Tessa Noël is a fictional character in the television series Highlander: The Series, portrayed by Belgian actor Alexandra Vandernoot. A professional artist and sculptor, Tessa is the lover and confidant of the series protagonist Duncan MacLeod, played by Adrian Paul, an immortal swordsman born centuries before in the Scottish Highlands. In the pilot episode "The Gathering," Tessa is said to have been in a relationship with Duncan for twelve years already and the two co-own MacLeod and Noël Antiques in the fictional city Seacouver, Washington. Alongside Duncan, she is a mentor and friend to young Richie Ryan.
Highlander: The Series ran for six season from 1992-1998. A series regular, Vandernoot appeared in all season 1 episodes and the first four episodes of season 2. She then left the show in order to have more time for her family and other projects, not wishing to continue working with the show's heavy production schedule and obligations. She returned for guest appearances in the season two finale "Counterfeit" and the two-part series finale episodes "To Be" and "Not to Be" in 1998.
The character of Tessa was popular with fans who praised her character's outspoken personality and her relationship with Duncan MacLeod. Her departure was criticized and protested by several. The series producers have noted in different interviews that the show became more cynical following Tessa's departure.
Fictional biography Tessa Noël is born on August 28, 1958, in Lille, France. When she is seven years old, she falls in love for the first time with then-nineteen-year-old Alan Rothwood (Anthony Head) and is "heart-broken" when he completes his studies and leaves the country., in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disc 7. Tessa then studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, France., in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disc 4 Skilled at illustration in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disk 6. and sculpture (using either metal or modelling clay in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disk 3.), Tessa begins working as an artist while also having a day job as a tour guide for the River Seine in Paris., Bonus material, Article: "1980, Paris, France", in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disc 5.
On April 1, 1980, while escaping an enemy, the immortal Duncan MacLeod leaps off a bridge and lands on a Bateau Mouche boat where Tessa is conducting a tour. Despite the interruption, Tessa finds Duncan charming and allows him to remain with the tour. The two meet afterward and begin dating. On the three year anniversary of when they first met, MacLeod reveals to Tessa that he was born in 1592 and, like a rare number of other humans, was born with an energy called the Quickening that made him ageless once he'd suffered a premature violent death (his First Death). Since then, he can only die if he is beheaded. MacLeod reveals this so Tessa can decide if she wants to continue their relationship. To his relief, she expresses compassion and empathy for the loneliness immortality must bring and is glad to now know the truth., in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2003), disk 7. "I was just thinking how lonely you must be. Your parents, your friends... having them all die."The two continue dating, though Tessa later openly worries that Duncan's immortality will one day separate them, either because he'll want someone younger or because she'll decide she wants someone who can grow older with her. As an immortal, MacLeod is sterile and Tessa resigns herself to having no children. In the episode "The Sea Witch," Tessa becomes very fond of a four-year-old girl and muses, "For a while there, just for a few hours... I felt like she was mine. I liked how it felt. But, she's not... I have my own life and it's more than enough." At one point, Tessa tells Duncan, "I know the risks I choose to take... I stay with you because I want to. I won't run. I'm not the little woman and I'll never be barefoot and pregnant. We all have things to face. This is mine."
Duncan does not tell Tessa that an immortal may take the power and knowledge of another immortal they kill. For this reason, many hunt each other in the Game, believing "in the end, there can be only one" and that the last survivor will have the power of all immortals who ever lived. During their time together, Duncan occasionally defends himself from other immortals and kills them without Tessa knowing., in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disc 4. Eventually, the two open the antique shop MacLeod and Noël Antiques in Seacouver, Washington. Their apartment is attached to the property and Tessa also maintains a studio there where she continues to create and sell art.
In 1992, the immortal Slan Quince (Richard Moll) comes to the shop to challenge Duncan to a duel. He is immediately followed by Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert). After Slan flees to continue the battle another time, Duncan explains that Connor is from his clan and also immortal, born almost 90 years earlier. When Connor learned that another member of the Clan MacLeod had recovered from death, he found Duncan, taught him about immortals, and trained him in how to survive. Tessa then learns about the Game and that Duncan will repeatedly have to battle for his life against those immortals who desire more power., in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disk 1. The two discuss what this means for their relationship but Tessa decides to stay with Duncan. During this time, the two of them meet 17-year-old petty thief Richie Ryan (Stan Kirsch), who learns from witnessing the MacLeods fight and behead Quince that they are immortals. Wanting to watch over the young man and believing he is not an inherent criminal but simply someone who needs guidance, Duncan and Tessa hire Richie to work in their shop, forging a friendship.
