Click here to view a shockwave movie showing the characters with the series' main theme.
The cast was made up of a number of British actors, most drawn from classical theater. During the show, a number of the actors left or were written out, but the show still kept a high quality of talent. Only one, Michael Keating, was in every episode. Click on the links below to jump to each character. Page turns are at the bottom of this page.
Page 1.
Roj Blake
Played by Gareth Thomas - Episodes 1-26, 39,52.
Blake was an Alpha Grade engineer on Earth, and enjoyed his life. His high position however, allowed him access to confidential government documents, and he began to have doubts about the all powerful Federation. He joined up with a freedom movement, a band of underground resistance fighters, however they were soon captured and massacred.
Blake survived, but was brainwashed by the Federation into being the perfect citizen and was allowed to go about his life, unaware of his previous history.
The series begins with Blake being contacted again by the freedom movement. The rebels are having difficulty finding weaknesses in the Federation, and need Blake as a new figurehead. They make contact and tell him the truth about his past, about how his family were murdered by the Federation troops and how Blake himself led the fight against the State. The cell is betrayed, however, and Blake is again arrested, framed with child abuse charges, and after a short show trial, he's sent to the prison planet, Cygnus Alpha.
Blake was a highly trusting leader, idealistic, dedicated to overthrowing the Federation - which begins to dominate his life. He starts to take risks and decides to concentrate on destroying the Federation supercomputer - Star One. He moves closer to becoming a terrorist, after killing so many people, always thinking the end justifies the means.
Blake is lost at the end of the second series, as actor Gareth Thomas wished to return to stage work, but he did make two more appearances, reprising his role as Blake. His last episode shows him as again starting a resistance movement, hoping to fight the Federation once more.
Kerr Avon
Played by Paul Darrow - Episodes 2-52.
Avon is the computer genius, the only person better than him with computers, was the person who caught him stealing massive amounts of credits from the Federation banking system. He previously worked on the Federation teleportation project, and soon began working on his crime. But the Federation security forces were already watching him, waiting for the right moment to strike. He almost escaped, but was caught, and sentenced to Cygnus Alpha for life.
Avon has always been a loner, only staying with the group for his own ends. Never trusting anyone, he puts up with the rest of the crew only because he has no where else to go.
The opposite of Blake, cold, calculating and logical, he continuously questions Blake's authority and judgment and often thinks of leaving the group. However, he does not leave and in fact frequently saves the rest of the crew.
Over time, Avon becomes more obsesed with finding Blake, realising that his own saftey relies on the Federation being brought to its knees. He also begins to constantly think about Servalan, trying to find a way to end her life.
But after discovering his great love Anna, was a Federation agent leading him to his own downfall, and after several of his own plans fail, the pressure starts to get to him and he starts to make mistakes.
Jenna Stannis
Played by Sally Knyvette - Episodes 1-26.
Jenna was a smuggler who was caught by the Federation and sentenced to Cygnus Alpha for her crimes. She was a major factor in Blake's revolt on the prison ship London and was part of the original exploration of the alien ship, the Liberator.
An excellent space pilot, she was a vital member of the crew, often piloting the Liberator out of harms way.
Jenna had quite a dangerous and criminal past, which she kept to herself, but her links to dangerous space pirates surfaced in the episode "Bounty".
Jenna was very close to Blake and often stood up for him, supporting his harrasement of the Federation, although not always agreeing with his motives. Jenna was lost along with Blake at the end of series two, and was reportedly killed while smuggling weapons.
Vila Restal
Played by Michael Keating - Episodes 1-52.
Vila is a thief, he lives for stealing and breaking into secure places. An excellent lock-breaker, he spent most of his life in and out of correctional facilities, but the authorities finally tired of him, and he's sent to Cygnus Alpha. He even meets Blake after attempting to steal his watch!
Vila is often seen as being a coward, but really he has a very strong sense of self-preservation. When pressed, he can be very heroic and is very intelligent - see "Rescue" for an example, where he tries to save Cally from the base on Terminal.
Vila has a strong relationship wirth Avon, knowing how good Avon is with computers, and Avon also recognises how useful a talented thief is. They even team up on occasions, such as in "Gambit", where they break the casino in Freedom City. Although at the end, Vila recognises that Avon is becoming more psychotic, and he watches his back at all times.
Vila's sense of survival serves him well. He is the only character to appear in all 52 episodes of Blakes 7.
