How Would TRANSPLANT Characters Handle a Pandemic? Laurence Leboeuf Praises Real-Life Doctors and Nurses Prior to Season 1 Finale

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede Laurence Leboeuf of CTV’s TRANSPLANT knows this is a very unique time to be playing a doctor on TV. “We’ve been thinking about doctors and nurses so much, and for us on the show, it’s interesting to know just a little bit about what it takes to be on the inside of a hospital, and to work there on a day-to-day basis,” said Leboeuf, who plays Dr. Magalie “Mags” Leblanc. “With this whole pandemic, the complete devotion of medical professionals is just astounding. They’re the guardian angels. They are. People keep saying that, but they really are.” If the real-world situation has provided a wider perspective for the cast of TRANSPLANT – which airs its Season 1 finale Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on CTV – Leboeuf also hopes the show is providing viewers with new ways to appreciate everything that doctors and nurses do. “Yeah, for sure – and that’s why medical shows have fascinated people throughout the years,” Leboeuf said. “They’re saving people’s lives, and the audience is curious about that. And no wonder – so am I!” Momentarily setting aside the seriousness of the medical situation that the world is facing right now, Leboeuf was asked to consider the personalities of the fictional characters in TRANSPLANT and guess how they might react if the societal idiosyncrasies and inconveniences of the pandemic invaded their world. So first of all, given all the shutdowns and changes to the way people are living their lives, which character’s lifestyle would be affected the least? “Um … Mags, of course!” said Leboeuf, choosing her own work-focused character. “Mags would be sleeping at the hospital, and she would actually feel more comfortable. She would probably be there 24/7. She’d be the one who would be there probably too much. Forget going home, forget eating. She needs to save people!” Which character’s lifestyle would be affected the most? “That’s a good question – I think maybe Theo’s,” said Leboeuf, referring to Dr. Theo Hunter, played by Jim Watson. “Because it would be hard for him to be away from his family and he might not be able to travel (Theo works in Toronto, but his wife and kids live in Sudbury, Ont.). So Theo’s life would definitely be shaken up. Plus, he’s kind of a social guy, so he would be anxious for things to open up again.” Which character would be the most grumpy? “Probably June!” said Leboeuf with a big laugh, meaning Dr. June Curtis, played by Ayisha Issa. “Oh, she would hate to have to change her gear all the time, and make sure everything’s sterile and clean, all the extra steps. She would HATE it! So yes, definitely June!” And finally, what about lead character Dr. Bashir “Bash” Hamed, played by Hamza Haq? “Bash would be so focused and so present, and yet he also would struggle with Amira (Bash’s young sister, played by Sirena Gulamgaus),” said Leboeuf. “Bash is basically a single parent. What does he do with Amira through this, because he would definitely not want to expose her to anything, but being separated would break her heart. That would be a real moral struggle.” But then Leboeuf had an idea. “Maybe Bash and Amira could come and live at the hospital, with Mags!” Leboeuf said. Well, there definitely has been some romantic tension between Bash and Mags, so who knows? billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv