Corner Gas, a gentle Canadian sitcom about life in a Saskatchewan prairie town, has been licensed to broadcasters in 26 countries.
Her fans know her as Karen Pelly, the sweet, loveable, neurotic cop who - along with Davis Quinton (Lorne Cardinal) keeps the community of Dog River, Saskatchewan, safe. Corner Gas, a Canadian sitcom created, written, produced and starred in by Brent Butt.
Spencer-Nairn was born in Montreal, Quebec and I caught up with her in Toronto, Ontario, a few days before filming of Corner Gas started in 2007.
Dee Van Dyk: Can you tell me a little about how you were chosen to play the role of Karen Pelly?
Tara Spencer-Nairn: I originally auditioned for Lacey, and I think I did the screen test and Brent came in to read with me. There's supposed to be this weird - well, hey weren't sure how that friendship was going to go - it just wasn't happening between us. I'm this rambunctious, hyper twenty something year old kid at the time. They saw that and asked me to come in the next day to read for Karen.
DV: There's a wonderful chemistry between you and Davis Quinton (Lorne Cardinal).
TSN: I love him. It's funny, we're both born on the same day, January 6, and we're both left-handed.
DV: You've been quoted as saying the line between you and Karen has become blurred. What traits do you share with Karen?
TSN: This is the fifth year I'm going in playing the same character and you can't help but bring more of yourself into the character. I can be a little anal retentive; there's ways I like things done. So Karen is like putting a microscope on those certain personality traits.
DV: What's your favourite episode?
TSN: I like Air Show (Season 2) and I like Hook, Line and Sinker (Season 1).
DV: How are you and Karen different?
TSN: Well, there's no way I'd ever be a cop.
DV: There's a rumour that you were asked to leave a school. Is that true?
TSN: I was kicked out of high school; I was certainly not cop material. I ... you know ... had a lot of fun when I was younger. I got kicked out of high school when I was in Vancouver and then I went to boarding school and within about two weeks of being in boarding school I was suspended. And that's where I'm a little different from Karen. I have a mouth on me; I speak and then I think. And I have a little rebellious streak.
DV: There's a bottle of scotch behind Karen's desk on the set. What's that about?
TSN: That's me and the set crew kind of having fun. (laughs) They've decided that Karen is like a closet alcholic. You've to have your funny jokes. If you look on Davis's desk, there are silly little things, feminine things. All the pictures in the cop station are of me and my friends. I can call my friends and say, watch the episode tonight, look in the background in the picture - you're in it!
DV: You're quoted as saying you wanted to be an Olympic gymnast or an actor since you were in the fourth grade. You still have an active lifestyle?
TSN: I try. I quit smoking on January 17. I'm not as healthy looking anymore. I put on a few pounds. Definitely now the taste buds can taste - food's a whole different thing now. Before I thought I tasted food, but now I really taste it.
DV: What's the one thing in your life that you would like to do but haven't gotten around to yet?
TSN: A marathon. I just don't think I have the knees to last that long, but I would love to run a marathon.
