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FLASH GORDON'S KAREN CLICHE (The Comics Continuum)

Hollywood Insider : The Bounty of Baylin: An Exclusive Q&A With Flash Gordon’s Karen Cliche

AISLE SEAT EXTRA (Flash Gordon): KAREN CLICHE

Karen Cliche: Hot on the Trail of Flash Gordon

She Knows Flash Gordon star Karen Cliche

TheTVaddict.com Interview: Flash Gordon's Karen Cliche

Mutant X - Karen Cliche Q & A Part One

Mutant X - Karen Cliche Q & A Part Two

AskMen.com Interview: Karen Cliche

FLASH GORDON'S KAREN CLICHE

Karen Cliche as a sci-fi bounty hunter? For those who have followed her career, it makes perfect sense.

Already a veteran in the genre with starring roles in Mutant X and Adventure Inc., Cliche is playing Baylin in Sci Fi Channel's new Flash Gordon series, which premieres on Friday at 9 p.m.

Whether it be the light-bending mutant Lexa Pierce from the final season of Marvel's Mutant X or Mackenzie Previn from Adventure Inc., Cliche has shown the chops -- acting and physical -- to handle strong female action characters. The French-Canadian actress' credits also include Young Blades, The Dresden Files, 'Til Death Do Us Part, Big Wolf on Campus and All Souls.

The Continuum caught up with Cliche (pronounced Kleesh) for a quick Q&A about Flash Gordon.

The Continuum: How did your role in this show come about?

Cliche: I had worked with one of the head writers on Flash several times on different shows, and he had given me a heads up on the project months before I auditioned for it. First I sent a tape in for Dale, and then they asked me to send another one for Baylin and here I am!

The Continuum: Describe your character? What is her relationship to Flash?

Cliche: Baylin is a bounty hunter from Mongo who lost her parents at a very young age, and has been forced to survive on her own for a long time. She meets Flash on assignment, and ends up stuck on Earth for a while. She is drawn to Flash because of his sincerity and sees that he is trustworthy, and relates to his quest for answers and yearning for a lost parent. Back on Mongo, she has no family or tribe, so she finds that in Flash, Dale and Zarkov, and as much as she would never admit it, she finds comfort in that.

The Continuum: Were you familiar with the Flash Gordon mythos?

Cliche: I had heard about Flash Gordon through the years, but was not familiar with it beyond that. I was a very young French kid when the film came out!

The Continuum: You've been in other genre shows, like Mutant X (see right). Is it a case of liking the genre or the fact that a lot of those shows are shot in Canada? Or both?

Cliche: I definitely have come to love genre. It was a whole new world for me when I started, and to have the challenge of creating and embodying aliens, vampires or mutants is so creatively stimulating! Yes, many of these shows are shot up here, and I definitely think because I have the opportunity to participate in genre shows, I have grown very attached to these kinds of characters. It is to the point now where when I play a normal human, I feel like something is missing!

The Continuum: How is Eric Johnson working out as Flash?

Cliche: Eric is absolutely the best leading man one could ask for. He is so much fun. He is dedicated and gracious , and it doesn't hurt that he is very talented and great looking! I think people will love his take on Flash. He brings humor, sensitivity and humility to the role.

The Continuum: Are you involved in a lot of action scenes? Do you like those?

Cliche: I absolutely love action scenes. It is so challenging and such an adrenaline rush, because you know that if you miss your timing on one punch...ow. It is such a test of coordination and skill. Women don't often get to showcase their physical strength, and I love to be able to do that.

So I do all the fighting in my shows, with the exception of high falls or gymnastic moves that I would look ridiculous doing... or kill myself! So I leave those things to the wonderful stunt girls!

The Continuum: OK, here's your chance to pitch the show. Why should we tune in every week?

Cliche: I think this show will appeal to wide range of people. All the elements are covered and the writing is fantastic. I believe people will love the characters, the wit, the complicated relationships, the action... should I go on? The episodes keep getting better and better, and we are having a blast. I hope you guys will love it too!

Copyright © 2007, The Comics Continuum

The Bounty of Baylin: An Exclusive Q&A With Flash Gordon’s Karen Cliche

Submitted by M R Reed on Wed, 2007-08-08 22:33

This Friday night at 9PM EST the SCI FI Channel enters another amazing scifi series into their scifriday line up. This time around it’s a new take on an old favorite, Flash Gordon. Continuing with Eclipses Magazine’s Flash Gordon mania week, we had a chance to catch up with the beautiful Karen Cliche who stars as bounty Hunter Baylin in the new version of Flash Gordon. Cliche is no stranger to the world of Scifi related television series, having had leading roles on several television series including Mutant X, Young Blades, Adventure Inc., Galidor, Vampire High. She is also no no stranger to the SCI FI Channel having guest starred in their original series The Dresden Files. In Flash Gordon, Karen Cliche plays Baylin who was Ming's most valuable bounty hunter. Cast out at an early age from her tribe, the Verden, Baylin learned out of necessity to survive on her own. Fiercely independent, with a strong personal code of honor, she is a force to be reckoned with. As dangerous as she is beautiful, Baylin joins Flash and Dale on Earth as they battle the evil forces of Mongo. In this exclusive Q&A with Karen Cliche Eclipse Magazine readers get the low down on her role as Baylin and working on Flash Gordon.

EM: You seem to play a lot of very athletic ‘fighter’ type characters. Do you have any formal training in fighting and gymnastics?

