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The Funny Side Of Sexy Servalan
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Mess around with Servalan, the sexy villainess of TV's Blake's Seven, and you're in line for a close encounter of the lethal kind. But crack a joke with actress Jacqueline Pearce, who plays the ruthless space queen with the heavenly body, and the only thing she'll hit back with is a smile and a witty remark. "I'm afraid I'm a compulsive giggler and I can't help but see the funny side of everything," said Jacqueline with a grin as wide as a galaxy. That kind of philosophy would probably send Servalan into orbit in dismay but Jacqueline thrives on it. She positively bubbles with life, firing broadsides of jokes with the aplomb of a music hall comedienne and sending herself up with reckless abandon. One of the many things she finds amusing is the sex symbol tag that she has picked up playing Servalan. "I've never ever thought of myself as one and I still find it difficult to believe people are being serious when they say that. But it's true that men do find the character of Servalan quite sexy. They see her as cold and ruthless, which aren't particularly feminine qualities, but I suppose they regard that as a challenge. I imagine some men would get a kick out of trying to conquer her. But I think most men see Servalan as a woman who can be transformed by love, which is exactly what happens later in the series." Jacqueline's playing of the feline Servalan is a key factor in the take-off of viewing figures for the current series of Blake's Seven. Millions tune in each week to catch the latest adventures of the crew of the Liberator as they trek across the universe with Servalan in hot and murderous pursuit. "We're into the third series and I expanded the character of Servalan quite a bit this time. She was rather one-dimensional in the previous series and I started to wonder why this woman had become a supreme commander, who inspires respect and fear in the men she meets. I think I've made her more human and interesting and helped her discover her own femininity. I don't see her as evil, though I admit she orders the killing of people without batting an eyelid. No, she's not evil, she's... ambitious," said Jacqueline, with a twinkle in her eye that was worthy of Servalan herself. She says she has little in common with the character. "I don't regard men as rivals or threats. I think of them as friends and I love them. They call me Jack on the set of Blake's Seven and I'm happy to be regarded as one of the lads." Jacqueline's friendliness with the opposite sex even extended to allowing one of her fans to take her out to dinner the other evening. "I got this lovely letter from a man and I could tell straight away that he only wanted to talk to me about the series. We got in touch and had a very nice evening together." Circa 1980
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