- Sam McPherson is responsible for this interview.
Faith Fay
Faith Fay is an actress who portrayed background cast member Sexy Blue Striped Shirt Girl, a nonspeaking role but one that holds prominent status among the fanbase. The interview was conducted over email on August 19, 2008.
Lostpedia: There are usually some interesting stories relating to casting. How were you cast as a background actor on Lost? Did you know how long you would actually be on the show?
About a week before casting in Hawaii began for Lost I decided I really
wanted to try my hand in the medium of acting. So I went into a casting
director’s office to drop of a photo of myself and fill out an
application. By the end of the week I got a call asking if my photo could
be submitted to the folks of “Lost” in LA and was told that it would be a
four week shoot in which we survive a plane crash. They noted my resume
looked like I was an adrenaline junky so they thought the leaping over
plane parts and dodging fires would be right up my alley, boy were they
right. It was less than a week later I got the call that I was chosen to
be a survivor, there was a lot of jumping up and down and screaming for
joy that followed.
Lostpedia: How does it feel to be such an icon for the fan base on the show?
It feels wonderful and I am very appreciative of the honor. I create art
(acting, photography, painting, sculpture) to express myself and to give
to others. My fan base shows first hand that I gave people something and
they really enjoyed it. I want to thank everyone for the fan mail and
email’s I have been receiving, your support is a blessing. I hope to
continue to give to everyone and to make you all proud doing so.
Faith Fay wearing the blue striped shirt.
Lostpedia: Do you still have that famous blue striped shirt?
Yes I do (a huge grin covered my face as I typed that). It sits safely in
a suitcase, waiting to be unleashed, to have freedom, to once again
explore the island. A image of Peter Parker pulling out the chest in which
he had placed his Spidey suit comes to mind, it’s like visiting an old
friend who offers you endless possibilities.
Lostpedia: You left the show in early season two. Would you consider coming back to the show if it was offered?
Since I left the show, I have continued acting classes, had speaking roles
on another show and films, and really studied how to be a solid actor. The
medium of acting was very new to me and I needed to be educated and build
my resume (as I had done as a fine artist). I would be thrilled if my
character was developed on Lost and I feel now I could offer the show,
cast members, and fans something more.
Lostpedia: Have you created a back story for SBSSG? If so, what is it?
Yes. One evening we were filming late and I ended up sharing my survivors
story with Terry O’Quinn. At his suggestion, I gave a copy to the writers
and creators. SBSSG was a commercial photographer who was in Australia
scuba diving and photographing the Great Barrier Reef when she witnessed
and photographed another scuba diver being killed by a great white shark.
She immediately sold the photos to the highest bidding magazine. The shark
attack photos along with her cameras and unused film, were on the plane
when it crashed on the island. Sitting stranded on an island with a guy
named Hurley… she then saw her self in a rendition of Shackleton’s
Antarctic Adventure. Where she wanted to photograph the survivors and
their ordeal to record this event and the individuals experiencing it, as
Australian photographer Frank Hurley did in 1914-1916. As SBSSG spent more
time on the island she began to have dreams and visions: recalling long
walks in the woods and shooting bow and arrow with her grandfather when
she was a child... She began to open the door to a past she had forgotten
and to a culture she had repressed. It took being stranded on an island
for her to open up to her American Indian ancestors and the knowledge they
had passed on. At one point SBSSG felt the survivors were a tribe placed
together to support and protect one another at all cost. She carved arrow
heads and made necklaces with them for the survivors so that they could be
united as one (I actually made these necklaces for the original survivors
one of which Josh Holloway wore on the cover of TV Guide the first season
of Lost.) SBSSG began spending more time on her own scouting and learning
the island and its secrets. Eventually due to the cruelty occurring upon
the island she walked deep into the jungle and secluded her self in the
quiet nature of the island.
Faith Fay as SBSSG in the LA Airport
Lostpedia: What is the most interesting story from your time spent on the show?
There were so many amazing moments during my time on Lost. The first week
of filming the pilot, having happy birthday sang to me and sharing my
birthday cake with actors who had previously entertained and inspired me
as an artist, sitting and sharing the Lost premier with Josh Holloway,
Evie taking time to help prepare me for a film audition, Jorge attending
and supporting me in a showcase I acted in, Matthew Fox sharing how to
keep one’s integrity as an artist, Terry O’Quinn’s advice: stay positive,
keep flapping your wings, and have faith... The interesting story is that
I got to film on the beaches and in the mountains of a beautiful island,
work with amazing directors, writers, and actors who taught me an
incredible amount through watching them work and listening to their good
hearted advice.
Lostpedia: Do you watch the show? If so, are you a casual viewer or a die-hard fan?
I spend a lot of time traveling and creating art, therefore have not been
able to follow the show as closely as I would like. Yet have told myself
by August 1st I want to be caught up on all that has occurred.
Lostpedia: Who is your favorite character?
SBSSG would give her life to protect Jack. To her his soul feels the purest.
Lostpedia would like to thank Faith Fay for taking the time to do the interview.