Actors keep 'Battlestar Galactica' soaring

By ETHAN SACKS
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
NEW YORK -- On her first day on the set of the "Battlestar Galactica" miniseries, model Tricia Helfer, then new to acting, was thrown into an intense sex scene with co-star James Callis in front of a 50-man crew.
After three full seasons of scenes in which her character, a human-looking robot named Number 6, continually seduces Callis' Dr. Gaius Baltar, however, Helfer has found a comfort zone. Now, the 32-year-old beauty has no qualms about draping her arms all over her castmate during a recent interview at the Sci-Fi Channel's offices in Manhattan.
"It's sort of kind of second nature now," said Helfer.
Red hot would describe the on-screen romance between Baltar, the scientist turned president, and Number Six, who seduces him into betraying the human race. As "Battlestar Galactica" orbits toward this Sunday's third-season-finale, the fire has yet to go out for television's oddest couple.
"I was utterly stunned that I could be cast against someone so gorgeous," said Callis.
Callis is more surprised that more of an audience hasn't picked up on the critically acclaimed series . He's grown frustrated with trying to convince industry peers to watch the show, with its allegories to religious fundementalism and the war on terror.
Not quite mainstream
While the show, which stars Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, has developed a loyal following and enjoys robust sales on iTunes, it has yet to enjoy the mainstream success of shows like NBC's "Heroes."
When Helfer nabbed her role, she was just thrilled to get a high-profile acting gig and didn't mind that the scripts had her vamp it up in a skimpy red dress.
She had come a long way since the day when the then-17-year old was discovered in line outside a movie theater in Donalda, Alberta.
The actors credit good scripts, but it's clear the two share an on-screen chemistry and an off-screen camaraderie. Even the actors' spouses -- both lawyers -- get along.