Following up on the success of Battlestar Galactica, series creator, writer, and producer (and all-around sci-fi guru) Ronald D. Moore launched the series pilot of Caprica last year, which featured Acting for Film & Television grad Magda Apanowicz.

This Friday, Caprica viewers will see Magda’s return when the series kicks off its first season on SPACE in Canada (airing on Syfy in the US).  It’s a huge milestone in Magda’s career and we couldn’t be more proud.

She recently offered her thoughts on her character in Caprica, her career, and how ill-timed dental work can threaten a crucial audition.

Hi, Magda. Thanks for answering a few questions for the blog. Could you start off by talking about what first drew you to acting?

Magda: I’ve never known the “for sure” answer of when acting started to draw me in, but I do remember the day I said it to myself. I was 10 years old, watching this movie over and over and over again, and don’t know if I said it to my mom or myself — “I want to do what they’re doing! I don’t know what it is but I want to do that!”.

At that age I didn’t know people got to do that. I didn’t know it was a job. I didn’t know that it was an option for people like me. Until I was about 13 or so I thought music and movies came with life, that they were staples; you’re born and it comes with movies and music (oh, young naïve Magda).

Although you already had a couple of smaller film credits to your name at the time, you came to VFS’s Acting for Film & Television program? Why?

Magda: Truth be told, I was lost. I started to panic! I was beginning to choke up in auditions. My stage fright was getting to me and I didn’t think I was good enough or deserved to be in the industry. I loved it SO MUCH but I knew I had to walk away from it for a while, figure out who I was what I had to offer, and acquire some tools. I needed to practice in a not-so-high-stakes environment. School was exactly what I needed, a place where I could make mistakes and the whole world wouldn’t see.

Has there been a “breakthrough moment” for you? A time when you felt you were truly on the right path?

Magda: That’s a really good question! I have had a lot of reality checks with myself where I just sit back and feel SO grateful for what I have. I never take it for granted; I take my work and my job very seriously. It’s fun and there’s always room to play but I never give myself a break. I expect a lot out of myself. It’s something I know can be gone tomorrow. It may be the path I choose for myself, but at the end of the day it’s a pretty rough industry that makes its own choices regardless of what you want.

How did you land the role of Lacy Rand on Caprica?

Magda: I remember I wasn’t too sure if I was up for going to an audition (but I’m so grateful I did), because I was getting my wisdom teeth pulled two days from then and was so paralyzed by fear I didn’t even want to leave the house. Then the worst thing happened: I got dry socket (which is a common bad reaction after getting your wisdom teeth pulled). Problem was I didn’t know that there was something wrong until it got infected and my whole face started to swell, to the point I felt it go up from my neck to my eye.

And at this point I found out they were doing callbacks. I still couldn’t talk or eat solid foods after almost a month and I got another dry socket on the other side. Basically I couldn’t go in for the callback. I was so lucky they trusted my audition and their instincts because, in spite of my horrific lack of speaking functions, I was cast.

What can we expect from your character in this upcoming season?

Magda: Wow, if only I could tell you half of the things that happen to my character. Basically there are some things that I will take away from filming Caprica that I may never experience again! I got my motorcycle license for Caprica. I learned how to ride and I ended up falling in love with it. I actually ended up buying a motorcycle and going to Mission Raceway and doing a Track Day. My character has a HUGE arc from the pilot to episode 18. It’s worth being surprised!

What kind of advice would you offer to current students and recent grads trying to follow a similar path?

Magda: I say get to know yourself; figure out who you are, because the more you know yourself, your values, and your strengths, the better equipped you’ll be for the things that will be thrown at you. It’s a tough, tough job but my god, if you love it pursue it with every bone in your body. And besides having fun with it, know it’s a job and when you show up, you show up to work!

Congrats, Magda. Can’t wait to watch this season!

Click here to check out Magda’s behind-the-scenes video interview on Syfy.com

Also, check out Caprica’s season premiere info on SPACE and Syfy.