Maxim Magazine Article and Interview, October, 2001
Star Date
Enterprise creators searched the galaxy to identify the
next superstar Star Trek life form. Highly illogical, since Jolene Blalock
was right here on Earth all along
BY ROBERT ABELE PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOMINICK
GUILLEMOT
Normally, we'd greet the debut of yet another Star Trek series with
the same excitement we reserve for sharing a deserted island with a leprous insurance
salesman. But the highly anticipated Enterprise (airing Wednesday nights on
UPN this fall) has at least a couple of things making us prepare between now and
when Captain Kirk first explored strange new extra-terrestial hotties across the
the cosmos. But more importantly, it's got supernova-hot Jolene Blalock signed on
as the pioneering spacecraft's Vulcan second-in-command. While playing a Vulcan vixen
means Jolene has been fitted with the requisite pointy ears to match her incredibly
pouty lips, portraying a member of a species famous for suppressing all emotion must
be even more alien to her real nature. California-bred Jolene doesn't hesitate to
say exactly what's on her mind, and tantalizing tales of her surfer-girl-turned-model-turned-actress
vagabond existence would quickly transform Spock into a drooling love slave. So as
long as joltin' Jolene felt like putting her shields down, we attempted to mind-meld
with her over a long brunch in the middle of a strange, sun-baked world known as
Hollywood. And quite frankly, our universe hasn't seemed quite the same ever since.
Are
you braced for the inevitable Trekkie worship?
I've heard things, but everyone
I meet who's been through this just says, "You have no idea what you're in for."
That doesn't help. That just scares me.
Have you had any run-ins with fans
yet?
They come out of the woodwork in strange places. I was visiting a friend
of mine at the hospital where she workds, and when her Trekkie coworkers heard that
I was doing Enterprise, they were, like, "We only want the best for you
. Don't fear us. We are a kind people." I was sitting there going, "Uh,
nice to meet you."
Give us the lowdown on your character, T'Pol. We already
know about the pointy ears.
She's second in command, a science officer, and
since Vulcans have a life span of up to 200 years, she's already 65. So I'm more
experienced than everyone on the ship, which is cool. And I'm full Vulcan. Spock
was half human. So I'm a superior species.
We couldn't agree more. But really,
how logical is wearing a skintight cat suit in deep space?
They didn't even
give my uniform pockets. I have a holster for my gun, but that's it. I guess T'Pol
is just so low-maintenance that she doesn't need anything else. She's very feline
in her movements, so really, the cat suit works.
Who would win in a showdown,
T'Pol or Voyagers's shapely alien life form Seven of Nine?
Oh pshaw-
T'Pol! Of course. I have to admit thaqt I never really watched Voyager, so I can't
make a comparison. I can say that, judging from the press we've done a lot of people
are asking that question. A hot chick versus a hot chick. I don't know.
Have
you had to learn a lot of sci-fi technobabble?
How about, "The residue
suggests oxidation and thermal shock effects, Captain. It could be the result of
a high-yield particle impact." We get scripts with glossaries and pronunciation
guides. God forbid you get on set and not know how to pronounce a strange word, because
it can through you right off.
What's the least logical thing you've done lately?
Trying
to have a relationship at the same time as working on the show. It's ridiculous.
What
will T'Pol's sex life be like?
One of my favorite Star Trek episodes
was when Spock needed to get laid. Once every seven years, Vulcans have to mate,
and he sort of went nuts. But we haven't established that for females yet. Maybe
it'll be twice every seven years.
We're hoping for twice an episode. How do
you play a character who, aside from when she's in heat, doesn't have any emotions?
That's
not the way it is at all. T'Pol's got a lot going on- worlds of emotion behind the
eyes She feels everything. She just can't express any of it. The history of Vulcans
is that they had to control their emotions to survive, and that's just like me. Because
when I'm confronted, I just want to lash out and pounce, like 'Bring it on!"
So I've learned to just breathe deeply and smile, if I didn't, it would not be pretty.
Who
would you love to aim a loaded phaser at?
