Updated 11.19.07

For six seasons, Terry Farrell played Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax, the Starfleet Science Officer aboard Deep Space Nine. As a joined Trill, Jadzia was the eighth humanoid host for the 300 year-old symbiont creature Dax, a unique relationship fostered by the separate but interdependent sentient species of her homeworld. Terry explains, "While Dax may appear as a young woman, she possesses the wisdom and knowledge that comes from seven lifetimes of experience."

As Jadzia Dax, Farrell conveyed all of the complexities of the character and gave us insight into the unique existence of a joined Trill. In "Invasive Procedures," where we saw Jadzia sans symbiont, it made for a shocking moment, as her composure was stripped away and we caught a glimpse of the uncertain young officer lurking underneath Dax's bravado. Farrell allowed Jadzia to be vulnerable in this moment, and our heart immediately went out to the character. Jadzia continued to grow as an individual when she courted and married Worf, making for one of Trek's most inspired pairings — the chemistry between Farrell and Michael Dorn made this couple an immediate fan favorite. Over the course of six seasons, we grew to love and admire the bold, wise and conflicted Jadzia Dax ... which made her death at the end of DS9's sixth season all the more wrenching. Through it all, Farrell's well-balanced, vivacious portrayal made Jadzia completely believable as both a young woman and an old soul.

Background

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the adventurous Midwesterner got her start as a model. At the tender age of 16, Terry signed with the prestigious Elite modeling agency, and moved to New York City. For the next several years, Terry's beauty was captured on the covers of such publications as Vogue and Mademoiselle, among many others.

Not "just another pretty face," Terry decided to take on the challenges of acting and studied extensively in New York and Los Angeles. Her talents were quickly recognized as she landed the co-starring role of Laurie Caswell in the ABC series Paper Dolls (which also featured Jonathan Frakes). Her other television work includes the NBC telefilm "Beverly Hills Madam," co-starring Faye Dunaway, and guest-starring roles on such NBC series as The Cosby Show, Family Ties and Quantum Leap (with future Trek captain Scott Bakula).

It was not long before Terry was garnering significant roles in feature films. Her credits include the hit movie "Back To School," in which she co-starred with Rodney Dangerfield, and the lead role in Miramax Films' "Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth."

During Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's first season hiatus, Terry starred in the NBC miniseries "Star," based on Danielle Steel's novel by the same name, which aired in September 1993. In addition, Terry landed the starring role in the HBO movie "Red Sun Rising."

Post-DS9

A salary dispute led to Terry's decision to leave DS9 when her original six-year contract was up in 1998. But she was quickly back on the Paramount lot when she was cast opposite Ted Danson in the half-hour CBS sitcom Becker, which she starred in for four seasons. She's also been featured in TV movies like "Crossing the Line," "Gleason" starring Brad Garrett, and the CBS TV movie "Code 11-14," and she would occasionally stop by to crack jokes on Whoopi Goldberg's Hollywood Squares.

In addition to her various television and film work, Terry has expanded her horizons by starring in a CD-ROM game produced by Osiris Publications, "Treasure Quest." In it, she acts as a player's guide — leading users to the $1 million dollar treasure through a series of complex clues.

Lately, though, Terry has stayed out of the limelight — other than a few convention appearances — to be a mom and a homemaker. "You can't do that and act," she told fans at the Las Vegas convention in August 2007. "I have a 3 1/2-year-old and a husband. But I have residuals — and Max is going to college whether he likes it or not!"

Since 2002, Terry has been married to Sprint spokesman Brian Baker, and lives with him in Los Angeles along with son Max and dog Romona. In addition to watching her son grow up, she enjoys sewing and quilting.