Now understanding how violent Duncan's world is, Tessa is an aid and confidant to his adventures. At times, she helps ground him. "You may be immortal, but you're not omnipotent... The world is not your responsibility." in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disk 5. Hating violence and war, Tessa reluctantly concludes that it is now part of her life and sometimes all that will stop certain types of evil. At the same time, she takes no joy or satisfaction in the deaths of evil immortals or killers. To stop a serial killer, she strikes the man with her car, injuring him. Despite his crimes, Tessa asks for an ambulance rather than allow the man to suffer or die, and later feels guilty for her action, remarking, "I thought ridding the world of evil would feel better than this." During all this, she continues to pursue her own career and is hired for high-profile projects.
When Tessa witnesses the brutal murder of former artist Anne Wheeler, she becomes enraged when the police seem unwilling to do something and decides to investigate on her own., in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disk 4. During the investigation, MacLeod tells Tessa she is stronger than Anne and would be fine if he were to die. Tessa responds, "You only think so because it suits you." The two eventually avenge Anne's death when the killer is revealed to be an immortal.
Later on, Tessa is offered the position of curator of a traveling exhibition based in Paris, France. She decides to leave Seacouver, telling Duncan, "Remember. Paris is our city. I'll be waiting for you." After battling another immortal, Duncan and Richie join Tessa in Paris. The three live on a barge MacLeod owns on the Seine near Notre Dame., in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disc 5 While in Paris, Tessa meets Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen), an immortal thief and former lover of Duncan's. Despite their tension and clashing views of life, the two women come to respect each other., Final Shooting Script, p. 20, in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disk 9. In another case, Tessa pushes aside her jealousy of a former love of Duncan's when an ex-girlfriend named Grace needs his help. Once Duncan assures her he has no feelings still for Grace, Tessa remarks, "that's all that need to be said. She's your friend and she's been hurt. You'll help her. I'd expect you to do no less.", in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disk 6.
MacLeod encounters Alfred Cahill (Martin Kemp), an immortal who recently discovered his true nature. Already suffering from mental illness, Cahill now believes he is an angel meant to free the world from sin. While MacLeod believes the only way to stop Cahill is to behead him, Tessa's argues, "Enlightened societies don't kill their insane. They treat them." Cahill crosses paths with Tessa's childhood friend Elaine Trent (Sandra Nelson), who has become a prostitute since they last saw each other. Shocked at first, believing that Elaine threw away her potential, Tessa decides this is too harsh and she should not judge her friend. The two talk and reach a new understanding. Cahill later confronts Tessa, who sees how delusional he is when he insists he is the reincarnation of a Knight Templar. Seeing no other way to protest others from his delusion, MacLeod duels and kills Cahill. Elaine then leaves Paris without saying goodbye to Tessa, hoping to completely start her life over., in Highlander: The Series (season 1) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001), disc 7
While still in Paris, the immortal Darius, an old friend of Duncan's, is murdered by mortals. Darius's belongings lead Duncan to learn that there is a secret organization called the Watchers who study and record the lives of immortals. A sub-group calling themselves Hunters now executes immortals so none will win the Game and gain enough power to rule humanity. After Duncan saves his friend Hugh Fitzcairn from the Hunters, he returns to Seacouver with Tessa and Richie. Soon afterward, Duncan meets the Watcher Joe Dawson who explains the rest of his organization is benevolent and sworn to not interfere with the lives of immortals or their loved ones.
Weeks later, Richie meets a fortune teller named Greta (Traci Lords) who then experiences a psychic vision when she meets Tessa. She urges her to flee the city but Tessa isn't sure how seriously to take her. MacLeod recalls another fortune teller in 1848 who predicted he would love and bury many women, but marry none. Worried he may not have a chance later or may lose her first, MacLeod then asks Tessa to marry him and she agrees. The next day, Tessa is abducted by a Hunter named Pallin Wolf (Andrew Jackson) as bait for MacLeod. MacLeod finds them and kills Wolf, then sends Tessa home with Richie. On their way to the car, Tessa and Richie are mugged and shot dead by Marc Roszca, a drug addict wanting their money. As Tessa dies, Richie awakens, realizing what MacLeod had sensed since they first met: he is also immortal.
Duncan's grief leads him to sell the antique shop and purchase a martial arts gym, relocating to a new apartment. Haunted by Tessa's death, he also treasures the time they spent together, telling Richie, "She was part of our lives, Richie. Never pretend she wasn't.", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2003), disk 2. Later, Richie remarks to MacLeod, "You can't get past it, Mac. I know. You've seen a lot of people die. But you had to be the hero, you sent us out to the car that night, you could have been there... You look me in the eyes and you tell me you don't blame yourself for her death."