KC: What's funny is I was never very athletic growing up! Though I was never a "dainty" girl and didn't mind getting my hands dirty. About 6 yrs ago I trained for a film for 2 months learning Aikido, Tae Kwon Doe, and learning the choreography for a huge fight scene. It was my first time ever doing something like this, and from then on I started landing tough girl roles and learned how to handle weapons and fire arms as I went along. So I know how to 'fake fight" for TV and film very well, but I would be close to useless in a real situation!

EM: In Flash Gordon, Baylin finds herself being thrown unprepared into earth’s culture. How is she adapting to the changes and what kinds of challenges does this kind of scenario bring to your character in the series? How is she integrated into a more contemporary setting after being in an alien setting?

KC: Well, there are many opportunities for comedy with Baylin on Earth. She of course isn't accustomed to most things, like how to drink from a bottle, or not to eat a banana with the peel still on, etc., and we showcase that quite a few times! You see her learn the mannerisms and customs throughout the show, but she has yet to adapt this whole political correctness thing! So we use those scenarios for a laugh most of the time. Because Baylin is brave and has been on her own for such a long time she isn't afraid of the differences between Earth and Mongo. She is eager to learn and she sees it as a challenge to overcome.

EM: As an actor, what draws you to play characters like Baylin in Flash Gordon, which are strong, independent woman who can hold their own in a fight or in a mentally demanding situation?

KC: In my own life I am drawn to women who are strong and self assured. I think it is very important that women have the confidence to speak their mind and stand up for themselves. We are very intelligent powerful creatures and we shouldn't be afraid of our strength. So if my characters can be an inspiration for someone, then I am so happy! (I even take strength from my characters and apply it in my own life!)

EM: What in your perspective sets the character of Baylin apart from other characters in Flash Gordon and how as an actor have you approached the process of setting her apart and making this role stand out?

KC: Baylin first of all has a very unique way of speaking. It is very precise, and to the point, with no "ums, gonna's and ya know's"..... so her speech is the most obvious difference , since she looks human in every way. What I keep in mind is that she isn't aware of the social ways humans have; shaking hands, smiling when she doesn't want to, even lying. So she seems very brash and unfriendly, even rude at times, but it really is like a cultural difference. Except it is a planetary difference!

EM: Where you familiar with any other versions of Flash Gordon before auditioning for the series? What do you think sets this version apart from them and what gives it a fresh take on the stories and mythology of Flash Gordon?

KC: I was not familiar with Flash Gordon before this. I did a little research on the other characters, but I also didn't want to know too much about it because I knew this take on it would be different. The adventure is still there, and Ming is still trying to rule the universe, but our version is hip, witty, and a lot of elements and conflicts are thrown in the mix. Love, jealousy, the quest and yearning for a loved one, and of course, my character is new so she stirs things up a bit!

EM: The creators of Flash Gordon wanted a very distinctive look for the series and the characters and have done so extensively through costuming. What type of costuming is used for your character? Did you have any challenges with costuming and what was your favorite?

KC: Baylin's "classic" look (the one I am most often in) is her bounty hunter attire. She is Verden, so her tribe is very organic and earthy, and my costumes always reflect that. Greens and browns and very textured cloth. And of course finished off with a 12 inch dagger and an IP gun! Because I am often in that one and all the weaponry attached doesn't make for the most comfort, I love when I have to disguise as another tribe, especially when it is colorful, sexy Omadrian or Courtesan looks! ooh la la.

EM: What kind of challenges did you find in filming this role of Baylin and what was the most rewarding aspect of playing the character in SCI FI’s new series Flash Gordon?

KC: I think any time an actor plays a "non human" we are faced with the exciting challenge of drawing purely from our imagination. I wanted to give her many relatable qualities so that the audience could understand her , but at the same time staying loyal to the fact that she is different and that takes real concentration to not slip into human mannerism mode! Her way of speaking was and is still the main thing that defines her so I have to always watch I don't ever say DON'T , but DO NOT! I even find myself speaking this way sometimes now as Karen!

EM: If you could tell the audience one thing to look for in Baylin as a character when the watch Flash Gordon this coming Friday what would it be?

KC: With Baylin, she comes across as very tough and hard, and she is in some ways yes, but she is this way because she was orphaned at a very young age and so has been a warrior most of her life to survive. There hasn't been much room for frivolousness so she tends to take everything quite seriously, because she has never really had the luxury to be relaxed and dependant on others. She has fought both physically and emotionally all of her life. So once people understand that, on top of her not knowing the "proper" ways to act on earth, she is quite endearing! I think!

EM: If you could create a promo for Flash Gordon to grab the audience attention knowing what you do about series, what would it be?

KC: Everyone's portrayal of their characters is fantastic. We have a talented bunch of people on this show, and the writers are no exception. Eric is so charming as Flash. The heartbeat of the show is the search for answers concerning the death of his father, but on top of that lies a lot of adventure, drama and humor. It is a great fun hour of television!

EM: Besides Flash Gordon, which premieres this Friday on the Scifi Channel, what else can we look forward to seeing you in?

KC: Right now a short film I was in called MOMENT is on its 3 rd International film festival so I am very proud and excited about that. In September it is being shown at the L.A SHORTS festival!

Be sure to check out Karen Cliche as beautiful bounty hunter Baylin by tuning in for the premiere of The SCI FI Channels news series Flash Gordon this Friday August 10th at 9PM EST.
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AISLE SEAT EXTRA: KAREN CLICHE

Karen Cliche Could Beat You Up and Take Your Lunch Money… But She’d Give It To A Good Cause. Honest.

