Meet Starbuck from 'Battlestar Galactica' in Cincinnati this weekend

“I’m dead, as in six-feet-under dead. Dead as in crash-landed, burnt-to-a-crisp dead. Here, I took these (military tags) off my body, what was left of it anyway, on Earth. Take them. You used to be a scientist. Run some tests. The only thing I know for sure. I am not an angel." Captain Kara “Starbuck” Thrace spoke those powerful words to Dr. Gaius Baltar after her resurrection in the Sci-Fi Channel's “Battlestar Galactica.” Starbuck, played by Katee Sackhoff from 2004 to 2009, was one of the most popular characters on the show. You will have the chance to meet Sackhoff at the Cincinnati Comic Expo this weekend.

Sackhoff was nominated for four Saturn Awards for her work on “Battlestar Galactica” and won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television in 2005. She voiced Bo-Katan Kryze in the animated TV programs “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars: Rebels.” Sackhoff also played Bo-Katan Kryze in the live-action television series, “The Mandalorian.”

She's appeared in sci-fi and horror films such as “Riddick,” “Oculus” and “Don’t Knock Twice,” and will appear in the upcoming action movie “Fight or Flight," in which she stars alongside Josh Hartnett. Sackhoff also has her own podcast, “The Sackhoff Show,” which airs every Tuesday.

We spoke to the busy actress about her life and career before her big trip to Cincinnati.

What inspired you to become an actress?

“I was an athlete for many, many years, and I just honestly thought that I would swim in college. I was a swimmer. I don’t know what I thought I was going to do after that. A sort of an injury put the kibosh on that. I was sitting around the house depressed and needed to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life because I had it all planned out around swimming. My mom saw an ad in the paper to be Kirsten Dunst’s body double in a Lifetime movie ('Fifteen and Pregnant'). She said, ‘Why don’t you go down and try this? I know you love theater. You might as well give this a try.’ I went down, and I didn’t match her body type.

"They asked me if I wanted to audition for one of the parts in the film, and I got that. And then it just skyrocketed from there. After that, the director convinced my mother to bring me to California and he introduced me to my agent and my manager and then once I graduated from high school, I moved straight down to L.A. and immediately started auditioning."

How did you land the role of Starbuck?

“The same as so many other roles. I got an audition for it. I saw the script. I really thought that the character was amazing. And I knew that if I could book the role, my career would take a different trajectory. Up until that point, I played very stereotypical blond, teenage roles. And I was getting quite bored and frustrated with that. So, I knew that if I could book Starbuck, it would make people see me differently. So, I got the audition, as did hundreds if not thousands of other girls ... and I auditioned probably six or seven times for that role and just wouldn’t take no for an answer. Every time I had an audition, I kept begging them to see me again just to keep going back and to get it right.”

In the 'Battlestar' mini-series, we saw Starbuck gamble, smoke cigars and punch a drunk superior officer. How much do you have in common with Starbuck?

“I have a lot of grit as a person. I don’t have a lot of quit in me. I think that is a resiliency, and I don’t know where it comes from. I think that is the thing that my characters all have. Every character that people know of me. These are characters that just continue to get up. And that is definitely something that I have in me. I have a lot of fight. That’s probably the only thing that I have in common with her. She is very different than me, especially now. Twenty years ago, that might have been different. But she is very, very different from me now.”

Do you keep in touch with any of your former co-stars from 'Battlestar Galactica'?

“All of them. We’re all incredibly close. Very tight-kit family actually, and talk often and see each other often.

You did the voice of Bo-Katan Kryze in the animated 'Star Wars' series. How did you feel when you were offered the chance to do the live-action version of Bo-Katan?

“It was a dream come true. I grew up watching 'Star Wars' and being a sci-fi fan. So, for me, it was truly just a dream come true. It was one of those pinch-yourself moments. I was so honored and excited to even voice Bo-Katan because I was such a fan of 'Star Wars.' And to then be able to play her in live action, which is rarely, if ever done, was just a phenomenal moment for me.”

In 'The Mandalorian,' you did action scenes wearing a helmet and armor. Was it difficult to breathe and see with the helmet on?

“Yeah, of course it is. That helmet makes everything more difficult. It is possible. Where my talent ends, my stunt double picks up. And she does a phenomenal job portraying not only Bo-Katan, but many other characters in ‘The Mandalorian’ and other 'Star Wars' shows.”

You’ve played a plethora of characters. Who is your favorite?

“I don’t have a favorite. I absolutely love every single character that I have played. I had the most fun playing Amunet Black on ‘The Flash’ because I got to have a lot of fun. She was a villain. She was insane, and she didn’t have to make sense. That’s really fun. And I had a lot of fun portraying a character, a very different type of character for me than what people expect in a movie called ‘Girl Flu’ where I just played a mom and loved that. Every role is different, and every role I love for different reasons.”

In your career, you have done work on some huge franchises, namely Star Wars, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Battlestar Galactica, and Halloween. Which is your favorite?

“I grew up a fan of genre work. I grew up a fan of science fiction, and so I am a fan of science fiction and that genre, tremendous fan. That being said, every character in every franchise has a different feeling. DC feels different than 'Star Wars.' 'Star Wars' feels different than Marvel. They all feel different, and they feel different when you are actively participating in them as well.”

Do you prefer live-action or voice work and why?

“Live action for sure. It’s where I started. It’s what I love. I love to be able to use every facet of my craft or my body, if you will, as well. Voiceover is a really important tool to make people better actors. I think when you learn how to utilize your voice in different ways, you just become a better actor.”

You’ve done some voice work for video games including 'Halo' and 'Call of Duty.' Do you play video games?

“I used to when I was younger. But as an adult, no, I don’t play video games often. I’m more of a fan of vintage video games. I love upright games. I love arcade games like 'Street Fighter.' I loved 'Street Fighter' when I was younger.”

Do you have a closing message for the Cincinnati fans who will attend the Cincinnati Comic Expo?

“I treat every single fan the same, which is with joy and honor and pride. And I absolutely love spending time with the fans. I love interacting. I promise that there is energy in my line, and I always have a smile on my face. I’m just excited. Conventions are truly important to me as a performer. And meeting the fans is really important to me. And I love the experience.”

Other celebrities to meet at Cincinnati Comic Expo

• From “Lord of the Rings”: David Wenham (Faramir) and John Rhys-Davies (Gimli).

• From “The Mandalorian”: Emily Swallow (The Armorer), Ming-Na Wen (Fennec Shand), and Simon Kassianides (Axe Woves).

• From “X-Men ‘97”: voice actors Alison Sealy-Smith (Storm), Chris Potter (Cable), George Buza (Beast), Lenore Zann (Rogue), and Matthew Waterson (Magneto).

Cincinnati Comic Expo deets

• Where:  Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road.

• What: Celebrity meet-and-greets, panels, programs, and vendors selling clothes, comics, games, posters, toys and more. Costume contest Sunday.

• When: 3-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

• Admission: Friday and Sunday passes cost $30 each, Saturday passes cost $35, and weekend passes cost $60. Children 10 and under are free.

• Information:  cincinnaticomicexpo.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Katee Sackhoff reflects on role as Starbuck in 'Battlestar Galactica'