Tanya Alexander
Encyclopedia
Tanya Alexander is the name of a semi-recurring character on the UK
science fiction
television series Space: 1999
. The role was portrayed by German actress Suzanne Roquette
.
was never specifically stated, she appeared to be a senior operative in Main Mission. She has been seen at every workstation in Main Mission: Paul Morrow
's Controller's desk, Alan Carter's Reconnaissance desk and, on one occasion, presiding over David Kano
's Computer station.
She appears to be on excellent terms with the senior staff. In the alternate future reality pictured in 'Another Time, Another Place
', Tanya was seen to have settled on the devastated Earth in a small hamlet populated by Victor Bergman, Helena Koenig, Paul and Sandra Morrow and their children, the late Regina Carter, and David Kano. Some fans have speculated that she may have been Kano's wife.
Tanya appeared to have romantic attachments to at least two of the featured characters. In 'Black Sun', she visits Paul Morrow
's quarters after Koenig has released all personnel from their duties. The look exchanged between them as he strums his guitar and she sits beside him on the bed can hardly be construed as platonic. (Maybe this is just in response to their expected imminent demise). In later episodes, she appears to have taken up with Alan Carter, as she seems to be his choice on several occasions for public displays of affection in 'Another Time Another Place
', 'Alpha Child', and 'The Last Sunset
'.
Some speculation has arisen as to the character's proper name. For years, fandom has established the name as 'Alexander'. An examination of first series scripts show no documentation of a surname in the character lists. In 'Breakaway
', it sounds as though she could have introduced herself to Koenig as 'Tanya Alexandreva'. Assuming a Russian background, Martin Willey has chosen to spell the name as 'Aleksandr' in The Catacombs website. In later years, Series One story editor Johnny Byrne has revealed that he was rather smitten with actress Suzanne Roquette
. The only Main Mission background players from the first series re-hired by Freiberger were Sarah Bullen (Kate) and Annie Lambert to give the new series some familiar faces.
Her departure from Moonbase Alpha was chronicled in the Powys Media novel, Space: 1999 The Forsaken by John Kenneth Muir (featuring a foreword by Prentis Hancock) in which the character reveals an unplanned pregnancy and fears that she will be have to have an abortion in light of the ban on new births on Alpha (i.e. Alpha Child, The Exiles
); a small group of Alphans mutinies to settle with her on a habitable planet, led by Paul Morrow.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Space: 1999
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
. The role was portrayed by German actress Suzanne Roquette
Suzanne Roquette
Suzanne Roquette is an actress, who remains best known for her role as Tanya Alexander in the science fiction television series Space 1999....
.
Character Biography
Although her position on Moonbase AlphaMoonbase Alpha
Moonbase Alpha is a fictional moon base and the main setting in the science fiction television series Space: 1999.-Moonbase Alpha:Located in the Moon crater Plato and constructed out of quarried rock and ores, Moonbase Alpha is four kilometres in diameter and extends up to one kilometre in areas...
was never specifically stated, she appeared to be a senior operative in Main Mission. She has been seen at every workstation in Main Mission: Paul Morrow
Paul Morrow
Paul Morrow is a fictional character who first appeared in 'Breakaway', the premiere episode of the science fiction television show Space: 1999, and was portrayed by Prentis Hancock. He is a British national who appears to be in his early thirties....
's Controller's desk, Alan Carter's Reconnaissance desk and, on one occasion, presiding over David Kano
David Kano (Space 1999)
David Kano is a fictional character who regularly appeared during the first season of the science fiction television series Space: 1999. He is of Jamaican origin and in his mid-thirties. He was played by actor Clifton Jones.-Character biography:...
's Computer station.
She appears to be on excellent terms with the senior staff. In the alternate future reality pictured in 'Another Time, Another Place
Another Time, Another Place (Space: 1999)
"Another Time, Another Place" is the sixth episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne; the director was David Tomblin. The final shooting script is dated 20 January 1974, with blue-page amendments dated 25 January and 1 April 1974. Live-action filming...
', Tanya was seen to have settled on the devastated Earth in a small hamlet populated by Victor Bergman, Helena Koenig, Paul and Sandra Morrow and their children, the late Regina Carter, and David Kano. Some fans have speculated that she may have been Kano's wife.
Tanya appeared to have romantic attachments to at least two of the featured characters. In 'Black Sun', she visits Paul Morrow
Paul Morrow
Paul Morrow is a fictional character who first appeared in 'Breakaway', the premiere episode of the science fiction television show Space: 1999, and was portrayed by Prentis Hancock. He is a British national who appears to be in his early thirties....
's quarters after Koenig has released all personnel from their duties. The look exchanged between them as he strums his guitar and she sits beside him on the bed can hardly be construed as platonic. (Maybe this is just in response to their expected imminent demise). In later episodes, she appears to have taken up with Alan Carter, as she seems to be his choice on several occasions for public displays of affection in 'Another Time Another Place
Another Time Another Place
This was Matt Bianco's first album after splitting from Warner Brothers. Eager to take on the world without the constraints of a marketing department, Mark Fisher and Mark Reilly recorded this in the Fishbowl, Fisher's own studio on the outskirts of London...
', 'Alpha Child', and 'The Last Sunset
The Last Sunset (Space: 1999)
"The Last Sunset" is the eleventh episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Christopher Penfold; the director was Charles Crichton. The final shooting script is dated 21 July 1974, with blue-page amendments dated 22 July 1974 and pink-page amendments dated 23 July...
'.
Some speculation has arisen as to the character's proper name. For years, fandom has established the name as 'Alexander'. An examination of first series scripts show no documentation of a surname in the character lists. In 'Breakaway
Breakaway (Space: 1999)
"Breakaway" is the first episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by George Bellak ; the director was Lee H. Katzin. Previous titles include 'Zero-G', 'The Void Ahead' and 'Turning Point'. The final shooting script is dated 22 November 1973...
', it sounds as though she could have introduced herself to Koenig as 'Tanya Alexandreva'. Assuming a Russian background, Martin Willey has chosen to spell the name as 'Aleksandr' in The Catacombs website. In later years, Series One story editor Johnny Byrne has revealed that he was rather smitten with actress Suzanne Roquette
Suzanne Roquette
Suzanne Roquette is an actress, who remains best known for her role as Tanya Alexander in the science fiction television series Space 1999....
Series two
Like several characters from Series One, she did not appear in any second-series episodes; the reason for her absence was never given on screen. The Tanya character was the victim of the budget cuts and creative changes initiated by American producer Fred FreibergerFred Freiberger
Fred Freiberger was an American film and television screenwriter and television producer, with a career spanning four decades including The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Star Trek, and Space: 1999...
. The only Main Mission background players from the first series re-hired by Freiberger were Sarah Bullen (Kate) and Annie Lambert to give the new series some familiar faces.
Her departure from Moonbase Alpha was chronicled in the Powys Media novel, Space: 1999 The Forsaken by John Kenneth Muir (featuring a foreword by Prentis Hancock) in which the character reveals an unplanned pregnancy and fears that she will be have to have an abortion in light of the ban on new births on Alpha (i.e. Alpha Child, The Exiles
The Exiles
"The Exiles" is a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury. It was originally published as "The Mad Wizards of Mars" in Maclean's on 15 September 1949 and was reprinted the following year by Fantasy Fiction, Inc...
); a small group of Alphans mutinies to settle with her on a habitable planet, led by Paul Morrow.
External links
- Space 1999 Catacombs - Character Profile Tanya Alexander