It sounds like the plot to a movie: young girl, enthralled by the stage and doing drama productions in school, takes a traditional teenager job in order to make a few bucks. But one day, she serves a Big Mac to the right person and… boom! She’s on the road to a modeling and acting career that will make her an international star. While it might seem like you’ve seen that on a lonely afternoon of watching LIFETIME, actress Karen Cliche lived it. And now she’s kicking ass, taking names, and saving the world… one young girl at a time.

I caught up with Karen during a break from filming the Sci-Fi Channel’s new FLASH GORDON series. She plays Baylin, a bounty hunter from Mongo who’s deadlier than Lindsey Lohan behind the wheel of a car. She had been shooting until 5 a.m. the afternoon we spoke, but you wouldn’t have known it; she was charming, energetic, and full of excitement about her current role and her charitable work. Fatigue? Not in this actress’ vocabulary.

MM: How did you get involved with FLASH GORDON?

KC: One of the writers, James Thorpe, is someone I’ve worked with before (YOUNG BLADES, ADVENTURE, INC.) and he brought me up to the producers. I auditioned for Dale, actually. Then I sent in a tape for Baylin and was cast, and started filming soon after.

MM: Baylin is described as a bounty hunter from Mongo. What does a bounty hunter from Mongo do? Do you have special weaponry or a new fighting style for the role?

KC: When I’m introduced, she’s working for Ming. Baylin was orphaned at a young age and winds up in her position, but she’s not a bad person. She’s someone who does what she has to do to survive. I carry an “IP”, which is a laser-type gun that knocks people out, and a foot-long knife. It’s all very physical. But I didn’t have to do a lot of training, thanks to my background and work in other shows (like MUTANT X and ADVENTURE INC.). Here, I only average about a fight an episode, compared to ADVENTURE INC. where I’d average three. This is down for me! (laughs)

MM: You’ve worked all over, but you were born in Canada (in Quebec), and now you’re back filming in Canada (Vancouver). Does that make you feel more comfortable on the set?

KC: Oh yes. I’ve been lucky to stay in Canada for much of what I have done. I’m in love with Vancouver; it’s one of my favorite cities. And it’s such a great city to shoot in: it has forests, landscapes… they sub in great for Mongo. And that cuts down on the green screen time.

MM: What kind of a relationship do you have with sci-fi?

KC: I’ve done a lot of sci-fi, which I love. I tend to prefer comedies, actually, but the more I play regular human roles, the more it almost becomes boring! Actors want to stretch their imaginations. “How do I play an alien?” It’s fun and exciting.

MM: Following up on that, looking at your credits list, you’ve done a lot of genre work in general. What makes you comfortable with these types of roles?

KC: Genre stuff came to me naturally, mainly because I like to be challenged. I’ve played a vampire, musketeer, aliens… playing something that doesn’t exist let’s you play. You also want the audience to enjoy it. I hope to do genre stuff for the rest of my career! Also, on set when shooting, actors root for the fans because we know what they want to see. It makes the job easier when we know.

MM: When you’re working on an effects-heavy project, what do you need from a director in order to make it interesting for you?

KC: With FLASH GORDON, the pilot uses a lot of green screen, but there’s not a lot on the show itself. It’s easier and better when you’re walking through real sets. Everybody works hard to create a reality- you want the real thing. But when you have to fake it, you hope there’s a director explaining exactly what you’re supposed to see. Shapes, location… But on some other projects in my career, the information has been bad, and the project hasn’t come out as well as you’d hope. What it all comes down to is using your own imagination and acting skills. Again, with FLASH, it’s (mostly practical), including all real makeup.

MM: You’re very smart, and at one point early in your life, you went to university to study psychology. If you had completed your degree, what do you imagine you’d done with it?

KC: My end goal was always to help people, especially disadvantaged women and children. To be a good actor, you have to be a good observer. What greater platform could you have than in having one where you can get people to listen to you? Acting has helped things work out perfectly for me. (She could have used her degree and helped people in that way, too, but) any of us who have that (larger) platform… if you can use it…

MM: On that subject… you’re very charitably inclined. Talk a little about your work with organizations like World Vision and others, and how people can get involved.

KC: I work with several organizations helping disadvantaged women and children all over the world. Issues like sexual slavery, child prostitution… when you open your eyes, there’s a lot of injustice and horror going on around us. I’m devoted to doing what I can. Through World Vision, I sponsor two young girls in Asia. One of them, her village just became self-sufficient for the first time, which is proof that it works. I’ll be sponsoring a young Indian woman next. I also support Equality Now, which focuses on sex slavery and sex trafficking. Anything I can do to help change the status of women around the world, I’ll do. You can see a list of all the groups I support at my website.

With that, we wrapped our interview. Karen did mention that next year the cast anticipates being at Comic-Con for the first time, which drew a slyly sinister laugh from me. Her response was to ask me why everyone laughs like that when she tells them that, which got a good laugh out of us both. It was a pleasure to chat with her; not only is she one of the toughest women gracing TV screens these days (and how on Earth did she never find her way into a GALACTICA episode- she’d fit in so well!), she’s also one of the most compassionate. A winning combination, indeed.
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Karen Cliche: Hot on the Trail of Flash Gordon

by Cynthia Boris

Karen Cliche has spent a good portion of her acting career playing the tough girl. The kind that kicks butt and is proud of it. Her first big role was in the action series Adventure, Inc.. From there she played the mysterious Lexa Pierce on Mutant X and more recently she took on the part of the female (pretending to be a male) musketeer, Jacqueline, on the swashbuckling series Young Blades. These days she's extra tough as she straps on a sidearm for the role of Baylin, the bounty hunter from Mongo, in the new SCI FI Channel series Flash Gordon.

