For Your Consideration #4

As we enter the final two weeks of voting for this year’s SFX Awards, the team reveal some of their own personal choices. Today Ian argues that Fringe ’s Jasika Nicole should get more exposure

For Your Consideration

Fringe , Jasika Nicole For: Sexiest Woman

I’m frankly appalled that our list of ten suggestions for the Sexiest Female category doesn’t include the most attractive person in Fringe , Jasika Nicole (aka A̶s̶t̶r̶o̶ ̶A̶s̶t̶e̶r̶o̶i̶d̶ Astrid) – particularly now that her alternate universe version has proved that she looks fantastic when she’s rocking a military beret. There’s not many people who can pull that look off.

Now, I know some of you are going to pipe up, “She’s gay, Ian – you’ve got no chance...” Well, that’s not really the point, is it? Doesn’t stop you fangirls losing control of your drool over John Barrowman, does it? I haven’t got much chance of striking up a whirlwind romance with Zooey Deschanel either, but that doesn’t stop me from gawping slack-jawed at the screen every time her make-up ad comes on the telly. At least Fringe ’s alternate universe storyline gives me hope that somewhere, in an alternate world, there may exist a version of Jasika Nicole who’s irresistably attracted to weedy science fiction journalists who’ve had a light smacking with the ugly stick.

This is all rather reductive of course, so let’s talk about something other than her beauty. Nicole is also clearly a very talented actress. So it’s such a shame that the series doesn’t give her many opportunities to demonstrate her ability – if it did, I could nominate her for Best Sci-Fi Actress too. As things stand, that’d be difficult to justify. Sadly, all too often the scripts relegate Astrid to shopping for groceries, handing Walter his test-tubes, or answering the phone. In one episode, about the only function the character performed was stirring some custard! This is the one thing that really frustrates me about Fringe : why don’t the writing team give her a more meaty role? Sort it out, JJ!

Vote Jasika!

The SFX Awards 2011 are open until 15 December. Cast your votes by clicking here .

The SFX Awards 2011 will be announced at the SFX Weekender 2 at a star studded ceremony. Buy your tickets to the SFX Weekender by calling our ticket hotline on 08700 110034 or visit www.sfxweekender.com for more details.

Dave is a TV and film journalist who specializes in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He's written books about film posters and post-apocalypses, alongside writing for SFX Magazine for many years.