Tricia Helfer Dazzles - On Screen and Off, in AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Photo Shoot

The statuesque former model chalks up her casting to her height (5'11) and build, but beyond the physical, it's clear that her ability to slip effortlessly into these bold roles has more to do with sheer talent and her own inner-strength.

Born in Donalda, Canada, Helfer describers herself as a "total tomboy" growing up on a farm and becoming an animal lover early on. Tomboy activities (she still rides motorbikes regularly) and animal activism are passions she pursues as an adult.

"I grew up on a farm (albeit, a grain farm), so I had an early awareness about what goes on with the animal industry," says Helfer about her lifelong interest in animal activism. "It's not a very transparent industry, so I want to get more awareness out there and let people see what goes on. "

Helfer has been a longtime supporter of several animal charities and rescue groups in Los Angeles, including the Humane Society of the United States and PETA.  In 2005, she found a unique way to mobilize her fan base to support the animal organizations by selling her TV and film memorabilia and signed pictures on her own website. All of the money raised through the sale of items on Helfer's site, goes directly to her favorite charities.

"You get requests for signed pictures and memorabilia," says Helfer, "so I thought to send people to my website where they can purchase items, and know the money goes to a good cause."

Longtime fans from her Battlestar Galactica days will also be pleased to know that Helfer has been working on a podcast centered on the storyline of the series.

"It's been really interesting to now get back to the show 10 to 12 years later and actually watch it as more of a viewer," she shared. "The podcast will be a lot of us chatting about specific episodes and behind the scenes stories. We'll have Katee Sackhoff (who played Lieutenant Kara Starbuck Thrace) on as a guest and pretty much all of the cast and creators."

She credits Battlestar Galactica with helping to diversify roles for women by focusing on strong characters rather than specifically gender.

"I think we've made great strides with women's roles," says Helfer. "But when the discussion is more about a strong character rather than whether that character is female, that's when I think things will really change. On Battlestar Galactica, when a woman became president, there was never a discussion about her being a woman. Rather, she was a strong character. When that's more the norm, that's when I think real change has been made."

When she started modeling, Helfer remembers the fashion industry making the shift from pigeonholing models as either print, runway or catalogue and says she sees the same change now with actors moving seamlessly between TV and film.

"With the proliferation of outlets, it is at a very particular time and it's for the positive," says Helfer about the current "Golden Age" of television.

As exciting as TV certainly is (Helfer admits to binge-watching Bloodline and Ozark), she is happy to put on red carpet-ready clothing and jewelry as a model for the day for the AGTA Spectrum Awards™.

"It feels comfortable," says Helfer of dressing up for the Spectrum photo shoot. "It feels like putting on a comfy pair of pants, especially with such a great group. From the lighting and clothes, to the jewelry and photographer, everything was incredible. And I had been on set all night before with no sleep! But, I got to be draped in this unbelievable jewelry all day. I felt beautiful and pampered."

Some of her favorites from the day were: the "Solar Flare" necklace featuring Citrines and Aquamarines was the actress' favorite piece for the way it can be worn to the front or back.  "There was one we called the "Game of Thrones" necklace," she said of the platinum "Dancing Waves" neck collar, which features Aquamarines accented with Diamonds.

"I absolutely love jewelry!" adds Helfer. "I tend towards the classic as opposed to anything way over the top. My style in general is more classic."

As evidence by her red carpet choices, which include timeless shift dresses and tailored suit silhouettes, chic pencil skirts and blouses and plenty of little black dresses, Helfer has always channeled the classic side of fashion in her sartorial choices.

But most days, she is happiest going for a casual "off duty" look that expresses her inner tomboy, (though arguably, with her head-turning supermodel stats, Helfer would look great in anything).  "Most of the time it's fun," he says about getting dressed up for the red carpet. "I am a bit of a tomboy, but I do also have that side of me that can be girly."

Playing a science fiction character, modeling or dedicating her time to advocating for animal rights, Helfer exudes a quiet strength that comes across as pretty powerful in every one of her projects.

For further information regarding the AGTA Spectrum Awards™, contact Megan Whitmire at (800) 972-1162 or visit the AGTA website at www.agta.org. 

The American Gem Trade Association is a not-for-profit Association serving the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry since 1981.  Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, The AGTA serves the industry as "The Authority in Color." 

SOURCE American Gem Trade Association

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