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Gina Holden Brings Intelligence And Spirit To Flash Gordon's Dale |
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Thursday, 28 June 2007 |
by Kenn Gold
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Gina Holden (Dale Arden) answers questions at the SCI FI Digital Press Tour, June 2007. Photo Eike Schroter/SCI FI Channel | SCI FI channel’s re-imaging of the classic Flash Gordon franchise follows the adventures of ordinary humans thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Steven “Flash” Gordon, played by Eric Johnson, got his name because of his numerous track victories including his third Tri-City marathon win. With his scientist father having died when Flash was 13, family obligations kept him at home, while his high school sweetheart Dale Arden left to attend college. Now Dale is back, and working as a reporter at the local television station, and is engaged to a police detective. While investigating a mysterious object that Flash finds, the two are thown together and end up traveling through a trans-dimensional rift to the planet Mongo, ruled by the merciless dictator, Ming (John Ralston).
Canadian actress Gina Holden takes on the role of the iconic love interest, Dale Arden. Holden has an impressive number of credits in the SciFi/Horror genre including the recent Aliens Vs Predator 2, Final Destination 3, Butterfly Effect 2, and the Lifetime series, Blood Ties. She recently spoke to MediaBlvd Magazine and other members of the Digital Press at SCI FI Channel’s Digital Press Tour about her role, and her hopes for the show which premieres in August.
“I’ve kind of fallen into it and fallen in love with it, she says.” “I really like the action and all of the fun that comes along with it -- because of the history of it-- it is just so fantastic.” Holden grew up with a brother who was very into comic books, so was somewhat familiar with the story. “It’s just been a whirlwind adventure with more to come,” she says.
Stunningly beautiful, while at the same time intelligent and witty, the dynamic Holden brings a new direction to the well known character of Dale. In this version of the story, she struggles with the conflicting dynamics of a career and the love triangle she is thrown into when Flash re-enters her life. She enjoys the real life situation that Dale faces, mixed in with the fantastic. “It’s her inner struggle that a lot of women, who are trying to balance a career, and go out there and be independent and focused, have. And she also has this huge heart and this man in her life that she is so drawn too, but they are separated and confused. So balancing that, and getting out there and taking on all of these adventures are really what I love about Dale. She is real,” says Holden.
Gina was born in Canada, and at the age of 15 was snapped up by a Japanese talent agency, and traveled to Japan. Over the next few years, she was the face of Shiseido cosmetics , appearing on the covers of numerous Japanese magazines. After returning to North America, to pursue her true passion of acting, Holden continued her studies of Japanese in college, and is fluent both in the written and spoken language. Additionally, she still has a very high recognition factor and following among those Japanese citizens who follow western culture. Not surprisingly, much of the buzz in Japan about the new take on the Flash Gordon story surrounds Holden and her portrayal of the character.
Gina spoke directly to her Japanese fanbase during the press tour. [translated by David K.] "That's amazing. Good morning, I'm Gina, and I play Dale Arden. I love Japan-- Japanese friends, I thank you very much," she said. When the press tour was annouced last week, and questions were solicited from the MediaBlvd readership, the editorial mail acount was flooded with requests from the Japanese members of the community to cover Gina Holden's appearance, at nearly 5 times the questions for other celebrities, or suggestions to cover other participating shows. Roughly 7% of MediaBlvd Magazines 3 million unique IP views per month originate from Japan. In English, she went on to add; “That’s really exciting! We’d all be thrilled if it was a hit over in Japan. It’s a fantastic country.”
Holden, along with the other actors did a great deal of research on the internet into the history of Flash Gordon, to prepare for the role, and she says this take on Flash Gordon won’t be campy. “As far as making it a grownup show, it’s the responsibility of the actors to take what we are doing seriously. We have to honor what we’re doing, so if we believe, hopefully everybody else will.” The cast has already started hearing from the fans, much to their delight.
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The cast of Flash Gordon, Jody Racicot (Dr Zarkof), Karen Cliche (Baylin), Gina Holden (Dale Arden), and Eric Johnson (Flash Gordon), at the SCI FI Channel Digital Press Tour, June 2007. Photo Eike Schroter/SCI FI Channel
| “It means so much getting the fan mail, and getting the interest that we are getting. It’s thrilling. As much as we can, we’ll be there,” she said.
Holden says that we can expect some action from this incarnation of Dale. “She gets in there. She doesn’t hold back. I’ve been able to throw myself against a wall, and do some really fun stuff. “ The excitement of the cast, and their chemistry together was also evident in the panel. “The group of people that we’ve got together here is just amazing. Every day is just better and better,” she said.
SCI FI Channel refers to itself as the network where “what if” is what’s on. With it’s original series, blockbuster movies, and classis science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic website (http://scifi.com) and magazine, the network which was launched in 1992, currently is in 89 million homes. SCI FI channel is a network of NBC Universal. |
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