Lorena Gale

Lorena Gale
PerformerTRS
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Portrays:	Elosha
Date of Birth:	May 9, 1958
Date of Death:	June 21, 2009
Age at Death:	51
Nationality:	CAN
Related Media
		@ BW Media
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IMDb profile

Lorena Gale (9 May 1958—21 June 2009) was an award-winning Canadian actress, director, and writer best known for her role as the priestess Elosha in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Gale had been active in stage, movie, and television acting since the 1980s. She was a wife, mother and author of two award-winning plays, Angélique and Je me souviens. A veteran Vancouver-based character actress, she appeared in numerous productions throughout her career.

Career

Gale's extensive filmography included several major Hollywood productions. She appeared in A-list movies such as Fantastic Four, The Chronicles of Riddick, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Her diverse television credits ranged from The Hotel New Hampshire and Barnum to M.A.N.T.I.S., Halloween: Resurrection, The Fly II and Agent Cody Banks. She also appeared on television series including Smallville and The Twilight Zone.

Battlestar Galactica

Casting

The role of Elosha underwent significant changes during development. Initially conceived as "an eighty-year-old wizened male priest," the character was later offered to Richard Hatch, who played Apollo in the Original Series. When Hatch declined the role, it was rewritten for a female actress.

Despite the casting agents initially looking for a male actor, they decided to have Gale audition for the unusual role. "At the time I did the audition, I assumed I wouldn't get the role and I didn't know the Battlestar Galactica miniseries was a pilot for a series," Gale recalled. "So everything was a bonus for me when I was offered the part."

Character Development

Gale viewed Elosha as "a tough woman who has a great sense of depth and spirituality" and believed she became an important character because she "represents organized religion." She saw the role as an opportunity to play a strong female character and explore her own real-life spirituality.

The actress especially enjoyed developing Elosha's relationship with President Laura Roslin, played by Mary McDonnell. "I loved the idea that Elosha is Laura's spiritual guide," she explained. "In a way the role gave me a chance to honor the nun who was once my spiritual advisor, but is no longer with us. She was this tough old broad from California who didn't become a nun until she was fifty, so she understood why things happened in people's lives a lot more than some other people in the spiritual world."

Personal Views

Concerning her role in Battlestar Galactica, Gale expressed that she most enjoyed the woman-to-woman scenes with Mary McDonnell's Laura Roslin. Personally, she felt sorry for the Cylons because they desperately wanted to belong to something. She believed that there is no such thing as "artificial intelligence," just "intelligence," and enjoyed watching the show as a fan.^{[citation needed]}

Personal Life

Gale passed away on June 21, 2009 after losing her battle with stomach cancer. She was survived by her family, including her role as a wife and mother.

Quotes

"Canadian Society has become too multiracial that racism, true systemic and institutionalized racism, is constantly being challenged. I have always believed that Canada has the potential to be a Utopian Society. Sadly, we are too influenced by our American cousins." —Gale

External links

• Lorena Gale interview at GALACTICA.TV including audio
• Podcast conversation with Lorena Gale on Sci-Fi Talk (about 24 minutes, BSG talk near the beginning, no spoilers)
• Lorena Gale, Angélique (1999)

References