On a two-week hiatus in the middle of shooting the soon-to-premiere series, Karen took some time out of her day to chat with me about her co-stars, her roles and this re-imagining that is Flash Gordon. She readily admits that they have big shoes to fill, but she's confident in the version of Flash that they've created.

"I'm sure people will come into the show with a lot of expectations. They've known Flash Gordon for a long time, but I think this take is wonderful because it has something for everyone," says Karen. "People might tune in for the relationship between Dale and Flash, or they might watch for the planet Mongo with the tribes and the really cool sets, and I hope the audience will love and appreciate [the humor] element. There's a lot of great wit."

But with a piece like this, it's easy to fall into the realm of camp and that's a line the show doesn't want to cross. Says Karen, "Once you [go campy] it takes away from the drama, and Flash's quest to find out what happened to his father can't be joked about."

What can be joked about is Karen's character, Baylin, who comes to Earth in search of Ming's daughter but ends up a fish out of water when she's trapped here and can't get back.

"The reason she's so tough and hard at first is not because she's trying to be like this, she just is what she is. She's an alien from another planet. The mannerisms are different and she doesn't have the political correctness." And it's this lack of manners that often has Flash tongue-tied as he tries to cover up Baylin's social faux pas in front of his friends.

Keeping Baylin's true identity a secret is part of the show's grand scheme. Flash, Dale and Zarkov are the only humans who know about Mongo and the space rift that is allowing aliens to appear on Earth. Their struggle to keep that knowledge to themselves while they neutralize each alien threat is the engine that keeps the show going. On the mythology side, you have Flash looking for the truth about his father's death/disappearance and the romantic rumblings between Flash and his former girlfriend, Dale. The fact that Dale is now engaged to another man adds a level of sexual tension to the series that is ratcheted up a notch when Baylin takes up residence at Flash's house.

"See, that's why it's so complicated and interesting," says Karen. " She's engaged and here's me coming in the middle of all of this. Dale gets jealous, but she's not really, truly entitled to her feelings because she and Flash aren't together anymore. That's the fun element that Gina gets to play, 'I shouldn't feel this way. I love this guy, but I still love this other guy, and I don't want you or anyone else to have him.' People will get how she feels because, come on, we'd all be lying if we said we haven't felt like that in some point in our lives."

So will there be a romance between Flash and Baylin?

"We haven't established any true love triangle, but there's definitely room for opportunity. We shall see."

But Baylin has a bigger hurdle to jump before she can get to love, and that's friendship.

"When we first meet Baylin she's come to Earth on assignment to get Ming's daughter back to Mongo. She couldn't care less about Earth. She has no interest in being there. She's simply working. But when she gets stuck she begins to realize that this place is as good as any. Back on Mongo she doesn't have a family or a tribe. She's a loner, been alone all of her life, so going back to work for Ming is much less appealing than hanging out with Flash, Dale and Zakov and being part of a nice team. So she really latches on to that. She would never admit that she needs this friendship and love, but she does."

One of the things Karen likes best about her new role is the physicality of it. You can dress Baylin up but you still can't take her out. She's a hunter underneath that frilly frock and the length of her skirt isn't going to stop her from taking on the bad guys.

"There are a lot of elements to a good fight scene. It really is like a dance between two people. You can get the choreography down but if you don't sell it the fight looks terrible. A lot of selling it is in the grunts and groans, very unfeminine sound effects. It's hilarious, especially when you have to go into studio and loop your sound effects and you're standing there going 'oof, ah!' You feel like an idiot but it works."

Grunting and groaning for the camera is all part of the fun of making a Sci fi, action series like Flash Gordon. Karen and her cohorts also get to play-act jumping through time rifts, battling robot aliens and tromping through the real-life forests of Vancouver that stand-in for the planet Mongo.

When it comes time to reflect on her cast mates, Karen notes that the three leads are all very much themselves on screen. Jody Racicat (Zarkov) is "witty and smart and so unique," says Karen. Gina Holden (Dale) has great energy and plays the conflict within herself so well with her gorgeous big, wide-eyes. And then there's Flash himself, Eric Johnson.

"Everybody should know that Eric is a lot like Flash in so many ways. He is one of the most fun, genuine, humble, gracious people I've ever met. We're so lucky to have him as our leading man because he sets the tone on set and it's always fun. Flash has to be a really likable character and he plays it just to a T. We LOVE him."

Of course, if the other three leads of Flash Gordon are very much like their characters, what does that say for Karen and her socially inept, kick ass, take-no-prisoners, alter ego Baylin?

Karen laughs. "Yeah, I thought of that as soon as I said it. A lot of the characters I play are these tough girls who are unapologetic for their confidence and I guess, as an actor, we're really drawn to roles we can relate to in some way. I can relate to these girls in the way that they have this really tough outer shell, but inside they're probably some of the most sensitive people you've ever met. They have to create this persona in order to survive in the world especially when they've been hurt and betrayed. They have to protect themselves. Many characters grow and get stronger. I like to play the opposite; it's kind of interesting."

Interesting. Now, that's a great word for both Baylin and Karen Cliche. Catch them both when Flash Gordon premieres August 10th at 9:00 on the SCI FI Channel.
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She Knows Flash Gordon star Karen Cliche

Karen Cliche is your typical young woman, juggling home, a husband, work, and evil aliens from the planet Mongo. Okay, so maybe not so typical after all. Karen is one of the stars of the new SCI FI Channel series Flash Gordon and she sat down with me to talk about “having it all”.

As Baylin the bounty hunter, Karen has to stay in shape but that’s not easy when she’s working 16 hours a day filming a TV series. So how does she manage?

