Tricia Janine Helfer was born on April 11, 1974, in Donalda, Alberta, Canada. She is of German, English, Swedish, and Norwegian descent. Before becoming an actress, Helfer achieved international recognition as a model, discovered at the age of 17 while standing in line at a movie theater. She concluded her modeling career in 2002, focusing on acting.
Helfer transitioned to acting in the early 2000s, quickly landing prominent roles in television and film. Her breakthrough role came in 2004 as the humanoid Cylon Number Six in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series. This role established her as a science fiction icon and significantly boosted her acting career.
Helfer’s portrayal of Number Six in Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009) is arguably her most recognized role. She played multiple versions of the character throughout the series. Following Battlestar Galactica, she has consistently worked in television, film, and voice acting.
Some of her notable television roles include:
She has also lent her voice to numerous animated series and video games, including: