Jane Badler ( Diana ) recently headed over to Spain, to promote Season Two of V..

WEBSITE: EW.com/ew

WRITTEN BY: Lynette Rice

DIRECT LINK: http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/01/v-jane-badler-abc-diana/

The long wait for Jane Badler’s return is almost over!! When V bows on ABC Jan. 4, it will feature a much-anticipated appearance by the franchise’s original reptilian boss – the evil Diana.. EW talked to the Australian – based Badler – who appeared in the original NBC mini – series and its series sequel in the ’80s – about reprising the role that wasn’t so easy to score..

EW: How many episodes will you be in??
Jane Badler: I’m in all of them..

EW: What was your initial reaction when the producers approached you about reprising the role??
JB: Can I just tell you, when I heard that V was coming back, I could feel this huge swell just from my Facebook page that there was a lot of interest in it and my old character.. I thought, that’s it, I’m coming back to the show!! So I called my old agent, who told me I was ridiculous, that they weren’t going to be interested.. And so that was that.. Then I called the producer and met with him.. Since then, the show got a new producer, so I did the same thing and met with him.. But when this role came up, they weren’t thinking of me.. Can you believe it?? They called the character Diana as an homage to the original one, but it wasn’t the Diana.. Crazy!! Later, I got an email from my agent saying some person from Los Angeles wanted me to audition for the role of Diana and I went, what?? That’s a hoax!! How would anyone want me to audition?? So I had to audition.. And from what I hear, there were a lot of very well – known actresses who wanted the role, like big names, which is very flattering.. But my audition was the best.. So that’s how I got the role!! It wasn’t, like, handed to me.. Isn’t that kooky?? So here I am with what I thought was going to be four episodes, and it turned into the whole season, which has been absolutely amazing.. I’ve loved every minute of it.. It’s been crazy to be back involved in it again..

EW: How is your character re – introduced as Anna’s mom??
JB: I think it’s a really powerful thing.. It’s a whole Greek tragedy, mother – daughter.. I was the queen before her.. She imprisoned me.. She put me in a dungeon, and everyone thinks that I am dead.. And so she has become the new queen.. Very early on, she comes to visit to me, so that’s when it is revealed that I am alive.. It’s a whole power play – my different ways of ruling versus her ways of ruling.. They make me out to be the more benevolent of the two.. And perhaps I am, but I’m also the queen.. That carries arrogance with it.. It’s not just all nice.. It also is revealed why I can’t leave the dungeon, which is all kind of exciting, too.. There are lots of special effects..

EW: Where is the dungeon??
JB: I’m in the bowels of the ship.. But in the hole where I live, they have recreated it like our planet.. It’s like this extra – terrestrial terrain.. It’s really cool..

EW: Do you undermine Anna??
JB: Yes.. It does take a while but once people come to visit me by mistake, once people enter my lair … I can’t say what happens, but it’s huge last episode and hopefully viewers will flock to see the show because it will be amazing..

EW: Is there a potential for you to come back??
JB: I always thought I’d be a one – season person, but there is always that potential.. It depends, I guess, on the reaction to me.. I’m very pleased with this one season.. It definitely did what I wanted to do!!

EW: Ratings weren’t so great for V‘s first season..
JB: They are trying to reinvent it in their own way.. You can never recapture something.. Who knows why something becomes magic in its time?? I don’t understand it.. To this day, I get on my Facebook page because it gives me contact with the fans.. And each day I might have 20, 30, or 40 messages from new people who all remember the old V.. I just think, wow.. Why?? Why did it capture so many young people?? I guess that was the genius of [ Creator ] Ken Johnson and maybe it was the time we lived in.. I don’t think the show will ever be that, but I still think it’s a very, very good series and I’d love to see it find some sort of an audience..

EW: Does it air in Australia??
JB: Yes it does, which is weird, because I got call from the local Channel 9 and they asked me if I would do publicity for it.. That was very painful.. It was like wheeling out the old.. Let’s just put her in a wheelchair and wheel her out to do publicity!! I had very mixed feelings about it.. I did it because I have an album coming out and that’s been my main thrust in the last five years, I’ve been recording and performing.. I haven’t done V conventions.. I haven’t wanted to be that old Diana forever.. But now that I’m in the new series, I’m very happy to promote it.. It’s different..

WEBSITE: TVGuide.com

WRITTEN BY: Natalie Abrams

DIRECT LINK: http://www.tvguide.com/News/V-Jane-Badler-1027173.aspx

When ABC‘s V returns, the alien invasion series will welcome a very familiar face..

Jane Badler, who starred in the original 1983 Mini – Series, returns to the world as Diana, the mother of the ruthless leader of the Visitors, Anna ( Morena Baccarin ).. While her character’s name is the same, the new Diana is nothing like the Diana of before.. ( Makes sense: The series is a reboot, not a continuation of the Original Mini – Series )..

In the Original, Diana was the sadistic deputy leader of the Visitors who pioneered the mind control experiments on humans.. Like the remake’s Anna, Diana was not someone to be messed with..

