"Battlestar Galactica" returns for its fourth and final season at 10 p.m./9 Central Friday on Sci Fi.

And so, the network was kind enough to make Katee "Starbuck" Sackhoff available for a conference call. Here's some of the highlights:

On what's tougher, fight scenes or love scenes; and who she'd want to have one or the other with:

I would say that the sex scenes are a lot harder than I think anything that I’ve ever had to do on the show. Because it’s not natural, it's just odd, it's very odd. It makes you kind of feel cheap. Like you’re being paid to or being allowed to in a sense cheat on your significant other. It’s very weird. It - so that definitely is weird. But the fight scenes are really easy and they come pretty naturally for me to be honest. But, so no I can’t - I mean, who would I want to fight on the show? Still thinking about not wanting to do the other thing with. I don’t know. I think I’ve fought everybody. I think, you know, I can’t think of anyone. I haven’t fought Sharon so I’ll go ahead and say that. I think that a fight between Eddie and I would be pretty interesting.

On winning old fans and getting new ones:

It is completely gratifying in a sense. I think for the full, you know, the full reason that it's nice to have people identify with the character that you’re playing and appreciate the work you’re doing. I don’t think I went into this trying to win over the old fans because I think that you can’t ever please everyone ...and I didn’t want to focus on people that were all ready in a sense, you know, spewing negative energy at me. So I just kind of, you know, did what I did and it’s nice to know that they’ve, you know, some of them have been converted but, you know, and I guess it is a little gratifying to know that, you know…for all the people who said I couldn't - you know, that it wouldn’t work with a woman. It’s kind of nice to know that it did work for sure.

On a promotional picture with 'BSG' that plays off "The Last Supper":

You know, it’s interesting that everyone thinks that there’s something hidden in that Last Supper photo like if you look hard enough you can find there's hidden messages in it. To be honest I think we would have had to have been in on it to create a hidden message and we were all just there having a photo shoot. So, I don’t, I mean, it is interesting the way people are standing for sure, I mean, you know, the plastic sheath with Anders is interesting but - so I don’t know. And the fact that they made Tricia the messiah is pretty interesting too. But, you know, I wish I knew what they were thinking.

On how it feels to be wrapping "BSG" up:

Well, I can’t speak for the rest of the cast so I don’t know how they're feeling. As far as how I’m feeling, like, it’s interesting. Like, you know, there’s a side to me that actually, you know, the selfish side of you that wants to go on and, you know, play different roles so there’s an excitement, that kind of, I think brewing for everyone in a sense, you know, we kind of, you know, get to go off and play these new characters or, you know, hopefully and, you know, that’s why you became an actor is to, you know, to not play the same character for ten years.

So it’s kind of nice, I think that it is sad just because I don’t think - the work environment on "Battlestar Galactica" is absolutely amazing and I don’t think it’s something that comes along a lot and, you know, I’ve done so many canceled television shows I can tell you that it's not normal to enjoy going to work and to enjoy the people you work with. So I know that that - chances are I’m never going to find that again so that’s sad as well. But you know as far as moving on with the show, I don’t think that’s really - I’m really going to feel the pain of it until the very end.

On the impact of "BSG" on sci-fi:

What was so interesting about our show is that we never relied on the science fiction of the show to drive the show. We relied on the drama and the human condition and those really important questions. That’s what we depended on for the show and because the show, you know, could move it along and most science fiction shows rely way too much on the, you know, the bells and whistles. So I think that it kind of opened doors in science fiction to realize that, you know, regardless if it's - science fiction is just a setting. It’s not a show, you know, it’s a setting. It’s where something takes place, it's not, it should never have been what the show is. And I think that finally for the first time what the show has probably done is that it proved that that could be done.

On the actors who found out they've been Cylons:

Well I think the reason the four actors were upset about being Cylons is that I think, you know, you play for years making choices as a character and then to realize all those choices you made would have been different had you known. It’s interesting, it’s kind of like, you know, you get the wool pulled over your eyes for four years and then lo and behold, you know, your character’s something completely different. So that’s, you know - but I would be completely indifferent. I think, you know, I have love for this character and I think we all do as far as everyone for their character on the show, but I - they were pretty angry. I still think Michael Hogan hasn’t come to terms with it. I don’t think he’s ready to accept it yet. So…

On developments in the Kara/Anders marriage:

If I knew, I would tell you. I have no idea. You know, we are at episode 14 right now in our shooting schedule and I am no closer to being able to have any questions answered from last season than I am now. ... Without giving too much away here, I think that there are more important issues being dealt with right now on the show for these characters than what Starbuck is and how her marriage is. There’s a lot of really heavy things happening right now and I think that her marriage to Anders is the least of her concerns. But at the same time it would be interesting to ask those questions, you know, because we don’t identify this thing as a person. Is her marriage even legal? I don’t know. You’re asked all those questions that everyone would probably want answered and probably would never get an answer unless I did one of the webcasts. ...

