Kristanna Loken's Catty L-Word Cast

Although Kristanna Loken is only a shade past that age, the 27-year-old, who is making her debut on the "L Word," has taken a circuitous career path since a very high-profile gig in 2003’s "Terminator 3."

In the role as the Terminatrix, the nearly 6-foot-tall Loken was cast in part because she looked like she posed a credible threat to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s heroic Terminator. But such great heights have proven to be a hindrance to Loken, she said during an interview.

She has most often played parts in action, fantasy and horror offerings, with varied success: she has been in schlock (the movie "BloodRayne" — as a "dhampir," half-human, half-vampire), but will also star in Sci Fi Channel’s anticipated new series "Painkiller Jane." Did she choose her route down the genre road?

"Not really," Loken said, "I feel like it chose me." She laughed.

Loken added, "I’ve been this height since I was 18 years old. On ‘The L Word’ it didn’t really matter because we’re all the same lying down, and that’s what we did for half the show."

Loken is openly bisexual, which contributed to her desire to be on the show.

"I liked being able to have a same-sex relationship on screen and have it be okay," she said. That makes her one of the few "out" members of the "L Word" group, since most of the cast identifies as heterosexual or won’t speak publicly about their sexuality.

Her character will be on the series through the rest of the season, but unlike Shepherd and Matlin, Loken has no plans to return to the show, regardless of whether "Painkiller Jane" is a hit. She called Chaiken and the other producers and writers "fantastic," but said her "L Word" run was soured by "the most difficult cast I’ve ever worked with."

"I’m not naming names," she said, "But let’s just start with the fact that it’s an entire show of women. And the amount of egos and insecurities and cattiness that can go on with a bunch of women — that’s what you get. It attracts certain people that want to do something different in their career, but the girls were tough. You know?"

Loken continued, "I really like Ilene — a lot. It’s a big, ensemble cast. And sometimes you wonder if they’ve bit off more than they can chew." Chaiken complimented Loken, and would not comment on what she said about her experience on the set.