Male clones will complicate 'Orphan Black'

PASADENA, Calif. — Tatiana Maslany continues her acting tour de force when BBC America's Orphan Black returns for Season 3 on April 18 (9 p.m. ET/PT).

Maslany played multiple clones in Season 2 of the drama, including: street-wise British chameleon Sarah, suburban soccer-mom Alison, cosmic-thinking scientist Cosima, Ukrainian wildcard Helena and ruthless pro-clone Rachel. She also played a Transgender clone, Tony, and a sick and dying one, Jennifer.

The new season of the Peabody Award-winning series, which films in Toronto, picks up on last season's finale, which introduced a male line of clones that will throw the female clones for a loop. The arrival of the male soldiers raises questions regarding their origins, their creators and their reason for existence.

Maslany, speaking by satellite from Canada to writers at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, said fans who approach her associate her with different clones.

"It depends on the demographic. The young women really tend to relate to Cosima. Middle-aged couples are really into Alison," she said. "Sarah is the centerpiece of the story, so she is the kind of default."

Ari Millen plays the clones Mark, the Prolethean cult follower, and Rudy, a prisoner of war. Hen said he observed Maslany try to figure out how to play multiple characters.

"When you have someone doing something so unique, just watch," he said. "I saw her ease and taking the time to breathe and doing one at a time. That was the greatest lesson I learned."

Millen also will play Rudy, aka Scarface, a brutal Castor clone, who can be seen here in a newly released photo. "He likes to get under people's skin," he said.

Maslany praised Millen, whom she remembered from an improvisational competition during high school. She recalled their first scene together.

"I was sitting opposite him, and this intensity he had. He was just so scary, because he was so alive and compelling and had this amazing energy," she said. "To have him take on this challenge was like a no-brainer. It also gave me the chance to have some three-day weekends."

Returning actors include Jordan Gavaris as Sarah's foster brother, Felix; Dylan Bruce as Paul, an army officer working for secret forces in the clone world; and Maria Doyle Kennedy as Sarah and Felix's foster mother, Mrs. S.

James Frain will appear in the season's first episode, posing a serious threat to the female clones.