Politics makes for strange bedfellows. Particularly Hollywood politics.
Take, for example, Natasha Henstridge, the Alberta-bred beauty who became a pin-up sensation thanks to her role as an oversexed extraterrestrial in the 1995 thriller Species.
After a decade of many B-flicks and scantily-clad magazine covers, Henstridge's latest role on the ABC drama Commander-in-Chief finds her not only fully clothed, but in far more distinguished company than, say, Jean Claude Van Damme -- namely Geena Davis as the U.S. president and Donald Sutherland as Davis' nemesis.
Which would all be fine and good if not for the backstage intrigues which see the once-hot show -- it debuted to 17 million viewers in the fall -- now struggling for ratings after a lengthy hiatus that ended last week with its return, albeit on a new night (Thursdays instead of Tuesdays, which are now owned by American Idol anyway).
The problems began, ironically, just as the series was solidifying its status as a hit. That's when creator Rod Lurie was replaced by veteran producer Steven Bochco. The marriage of Bochco -- honcho of such testosterone-driven dramas as NYPD Blue -- and the kinder, gentler Commander proved a predictable mismatch, both for critics and viewers. The result? Now Bochco is out and the show is in the hands of new showrunner Dee Johnson, a former ER producer who has been with Commander since its debut. Still, what seemed like a sure thing is now an iffy bet -- one of those shows occupying a precarious space "on the bubble."
Behind the scenes, says Henstridge, the series is now on track, after the Bochco regime. "We're doing really well again," she says, blaming Hollywood -- what else? -- politics. "It's show business. Unfortunately, the political aspects took over ... But we keep coming back for more."
As for whether Commander will receive a second term -- "I get people on the street coming up to me all the time going, 'Where'd the show go?' " -- Henstridge expects to find out in the next few weeks. "I saw one report with some insider saying it's not coming back, but then someone else said, 'Congratulations -- heard you got a second season.' But it's all just rumours right now."
Whatever the outcome, there's no question the role has proven a boon for Henstridge's career.
"For me the biggest compliment is 'Natasha Henstridge? She's from Species -- she's not on that show.' They forget I'm the same person. I couldn't get a better compliment."
Or a better co-star in Sutherland. "Working with him is a dream come true ... He has a child-like quality ... I'm going to miss him over the hiatus," she says, admitting she was intimidated at the prospect of working opposite the legendary actor. "Every actor who comes on the show is and we have had some great people on the show. They all sweat it."
And while she shares less screen time with Davis, she credits the Oscar winner with anchoring the show throughout tumultuous times. "We don't have a lot of scenes, but with all the changes, she really came through. She's a very, very bright woman."
Henstridge, 31, was born in Newfoundland and raised in Fort McMurray. She left northern Alberta at age 14 to pursue a modelling career and, after years on the runway circuit, landed her star-making Species gig. "A whole career came out of that. One film -- who knew?" asks Henstridge, now a mother of two -- Tristan, 7, and Asher, 4. "I love watching them grow up. That's what makes Commander such a great job because I only shoot three or four days a week. It's pretty great."
Besides, she says, she's enjoying being older, wiser and not facing the scrutiny today's young starlets do. "Being super famous would suck because everything about you is written about and you've got to be naughty sometimes."
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