Karen Cliche: Right now I’m staying in a building that has a little gym in the bottom floor and when I have a five o’clock pick up, I wake up at three and I go down to the gym for 45 minutes. I do a half hour on the Stairmaster and I do sit-ups and on the weekends I do hot yoga.

People go, ‘are you crazy? How can you wake up at three when you went to bed at eleven?’ If I didn’t, when would I have the time? I have to find the time; it’s part of my job. It’s not my favorite part but it’s a necessity. Believe me, when it’s 3:00 am and I’m on the Stairmaster, I want to roll over and die but I do what I have to do.

So now you’ve got work and exercise covered, what about the rest?

Karen Cliche: I think the key is this. When I’m at work, that’s what I’m concentrating on. Once that work day is done, and I come home, I really have to shut it off and I have to concentrate on the other aspects of me and my life that aren’t work. You have to say, I’m not just Karen the actress. I’m a person. I’m married. I have family. I have friends. It starts in your head and once you make that mental shift it’s not that hard to balance. It happens naturally.

You hear about single moms with three kids. My mom was a single mom with two teenage daughters and she worked nights for eight years. It sounds impossible. but you do what you have to do. When you have to get it done you just do it. When you have a limited amount of time you have to use it wisely.

Sounds like a great philosophy, but isn’t it hard to leave work at work?

Karen Cliche: I’m serious about my work, but I don’t take it too seriously. It’s my job and I absolutely love it, but there are other things in my life that are so important. The relationships with people I love, for example. So making that shift isn’t hard for me. I need to. Someday I’m going to stop [acting] and have a couple of kids and I want that to be an easy shift. I don’t want to feel like all I’ve had is my work for ten years. ‘What do I do now? Who am I?’ I want that transition to happen smoothly. I’m confident that it will.

With work on a huge action series like Flash Gordon, her home life, friends and family, you wouldn’t think Karen would have time for anything else but she does — she has a cause that she’s very passionate about.

Karen Cliche: I’m devoted to changing the status of women around the world, and young children and their vulnerability to sexual predators. It’s a terrible, terrible, thing. I’ve been active in that for 13 years now and the more you know the more you can’t turn your head and ignore it. You have to do something to try and change it. I think as an actor, when you have a platform to be heard, it’s important to use that and if there’s something that needs addressing then you use any opportunity you can to bring awareness. I know it’s a heavy note but it’s a big part of who I am. If one day I stop acting, I’ll focus a lot of my energies on changing that around the world.

You can learn more about Karen at her official website:

And be sure to catch her on the SCI FI Channel when Flash Gordon premieres Friday, August 10th at 9:00.
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TheTVaddict.com Interview: FLASH GORDON’S Karen Cliche

By: Amrie Cunningham (My Take on TV)

The summer of interviews continued this week as I got some time to chat with the disarmingly beautiful and incredibly down to earth Karen Cliche (pronounced CLEESH), who plays Baylin on Sci-Fi’s newest action adventure series, FLASH GORDON. She had so much great stuff to say about her cast, her character, her support for women’s issues, and her love for a certain classic TV show.

Amrie: Hey Karen – we’re so excited about the premiere of Flash Gordon!
Karen: There’s a lot of excitement buzzing. It’s so cool.

What about Flash Gordon made you want about to be a part of it? Had you seen a script?
Actually I knew nothing about it. I had heard about it through the years, but I didn’t know much about Flash Gordon in general. I wasn’t a huge fan but then my agent brought it up. I knew one of the head writers, James Thorpe, who had written on a couple of the series I had done. He had put in a good word for me so when the role came out, when I auditioned, I just loved it…a lot of the roles I’ve played, I’ve played a man, I’ve played a mutant, I’ve played a vampire….when the opportunity came to play the alien, the physicality to her, she was a tough girl, strong woman. That’s just ideal for me. I really wanted to play her. I thought, what a challenge to play an alien bounty hunter from Mongo. Who gets the opportunity to play this? I was very excited about it.

What does the viewer need to know about Baylin going in?
In the pilot, I come in the last 10-15 minutes. You’re introduced to Baylin in a very in your face, strong kind of way. She comes to Earth on an assignment from Ming to get Aura back to Mongo. She doesn’t care about Earth. She ends up stuck on Earth and befriends Flash and becomes part of their team and so she’s just a really strong independent, unapologetically strong woman. It’s how she is, not because it’s a put on or she tries to be. It’s just because that’s the way that she is. Her parents died when she was very young. She’s been on her own for a long time. She’s been self sufficient her whole life. When she is confident and strong and independent, she’s not trying to be. That’s the way she’s known how to survive all her live. When you’re introduced to Baylin, it’s like a kick ass tough girl and then throughout the episode, you get to feel a little more about her. She sort of has a sense of humor, I think. Maybe she’s funny because of her mannerisms. She doesn’t really know how to be politically correct. You learn more about her throughout. We just shot an episode, 8 or 9, you really find out what it is that happened to her in her life. I think people will really appreciate finding that out about her and it will give her a whole other level. She doesn’t breakdown. It doesn’t destroy her. You just understand her a little bit more. It just makes you love her even more. People are going to love her because she’s just this strong kick ass woman, but then once you learn a little more about her life story, it adds a whole other element to her.

Do you have a lot of fun on set? Is it a good working environment?
Oh my god. Eric is so fantastic as our leading man. He has a great attitude, he’s just so funny. We laugh a lot. It’s a great family going here. When you’re doing a series for 8-9 months, it’s really important to be comfortable at work and to have fun, because those are long days. We’re so lucky to have a great team together. I’ve been really lucky in the series that I’ve done where the cast and crew has been unbelievable. But I can only imagine if there was one bad apple in the bunch, how it would affect anybody’s performance, and spirit. Oh we don’t have any of that.

