Tricia Helfer may have played it all, but she sure hasn’t told it all — until now!
Canadian actress and former model, Tricia Helfer, already has an impressive resume — including her role as Number Six on Battlestar Galactica, her role as Carla on the popular USA show Burn Notice, and being host to season one of Canada’s Next Top Model. What’s next for this beautiful blonde? She’ll be playing FBI Special Agent Alex Rice on TNT’s drama series DARK BLUE, which premiere’s TONIGHT, August 4 at 10pm/9pm CT! The series, which was new to TNT last season, is based in L.A. and centers on an undercover unit solving crime.
Check out these six things you never knew about Tricia Helfer!
I know how to weld. Not good, mind you, but I know how.
I have 4 artificial discs in my back.
I have never skied or snowboarded. I know, shocking for someone who grew up near the Canadian Rockies!
When I get home from set after a night shoot, I have a bourbon before going to bed.
After a good day’s ride on my motorbike, I absolutely crave and must have … chips and salsa.
Tricia Helfer is joining ‘Dark Blue’ (premiering Aug. 4 at 9PM ET on TNT) — and if you’re not familiar with her, you should be! Helfer has been a mainstay on cult TV for years thanks to her huge role in the re-imagined ‘Battlestar Galactica’ series. She’s also done memorable turns on ‘Chuck,’ ‘Burn Notice’ and ‘Human Target.’
On ‘Dark Blue,’ Helfer is Special Agent Alex Price, a new love interest for Carter Shaw (Dylan McDermott). Get the scoop on the role from Helfer herself, in this behind-the-scenes video:
Before she steals Shaw’s heart, here are six thing you need to know about the woman who will forever be associated with that number.
1. As Number Six on ‘Battlestar Galactica’ she played at least 16 roles.
While Helfer was seen most as Caprica Six, she also portrayed at least 15 other significant versions of the Cylon model. From Shelly Godfrey to Natalie, several different Sixes had an impact on the series.
2. Because of minimal acting experience, Helfer was almost denied the role of Six on ‘Battlestar.’
Helfer started her career as a model with little acting experience, so Syfy was reportedly apprehensive to cast her in such a pivotal role. David Eick, an executive producer on ‘Battlestar’ told Entertainment Weekly that casting Six was the biggest drama involved with rebooting the series. “Tricia Helfer had this thing that you couldn’t put your finger on, but she hadn’t done anything,” Eick said. “She had played a dead body in an episode of ‘CSI.’”
3. Helfer is an animal rights activist.
The actress has campaigned for animal rights on numerous occasions. She’s appeared in PETA advertisements and spoken out for various causes numerous times. “I really just thought that this campaign ‘Angels for Animals’ is something that I feel is a good message to get out there, that they are part of the family and you should treat them as part of the family,” Helfer told HelpingAnimals.com. Check out her ad here.
4. Besides ‘BSG,’ she’s popped up on some of TV’s hottest shows.
Helfer booked recurring roles on CBS’s hit comedy ‘Two and a Half Men’ and USA Network’s ‘Burn Notice.’ She’s also popped up on NBC’s ‘Chuck’ and Fox’s ‘Human Target.’
5. Her voice is famous too!
Helfer has voiced multiple video games and cartoon characters. She can be heard in ‘Halo: ODST’ as Commander Veronica Dare, ‘Mass Effect 2′ as EDI, and Bizzard’s ‘Starcraft 2′ as Sarah Kerrigan. In cartoons, Helfer has done voiceover work for ‘The Super Hero Squad,’ ‘Green Lantern: First Flight’ and ‘The Spectacular Spider-Man.’
6. She’s like the Canadian Tyra Banks … sort of.
In 2006, the former model hosted and executive produced the first cycle of ‘Canada’s Next Top Model,’ while still working on ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and other projects. However, at the end of the season Helfer left the show to focus on her acting.
TNT’s hit-and-miss cop drama “Dark Blue” returns tomorrow night, August 4th, 2010 with a great pair of episodes featuring the addition of the always-excellent Tricia Helfer of “Battlestar Galactica,” but the improvements aren’t merely in the supporting cast, as the first two hours of season two hint at the opposite of a sophomore slump. “Dark Blue” is still a deeply flawed program but the technical elements of the show have improved, the cast seems much more comfortable, and the writing is more tightly-paced. It may never be a great show, but it’s developing into a pretty damn good one.
