Have a look at this very encouraging and positive review from The Huffington Post of Dark Blue’s upcoming second season and Tricia Helfer’s debut on the show. Both Tricia and the show gets a big ‘thumbs-up’ from the publication’s film critic Jackie K. Cooper (who, it’s worth noting, disliked Season 1), which is of course very reassuring news to the rest of us. The full review under the cut.

When the Dylan McDermott TV series Dark Blue premiered on TNT last year it became my least favorite show of the network’s offerings. The Closer, Hawthorne, Leverage; they all were better and more entertaining. Dark Blue was too dark in its story of undercover cops. It also seemed to waste the talent and charisma of McDermott. Plus the supporting cast seemed to be struggling to find the heart and soul of their characters. In short nothing worked.

What a difference a year makes. The show is coming back and it is coming back like gangbusters. The actual look of the show seems brighter; the supporting cast seems more assured; best of all 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.

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Have a look at this very insightful TV Tango interview with Tricia Helfer regarding her new Dark Blue gig. The article sheds a lot of new light on e.g. how she got involved in the series, what it’s been like working on the show, what the prospects are for her character in her debut season and whether she’ll be returning for another season should TNT renew Dark Blue after Season 2. She also talks a little bit about her back injury from this spring and how she got it, and hints at shooting a couple of new indie films this fall. It’s a really interesting and informational read! Full article under the cut.

Question: How did you get your role in Dark Blue?

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.

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Have a look at this great Examiner.com interview with Tricia Helfer from the April Tribeca Film Festival, in which she talks about her most recent onscreen work, including Open House, Dark Blue and A Beginner’s Guide to Endings, and how e.g. Battlestar Galactica has influenced her as an actress. Full article under the cut.

A perfect word to describe Canadian-born actress Tricia Helfer would be ‘versatile’. For looking at the roles she has played, versatile is what’s seen in Helfer’s acting range. Most known for her character in the Battlestar Galatica series, Helfer has played a variety of characters, including portraying the late Farrah Fawcett in the 2004 NBC television film Behind the Camera :The Unauthorized Story of ‘Charlie’s Angels’. The former model has recently joined the cast of Dark Blue for their second season. The way Helfer describes her eclectic new role in the TNT drama once again presents her versatile talent as an actress. She recently discussed with me the fun she’s having with the part, as well as her thoughts on her leading role in the new thriller Open House, which brought her to this year’s Tribeca Film Festival for its premiere.

You’re currently at the Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of your new film Open House. How is the Film Festival? Is this your first time there?
Tricia – It’s my first time at the festival so it’s quite exciting. The premiere was last night and I think it went over pretty well. I’m just excited to be here in Tribeca. Really looking forward to seeing what happens with Open House.

What most appealed to you about the part of Lila in Open House?
Tricia – What I liked about Lila, what appealed to me in the script was there was more layer to the character than just being evil, seductive serial killer, kind of one note, icy so to speak. I saw when I read as just a real truth, psychosis, to the character and I wanted to try to portray that. You know you don’t expect her to have vulnerabilities but when she’s by herself you do see some glimpses of vulnerabilities in this narcissistic character.

How did this part challenge you differently from any other parts you’ve played?
Tricia – It was great working with Brian Geraghty, he is the playoff between the two of us. We’re playing siblings and his character kept his emotions in and was very reserved in many ways until he lashed out. And it was a very dominate sort of relationship. So I think one of the challenges was playing with him and finding the right balance of the Lila character, who’s very strong and out there and outspoken. Definitely the dominant. And just her having to react to her brother and how she shows love to him but controlling him.

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As you will have noticed, things continue to be quiet with Tricia Helfer for the time being. We hope things will pick up soon, though. Meanwhile, have a look at this interesting and insightful article from Pet News and Views, about Tricia’s animal activism and work in support of the Los Angeles-based animal shelter, Kitten Rescue:

Tricia Helfer has always loved cats. When she is away from home, her husband, Jonathan Marshall, sends her updates and photos of each one of their cats. “He knows how important they are to me,” she says. “And in my line of work, it’s nice to know that while I’m away, they are in excellent hands.” Jonathan, who works as an attorney, “is a big animal supporter,” she says. “When we met, he quickly fell in love with my two cats.”