But Diana 2.0 is different in significant ways, Badler says.. She’s a lot more enigmatic.. ” At first, I was trying to bring the old Diana into [ The new character ] even though [ The producers ] told me that it wasn’t that Diana,” Badler says.. ” The more that the character developed, the more it became a separate entity and evolved into a new incarnation.. This Diana is a lot more mature..”

The introduction of Diana brings out a new side of Anna, too.. You might say, Diana keeps Anna in check.. ” Anna is kind of like the old Diana, with her immorality, her impetuousness and her youth – all the qualities I had as the old Diana,” Badler explains.. ” I come on as the voice of reason.. Although I’m equally as powerful and would probably be as ruthless if I did take control, ultimately I’m a counterpoint to her views – someone that can have control over her.. I’m brought on as a foil for her character..”

Surprisingly, Badler reveals she had to audition for the role of Diana.. ” As much as actors hate auditioning, you feel like you really won something,” the actress says.. But getting back into Diana – esque mind gave her the chills.. ” That first day on the set was a big day for me,” Badler says.. ” Right from the beginning, it felt very right to be there and it felt like I owned the character..”

When we first meet Diana, she is imprisoned in the bowels of the ship, which are made to resemble the Visitor’s home world.. ” Ultimately, I do get out, but it takes a while,” she says..

Once she’s free, look for Diana to team up with her granddaughter, Lisa ( Laura Vandervoort ), and possibly the Fifth Column..

” Whatever it takes,” Badler says of teaming with the resistance.. ” I don’t know if she sympathizes with them, but she’ll ultimately use whatever tools that are available to overthrow her daughter.. Her daughter has imprisoned her in a dungeon, so no matter how fair Diana may be, revenge is always in the back of her mind..”

‘ V ‘ actresses Morena Baccarin ( Anna ), Laura Vandervoort ( Lisa ) and Jane Badler ( Diana ) on alien family drama as the show returns..

WEBSITE: TVFanatic.com

WRITTEN BY: Matt Richenthal

DIRECT LINK: http://www.tvfanatic.com/2010/12/exclusive-jane-badler-speaks-on-return-to-v/#more

It’s been 25 years since Jane Badler portrayed the character of Visitor Diana on the Original V Mini – Series, but the actress tells TV Fanatic she couldn’t wait to  reprise this role..

In fact, when ABC first announced it would revive V as a series, Badler says: ” I had a really strong reaction.. I felt like I should really be back on the show..”

So she contacted the producer at the time, was told the drama wanted to get through a full season before bringing back any old characters, and then was cast again in the role she originated in 1984 for Season Two..

Badler’s Diana – the mother of Visitor leader Anna – will appear on all 13 episodes in 2011 ( All 10 actually ).. Below, she tells us more about what’s in store and how she interacted with the cast..

How do we meet Diana on the season premiere?
It’s revealed at the end of the episode that she’s been kept in a dungeon by her daughter, who told all other Visitors that Diana was dead..

Why?
Diana and Anna have very different viewpoints on how to rule.. Anna sees human emotion as a negative, as the downfall of that species.. She kills any Visitor that expresses it.. But Diana thinks emotion can be a powerful weapon and sees ways in which it can be useful..

Can you compare the Original to the Remake?
In both, there’s a strong delineation between the freedom fighters and the lizards.. They interact, but they also tell parallel stories between these sides and that’s similar to the Original.. So are the political undertones and the concept of a strong woman battling against a strong woman..

What was it like working with this cast?
It takes Diana awhile to leave that dungeon, so I didn’t interact with everyone.. But it’s a great cast, I’m not just saying that.. I worked beautifully with Morena Baccarin because she’s very intense as an actress and so am I..

.
I have a new CD and music video coming out.. For the next six months, I’ll be putting my energy into that album launch.. You can read a lot more about it on my website..

Jane Badler ( Diana ) released her long awaited ” Official Website,” yesterday.. Click the image below to check out Jane’s website, which is dedicated to her music and acting careers..

Ilana has provided Veeks a photo of Jane Badler on set of V: The New Series.. Badler will wrap up shooting on Wednesday 8th December along with the rest of the Cast and Crew.. It was believed that Badler would be Guest Starring in  a few episodes during Season Two, but has since been brought on for the 10 episode season.. Here Jane is dressed in her second Dress Costume..

Morena Baccarin ( Anna ), Laura Vandervoort ( Lisa ) and Jane Badler ( Diana ) chat with Access about the fan reaction to them at New York Comic – Con 2010.. Plus, what can they reveal about their characters in Season Two of V?? Will Morena be knocked from her position as the queen of mean??

Morena Baccarin ( Anna ) tells Access about her terrifying mouse eating scene for ABC’s V.. Also, the ladies of V reveal details about the second season premiere of their show.. Plus, will there be any special guests appearing in the upcoming season??

]]> http://www.thevfiles.info/interview-access-talks-with-three-generations/feed/ 0 http://www.thevfiles.info/interview-scifinow-talks-with-jane-badler/ http://www.thevfiles.info/interview-scifinow-talks-with-jane-badler/#comments Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:38:16 +0000 madbeeotch http://www.thevfiles.info/?p=11748

WEBSITE: SciFiNow.co.uk

WRITTEN BY: Steve Burbridge

DIRECT LINK: http://www.scifinow.co.uk/interviews/interview-jane-badler/

V’s original leading lady talks to us about Diana – old and new..

