Number Six is a gynoid Cylon agent portrayed by Canadian actress Tricia Helfer in the television remake of Battlestar Galactica which first aired as a mini-series in 2003 and continued as a weekly series aired in the United Kingdom in the fall of 2004 and in North America in 2005.

Number Six is a seductive, blonde, statuesque Cylon infiltrator. She represents a new sequence ("six of twelve") of Cylons capable of adapting to human form and emotions. Placed on the human planet Caprica as a "sleeper" agent, she became an assistant to a scientist who is killed onboard the ship, Olympic Carrier. Little else is known of her earlier years. Her later affair with another scientist Dr. Gaius Baltar on Caprica almost brings about the destruction of humanity. Six constantly remains in the memory of Dr. Baltar; so far unexplained, Number Six suggests the possibility of a computer chip implant or insanity. In one later episode entitled "Six Degress of Separation", Number Six appears as Miss Shelly Godfrey and is visible to everyone.

Number Six can at will turn off all pain, retain emotions and be downloaded into another body if the original body is damaged. The Cylons designed Six to mimic the human body at cellular level making them almost undetectable to testing procedures.

The Number Six title is apparently a tribute to the Number Six character of the 1967 television series The Prisoner (spies, mind implants, illusionary experiences, valuable secrets, sabotage).

Number Six often appears suddenly, without warning; usually only Baltar is aware of her presence. She advises and gives instructions to him; occassionally he is also "pulled" into a world within his mind where he interacts with her. In this, Number Six resembles the character of Harvey from Farscape.

External link

• Battlestar Galactica 2003 entry
• Gateworld biography
• Battlestar Wiki Biography