But as far as me handling it, if it ever gets broached, I, you know, I think Starbuck is starting to feel compassion for the things she hates the most, I think, because she as everyone on the show is starting to realize and these are the major questions of, you know, humanity and what the show, you know, has always kind of asked, is that if you found out tomorrow that, you know, your best friend or your mother or something was a Cylon, you know, say it that way, would it make your experiences that you had with that person or thing less important to you?

No, it’s the same emotion, the same feelings, the same thing that you had experiences with. They're just different than you always thought they were, it doesn’t mean that it is less, it’s just different. And I think that that’s, you know, something that they’re starting to remember. And as far as Starbuck coming back, if a member of my family or my boyfriend died, I would do anything to have them back. So, you know, I mean, do people care any more what you are as long as you’re there? That’s an interesting question.

On being directed by Ron Moore:

I’ve got to say he’s the first director I’ve ever worked with that after every take he says thank you. And I noticed that because it’s not something - I think what the crew does, what an actor does, at times can be overlooked because it’s what we're supposed to do and to have someone thank you after every take is very interesting. I found that, you know, after a take I stood a little taller, I was a little happier and I was like wow, that must have been really good. Even though I didn’t ask him because God forbid, he said "no I was just saying thank you, but that was sh--, Katee. You’re going to have to go again." So he was a great director. Granted I only had one scene with him but one thing that I noticed that I’ve never had happen before and it goes to - speak to his character as a person. He’s a fantastic man.

On whether Katee has picked up any Starbuck traits:

No, I still have never played a game of poker. I still don’t smoke cigars. It’s - you know, I haven’t picked up anything from her I don’t think. You know, I mean, if I was to say that I picked up something it would be that, you know - I can’t think. I think that her strength and her conviction is something she believes in is pretty interesting. I would like to be able to emulate that. And then just her belief in what she has to say is really impressive. I think so many times women in general, but, you know, people as well, apologize before they say things for fear, you know, like we give a disclaimer, like this is going to sound stupid or - and I know there’s women do that all the time, like forgive me for asking this question but like the question doesn’t have any merit, well every question does. And I think that that’s something that I’ve learned from Starbuck is that, you know, there really is and my mother used to say that as a teacher, like no question is stupid, there are no stupid questions, there’s only stupid answers. That’s what my mom used to always say so - so that’s something that I hope to take from Starbuck.

On Starbuck's mental state at the beginning of this season:

She’s very fragile, you know, she’s extremely lost. We’ve never seen Starbuck so alone and so lost. And she's a little distressed, not only because of the way that people are treating her but because of the questions that her coming back has raised in her own mind.

On what Earth means to her:

I think it’s her revolution. I think it's her end. I think that she’s putting so much weight and so much weight on this one thing, this one task that she believes that is her destiny that I think she wouldn’t let anything stand in her way, anything, which I think when that is the case, you’ve got a very scary person on your hands when they’re unwilling - completely unwilling to sacrifice everything to accomplish something. That’s scary. So I think that we’re going to see a lot from her this season that isn’t - kind of like a shell of her former self, at the same time a lot of her doing things that you don’t necessarily don’t agree with.

On whether she knows what happened to Starbuck:

No, we’re on episode 14 and I've read 15 and nope. ...Yeah, I don’t think we'll figure that out until the last second.

On Katee's reaction to the "Razor" prophecy about Starbuck bringing about destruction:

I think that when I read that very end I went of course she is. Like what else could happen to Starbuck, I’m like, come on, you know, lay it all on me. The worst possible thing and there you have it, fantastic, she’s going to kill everybody, great. I think that that is something that has been carried through the entire season so far. As far as whether or not anyone knows, you’re going to have to wait and find out on what it really means, you know. It could mean so many different things.

On the props she wants to keep from the set:

That’s easy. I’m getting in my flight suit with my helmet and my gun belt and driving home. I’m going to bronze that f-ing thing, I swear to God. I’m going to bronze it and put it in my bathtub so every time someone comes over and showers, they have to stand next to that flight suit. It was hell for so many years that it’s only appropriate that I get to take it with me. Granted I have to drive over a border so maybe I’ll put the guns in the trunk and write prop on them.

On her favorite "BSG" memories:

You know, the cast and the crew. I have made so many friends on the show, you know, I mean, Steve McNutt our DP has been like my dad for five years and constantly telling me to be safe when I’m with Michael, constantly. So I think that, you know, and then also the friendships that you form that are through the show but you are able to maintain outside of the show. That’s really important because when you do a show you have these grand plans of staying in touch with these people and nine times out of ten it never happens.

On the Final Cylon:

I think that that’s something that’s going to be kept to the very end, you know, and I don’t think that it would be smart to tell people because inevitably things always get out on the web and to have to have to keep that secret for a year, I think Chris maybe should shoot maybe like five different endings. And whichever character doesn’t get (death) they should just make that the final Cylon. You know, it’ll be like, you know, some random character from the first season that had one line. It's fine, you know, that’s who it’ll be. No so I don’t know. We do talk about it sometimes but as far as who it is, I don’t think any of us will know for sure until we see it on television.