How does it compare to other series that you’ve done?
I’ve been really lucky. Mutant X was a great experience for me because Vicky Pratt and I just had a great time. She’s one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met. And I met my husband on the show, so that’s good! It’s been great. A lot of the shows, I’m kind of the action girl, I work a lot with men, and that’s just a great vibe. They see me as one of the boys. It’s been really fun for me. I love being treated like an equal.

What made you want to become an actress? I know you kind of stumbled into modeling, so to speak…what made the decision for you to devote time to acting?
Oh you know you hear in the business “model-turned-actress-Karen”. But the truth is, I wanted to be an actress since I was really young. I remember practicing the Oscar speech in the mirror when I was 5 or 6 years old . I did it all through high school, I won highest achievement awards at graduation. Did that all through high school and that was my goal. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. This business really is a farfetched dream. You go “nah, that’s impossible” and you move onto more realistic ambitions so I went onto psychology and then at the same time, I was modeling. I started traveling. I left university and I just realized that world is so big, and there are so many opportunities and if I’m not going to be brave in my life, then why am I living it? I started to pursue acting, and it happened pretty fast and started working out. Once it started happening, and I was very comfortable in this environment, I put all my energies towards it and it really paid off.

You’ve worked with a lot of people – who have been your favorites? Who would you work with again?
I really had a great time on Adventure, Inc. with Michael Biehn. He’s a blast, I love him to death. On Youngblades, Bruce Boxleitner, he was absolutely great, so I would work with him in a second. And of course, every other actor that I’ve worked with has been fantastic. Anyone who I can have fun with and we can laugh and joke around, and be professional and work great. I’ll snap that up in a second.

Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
Wow…you know, depending on how long a series is going to go, you can only hope for a long run. I definitely think in a few years I want to start having babies, so my life’s going to change a bit with that goal in mind. I definitely want to start having a family in a few years and maybe take a little time off. I do want to spend some time at home with my kid. Ideally I want two. I would probably take a bit of a break. Start up, do some really cool projects. Maybe in 10 years I’ll want to open a little wine bar with my husband. I really want to keep it open. There’s so many things I want to do in my life. I’ve never been one of those people who just single minded. I want this, that’s all I can see in my life. I’m totally open to that but I want my life to be full of other things. In 15 years, I may not even be doing this any more. I’ll just, as long as it’s fun, as long as it’s still cool and I can get great roles, that’s all that matters to me.

What other shows do you want when you have downtime?
Right now I don’t watch anything, haha, I’ve been in some forest in Mongo for the past three months ha, but I really love Grey’s Anatomy. I just got into it about a year and a half ago. We rented all the DVDs and my husband and I just sat there for like 6 days straight. Did not leave the house. Watched Grey’s Anatomy top to bottom. I love that show. I also like talent shows. I don’t like reality shows, the trashy ones. I really like American idol and SYTYCD. I’m not a dancer, and I’m not singer, oh God, I’m definitely not a singer, but I just love shows that showcase people’s talents. I love talented people! That’s really what I’ll spend my time watching TV on. Do you wanna know what my fave show of all time is? Golden Girls.

[Here’s where we get all fan-girl on each other and start geeking about Bea Arthur and her gang]

No way! I watch Golden Girls in reruns all the time, whenever it’s on!
I’m obsessed with GG. I have all the episodes on DVD!

That’s amazing – I love that show.
The last season just came out on DVD so you should go get it.

I don’t talk to anyone else who watches it as religiously as I do – that’s so funny. It’s one of those things that I pull out at parties “oh I watch Golden Girls”…
And then everyone just gets really silent and goes “oh yeah that’s a funny show” and they don’t expect it to come out of your mouth. It’s a brilliant show!

[As we recover from our laughter]

What else do you like to do in your free time? I know you’ve said you’ve been in the jungles of Mongo haha…
My husband and I love taking long walks. I could walk for hours. Vancouver’s such a beautiful city that when I’m here, I love to walk along the city wall. I have two cats and I’m obsessed with them. I love spending time with them. I just roll around playing with them. It’s really normal stuff. It’s nothing crazy, like skydiving. I like to have a normal life, clean the house, cook, read recipe books. It’s really boring. It’s not that exciting. Because I live such an exciting high paced life, that my downtime really needs to be as normal as possible, because that’s where the balance is.

Is there anything else that you would want readers to know about you?
The one thing that I like to always talk about it, has to do with the fact that a lot of my fans are young women. I play such strong sexy female characters, you’d think that the fan base would be guys. It’s young girls who think that the characters I play are really cool, and role models, and to me that’s really important. I am a feminist, equalist at heart. I support a lot of charities, I sponsor two girls in Asia. I like to concentrate on the areas of the world where women are exploited and are in danger of sexual exploitation and slavery. I really do a lot of work on my downtime. I read up on that, and try to put it out there as much as I can and educate people about the status of women in the world. We think, living in North America “oh ya know everything’s fine” but it’s not. It’s a lot of trouble that women still go through in the world. We need to change. If I can do anything to put that word out there, then I really love to speak on that topic. It’s really a problem that needs to be addressed. You want to mention a great organization, one that I love, it’s called equality.org and it’s a fantastic women’s organization. They fight the great fight.

