The shapely, sultry
Pamela Hensley as Draconian Princess Ardala on
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Even though she only appeared in five episodes of the show, she's clearly the most memorable sci-fi bad girl of the decade, with her unabashed sexual obsession with hunky Buck and her elaborate - and utterly absurd - schemes to make him her "consort." Looking back on it, Captain Rogers didn't really seem all that put-off by the prospect (and seriously, why would he? look at her!), it was just that he, in his 20th Century Neanderthal way, preferred to be the aggressor, I think.
With her sharply-defined features, commanding presence and
fantastic figure, Hensley presented a sharp contrast to the series' resident "good girl," Erin Gray's Wilma Deering, creating a memorable
femme fatale that could go from haughty princess to spoiled brat in a heartbeat, and be sexy as hell either way.
Born in 1950, Hensley appeared on numerous television shows in the 70s and 80s, and had small roles in
Doc Savage, Man of Bronze, Rollerball and
The Nude Bomb. She guested on
The Six Million Dollar Man a few times. Her most prominent role, post-Buck, was as a regular on the private eye show,
Matt Houston, after which, she appears to have retired from acting.
Ah, Ardala...(drool)
ReplyDelete"haughty princess to spoiled brat"
Or both...
"Just give them my best wishes and send them on their way. I don't want them to be late for the war!"
-Flight of the War Witch
Gimme a helz yeah!
ReplyDeleteI hated John Mantley for dropping Ardala from Season 2. Instead he gave us Dr.Goodfellow!
ReplyDeleteOh, to be Buck Rogers, "getting down" with Ardala on the dance floor, while Wilma glares jealously.
ReplyDeleteI met her once about 12 years ago in Beverly Hills and she was still sensational looking.
ReplyDeleteShe did come out with a cook book a few years back using her married name, Pamela Hensley Vincent.
ReplyDelete