Laura Roslin

Laura Roslin
Name	{{{name}}}
Age
Colony	Caprica (presumed)
Birth place	{{{birthplace}}}
Birth Name	Laura Roslin
Birth Date	{{{birthdate}}}
Callsign
Nickname	{{{nickname}}}
Introduced	Miniseries
Death
Parents
Siblings
Children
Marital Status	Unmarried
Family Tree	View
Role	President, The Twelve Colonies of Kobol, former Secretary of Education
Rank
Serial Number	{{{serial}}}
Portrayed by	Mary McDonnell
Laura Roslin is a Cylon
Laura Roslin is a Final Five Cylon
Laura Roslin is a Human/Cylon Hybrid
Laura Roslin is an Original Series Cylon
Related Media
		@ BW Media
Additional Information
[[Image:|200px|Laura Roslin]]

Laura Roslin is an unmarried woman with some 20 years of political experience. She serves as Secretary of Education for the Colonial Government at the time of the Cylon attack, later becoming president of the Twelve Colonies after the Cylon attack.

Background

• Roslin, a former teacher, worked with Richard Adar when he was a mayor. Over the years, she herself has risen in political rank to the office of Secretary of Education.
• Adar, a married man, and Roslin are in a sexual affair during the events of a teachers strike that she is trying to mediate, to Adar's objection.
• Roslin learns that she, as did her mother, has breast cancer. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is grim, as the cancer has already spread.
• Roslin sat in the Government Plaza after her doctor's appointment, where she saw Gaius Baltar, the famous scientist, walking and kissing an attractive blonde, but pays it little attention.
• Roslin successfully resolves the teachers strike crisis, but Adar vehemently disagrees with her method, and asks for her resignation. She asks him to defer the matter until she returns from the decommissioning ceremonies on battlestar Galactica.
• Despite being thrust into the role of President in highly unusual and stressful circumstances, Laura Roslin initially proves herself both tough and capable within the role. Initially in awe of Commander Adama, and worrying that he didn't hold her in high regard (Water), she quickly overcomes her doubts and fears to be able to make the required decisions at the right time, and also stand up to Adama himself (You Can't Go Home Again). She is always prepared to put the safety and destiny of the Fleet first, no matter what the cost of her actions ("Flesh and Bone," "Home, Part I," "Home, Part II," "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II") while remembering her limitations and fears.

