Close Encounters
TRICIA HELFER
FACE TO FACE WITH THE BIGGEST STARS
The Cylon goddess sinks her teeth into another iconic role
Words by Tara Bennett /// Photographyby Larry Busacca
ACylon. The exiled wife of God. An Espheni alien queen, and even Spidey’s friend Black Cat. Actress Tricia Helfer has embodied a lot of memorable sci-fi roles in her career, but she’s trailblazing some new ground now as the first woman to tackle playing Dracula. In the fifth and final season of Van Helsing, Abraham Van Helsing’s vampire-killing descendant Vanessa (Kelly Overton) will get to face off against Helfer’s uber-vamp in a lady battle that’s sure to be one for the ages.
When the role was initially presented to her, the actress admits she was immediately curious about undertaking such an iconic role. And that tingle of interest is what ultimately motivates all of her choices. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a Hallmark, loveydovey, cutesy story, or if it’s Dracula and blood and gore, I just have to feel a connection,” Helfer tells SFX, as we explore her impressive CV to date.