Their family has since grown; there are a few tabbies, a couple of Maine Coons, and a few fosters from Kitten Rescue Sanctuary, a no-kill shelter in Los Angeles. The Sanctuary has a full-time staff as well as numerous volunteers who provide care, love, and socialization for the cats housed there. Since its inception in 1997, Kitten Rescue has grown to become one of the largest animal welfare groups in Los Angeles. Kitten Rescue places approximately 1,000 cats and kittens into new homes every year.

Tricia, who played Number 6 in Battlestar Galactica, found out about Kitten Rescue three years ago while shopping at a local pet store. “One of the employees asked all of the customers to make donations to Kitten Rescue,” she says. “When I handed her a check, she hugged me, and when I was ready to adopt another cat, I adopted from Kitten Rescue. I was so impressed with the Kitten Rescue that I became a volunteer there.”

[...] “Tricia has really been a blessing for Kitten Rescue,” says Ben Lehrer of Kitten Rescue. “Not only has she been incredibly generous in both her personal contributions and in helping with our fundraising efforts, but she has been more than willing to delve into the trenches of street rescue and take on litters of abandoned kittens herself. Her selflessness and enthusiasm are remarkable and we are very fortunate to have her as a member of our team.”

Be sure to read the full article at PetNewsandViews.com.

As you may have noticed, there has been very little Tricia news to report of late, hence the few updates. Today, however, I was alerted to a brief but interesting interview Tricia Helfer did for Greenr.ca regarding her upcoming off-the-grid home in Alberta, Canada. Excerpt courtesy of Greenr.ca:

What advice do you have for people aspiring to go green?
Helfer: I’d say start reading. There is so much out there but so little utilized in the day to day life. It’s shocking, actually, how much more could be easily done. I am certainly the lazy partner of this build, but my husband has done a massive amount of reading and educating himself. Really, I’d say to start small and build from there. It is overwhelming to try to all of a sudden be green, but if you start small, you can build from there. Every little bit makes a difference if everyone starts.

Do you think it’s feasible for the average person to build an off the grid home?
Helfer: Honestly, at this point, no. It is definitely more expensive upfront which is a huge road block. It would save money overtime but the majority of the population doesn’t have that extra money upfront. I wish I had a different answer to this question but from what I’m experiencing right now with trying to budget for the house, it is more expensive than building traditionally. Hopefully that will change soon, or the notion of the bigger picture and the long haul will make more people take the plunge and put a little more money in the beginning in order to save later. It would be nice if it was only environmental concerns and I’m sure everyone would build green, but unfortunately it’s a cost concern too, and right now it’s more expensive.

For more information and updates on Tricia and husband Jonathan Marshall’s ongoing green project, please visit TriciaGreen.com.

There’s been a lot of press coverage on Tricia and Burn Notice of late — and there’s more. The Chicago Tribune recently sat down with Tricia to discuss her involvement in Burn Notice as well as the 4th and final season of Battlestar Galactica. Although there’s been a lot of press coverage on all this throughout the year, this interview is a touch more insightful and interesting than the average article; I’d have a look if I were you.

Here are some news tidbits on the aforementioned series, as revealed by the Chicago Tribune interview:

• Filming of Battlestar Galactica will in all likelihood wrap up this month, either on Jul 7, 10 or 12 (exact date varies with source), after which Tricia will return to Miami to shoot more Season 2 material for Burn Notice until October ‘08. While she keeps all Battlestar Galactica series’ finale secrets to herself, Tricia promises Red Eye Chicago the concluding episode will answer a lot questions.

• Tricia will appear as Carla in the first two episodes of Burn Notice, after which Carla again returns in the series’ mid-season finale, episode 9. Carla will also be featured in some of the post-hiatus episodes, but which these episodes are is yet to be revealed.