Character History at a Glance

• Roslin is aboard the Colonial government cruiser Colonial Heavy 798, having just attended the decommissioning ceremonies for the battlestar Galactica, when the information on the Cylon attack leaks through wireless.
• Roslin attempts to serve as the government's representative to aid the ship's pilot in gaining more information. She manages to speak with one fellow official over wireless and hears the devastating news.
• The Case Orange automated beacon response assigns Roslin the role of President after Adar and other high-level government officials are dead or incapacitated.
• In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Roslin undertakes a rescue mission, using the now-renamed Colonial One to round-up all vessels that escape destruction and gathers as many survivors as possible together, hoping to save the remnants of humanity from total annihilation.
• Roslin successfully persuades Galactica commander William Adama away from his original intention of mounting a counter-attack against the Cylons, and towards helping the new civilan fleet make its escape from occupied Colonial space.
• Since the exodus, Roslin establishes a fledgling civilian government within the Fleet, agrees to abide by civil law regarding her interim term of office, and reestabishes a new Quorum of Twelve.
• Roslin and Commander Adama begin their leadership together under an uneasy understanding. Where she is responsible for all civil leadership issues among the surviving Colonials, Adama is responsible for all military decisions (Miniseries). However, the dividing line is not always clear between the two leaders.
• Roslin chooses chamalla extract as an alternative to diloxin, remembering her mother's malaise with that treatment.
• Her illness remains a secret until she relates her Chamalla-induced visions of Kobol to priest Elosha, who recognizes them as those prophesized by Pythia, where a dying leader will find the path to Earth. After research, she determines that she may be able to substantiate Commander Adama's fictitious knowledge of the location of Earth with a true bearing to the world using ancient Colonial history.
• Roslin convinces Lt. Thrace to use the captured Cylon Raider to return to Caprica in search of the Arrow of Apollo.
• Infuriated with Roslin's countermanding and with her refusal to resign as President, Commander Adama terminates her Presidency and stages a military coup. Despite the intervention of Lee Adama, Roslin is arrested and incarcerated aboard Galactica (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II). With Vice President Baltar missing on the surface of Kobol, this effectively leaves the Fleet without any form of civil leadership, a situation worsened by an assassination attempt on William Adama himself immediately following Roslin's arrest (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II).
• From her cell, Roslin eventually tells the Quorum of Twelve, many of whom are Gemenon, of her role in the Sacred Scrolls, and begins to gain significant underground civilian support for her cause.
• Roslin escapes Galactica and, with the help of rival Tom Zarek, convinces over a third of the fleet to join her in the search for the Tomb. Roslin's ability to lead and command becomes stronger throughout this time, able to keep Zarek's ambitions at bay and deliver decisions faster than before.
• With the recovered Arrow, Roslin heads an hazardous expedition on Kobol to find the Tomb, with the aid of a second copy of Sharon Valerii and priest Elosha.
• The recovered Commander Adama gains refreshed insight on the need for the Fleet to stay united, and leaves to find Roslin's expedition on the surface of Kobol (Home, Part II).
• During the Kobol expedition, Elosha is killed. Roslin takes Elosha's blood-spattered copy of the Sacred Scrolls to guide her and to remember her friend.
• Commander Adama greets Roslin warmly on his arrival at her camp on Kobol. The two leaders have a heart-to-heart talk about her rebellion, which Adama forgives. Roslin thanks Adama, calling him "Bill" casually, though she notes that she didn't require permission for what she had to do. Roslin worries that, with talk of the Caprica Resistance, that her insistence to Adama to leave the Colonial worlds behind was a mistake. Adama, also calling Roslin by her first name, firmly chastises her, reminding Roslin that her decision was correct. If he had chosen to stay, Adama, his son, and all of humanity would be dead.
• Adama and Roslin's party later find the Tomb. With some teamwork, they discover and activate the Tomb's virtual hologram mechanism. Roslin's gamble on faith pays off big for humanity, and the group gains a map and guide to the true location of Earth.
• Back on Galactica, Commander Adama introduces Roslin as President during a speech on the ship, and leads the audience in a rousing ovation on her return, publicly burying the hatchet between them.
• Adama and Roslin's respect for each other grew stronger and their leadership in managing fleet business became more cooperative, asking each other for advice and correcting each other as needed. They work together in getting reporter D'anna Biers corralled from her potentially disruptive tabloid expose' of the Gideon shootings by giving her almost-unlimited access to interview Galactica's crew. She creates a rousing documentary that meets her and Adama's approval (Final Cut).
• The military crew honors Roslin by christening a new experimental stealth fighter by the name, Laura, a gesture that brings tears to the President.
• Despite the pleasure of the arrival of battlestar Pegasus, Roslin becomes concerned about Cain's abrupt command style and refusal to supply the civilian fleet.
• After a near-disastrous military confrontation between the two battlestar commanders, Roslin chastises them both and tells them to concentrate on more important matters. Privately, Roslin tells Adama that Cain, whose power can radically affect the remnant of humanity both Roslin and Adama have strived so hard to protect, must be killed if Adama and the Fleet are to survive.

Roslin and Adama.

