Tricia Helfer: A Deep Dive into the Life and Challenges of the Hallmark Star

Tricia Helfer gained fame through her Hallmark films, particularly in “Operation Christmas” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” Before her Hallmark success, she was known for her modeling career that began at 17 and made her mark with the role of Number Six in “Battlestar Galactica.” This intricately crafted character evoked strong reactions from viewers. After “Battlestar Galactica,” she transitioned to playing an FBI agent in “Dark Blue,” sharing her relief in not being the villain anymore: “When I started ‘BSG,’ I thought, ‘Everyone hates me!’ but that means I was doing my job well,” she explained in an interview.

Despite her successful career, Helfer faced significant personal challenges, including a health issue and a public divorce that showed her life doesn’t mirror the joyous resolutions found in her films.

While enjoying her acting successes, including a recurring role on “Lucifer,” Tricia Helfer’s relationship with her husband Jonathan Marshall deteriorated, leading to their divorce in 2018 due to irreconcilable differences. They had officially separated in May 2017 after marrying in 2003. Following the guidelines of their pre-nuptial agreement, Helfer requested no spousal support.

The couple quickly settled their divorce, finalizing it in 2019 without any alimony. However, Helfer received merely $128,162 from their joint account, while Marshall kept over $1 million. Recently, Helfer has indicated that she is not looking for marriage again, humorously tweeting her predictions for 2021, “I got Happiness. Famous. Married. Can I just take the first two?”

Helfer, who grew up in rural Canada, recounted a frightening incident from her childhood involving her father. At the age of 12, while gathering berries, a dead tree fell on her father as they walked back home. Helfer noted, “We thought we lost him,” but fortunately, he emerged from the accident with only a sore neck. The family still maintains their farm, and in 2023, Helfer shared a recent photo from the property, indicating all was well on the family front.

Helfer appears to cherish her family roots and is grateful for their safety today, reflecting on the past with relief.

Even with her enviable physique, Helfer faced health challenges, disclosing that scoliosis required surgery in December 2009. She described her recovery as difficult, with the first two weeks being particularly tough. However, she was back to work within two months, returning to filming “Two and a Half Men” and later “Dark Blue.” Her resilience showcases her commitment to her career as she overcame these physical hurdles.

Five months after her surgery, Tricia Helfer shared her spinal X-rays on Facebook. She informed her followers, “Hey everyone! Here are my new back and neck images taken just post-surgery. This explains my recent downtime — I’m now part robot! I’ve got four artificial discs in place. Big thanks to Dr. Lanman for getting me back on my feet!” The operation left her with a noticeable scar, which she cleverly incorporated into her role on “Lucifer.” She remarked on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “That scar you see on my belly from surgery was real. In the last season, they intentionally had me stabbed there to utilize the actual scar!”

While many actors commonly use hair extensions, Tricia Helfer had a life-threatening experience with them. Speaking to People, she recounted using clip-on extensions for a film and subsequently feeling unwell after a few months. As she experienced discomfort in her gums and scalp, her hairstylist noticed bald patches, prompting her to take off the extensions. Despite this, her health issues persisted, leading her to consult a friend and get tested for heavy metal poisoning. She discovered a significant amount of lead in her body and underwent treatment for several months.

After revealing her experience on X, many fans expressed gratitude for her openness about lead poisoning. “Wow. So happy to hear you’ve fully recovered. I hope your story helps many women,” one commented. Another shared, “Thanks for sharing. I’m suspecting something similar happened to a friend of mine. So relieved you’re better now.”

Tricia Helfer’s role in “Battlestar Galactica” marked her television debut and propelled her to fame, making the show’s end in 2009 particularly heartbreaking for her. In a discussion with George Stroumboulopoulos, she shared that the mourning process didn’t hit her until a year later, mostly because the cast was occupied with promotional events. After those ended, Helfer felt lost and nostalgic for her coworkers. “After spending five years together, it’s like a family; these are the people who will be part of my life forever,” she expressed.

When NBC announced a reboot of “Battlestar Galactica” in 2019, directed by Sam Esmail, Helfer felt it was a bit too soon, noting on Collider, “It felt like getting punched in the stomach since it’s serious and we’re not included.” Though that project was ultimately canceled, should NBC attempt another reboot in the future, it would be hard to imagine the series without Helfer and her former castmates.