Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 26, 1994 TAG: 9408170032
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ian Spelling
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
They also come to those who wait on ``Deep Space Nine'' - specifically Terry Farrell.
The 30-year-old actress was given little to do during ``DS9's'' first season, but she relished the development of science officer Jadzia Dax during the show's second year and is looking forward to revealing more facets of her 300-year-old character throughout the upcoming season.
``Instead of the characters talking about me doing things, but audiences never seeing me do anything, I actually got to do some things this past season,'' Farrell says by phone from her Los Angeles home.
She points to the episodes ``Playing God'' and ``Blood Oath'' as good examples.
``I had some very dramatic moments in `Playing God' and I had some action, fighting with the Klingons, in `Blood Oath' that made it much more enjoyable for me,'' she says.
``Jadzia also really came out from behind her computer, and you got to see much more of her sense of humor, which was important.''
After all, Farrell explains, it would be impossible for an ancient Trill to live on DS9 - with such 20- to 50-year-old beings as Major Kira (Nana Visitor) and Sisko (Avery Brooks) - unless she had a pretty good sense of humor.
``To her, it's like they're children, because even 50 is nothing to her,'' Farrell says, laughing. ``I'd think that someone as old as Jadzia would find it rather irritating if she didn't find some humor in all of it.''
Born and reared in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Farrell began her career as a model, gracing the covers of such magazines as Mademoiselle and Vogue. After taking acting lessons, she landed a role on the TV series ``Paper Dolls,'' which also featured future ``Next Gen'' star Jonathan Frakes (who, incidentally, will direct the second episode of ``DS9's'' two-part third-season opener).
Subsequent television credits include ``Family Ties,'' ``Quantum Leap'' and ``The New Twilight Zone.'' She also appeared in the films ``Back to School'' (1986) and ``Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth'' (1992).
When she's not working, Farrell, who just ended a one-year relationship with actor Richard Grieco, likes to travel.
She recently visited Hawaii, where, during a deep-sea fishing excursion, she caught a 5-foot wahoo. The fish is now being stuffed and will soon be on display in her home.
Looking ahead, Farrell says she's eager to begin work on ``DS9's'' new season so she can further master the complicated technobabble (``Trek's'' scientific dialogue) and ``explore other elements of Dax.''
Such as?
``Sex,'' she reveals, laughing. ``Jadzia must be frustrated out of her mind sexually. It doesn't seem to be in the writers' minds, but it seems to me that it's got to come up sooner or later.''
In the meantime, Farrell is enjoying her days in the ``Trek'' universe, which is filled with fans, long makeup sessions (to apply the leopardlike spots along the side of her head and neck), conventions and countless other perks and quirks.
``It's really strange sometimes, because it feels even bigger than you could imagine,'' she says. ``I mean, I'm an action figure now, and my niece plays with my Dax doll. That's so insane.''
As bizarre as things sometimes seem, daily work on the series is pretty conventional.
``It doesn't feel like we're working on this legend,'' Farrell says. ``We don't walk around, saying, `Wow, we're working on a legend today.' It's more like, `How's our season going so far?'
``That doesn't mean it isn't all strange and exciting, because it is. It really is, and I'm lucky to be a part of it.''
Con calendar Aug. 5-7
Galaxy Fair at the Sheraton Park Central in Dallas. (Call 817-467-0681.)
Trek/sci-fi alert
If you have Trek or science-fiction news or trivia to share - or if you have questions relating to ``Star Trek'' - write to Ian Spelling, in care of features department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like a reply.
by CNB