What would be the one thing that you want to tell a new viewer of the show, to get them involved?
I really do think people will love the show. First, people are going to be “oh it’s going to be only sci-fi” but no, no, no, the beauty of it is, across the board, there’s going to be something for everybody in this. There’s a little less spaceship sci-fi stuff, but we still have most of our episodes on Mongo. The people who love that aspect will be satisfied. You have the sci-fi, and the special effects, and the different creatures. You have that, and you have the relationships between the characters, who are wonderfully acted by our cast. Everybody can relate to that feeling of “I still have feelings for my exboyfriend but I can’t and oh I’m engaged to someone else.” There’s feeling of longing for Flash’s father. Everyone can find something in the show that they can relate to and I think that they’ll just fall in love with the characters. And the storylines and the really cool effects and what happens on Mongo and the parallels between earth and Mongo and I just think that everybody’s going to find something that they want, whether you’re a sci-fi fan or not. It’s going to be a brand new audience. Good talking to you, it was a lot of fun!

All in all, a really lovely woman, who is sure to make a splash! Be sure to watch the premiere of Sci Fi’s original series FLASH GORDON, premiering August 10 at 10PM (check your local listings).
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Q & A with Karen Cliche
Part One

--Hope I answered all your questions! xoxox Karen

You asked her questions, now she gives you answers! Here is part one of our exclusive Q & A with Karen Cliche featuring questions asked by you - Mutant X's greatest fans!

Q: Is your character developing any ties to the others, or is Lexa a lone warrior? --JadedX1

A: Lexa came into Mutant X after having made a deal with the Dominion so they could help her find someone very important to her. Her priorities were not to make friends because she didn't plan on staying long enough for it to matter. Because of many horrible and traumatic experiences she endured in the past few years, she built a wall around her so as not to get hurt again. As the season progresses her wall begins to crumble when she realizes that she does care about Jesse, Brennan and Shalimar, and devotes herself eventually as part of the team.

Q: How was your transition from Adventure Inc. to Mutant X? Were you nervous at all to be working with an all-new cast? --ShalimarFan1

A: Being two completely different shows, there was a significant amount of research to do and explanations to receive. The cast I had met a couple of times before on a social level, and had gotten along with, so I knew that wouldn't be the toughest part.

Q: I'm a huge fan of mutant X and I love the new character Lexa. I'm curious how you like being a 'mutant'? --FelineFactor

A: Doing this show reminds me of when I played a vampire on Vampire High. Playing a mutant and a vampire is tough in the sense that you have no reality to base it on. I, Karen, will never know what it's really like to be a mutant, to feel like a mutant but I do know what it's like to feel rejection, to feel alone in the world, to have only a certain number of people know who you really are. So you draw from those feelings and mix it up with a little imagination and it can be as much fun as it is challenging.

Q: Did you have to go into training before the show began taping? Like for stunts, fight choreography and if so, how hard was it? --Gage

A: Coming off Adventure Inc. and several other shows and films that had a lot of action, I was used to learning choreography and enjoyed the physicality involved. It's a lot of fun when the adrenaline kicks in and the concentration you need to avoid any mistakes that could potentially break someone's nose, or worse is unbelievable, so what a great challenge.

Q: Hi Karen! I just wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work on MX. You're a great role model. My question is: Do you like to play any sports, and did you play sports when you were younger?
--BekaVWannabi

A: I used to play soccer growing up (although I was never that good – ha ha) and competed in long distance running races. Nowadays, I love Hiking, Go Kart racing and don't laugh, Curling!
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Q & A with Karen Cliche
Part Two

--Hope I answered all your questions! xoxox Karen

Here is the final part of our special Q & A with Karen Cliche!

6. How are you enjoying your characters powers at the moment, and how do you think they will develop in the future? --PetiteCat

I am actually a little envious of Lexa's powers. Can you imagine being able to turn invisible for real? Oh, the places I would be!!! I like that her powers have a lot of range. Her lasers can be deadly, whereas her light concentrations (flashes) are used as a diversion, or distraction and of course her invisibility is so useful in many situations. As mutants our powers become stronger and no one knows just how that strength will affect us once they've attained full growth.

 7. First off I would like to say that I am warming up to Lexa. Here is my question, how much of your own personality do you put into the role of Lexa Pierce? --GryphonLady

I think there is a little Lexa in everyone. She represents that part of ourselves that is scared and has been hurt so bad that we need to pretend we are tough and invincible as protection. Being an army brat, myself I was raised to be like that and also kept that act up as a defense in certain situations. It seems most characters I play have that quality in them so I guess I do put a lot of that part of myself in them because I understand it. The best way to hide your vulnerability at times is to pretend you aren't. That is how Lexa goes through her life now but as with most of those like that they are complete mush inside.

8. To Karen, do you get along with the other cast members? --Pwomatrix

I have so much fun on this show – not only is the crew fun and real cool but the cast is as well. I wouldn't recommend having Vicky and I too long in the same room – no one else exists and the high-pitched laughter can be hazardous to your ears.

9. Do you feel that your character should get romantically involved with Forbes' character Jesse as was hinted in the episode "Taking of Crows"? --KittyKat_Feral

I think there is definite potential there for Lexa and Jessie. He is the one who is able to break her down, soften her up. He is kind, patient and gives her a chance always. She needs someone like that that she can trust. Who Knows? The heat may turn into a flame or not!!!! But I defiantly think they would compliment each other really well. Each has what the other needs

10. What is the story behind Lexa's brother? --Unknown_Fox

 There is an episode coming up called "Brothers Keeper" and the whole story is revealed!
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AskMen.com Interview: Karen Cliche

why is she famous?

