Martha MacIsaac is helping to catch the bad guys.
The P.E.I.-born actress is playing detective Kate Warne in the television series, The Pinkertons.
Set in the 1860s, the new action adventure crime show draws from the real cases of Pinkertons national detective agency.
“The show is so much fun. It’s like the greatest game. We’re riding horses, shooting guns and chasing bad guys and wearing silly outfits. So the last few months have been wonderful,” says MacIsaac who has been working on the set in Grosse Isle, Man., just north of Winnipeg, since Aug. 25.
But, unlike all the other shows she’s done, it’s the first time she’s played a real person.
Warren was the first
female detective in North American history.
“But I knew nothing about her before receiving the script. There was not a lot of information, no photo and she died really young,” says MacIsaac
In fact, there was nothing known about her before she walked into the Pinkerton office in 1856 to ask for a job.
That was about the time that Alan Pinkerton began writing about her in his journals.
“She was told that there were no secretary positions opens.”
But, as the conversation continued, Warne told them that she wanted to be a detective and that she would be good at it.
“Women are more detail oriented and observant. He was a very smart man so he took her up on it. She accepted his offer and became kind of his right-hand man,” says MacIsaac during a telephone interview.
Throughout her years at the agency, Pinkerton continued to document Warne’s work.
“She was such a trailblazer. He wrote about her all the time, saying that she was one of the agency’s top workers.
“So there’s information about her character, her work ethic and how good she was, taking down bad guys in the wild west at a time when women weren’t allowed to do much.”
MacIsaac says the character is challenging both intellectually and physically.
“She’s quick-witted, smart and always knows what she wants to do and what the next step is,” says MacIsaac who who has also added new skills to her resume.
“My horse riding is getting better. I also had to learn gun shooting and gun shooting on horses.”
So far, the role has been a rewarding experience.
“Not many people know about Kate Warne, so it’s really cool to be bringing her story to light.”
Five facts about Martha MacIsaac
Favourite activity after work: Sleep.
Favourite thing from craft services: Soup.
Favourite activity between shooting scenes: Playing the iPhone game - Trivia Crack.
Favourite thing to do on day off: Walk down to bakery, get coffee and cinnamon roll, sleep.
Favourite place: “Growing up on P.E.I. is such a special thing. It influences every part of your life. It’s a character building place. So coming from somewhere like that and knowing how close knit everyone is and how everyone looks out for each other is something that all Islanders carry with them wherever they go. I try to take that into every aspect of my life.”
AT A GLANCE
What: The Pinkertons
Premise:Long before the FBI and the Secret Service, the Pinkerton's National Detective Agency was the most feared law enforcement organization in the land. Set in a young America still reeling from the Civil War, The Pinkertons is an action-adventure detective series that follows Allan Pinkerton, his son William, and America's first female detective Kate Warne, as they solve crimes throughout the "Wild West" of the 1860s.
Catch it: It airs in Canada (CHCH) on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. eastern, and replays on Saturdays 8 p.m. eastern. It can also be live streamed on CHCH.com during the broadcasts.
Website: Go to http://www.chch.com/shows/pinkertons/
Martha MacIsaac is helping to catch the bad guys.
The P.E.I.-born actress is playing detective Kate Warne in the television series, The Pinkertons.
Set in the 1860s, the new action adventure crime show draws from the real cases of Pinkertons national detective agency.
“The show is so much fun. It’s like the greatest game. We’re riding horses, shooting guns and chasing bad guys and wearing silly outfits. So the last few months have been wonderful,” says MacIsaac who has been working on the set in Grosse Isle, Man., just north of Winnipeg, since Aug. 25.
But, unlike all the other shows she’s done, it’s the first time she’s played a real person.
Warren was the first
female detective in North American history.
“But I knew nothing about her before receiving the script. There was not a lot of information, no photo and she died really young,” says MacIsaac
In fact, there was nothing known about her before she walked into the Pinkerton office in 1856 to ask for a job.
That was about the time that Alan Pinkerton began writing about her in his journals.
“She was told that there were no secretary positions opens.”
But, as the conversation continued, Warne told them that she wanted to be a detective and that she would be good at it.
“Women are more detail oriented and observant. He was a very smart man so he took her up on it. She accepted his offer and became kind of his right-hand man,” says MacIsaac during a telephone interview.
Throughout her years at the agency, Pinkerton continued to document Warne’s work.
“She was such a trailblazer. He wrote about her all the time, saying that she was one of the agency’s top workers.
“So there’s information about her character, her work ethic and how good she was, taking down bad guys in the wild west at a time when women weren’t allowed to do much.”
MacIsaac says the character is challenging both intellectually and physically.
“She’s quick-witted, smart and always knows what she wants to do and what the next step is,” says MacIsaac who who has also added new skills to her resume.
“My horse riding is getting better. I also had to learn gun shooting and gun shooting on horses.”
So far, the role has been a rewarding experience.
“Not many people know about Kate Warne, so it’s really cool to be bringing her story to light.”
Five facts about Martha MacIsaac
Favourite activity after work: Sleep.
Favourite thing from craft services: Soup.
Favourite activity between shooting scenes: Playing the iPhone game - Trivia Crack.
Favourite thing to do on day off: Walk down to bakery, get coffee and cinnamon roll, sleep.
Favourite place: “Growing up on P.E.I. is such a special thing. It influences every part of your life. It’s a character building place. So coming from somewhere like that and knowing how close knit everyone is and how everyone looks out for each other is something that all Islanders carry with them wherever they go. I try to take that into every aspect of my life.”
AT A GLANCE
What: The Pinkertons
Premise:Long before the FBI and the Secret Service, the Pinkerton's National Detective Agency was the most feared law enforcement organization in the land. Set in a young America still reeling from the Civil War, The Pinkertons is an action-adventure detective series that follows Allan Pinkerton, his son William, and America's first female detective Kate Warne, as they solve crimes throughout the "Wild West" of the 1860s.
Catch it: It airs in Canada (CHCH) on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. eastern, and replays on Saturdays 8 p.m. eastern. It can also be live streamed on CHCH.com during the broadcasts.
Website: Go to http://www.chch.com/shows/pinkertons/
