Reptilian Alien to Fairy Princess‏

Jane Badler is a true artist, she has managed to transform from a reptilian alien in ‘V’, a role that saw her voted one of the 25 most memorable Sci Fi characters of all time, to her latest incarnation as a fairy princess trapped in water in the video for her latest single ‘Volcano Boy’.

Always exciting and eclectic Jane will be bringing her present show ‘Diamond Crimson Blood’ to Tasmania as part of the Festival of Voices. Jane is billed as a US artist because accompanying her will be her US musical director, but Jane calls Australia and particularly Melbourne, home. She is regularly involved in the theatre scene in Melbourne and is happily settled with her Aussie husband, although with her son now an aspiring actor seeking work in the US, Jane will find herself visiting her former home more frequently.

It was in her homeland that Jane began her acting career including in soap operas like the US ‘One Life to Live’ to her signature acting in ‘V’. Since moving to Australia she has kept busy in theatre and done a stint on Australia ‘Neighbours’.

I ask Jane if there is much difference in the production of soap operas in the two countries and Jane says perhaps the only distinguishing feature is Australian soaps include a lot of exterior shots while the US is inside most of the time. she has only good things to say about her Neighbours co stars, who often had to get a scene on the first take and are able to cry on cue.

Jane’s new music video of the single ‘Volcano Boy’,written by the Mavis’s Matt Doll, which she will showcase in the performances in Tasmania, is realised as an epic fantasy tale with a fairy princess trapped in water. While filming Jane said she felt only peace and no fear from the water. The video clip was inspired by her love of the movie ‘Dr Zhivago’. For Jane her work is never the mundane, never the small but it’s the big ideas that she canvasses. Jane tells me she is reminded of a quote by Mariah Carey about not saying too much about your music because there is an emotional twist to explore and a connection between the music and the audience where a song has meaning to each individual. To say too much about a song would spoil that connection.

With the epic, she also canvasses the eclectic and includes in her show a version of Kylie Minogue’s ‘Can’t get you out of my head’, a darker, edgier version maybe,with an electronic background.

Jane will showcase some of her new album and some covers before taking the show to Paris and London where it will be the new album that takes centre stage. Music for Jane has no boundaries and although she is a credible actor, for the moment music is what she is focusing on.

You can see Jane performing in ‘Diamond Crimson Blood’ in Festival of Voices, Voicebox at City Hall Wed, 9 Jul 8:30pm and Thu, 10 Jul 7:00pm.
Paula Xiberras