Sexy Karen Cliche has starred alongside Hollywood heavy hitters such as Natasha Henstridge, Stephen Dorff, Peter Gallagher, and she currently stars as Mackenzie Previn in the hit TV series Adventure Inc

quick bio

It doesn't take much for any man to notice actress Karen Cliche. Between the mesmerizing eyes, sultry lips, sexy freckles, and knockout body, Karen is stunning -- but that is not what she wants you to notice. After all, there is no lack of attractive women on fashion runways, so Karen has set her sights on a greater prize: Hollywood.

After working with Francis Ford Coppola and appearing with everyone from Stephen Dorff and Natasha Henstridge to Stephen Baldwin and Peter Gallagher on a wide range of projects, Cliche now finds herself under the tutelage of Gale Anne Hurd in Adventure Inc., the latest weekly action-hour show from Tribune Entertainment and Fireworks Entertainment. Fireworks' previous works include Armageddon, The Terminator, T2, The Abyss, and the upcoming feature, The Hulk.

In her latest role as Mackenzie Previn, Karen is accumulating fans every time she walks onto the set. Hailing from Montreal -- a city known as much for hockey as it is for its good times and great-looking women -- Cliche's character combines the toughness of hockey with her down-to-earth persona and sexy physique, making her an immediate favorite with audiences.

We were fortunate enough to sit down with Karen to chat about what's going on in her life..

Q: Karen, I can see how you fell into modeling, but when did you decide to get into acting?

I always wanted to act, it was something I did in school, but then something happened when I hit college. I thought it was too ambitious to go into acting, so fear kicked in and I went into psychology. But then my modeling agency started an acting department, so I just went for it. I was lucky to have that outlet.

Q: How important is it to get involved with acting in school?

Well, I was not trained in the traditional sense, but growing up, you become inhibited about acting. Things like improv make you a better actor -- you become less shy and more open to ideas.

Q: You studied psychology; how useful is that?

I have never played a psychopath (laughs), but I did a year in college so I did not get into it too much... but acting is psychology so it does help.

Q: You've worked with a bunch of different people, are you at all star struck?

Nothing intimidates me. People are people so I do not have that separation. I grew up knowing that I would be an actor -- I hope that is not arrogant -- but I knew that they were people like me... of course, if Al Pacino was on the set, then yes, I would be a bit nervous!

¿ Quick fact ?
Karen Cliche was born July 22, 1976, in Quebec, Canada, where it's rumored that some of the most beautiful women reside.

Q: Tell us about Adventure Inc.

It is loosely based on the story of Barry Clifford, really well known with [fans of] the Discovery Channel and National Geographic. He spent years diving for fun, searching for treasure; he has found plenty of sunken pirate ships. His name got around and this has been in the making for 10 years. Every episode is about some adventure somewhere; we have bad guys trying to sabotage us, we kick some butt, and everybody is happy (laughs).

Q: You mention 10 years, is that the typical Hollywood pace?

Well, I am surprised to see that it took so long, oftentimes it is a matter of who you want in there and who you want to work on it. You have to be at the right place at the right time.

Q: You mentioned Al Pacino; besides him, who do you look up to?

Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep... Anyone who is talented and takes risks is great in my eyes.

Q: What do you want people to think of when they hear the name Karen Cliche?

Well, I want people to know that I am really down-to-earth; I do not take myself too seriously. I think I am a big loser sometimes (laughs)! I have a horrible laugh... but if they think that I am a good actor and a nice person, that's even better.

Karen discusses Marilyn Monroe, being raised like a boy, and of course she reveals whether or not the curtains match the carpet...

Q: You have a great laugh... anyway, how hard is it to be respected as an actor when you are good-looking?

Very hard. But it's like that everywhere, not just acting. People are surprised to see that you can act. But just because you are in the attractive group (laughs), that doesn't mean you cannot have anything else going for you. I mean, you want to be treated like a normal person.

Q: You've played a Marilyn Monroe wannabe?

I am quite obsessed with her life. Everyone loves looking at her; in her life she exuded so much vulnerability. I relate to her need to be loved and can appreciate the way she was. Her acting was a bit over the top, but she was funny and good-looking. She was very feminine.

Q: You come across as though you were raised like a boy, any truth to that?

Well, that is true, my father raised me like a boy... I happen to swear and stuff to the crew, I have a foul mouth but it is meant in a nice way, I guess I am not very girly...

Q: Gee, I wonder what profanities you will use to thank us (laughs). It's all good, so long as you shave your legs, you can curse like a sailor (laughs).

Oh I don't shave my legs, just kidding... actually, sometimes I may go a week, but I am naturally blonde...

Q: Too much information (laughs). Actually, after that last comment, no one will ever think of you as just a sexy, hot woman... did you say a "natural blonde"? All righty, let's focus. We will leave all of this out...

I do not care, you can leave it (laughs).

¿ Quick fact ?
Karen stands nice and tall at a towering 5'9". Still, she decided that she wanted to be an actress as opposed to a model.

Q: You've traveled a bit to Hong Kong and obviously L.A.; tell us about some of the places you've been to.

Oh my God, I loved Germany, Italy and Australia as well. The people are just great. I love Europe -- both the UK and France.

Q: What would you do if you were a man for a day?

I would probably... hmm... I don't know... I would probably hang out in the park and check out girls... isn't that what you do?

Q: What is the one thing about you that would shock our readers?

I burp really well, [but] not on command... there are some things I can't say... one thing I have done is, I have really long toes, so I once smoked a cigarette with my toes for a pitcher of beer...

Q: You sure you want us to print that?

Oh yeah... go for it.

Q: All right, what about giving us one thing that we can keep to ourselves, you know, off the record?

(laughs) Okay, come closer...

Ooh, is it getting hot in here? Thanks so much for your time, Karen, you truly are beautiful in all the ways that matter..
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