Jamie Bamber, known as Lee "Apollo" Adama on "Battlestar Galactica," is shooting the newest version of the "Law & Order" franchise -- set in London, where he was born. Still, he's a bit homesick for L.A.: "In my head, I'm based in California and I happen to work in the UK."
It's Friday. What are you doing today?
I am going to a Christmas fair at my kids' school, and then I'm going to the theater in the West End. I'm going to see Ken Branagh on the stage in his latest triumph.
London was the last place that young Americans could get produced -- and now we hear that there's less and less room.
Well, there's certainly an appetite for movie stars to come be in stuff. Josh Hartnett's filling in right now [in "Rain Man"]. Traditionally there was always more legit straight theater in London than Broadway itself -- but it's becoming more and more like Broadway.
You're filming your new TV show, so you're safe from the theater.
Yeah, I'm busy right now doing "Law & Order: London" or "Law & Order: UK," whatever it's called. I'm bringing the great Dick Wolf goliath to London.
We'd heard you guys were actually using U.S. scripts, which sounds bizarre.
Ah, no. We're using stories that were scripts in the original U.S. series, adapting them pretty heavily, transposing them to London backgrounds and to the British police and legal system, which is different. And characters change as well. But bones of plots have been cherry-picked from the episodes. I think it'll air in the U.S., maybe on NBC or Bravo or USA, so it'll come back to your end, full circle.
We've been stealing from English TV long enough.
That's right. It's time we adapted one of your sure-fire hits. It's the first time as far as I know that's happened.
Do you miss the U.S. system?
I do, actually! Very much. Actors are treated, or pampered, a lot more in the U.S. than they are in the UK. I miss my trailer and my craft services and my amazing caterers. That doesn't seem to be at the same level in the UK. I've been spoilt. There's lots I do miss about the U.S. I call America home -- I still have a house in California. I felt homesick over the election certainly. And Thanksgiving. I recorded plenty of NFL games so I can play them for my American ex-pat brethren. I'm going to play them back in real time three days late. I'm looking at the Internet with two fingers over my eyes.
