve battling evil robots?
I feel that it was time for me to learn how to use some new tools. I feel that the change of pace is timely and while I loved doing Sci-fi (which hopefully I’ll find the time to do again someday) it’s definitely nice to do something different.
Were you a fan of the original MELROSE PLACE growing up?
They did show it in Australia, but I was just a kid so I only have a memory of it airing. I actually have the DVDs back home, sitting on my cabinet waiting for me to have a day off from work.
I imagine Lauren’s about to face some pretty interesting consequences for some of her decision thus far?
Lauren is such a paradox, so torn. I mean obviously, everything that happens with her is going to have some big implications. But what exactly? I don’t know, but it’s going to be really interesting to see where her decisions take her and something of an honour to be entrusted with this character.
As an actor who has had the ability to jump seamlessly from series to series, was there any apprehension on your part to join such an iconic show?
I don’t know that our show is going to be that kind of show. I feel like the new MELROSE PLACE is tonally very different from the old one. Our performances are very grounded in the potential reality of the situation that our characters are facing and everyone who is involved is really about making a great show. I feel really privileged to be on it and I would be very surprised if a few seasons of the show wouldn’t benefit us all [career wise]. 
MELROSE PLACE airs Tuesdays at 9PM on the CW (Wednesdays at 10PM on Global TV in Canada)