People who require drama like it's
their lifeblood. Even if nothing is wrong, there's got to be something wrong.
What
is your home planet?
San Diego. I grew up surfing with my two brothers and
sister. My dad was a major surfer and whichever way we could fit it in before work
or after work, we would hit the beach. Surfing is such an amazing concept. Your'e
taking on Nature with a little stick and saying, "I'm gonna ride you!"
And a lot of times Nature says, "No you're not!" and crashes you to the
bottom.
Does anything about water scare you?
The ocean I can handle.
But lakes freak me out. They're dark, still and slimy, and there are leeches and
stuff at the bottom. God, they give me the creeps.
What kind of kid were you?
I
was such a geek. I remember one time I was standing in line behind the popular girl
before going into the classroom, and this other popular chick came up and told me
to move. i was surpriAsed and just sort of looked at her, and she punched me in the
stomach. I just sat there, because like, what do you do? I ended up dropping out
after my freshman year of high school. I was ditching class all the time anyway.
So
by then you were a troublemaker.
I was an acidhead and a pot smoker. There
was this one time some friends and I were ditching off campus at lunch. We didn't
make it back in time, and school officials found us smoking weed in a van around
the corner. I was so stoned that when they started taking names I said mind was April
June. It didn't even dawn on me that was just two months put together.
How
did you get into modeling?
I was 18 and living with my boyfriend and he cheated
on me. I had no place to go, and a friend of mine had given me an agency's card.
They sent me traveling all over America. It's a lot for a kid. I wouldn't wish that
industry on anyone.
When did you think, This sex thing is pretty great?
Well,
I love when I sort of come to and I'm on the other side of the room, sweaty and breathing
heavy, with bottles and ashtrays tipped over everywhere. I'm, like, "What just
happened? Oh, yeah, I got laid. Gotcha." What I don't like is the ...element
of surprise. You know, seeing the goods for the first time. I can't just go around
pants-checking guys, but it's really important. Check the equipment before you fall
in love.
We're available for inspection at any time. Where have you boldly
gone where no man has gone before?
I don't know about ever, but since I was
a little kid I've liked climbing trees, so even now I go up there and swing my legs
and smoke cigarettes and hang out in the trees. It's so peaceful, just to get away
from the chaos.
Any particular tree?
There are good and bad climbing
trees. Anything that's sort of step by step and has a really nice hanging limb. Sometimes
I'll tell someone, "Oh stop the car! I have to climb that tree."
When
do you most enjoy sex?
After a fight. Now, if you have a fight and you don't
get the sex, then you're in trouble. 'Cause you do that thing. "I'm packing
my bag... I'm picking up my bag..." And if he lets you get to the door, it's
over. And you didn't even get your make-up fuck.
Ummm...if you do make
up, what should a guy expect from you the morning after?
To not be there {laughs)
I'm up with the sun. I can't just lie there and snooze away. I got stuff to do.
The
article is accompanied by a full page color cover photo of Jolene in a skimpy white
furry bikini- It's itchy- can I take it off yet; A two page color photo of
Jolene from waist up lying with eyes closed on a bed of white feathers, with white
feathers covering her breasts; A two page color photo of Jolene on her hands and
knees wearing a white bikini top, looing at the camera with her blond hair hanging
down, her arms covering her breasts; A quarter page color photo of Jolene from waist
up with the white furry bikini top; A full page color photo of Jolene in the white
furry bikini, kneeling on the bed of white feathers- They didn't even give me
my uniform pockets. I have a holster for my gun, but that's it.; A small color
photo of Jolene as Medea- JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (2000) As Medea in this miniseries,
Jolene helps Jason get the Golden Fleece... then kills their children. But, hey,
how bout that fleece?
A small color photo of Jolene as T'Pol- Enterprise
(2001) Space, The final frontier. Where every new Star Trek series includes a female
crew member who can fill out a leotard and kick Klingon butt.; A full page color
photo of Jolene seated with white bikini bottom only, seated on the bed of white
feathers, her hair covering her breasts- 'I love when I sort of come to and I'm
on the other side of the room, all sweaty and breathing heavy.'