Jane Badler

A glamorous sci-fi icon, Jane Badler went from Miss New Hampshire to a splashy role as a murderous musician on "One Life to Live" (ABC, 1968-2013). Her breakthrough came as the villainous alien Diana in the influential "V" miniseries and series franchise (1983; 1984; 1984-85). Glamorous, charismatic and relishing every guinea pig-eating moment of her role, Badler became a sci-fi legend. Although she became a fixture on 1980s TV with roles on "Falcon Crest" (CBS, 1981-1990) and "Murder, She Wrote" (CBS, 1984-1996), her career languished in a series of lower-profile genre projects like "The Highwayman" (NBC, 1987-88) and "Mission: Impossible" (ABC, 1988-1990). Falling in love with an Aussie businessman, Badler moved Down Under, resuming her singing career with indie albums and a cabaret act, as well as essaying another "super-bitch" on the soap "Neighbours" (Seven Network, 1985; Network Ten, 1986-2010; Eleven, 2011- ). To the delight of fans, Badler returned as the indomitable Diana on the reimagined "V" (ABC, 2009-11) almost 30 years later. An enduring cult favorite, Badler's career was a testament to the staying power an actor could achieve if they hit upon the right role.