Jane Badler - Biography

Jane Badler, the American and Australian actress best known for her role as the evil reptilian Visitor leader "Diana" in the NBC mini-series V (1983), its sequel V : la bataille finale (1984), and the subsequent TV series V (1984), was born on the last day of 1953 in Brooklyn, New York. She spent her teen years in Manchester, New Hampshire, where she attended Central High School. Jane won the Miss New Hampshire title and competed at the 1972 Miss America Pageant before going on to study drama at the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

In 1977, Jane gained her first major role on the TV soap opera On ne vit qu'une fois (1968), where she played "Melinda Cramer Janssen" until 1981, returning briefly to reprise the role in 1983. She also starred on the venerable soap opera The Doctors (1963). Jane's other TV roles included a stint on Falcon Crest (1981) as "Meredith Braxton" from 1986 to 1987 and as "Agent Shannon Reed" for the revival of the series Mission impossible, 20 ans après (1988), which was shot in Australia. She also guest-starred on many TV series.

Jane relocated to Australia after filming Mission impossible, 20 ans après (1988) Down Under, marrying businessman Stephen Haines. They have two sons, Sam and Harry. Her Australian TV roles include Cluedo (1992) (the British and Australian name of the board game known as "Clue" in the United States). She also had a guest-starring role in La saga des McGregor (1993). In the 1990s, she launched a stage career and cabaret act, including the one-woman show "The Love Goddess: Rita Hayworth".