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In the first episode, Dean is working on a sting when he crosses paths with FBI Special Agent Alex Rice (Tricia Helfer), who happens to be running her own undercover operation on the same group of scumbags (and also happens to be the hottest FBI agent your television has seen in years) led by the always-slimy Rhys Coiro (he played the loony director Billy Walsh on “Entourage”).
Alex and Carter play a few alpha dog games as to who’s really in charge while they flirt their way to the action climax and set up future appearances for Helfer. Their dynamic is not just the best thing about the premiere but her scenes are stronger than the entirety of season one. More on that later.
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As for performances, Marshall-Green is easily the most interesting regular actor but that’s partially due to the meatier role he plays on the show as the “lead man” in most undercover operations. Aycox and Hardwick still too often feel like actors that could be easily replaced and they’re not quite convincing when they do take the spotlight. As for McDermott, he’s the most inconsistent element of the show. Being a fan of “The Practice,” I’ve always liked McDermott, but I don’t quite believe him in the role of a man so deep undercover that he’s basically lost his humanity. I wish they’d allow McDermott to really explore the dark side of this character and stop thinking that five-o-clock shadow means dark. It should be noted however that he excels most in the scenes with his gorgeous new co-star and it feels like the inclusion of Helfer has inspired McDermott to give more than he did in season one. Sometimes it takes a great leading lady to make a real leading man and McDermott is simply more believable in the romantic moments than the criminal ones.
The real key to the premiere is the addition of Tricia Helfer, who feels like she holds all of the ingredients that were missing from season one. Her addition to the cast sparks the entire show, including even the scenes in which she doesn’t appear. I still think that “Dark Blue” is too often a game of smoke and mirrors where the action takes precedence over the characters, but the strength of Helfer’s performance balances that out much more effectively than in season one. McDermott and his team of cops were buried under the Bruckheimer flash in season one. It was hard to tell exactly what was missing even though most viewers knew something was not quite right. Who would have guessed it would take a sci-fi icon to turn “Dark Blue” into the cop show it promised to be all along?
Check out Tricia as she discusses her role in Dark Blue in the August 2nd issue of TV Guide.
… “I’ve always wanted to play a strong character on the right side of the law.” says the actress, whose usual stunt work was curtailed by her recent “massive” back surgery. But, she says, “I do get to kill people with a knife and a gun.” …
… What a difference a year makes…. McDermott has found his mojo. He now exudes sex appeal and all it took was a little helper named Helfer. Yes Tricia Helfer has joined the cast and she is the missing ingredient. Around her, McDermott’s character, Carter Shaw, has blossomed.
Helfer plays FBI Agent Alex Rice and she is the kick the series has needed. She arrives on the scene as a take hold kind of girl and Shaw’s heart raises the white flag. There is steam surrounding these two whenever they are in the same scene….
Dark Blue is executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It has all the traits of one of his productions – car chases, action sequences, dangerous situations. If we find out it was him who decided to hire Helfer then we will know he is a true genius. Whoever made that decision in my mind saved the show. Dark Blue has gone from an “I don’t want to watch it” show to an “I must see it” show. That’s real progress!
Dark Blue premieres back to back episodes on TNT, Wednesday, August 4 at 9PM.
Tricia Helfer: I got involved through the normal audition process. It was pilot season in Los Angeles and I auditioned for the show and was offered it after auditioning. So I didn’t have a script to work off of. There was just four pages written for the audition. So after I was offered the role, then I spoke with the producers and writers about what they saw for the character for the season and I liked what they had to say and they held up their end of the bargain.
They definitely said she was going to be involved with the team and be a smart, fun, strong character and not just the FBI finger-pointer or that kind of thing.
Question: What drew you to this particular character?
Tricia Helfer: I’ve always had a desire to play a cop or FBI agent. I’m a bit of a tomboy so it’s fun and I think there’s a lot of challenges — emotionally and mentally — playing a role like that and trying to get into the character. This role is fun because there’s also going to be some undercover roles — so roles within the roles so to speak — which as an actor are a lot of fun to play. And then of course just the team that’s behind it — the Bruckheimer camp and Warner Horizon and TNT it’s a great group of people and companies to work with.
