“Killer Women”: Tricia Helfer kicks butt as a no-nonsense Texas Ranger

Killer Women Tricia Helfer

Of all the notorious lawmen who patrol the violent Texas frontier, none are more storied than the Texas Rangers. But being one of the first female rangers in this elite squad isn’t going to stop ballsy, badass Molly Parker (Tricia Helfer). Molly is committed to finding the truth and seeing justice served. Killer Women is from executive producer Sofía Vergara (Modern Family).

Killer Women Tricia Helfer

She’s sore, dirty and tired after days of intense filming, but Tricia Helfer is comfortably at home in the role of Texas Ranger Molly Parker in ABC’s new crime drama Killer Women. The 5’10” self-described tomboy has been swimming in the Rio Grande, maxing out her stunt car’s accelerator and kicking guys in the you-know-what in pursuit of justice.

“It’s been a crazy pace of filming. We’re essentially shooting an action drama,” Helfer tells us during a break from the set. “It’s been tough, but it’s been so much fun getting to do the fights, the car chases and everything.”

The series, however, isn’t all about Molly Parker being a badass. In fact, this Texas Ranger has one heck of a messed-up personal life. Molly lives with her brother’s family (her brother is played by Helfer’s close friend and former Battlestar Galactica costar Michael Trucco), she’s trying to get a divorce from her creepy husband (played by Jeffrey Nordling) and is sleeping with a DEA agent (Marc Blucas). She’s also struggling with some inner demons while balancing her strong moral principles when it comes to seeing justice served.

“She’s got a very strong moral compass,” says Helfer. “She is somebody who believes in the truth and strives for truth and justice. Her father was a sheriff so she grew up with a lawman in the family and she idolized her father.

“She puts everything into her cases especially when there is injustice involved,” Helfer says of what keeps her character up at night. “Being a show called Killer Women, it’s obviously a lot about women. The cases keep her up to some extent, but mostly it’s family and her own personal demons.”

Killer Women premieres on ABC Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 10pm ET/PT.

 

Photo: © 2013 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. Credit: Bob D’Amico