SYFY’s Van Helsing kicked off its fifth and final season by going back in time. During that time, we see how Dracula came to be, how Bathory turned into Oracle, and how Michaela was deeply involved with both of those occurrences. Michaela’s Heather Doerksen (“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”) spoke with PopWire to answer our questions about the vampire who started The Sisterhood.
We were first introduced to Michaela back in Season 4, where she is freed from her tomb and is eventually killed by Jack and Violet with Ivory’s assistance. With the beginning of this season starting several hundred years in the past, it allowed for Michaela to come back and give the character more backstory. Heather was extremely excited to return and reprise her role. “It was like Christmas morning,” Doerksen tells us. “Except instead of Santa, it was [series showrunner] Jonathan Lloyd Walker asking if I’d be game to fly to Slovakia and shoot some episodes for the final season. Obviously I said, ‘Heck yeah!'”
Heather enthusiastically joined Season 5 even though she had no idea what was going to happen with her character or how contributory she would be in creating Dracula. “I wasn’t sure where the writers were going to take it,” she says. “I had no idea (just like the fans) that Michaela would be so instrumental in turning the Dark One.”
By getting some backstory on Michaela, we begin to understand more about her relationships with The Dark One and Bathory/Oracle. According to Doerksen, Michaela becomes devout to Dracula once she learns of the extent of her power and wants to be her right-hand woman. “Once Michaela realizes the true power of Dracula, she kneels before her and becomes her dedicated henchwoman.” But her relationship with Bathory/Oracle is more complicated and tumultuous. “I think there’s always been a bit of jealousy between the two of them. Who can earn Dracula’s love and who is more loyal? It drives them.”
We previously found out that Michaela is responsible for turning Ivory and making her the badass member of The Sisterhood we first met. But as the season wore on, Ivory became human and turned on Michaela and took part in her killing. Doerksen says Michaela was very hurt and betrayed by this. “Michaela mentions in Season 4 that she rescued Ivory, like a lost lamb, and insinuated that she took Ivory under her wing. It was an absolute betrayal by someone she thought was closest to her.”
Coming out of the tomb last season, where Michaela had been locked away in for centuries, the actress reveals that the filming of that scene was a bit dangerous, but became a funny/memorable moment. “Right before the take, they dumped dust in my hairt, so when I pop out of the tomb, it has a smoky dusty effect,” Doerksen explains. “Well, they put the lid on top of me and I’m inside of the tomb. The director (Jonathan Scarfe) calls ‘Action’ and the lid flies off and my head violently comes out, and so much dust falls around my face, I immediately go into a coughing fit. They obviously didn’t use that take. (And we learned to put a little bit less dust in my hair the next time).”
Most of Van Helsing has been filmed in Canada, but its latest season spends time in Europe. Doerksen was excited to work in Slovakia, even though there was a language barrier. “The local crew in Slovakia was stellar. Even with language as a possible barrier, we all somehow managed to find a flow that worked. They were all so professional and kind.”
Now that we have left Europe, it’s time to check in on other characters in the Van Helsing universe, and according to Heather that is what is going to happen Friday night in episode four, titled “State of the Union.” “The only tease I can give is that the fans will see the rest of the gang. Up till now, it’s been Jack. But hold onto your fangs, cuz it’s about to get real.”
Want to see more of Heather Doerksen? You can currently find her on The CW’s Charmed as Aladria, who she describes as a “magical being who imprisons any demons or monsters that are chaotic and out of order. She’s got a dry wit and enjoys toying with these funny little human beings.” You can also follow her on Instagram @heather_doerksen_.
Van Helsing airs Fridays at 10pm on Syfy.