Jane Badler’s performance as the brilliantly bitchy Diana was truly out of this world, and helped establish V as a cult classic.. SciFiNow talks to the actress about her iconic role in the series, and about appearing in the modern remake..

SciFiNow: You achieved international fame and cult sci-fi status playing Diana, the evil alien leader in V.. Did you ever imagine that, 27 years later, that role would still be something you’d be so associated with?
Jane Badler: Absolutely not.. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that it would have so much impact.. So many years later, I still have so many fans; it’s extraordinary..

SFN: When casting the role of Diana, Kenneth Johnson was looking for an actress with ” a compelling, frightening presence ” to play ” a domineering dominatrix who is incredibly sexy, seductive and probably bisexual..” Is that how you envisaged the character, too?
JB: Totally.. I think at that age I certainly did have the sexiness, but I had to work on the danger part of it.. That was something that Ken helped me with..

SFN: Some actors say that to play any character, they need to have understanding and empathy with the person.. Did you understand and empathise with Diana at all?
JB: Yeah, I did, I liked Diana. I thought there was something very likable in her transparency.. She didn’t hide her huge ambition and her fearlessness.. I loved that about her.. And, for me, it was a fantasy character.. I could be this totally amoral being, without any harm coming to me – it was fantastic..

SFN: Although Diana was a ruthless character, she still had an element of vulnerability, didn’t she?
JB: Yes, she did in her desire and her ambition.. I guess there was vulnerability in the need for that and in the constant coming up against conflict where she couldn’t attain what she wanted.. I guess there really was a bit of vulnerability and I think that just came through.. I wasn’t planning for that to come through, but I think it did..

SFN: What was the experience of playing Diana like for you?
JB: It was just an incredible ride.. I was coming from daytime soap operas and the amount of fame took me by surprise.. It was an amazing ride and I’m lucky to have had it..

SFN: The V: The Original Mini – Series and V: The Final Battle told a terrifying tale of invasion and subjugation plausibly.. However, the 19 – episode TV series descended into a sci – fi soap opera.. How did you feel about that?
JB: I think some of the cast members felt more strongly than I did.. Of course, it didn’t have the integrity and the dignity of the mini – series, but I still had a very good time doing it.. I still had a lot of fun because every day I was still playing Diana, so it was still a good experience..

SFN: The V series also lost an element of credibility as a result of major continuity gaffes and repetition of the same special effects sequences.. Did that frustrate you and other cast members?
JB: Yes, it totally did frustrate cast members – a lot.. It was an unfortunate thing that Kenneth wasn’t involved in it..

SFN: Apparently the heels of both of yours and June Chadwick’s boots would often get stuck in the grates on the Mothership.. Is this true?
JB: Yes, they were constantly.. Also, often when you watch us walk, we often walked strange because we had the high heels and we were on the grates.. When I watched the TV series, I realised that we both had a very funny walk..

SFN: It became high camp in a way..
JB: It did, of course it did.. It became high camp and a lot of people weren’t very happy and, unfortunately, there was a bit of tension on the set because of that.. I had a good time and I enjoyed myself..

SFN: Diana had great moments: eating the guinea pig; assassinating Pamela, then John; and fighting Lydia with laser weapons.. Do you have any favourites?
JB: I guess eating the rat would have to be one because it took so long to film and it was such a pivotal moment, even though now it looks completely silly and very fake.. For its time, though, it was extraordinary.. But just working with Ken on the mini – series was the high point for me.. That was just outstanding and I was very lucky to have that experience..

SFN: Did you watch the first season of the recent V remake?
JB: I did and I liked it.. I think it’s very different; it’s much more in keeping with what’s happening in the world now.. It’s more contemporary because it’s part of the new millennium, and the acting styles are very naturalistic.. It deals more with terror cells than the Nazi invasion.. It’s subtler; you have to really listen and watch and want to see it.. I think it’s getting more and more crazy, too.. I think it’s really good and I hope people stay with it.. They’re doing a great job..

SFN: The remake seems to have adopted a very slow – burning style, while the original was wall – to – wall action.. What are the pros and cons of each approach?
JB: It’s a time thing.. I think the original V was very much of its time, that’s the way things were done then.. Now, it’s a little more cerebral.. It’s not like wow, wow, wow, lots of special effects.. It’s more about the story and the characters, but I think that’s the way television is now.. Although I like both, I think the original V was probably more astounding.. I think people were shocked and delighted and scared, whereas now, I don’t think this V has had that same effect..

SFN: You’re currently filming the second season of the new V, playing Anna’s mother.. Tell us about that..
JB: I guess I was always the one that, in their minds, was a possibility if they decided to bring back a character.. When I heard that Anna’s mother was to be called Diana I found it very hard to believe that they could bring in a character named Diana without using me, it would be absolutely ridiculous, they’d have to call her something else.. It’s a weird, freaky, exciting thing for a character, 25 years later, to come back.. The fans have gone crazy already and for them, and me, it’s a fantastic thing..