Killer Queen

September 3, 2018 11:37 AM

RIP Jacqueline Pearce, actress, best well known for playing the main villain, Supreme Commander Servalan, in the BBC space opera Blake's Seven.

"Up Yours Reverend Mother!"

posted by fearfulsymmetry (45 comments total)

May she reign eternal with vague S&M undertones in whatever astral realm she now inhabits.
posted by Artw at 11:50 AM on September 3, 2018 [10 favorites]

"Maximum power!"

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posted by Doktor Zed at 11:50 AM on September 3, 2018 [6 favorites]

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posted by Wordshore at 11:50 AM on September 3, 2018

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posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:00 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:19 PM on September 3, 2018

She was also magnificent as the Time Lord Cardinal Ollistra in Big Finish Productions' War Doctor audios, opposite John Hurt as the Doctor. Hard to think that both of them are gone, now.

I had such a massive crush on Servalan when I was a kid. Not sure what that says about me.

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posted by webmutant at 12:20 PM on September 3, 2018 [1 favorite]

webmutant, she was also Chessenne in The Two Doctors, which was the last time Patrick Troughton played the role of Doctor.

For some reason I thought she was the Judge in Trial of a Timelord, but I may have mixed her up with someone else and that really wasn't worth re-watching often.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:24 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by Major Clanger at 12:29 PM on September 3, 2018

Rest in 𝙈𝘼𝙓𝙄𝙈𝙐𝙈 𝙋𝙊𝙒𝙀𝙍, Jacqueline!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:29 PM on September 3, 2018 [2 favorites]

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posted by debgpi at 12:36 PM on September 3, 2018

She just want us to think she's dead.
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posted by w0mbat at 12:39 PM on September 3, 2018 [8 favorites]

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posted by Faintdreams at 12:39 PM on September 3, 2018

Only Calvin Harris will suffice... somewhere there is a C&A that is on 'Maximum Power'!
posted by ewan at 1:06 PM on September 3, 2018 [2 favorites]

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posted by detachd at 1:16 PM on September 3, 2018

ALL HAIL THE FEDERATION!

ALL HAIL SUPREME COMMANDER SERVALAN!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:31 PM on September 3, 2018 [4 favorites]

I too had a massive crush on Servalan as a kid
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posted by PippinJack at 1:35 PM on September 3, 2018 [1 favorite]

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posted by runehog at 1:41 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by ZipRibbons at 1:43 PM on September 3, 2018

rum-soaked space hobo: Oh, man, Trial of a Time Lord would have been so much better (i.e., watchable) if she had been the Judge.

And yes, she was greatly enjoyable as Chessene! I should have mentioned that as well.
posted by webmutant at 1:47 PM on September 3, 2018 [2 favorites]

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posted by drnick at 1:56 PM on September 3, 2018 [1 favorite]

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posted by andraste at 2:17 PM on September 3, 2018

When I watched Doctor Who the foes would come and go each week, but Servalan was always there. Used to hate her, she was my favourite baddie. The creators of the future film and tv series should look at her work. Set the standard.
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posted by Webbster at 2:22 PM on September 3, 2018

Hers was the BEST Federation.

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posted by oneswellfoop at 2:25 PM on September 3, 2018 [3 favorites]

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posted by doctornemo at 2:38 PM on September 3, 2018

Well, I guess there's never going to be a sequel now.

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posted by Joe in Australia at 2:48 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by darchildre at 4:29 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by scruss at 5:32 PM on September 3, 2018

Jacqueline Pearce was one of the great British character actors. There will never be another like her.
posted by Ashwagandha at 5:41 PM on September 3, 2018

She also played opposite another power-mad egomaniac a while before Avon. Here's the trailer.

Wth her gone, we have one less awesome British short-hair-rocking female entertainer ... stay healthy Julie Andrews and Annie Lennox)...

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posted by zaixfeep at 7:10 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by gusandrews at 7:36 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by jjderooy at 7:47 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by dannyboybell at 8:05 PM on September 3, 2018

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posted by Ignorantsavage at 9:49 PM on September 3, 2018

I refuse to believe Servalan could die.
posted by praemunire at 11:19 PM on September 3, 2018 [1 favorite]

zaxifeep, that trailer is delightful except for the horrible mispronunciation of Bernard Cribbins's name. It's "BURN-urd" not "ber-NARD"!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:30 AM on September 4, 2018

Blake’s 7 star Jacqueline Pearce has died aged 74 and this fabulous Russell T Davies story tops our favourite 21 tributes
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:35 AM on September 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

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posted by filtergik at 6:20 AM on September 4, 2018

May she reign eternal with vague S&M undertones in whatever astral realm she now inhabits.

So say we all.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:22 AM on September 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

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posted by charred husk at 6:43 AM on September 4, 2018

I could never remember the character Grayza from Farscape's name because in my head I just called her Servalan II

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posted by Space Coyote at 6:43 AM on September 4, 2018

I just discovered the Down and Safe podcast where four sci-fi writers discuss each episode of Blake's 7. How much one of the hosts loves Servalan is instantly my favourite part.
posted by Space Coyote at 12:45 PM on September 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

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posted by dr. moot at 1:50 PM on September 4, 2018

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posted by crocomancer at 4:26 AM on September 5, 2018

Claimed in this week's Popbitch newsletter:

"Jacqueline Pearce received lots of filthy fan mail and gladly read it all. If any missives particularly appealed to her, she would visit the sender and indulge him in his fantasy."
posted by w0mbat at 9:50 PM on September 7, 2018

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posted by drjon at 2:22 AM on September 8, 2018