• Tricia confirms she has signed on to do Fox’s Inseparable pilot, for which filming takes place in August ‘08.

Press Links:

• Helfer of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ puts the sizzle in ‘Burn Notice’ (Chicago Tribune)
• Helfer on ‘Battlestar’ finale: It’s awesome (Red Eye Chicago)

The Battletstar Galactica production team were recently in New York to promote the upcoming fourth and final season of the series, and UGO.com has coverage from the series’ press conference. The article is mildly spoilery, but (unsurprisingly) no major plot twists are given away. From UGO.com:

So what can fans expects from the fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica then? It will be presented in two parts, with the second half set to film this summer for a probable fall airing. While the cast themselves remain in the dark as to how the series will close, Moore and Eick insist that the story is served and that the most pressing loose ends are tied up.

Which isn’t to say that all will be well for the human race when the end credits roll on episode 20. “It’s devastating,” said Olmos of the fourth season, “don’t watch this program; it’s not an easy ride.”

In other news, contrary to our earlier update, Tricia doesn’t seem to be featured in the April 2008 issue of FHM after all, so we’re not quite sure which issue she will be in. We’ll keep you posted. Thanks to Tricia’s official site for the heads-up. If anyone has any additional information on this, please get in touch! Thank you.

Tricia and Walk All Over Me have been garnering some Canadian press attention of late. Here’s a summary of what’s worth a look. Kicking things off with Western Canadian movie magazine Reel West, which features an interview with Walk All Over Me-director Robert Cuffley in their January-February 2008 issue. Tricia and co-star Leelee Sobieski grace the cover in appropriate Walk All Over Me dominatrix gear. Thanks to Tricia’s official site for the heads-up.

Furthermore, The Montreal Gazette recently published a rather mixed review on Walk All Over Me, but commented positively on Tricia’s performance. Read the review in its entirety at Canada.com, below is the excerpt regarding Tricia:

Again, to Cuffley’s credit, he creates characters who are inherently seductive. Both Alberta and Celine are fascinating studies of femininity and female stereotypes, and both Sobieski and Helfer bring incredible depth to the fore – but we never get enough moments between the two of them to suck on the marrow of the story.

Finally, we have another Canadian article centering on Tricia herself. The Calgary Herald recently sat down with Tricia for an interview, which you can read in its entirety at Canada.com. That’s all!

ShowBizMonkeys posted about a week back an interview with Tricia Helfer and Walk All Over Me-director Robert Cullfey, which I thought you might be interested in. The article is mainly concerned with the production of Walk All Over Me, but, as the author puts it, what would a Tricia interview be without some Battlestar Galactica questions? From ShowBizMonkeys:

MM: Now being that I write for the internet, I’d be shot if I didn’t ask at least one BSG question, so here it is. There have been rumors that due to the writers’ strike, part of the fourth season may not air.

TH: We shot 12. We were picked up for 22 – two of them in the beginning of the season were Razor. (So) we shot 14 so far, so we have 8 more to go. As far as we know, we’re coming back to shoot the remaining 8. Who knows what is going to happen. I certainly don’t have a crystal ball. If the strike goes on long enough, yeah, with any show there’s a possibility that will be the final episode. What we’ve shot will air, absolutely; I think it’s scheduled to start airing in April. Because it was 20 episodes, I think they were going to show 10 in April 08 and then hold 10 for technically a 5th season even though we would have filmed it all at once. But technically a 5th season for the end of ‘08 or beginning of ‘09. That’s what might change. They may air all 12 episodes as Season 4 and there won’t be a season 5.

MM: Can the story wrap there at the end of the 12 that are shot?

TH: Where we are could be season-ending. I know with certainty, that’s not how the series is supposed to end. Without giving away any spoilers, that certainly could be season-ending, but again, who knows. I don’t know what’s going to happen. All I know is that when we left the last day of filming, everybody thought we were coming back for the final 8 episodes. Only time will tell.

Read the interview in its entirety at ShowBizMonkeys!