Soolin (Glynis Barber) was introduced in season four, a gunfighter with lightning reflexes and a deadly aim, although the character's potential was never properly developed. Soolin was probably the most under-used main character in Blake's 7 (although other female crew members were also neglected). I was, and still am, quite surprised that there are no other web pages about the character (although there are a handful of Glynis Barber sites). I created this Soolin page because I felt she deserved some recognition and discussion. There is a tendency for Blake's 7 fans to either love or loathe her; I like the character very much, hence this small tribute to the "Golden Goddess".

Soolin soon proved herself to be an effective member of the crew, with her excellent gunfighting skills and fast reflexes. It was also quite refreshing to see a female character who wasn't prone to getting kidnapped/captured/possessed, and didn't end up manning the teleport console every week! However, we never really learned much about her background, and what led her to eventually take up with Dorian. She always maintained a very cool exterior, never losing her composure even in life-threatening situations, but behind this was a turbulent past, and a fair amount of grief and pain. We eventually learned that as a child she and her family had lived on Gauda Prime, the setting for the final showdown in the episode Blake. Her family were farmers, growing crops and timber. However, it was discovered that a vast mineral wealth lay below the surface, and the Federation declared Gauda Prime an Open Planet. This effectively removed any existing laws, allowing mining corporations to move in and exploit the planet.

After Dorian was killed, Soolin stayed with the crew, an interesting decision in light of this comment:

SOOLIN: I don't give my allegiance at all. I sell my skill.
(from Power)

All previous additions to the crew had joined the "rebel cause", and gained a measure of loyalty to their comrades. Soolin was very self-sufficient, easily able to look after herself and continue working as a hired gun. She had no loyalty to Dorian, and was probably glad to see him gone. However, the comment above seems to be an example of her cool detachment rather than a bald statement of fact. She wouldn't admit to believing in or supporting a cause, that would seem to imply that she trusted people. I doubt she ever fully trusted anyone even after knowing them, and fighting alongside them, for some time.

• Official Glynis Barber Website
• The Unofficial Glynis Barber Website - lots of information, pictures, links etc.
• Luisa's Dempsey and Makepeace Page - comprehensive site about the series
• Supporting Showbiz - dedicated to Glynis Barber and Michael Brandon