• After the battle, and Admiral Cain's death, Roslin, now more frail with her illness, promotes William Adama to Admiral. The new admiral gives the president a kiss, establishing a more personal aspect to their friendship.
• Roslin is miraculously saved by the injection of stem cells from the Cylon hybrid fetus, which apparently eradicates her cancer (Epiphanies). In the hours prior to the cure, however, Roslin remembers her last days on Caprica, including the attractive blonde with Dr. Baltar, her vice-president. She now recognizes the woman as a copy of a Humanoid Cylon.
• Roslin confronts Baltar on his association and later confesses the memory to William Adama (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).
• Roslin returns to work with a dispassionate, zealous manner not unlike her predecessor, Richard Adar, including an attempt to stop the black market , handling the terrible loss of Billy Keikeya, and the upcoming presidential election.
• Roslin's appoints a new aide, Tory Foster, who is an energetic young woman with a great deal of political drive.
• Complicating what may have been an easy re-election include Roslin's decision to enforce a no-abortion law to aid in repopulation while allowing a Gemenese girl Rya Kibby to have an abortion, angering Gemenon representative Sarah Porter and losing most support from Roslin's religious base.
• Expecting Tom Zarek to run for president, Roslin is shocked when her own vice president, Dr. Baltar, challenges Roslin for the presidency.
• Convinced that that the only way to keep the newborn Cylon-hybrid, Hera, alive but out of the eye of Humanoid Cylons, Roslin has the infant's death faked and hands the child over to a foster mother named Maya (Downloaded).
• Roslin easily leads Baltar in the election polls, but with the discovery of a habitable planet dubbed "New Caprica", Baltar finds the perfect wedge issue to use against Roslin. Despite the extreme difficulties of colonization, the people of the Fleet vote their extreme hopes over their rational fears and Roslin's voice of reason.
• Roslin gives Foster tacit approval to rig the election in order to save the Fleet from electing someone that she knows (in her heart) is a Cylon conspirator. But the fraud is discovered. Admiral Adama confers with Roslin and convinces her that rigging a democratic election was a line that they simply cannot cross. He indicates that the people have made the wrong decision to elect Baltar president, probably even a disastrous choice, but it was their choice.
• Roslin agrees to back down, and Adama announces a mistake in the vote count. A perturbed Baltar doesn't press further, content with having won the election, and orders colonization of New Caprica immediately after his swearing-in.
• Early in the colonization, Roslin finds time to relax on New Caprica. She meets with Admiral Adama, who also takes in some time to unwind. The two friends comfortably chat about matters small and not-so-small over smoking and drinking, and later gaze at the stars together, allowing themselves to relax, lying outside, close to each other. Roslin worries that, amidst their temporary comfort, the Cylons could return, but it is nice to have what they have for the time being (Unfinished Business).

Roslin as a teacher on New Caprica.

• A year passes on New Caprica, and Baltar's administration becomes the unmitigated, incompetent disaster that Roslin had feared. Meanwhile, Roslin returns to her old love of teaching, running the new settlement's school. Assisted by Maya, who brings her infant adopted daughter Isis (the secreted Cylon hybrid), Roslin is more comfortable watching over the pair personally.
• On the 380th day after settling on the planet, the Cylons discover the colony, as Roslin had warned, and occupy the settlement (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).
• Roslin is questioned by Gaius Baltar and asked to publicly denounce the Resistance suicide bombings, but failing that, has her released. She is later collected in the round up of 200 suspected resistance members, including Tom Zarek and Cally Tyrol, for execution (Precipice).
• After being saved by the resistance, she assigns Samuel Anders to protect Maya and Isis (Exodus, Part I).
• Later, during the Battle of New Caprica, she evacuates the planet aboard Colonial One which reunites with the Fleet along with the other previously grounded ships (Exodus, Part II).
• After the Fleet reunites after the escape from New Caprica, Gaius Baltar is officially deposed and as the Vice President, Tom Zarek becomes President. He only briefly holds the office; under pressure from Admiral Adama, Zarek agrees to step aside from the Presidency. Roslin is named as his Vice President, and Zarek steps down to return Roslin as President. However, as part of the deal, Roslin tells Zarek that he can have the Vice Presidency. She is later sworn in after all of the official gestures have been made, and she issues a general pardon to everyone in the Fleet in response to the quiet executions of some of the people who collaborated with the Cylons, and to prevent the Fleet from being torn apart by long trials (Collaborators).

• Roslin and Adama work well together in managing Fleet morale, analyzing new data that helps guide the Fleet on the way to Earth ("Torn," "A Measure of Salvation") and handling a serious food shortage (The Passage). When the Fleet discovers the Temple of Five on the algae planet, Roslin dives into the analysis of the structure and its scripture background. Roslin's relationship with Adama is strained when Adama discovers that Roslin hid the Cylon baby, Hera, without his knowledge. Infuriated, he leaves Roslin after she admits the situation, without leaving her a chance to explain (The Eye of Jupiter).

