Lindsay Wagner
‘Bionic Porch Thoughts’
Known across the globe as ‘The Bionic Woman’ (‘Jaime Sommers’), Emmy Award recipient Lindsay Wagner has, since the early days of her on-screen career, continued to inspire and empower others along her journey, through film and television.
With discerning promotion of issues which matter to her and others, she has used her profile to further such important causes as domestic and child abuse support services, mental health care and support, animal welfare and the environment.
Underpinning her passion for these is her desire for the advancement of human potential, across many areas of expertise, which incorporate the wisdom of both Western and Eastern philosophies. The critical integration of mind, body and soul to provide holistic healing is a key part of her interest in the metaphysical arena.
In the company of voice, art, writing, production and screen greats such as Verne Troyer (‘Austin Powers’), Jessie Cave: (‘Harry Potter’), Gary Lockwood: (‘2001: A Space Odyssey’) and Tom Lenk (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Cabin in the Woods and now Much Ado About Nothing), Lindsay will appear at the Supanova Pop Culture Expo, Australia’s premier event of its kind.
I connected with Lindsay on her favourite Porch at her home in Los Angeles whilst feeding Blue-jays peanuts in the mountains among the pine trees as she was preparing for her 5 weeks trip to India before arriving in Australia. Lindsay is looking forward to joining her celebrity artist friends to meet her many fans, with behind-the-scenes talks, with photo and autograph opportunities at this family-friendly expo.
This will be you 3rd trip to Australia. What are some of your fondest Down Under memories?
I was at the Logie Awards years ago in the 70s, and three years ago, with my two sons and other family on vacation in Sydney and Cairns. After the Logie Awards, I enjoyed a vacation on Lizard Island. It’s one of the favourite memories in my life. This time, I’ll have a few days to visit friends who live on the Gold Coast.
What do fans still ask you about ‘The Bionic Woman?’
They ask me questions as though they were 12-years-old again! So many people grew up watching the show, and when something affects you strongly as a child, it really stays with you. When people come up to me, no matter what age they are, all of a sudden, it’s like the child inside comes out and starts talking to me. Some will even ask me about Max the dog and I’ll remind them “It’s a movie!”
Were there particular scenes that you thought were far-fetched, but you still enjoyed doing it?
There were many far-fetched scenes, including two car scenes: one where they had Max the dog stopping my car from rolling down a hill, and another where I had to stop my car by putting my foot outside it, as somebody had intentionally disabled my brakes! I asked the Producer, “Are you serious: I have to stick my foot out here?!” We got some good laughs out of these ones!
I saw the Bionic Woman as a thinker. She thought things through, rather than using unnecessary force to get out of sticky situations. How much of yourself input did you bring to the role?
That was actually part of my deal. When I agreed to do the show, I ensured I had creative collaboration rights, because I did not want Jaime to be a macho, “I’m stronger than you, therefore I win” in a skirt. There had never been a woman in a strong role before who didn’t need a male counterpart to justify her win. It was a time of cultural revolution, when the world was at the beginning of the need to ‘raise the feminine in our culture.
What did that mean to you at the time?
The ‘Women’s Movement’ is about the rise of feminine aspect of human beings, not just rights for women. That to me meant expressing where true power comes from; real power that’s from within. I wanted Jaime to use conflict resolution and problem solving, and she happened to have something that a lot of people didn’t have. It was very handy at times, that she could push a tree down, so a guy would just run into it through his own aggression, rather than Jaime punching him out or throwing him off a cliff!
After ‘The Bionic Woman’ you went on to star in movies, mini-series and feature films. What is one film that you are most proud of, in terms of the message and its positive change it had on others?
One blatant film was a true story, as were most of my movies. Rather than for audiences to say, “That’s just a movie - I can’t do that; it doesn’t apply to me.” I wanted to portray people who transcended their circumstance, and didn’t just survive something. That was the case with ‘Shattered Dreams’. That story was about domestic violence, with a woman who eventually looked at how she was keeping herself trapped in this circumstance.
What change did you hope to achieve?
That she got help for herself, as opposed to constantly thinking of herself as the victim and focusing her attention on the perpetrator. She turned it around, focusing her attention on what she needed to do for herself, to make her life better.
What is another other issues you passionate about that you would consider doing another film to raise awareness for?
Rather than one issue, it’s more of a conservation which I cover in my workshops and retreats. I’ve collaborated with a doctor who works with returning Veterans, who suffer PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). We create healing retreats for Vets, for which there’s a huge need, as they try to re-integrate into the community.
Your website www.lindsaywagnerinternational.com has information about your workshops and retreats, and in particular, the words “Quiet the mind and open the heart”. What are some of the key steps to achieve this?
It’s about perspective and the concept that our experience of any life circumstance is a function of our view of it. Shifting our perspective, so that we don’t have to change or control the world is actually right inside us: it’s where the power lies. I teach people techniques to become aware of the perspectives we’re carrying which cause us to suffer more than we need to. These techniques have helped me most in my life, and I find people leave a whole lot of stuff on the floor when they come to a workshop or retreat.
What is your Porch Thought for the day?
“People are so much more amazing than they realise: I hope they have a big shift from that.”