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Fly Girl
Sackhoff is the new Starbuck
By Jerome Maida
Though her character Captain Kara Thrace - better known as Starbuck - is arguably the most popular character on the Sci-Fi Channel's hit series Battlestar Galactica, actress Katee Sackhoff says she had to overcome as many obstacles as her on-screen persona does each week to land the part.
"I remember reading the script in December of 2002 and that they didn't want to use me," says Sackhoff during a recent phone call. "It seemed that everyone in Hollywood from age 22 to 35 was auditioning for the part and up to that point I had played the stereotypical blonde in so many roles."
After landing the role of the hard-as-nails, hard-drinking, and high-flying fighter pilot, Sackhoff had to deal with fan reaction that was as harsh as a Cylon interrogator. Her character proved to be a lightning rod and was an instant symbol to many of how the current post-9/11 themed series differs from the 1978-79 Star Wars-inspired original.
"I had no idea that the original Starbuck was a guy," she says.
Sackhoff adds that though the fan reaction was tough and surprising, she simply set out to play the character as written and make Starbuck her own, rather than trying too hard to be similar or different from the previous incarnation.
"I made the decision not to watch the original," she says. "If anything I loosely based the character on my brother, who is extremely creative and sensitive, yet tough - and that's pretty much what she is."
Sackhoff admits that it is tough to realize that, although the show has won critical acclaim and rabid fans, the one-two punch of being on cable and being categorized as a "science-fiction" show means many people simply dismiss it - if they are even aware it exists, and there are some advantages to the show being underneath the radar of most of the viewing public.
"We're given the freedom on Sci-Fi to push the envelope every night," she says. "If we had more viewers, we might have to be more careful about what we do. Right now, all we have to worry about is doing great TV."
Indeed, in its first two seasons, Battlestar Galactica has dealt with such issues as treatment of prisoners, torture, freedom of the press in dealing with matters of national security, powers of the president during a time of war, and an attempt to steal a presidential election.
All of these issues were explored even-handedly and had maximum dramatic impact. Still, Sackhoff says she isn't holding her breath waiting for an Emmy.
"It's shocking to me that the show has never received a nomination," she says. "It's especially frustrating when you are constantly getting compared favorably to shows that are nominated. 'Time' magazine called us the best drama on TV."
Although Sackhoff is still excited to play Starbuck, who she claims "hasn't changed all that much," she would love to be offered a diversity of roles and enjoy a full career.
"I'm 26 and there's a lot of different roles I would like to play," she says. "I would love to do comedies and other things. I would like Starbuck to be one of the highlights of my career, but not the sum of it."
So that's what Sackhoff says she wants. And what does she think Starbuck wants?
"First, she probably would think that the question is stupid," Sackhoff says, laughing. "What does Starbuck want? A bottle of whiskey and a hot young thing to go with it!"
©Electric City 2006