On Starbuck's character arc:

People always ask me this question how she’s evolved and she has. I think that she’s finally someone you can depend on and I don’t think she was before. But I think what keeps her going -- and if this is what people can take from her -- is her desire to love and her desire to have people love her keeps her going. You know, her relationships with Adama and Lee has really kept, has really kept - probably kept her alive and I think that that’s something that’s very important. You know, I think that that’s extremely important. You know, I’ve talked to a lot of soldiers who say that, you know, what keeps them going is that they get to come home. So, you know, it's that go to speak to any relationship that, you know, we’re happiest and most willing to accommodate I guess life and all its ups and downs when we have love in our lives.

On why a "BSG" film wouldn't be a good idea:

Yeah, you know, [Ron Moore] said it best at the (PCA), I don’t know if you were there but or got that but what he said was that what would end up happening is that you would have to focus on, you know, one or two characters and, you know, what’s so brilliant is that it's been a four year movie and the time to tell these stories about each person individually and really have you become invested in those characters and to do a two hour movie or a one and a half hour movie I think takes away from that what we’ve been able to do for so long, you know, it really does take away. I mean, I don’t, you know, how do you pick which two characters and when you pick those two characters are you going to flip off the other 17 main characters on the show, like how do you define, you know, what to do.

I think he’s right, you know, plus at the same time, you know, as a performer -- excuse me, sorry, sorry, I’m downstairs in the lobby here -- I think that, you know, I don’t know, plus like whatever I was going to say is that when I even actually am done with the show, I’m done with the show. I - you know, as much as I love the job or don’t love the job the last thing I want to do is come back and do it again, when I’ve already done it. Granted, you know, talk to me in five years if I haven’t worked. We'll see. But, you know, as of right now I have no desire to do it - to do a movie.

On how she'd like to see Starbuck do:

Die. I don’t know. Maybe something will blow up again on the ship. I don't know. I just, I don’t that there is any way to end it with her being happy. You know, what I do wish for her is peace, you know, in whatever form that comes in I’ll be happy with it. But that’s what I want. I want for her to finally have a sense of calm in her life. That would be very interesting and whether it comes with death or, you know, some kind of transcendence of some sort, whatever happens that’s what I want for her.

On what Katee wants to post-"BSG":

Oh God, I don’t know what’s next. That’s the joy of it. ... Yeah, you know, do I want to play a character just like, you know, Sarah Corvus or Starbuck? No. You know, I’ve already done it. I’m, you know, looking for things that are complete opposite from those two characters. Whether or not if people give me the opportunity to do that, you know, I don’t know but what’s interesting is five years ago I couldn’t get anyone to think I was, you know, tough and now I can’t get anyone to think of me as the way they did five years ago.

On whether the cast follows what's said on the Web about the show:

Aaron Douglas does. I don't think anyone else does. You know, I’ve learned a long time ago that you can’t hang out on the web site or, you know, on the Web because you will inevitably need a hundred positive remarks to make one bad remark disappear. So it’s a never ending cycle of reading about yourself and it never goes away. It’s horrible. So I tend to just not pay attention to it anymore and occasionally my mom will call me and go you’ve got to read this so which I find very interesting.

On her favorite actors to play off of:

I love working with James and Tricia for sure. The two of them are so much fun. James because you never know what he’s going to do.

On what fans can expect from the final season:

Well I think if "Battlestar"’s any indication at all in the last six - four - I think that, you know, everyone’s going to be very shocked for sure. I think that there is probably going to ruffle a few feathers very well and I don’t think that there’s any way to make everyone happy. You know, I've always - I said to Ron Moore from the very beginning please don’t wrap everyone up in a pretty little box, put a bow on it ... and he would never do that because that’s not real, you know, and "Battlestar" has always been based on reality and so I think that he will give it an ending that is fitting of that, of "Battlestar." And, you know, make it not pretty, which is hopefully what will happen.

On the "BSG" cast's recent "Late Show" appearance to do the Top 10 list:

Well, Lana Kim was the one that I think probably made that happen so that’s a tribute to her and her masterful skills at publicity. And I think with Letterman, I think my only concern was God dammit the first time I’m on late night television and they're going to make me wear my wardrobe. And I think Tricia they just said wardrobe and Tricia and I kept thinking well what if we switched wardrobes? They didn’t say your own wardrobe. I thought that would have been pretty funny if I squeezed into a little red dress.

On Lee and Kara:

I don’t think that Lee and Kara will ever be happy together. I don’t think that - I don’t think they’re meant to be together, you know. I think that they’re meant to be best friends, they’re meant to push each other, they’re meant to have those arguments that drive you, you know, that’s the purpose that I feel that they serve in each other's lives. I don’t think that they were ever meant to love each other. So, you know, with that being said, I don’t think they’ll ever end up together, I never did really, you know.

I think I said earlier, I think it was in an interview yesterday, where I said if anyone is fitting for her and if there’s anyone that she would actually allow herself to be happy with and be with, it’d probably be Leoben, you know. Anders is too weak for her emotionally. Lee is too much of a boy scout. He makes her feel guilty for her anger and her - who she is, you know, her faults. He makes her feel guilty just by being who he is. And so if there was any person that she could let her guard down with and be happy with, probably Leoben.

- posted by Raoul