• Roslin's past actions to protect Hera Agathon come to a head when the Agathons choose to rescue their daughter by killing Sharon to force her to download to the Cylon ships. When Roslin attempts to chastise Karl Agathon for putting Sharon in the hands of the Cylons (and her knowledge of Colonial tactics and procedures with her), Helo angrily replies that, if Roslin had not faked Hera's death and hid her from them, this situation would not have existed. Roslin accepts culpability with visible distress (Rapture).

Recently

• After Gaius Baltar is captured, Roslin initially orders that Baltar is forced to stay awake as a form of coercion, which Baltar counters by a hunger strike and later, a suicide attempt. The Fleet leadership applies a version of "Good cop-Bad cop" with Baltar, where Roslin assumes both roles. She first calmly speaking to Baltar and asking specific questions about his time with the Cylons and his role as a traitorous president. Moments later, in a manner very uncharacteristic of Roslin, she loudly interrogates Baltar and yells for Colonel Tigh and his marines to carry Baltar to an airlock in a ruse to force him to talk. Baltar calls the bluff, however. Roslin appears ecstatic to learn that Adama has a interrogation drug that may force Baltar to tell more. This interrogation has mixed results that reveal more questions than answers, including Baltar's belief that he is a Cylon himself (Taking A Break From All Your Worries).
• During Baltar's trial, Roslin is called to testify against Baltar about his actions on New Caprica. Due to Major Lee Adama's inquisitive nature, iis revealed that Roslin's cancer had returned, and that she is taking chamalla again. In a press conference, President Roslin states that a game plan is being developed to combat the cancer, but at the moment nothing is being done.
• Roslin's "destiny" to lead the remnants of mankind, returns when she resumes taking chamalla. She has a vision induced by the drug, placing her in the Opera House on Kobol. She is walking through the halls, and finds Hera Agathon running away from her. Roslin also finds Sharon Agathon (or at least another Number Eight) in pursuit of Hera. But before either one can get to her, Hera is picked up by a Number Six, ending the vision (Crossroads, Part I).
• Against her earlier decision, she begins taking diloxin to counter the latest growth of cancer. During the treatment she has yet another vision of Roslin in the Opera House. The events play out nearly identical to the last vision, only this time Gaius Baltar is inside the illuminated doorway. When she awakens (screaming), she finds that Sharon Agathon shared her vision. After conferring with each other, they both visit Caprica-Six, who disbelievingly confirms that she, too, experienced the vision.
• When the trial of Baltar concludes, Roslin confronts Admiral Adama about the verdict. Adama curtly replies that he voted 'not guilty' against Baltar, claiming "The defense made their case, the prosecution didn't." After consoling Roslin, Adama orders the Fleet to the Ionian nebula. There, just after the jump, Roslin begins to sway when Galactica and the other ships los main power. As the chaos begins to settle down, her aid, Tory Foster joins her on the CIC, saying she is there for Roslin (Crossroads, Part II).

Notes

• The character of Laura Roslin is unique to the Battlestar Galactica saga. She has no counterpart to the Original Series, where its version of President Adar is killed and a presidential replacement is never made. Roslin assumes more of the political-spiritual leadership of the Original Series' Commander Adama, whereas William Adama is representative of the Original Series' character's military commander aspect.

• Roslin's apparent cure in "Epiphanies" contradicts the "dying leader" clause of the Pythian Prophecy, despite the fulfillment of her role in the Tomb of Athena story arc. However, in "Crossroads, Part I", she reveals that her cancer has returned.

• Actress Mary McDonnell is perhaps best known for her role in the epic film, Dances with Wolves, with Kevin Costner. Another famous role of hers was the First Lady in Independence Day, a film which (in a less serious tone than Battlestar) depicts cocky human fighter pilots battling an genocidal enemy from outer space.

• In the Singer/DeSanto continuation of the the Original Series, a female president named Mara would visit Galactica in much the same way that Laura Roslin did as part of that Galactica's decommissioning ceremony.

• The glasses that the character wears are also McDonnell's real glasses.

• President Roslin's appointment as Colonial president parallels US President Gerald R. Ford, who became US Vice President and later President through succession or appointment, not by election.

References

Preceded by: Richard Adar	President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol	Succeeded by: Gaius Baltar
Preceded by: Tom Zarek	Vice President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol	Succeeded by: Tom Zarek
Preceded by: Tom Zarek	President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol	Succeeded by: Incumbent