La Femme Nikita (, literally "The Woman Nikita"; called Nikita in Canada) is a Canadian action-drama television series based on the French film of the same name by Luc Besson. The series stars Peta Wilson as the titular character. It was co-produced by Jay Firestone of Fireworks Entertainment and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. It was created and adapted for television by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran. The series was telecast in the United States on the USA Network cable channel on Monday, January 13, 1997 at 10pm, and ran for five seasons until March 4, 2001. The series was also aired in Canada on the over-the-air CTV Television Network. La Femme Nikita was the highest-rated drama on American basic cable during its first two seasons. It was also distributed in some other countries.
Comparison with the film In the 1990 original Luc Besson film—and in the 1993 American remake Point of No Return (also released as The Assassin), by Warner Bros.—Nikita is a drug-addicted juvenile delinquent who kills a police officer in cold blood during an attempted robbery of a pharmacy. She is later arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in Nikita, and to death by lethal injection in Point of No Return, upon which she was secretly drugged by the government, faking her death. Nikita is then "recruited" by a secret government organization and transformed into a highly skilled assassin who cannot be traced.
The television series differs from the film versions in one fundamental aspect: Nikita (Peta Wilson) is innocent. She is not a killer, nor a drug user, just a homeless young woman in the wrong place at the wrong time. Section One—an elite, top-secret counter-terrorism organization—sets Nikita up to be accused of murdering a police officer and sentenced to life in prison where she supposedly commits suicide and is brought into Section One. Because Nikita will be killed (or "cancelled") if she fails to comply, she is forced to carry out the organization's ruthless methods of fighting terrorism, while attempting to keep her moral integrity intact. This personal struggle becomes the primary conflict of the series. A key scene in the two theatrical films involves Nikita's first assignment—to murder a VIP in a crowded restaurant. Although the Nikita of the television series eventually does become, by necessity, a ruthless killer, in the television version of this first mission she avoids killing the VIP (whereas the film versions of the character complete the assignment). However, despite the machinations of others in power around her, Nikita retains her compassion and humanity.
Over time, Nikita's secretive and risky romantic involvement with her trainer, the mysterious Michael Samuelle (Roy Dupuis), will become another source of conflict, and the series' most significant relationship. Just before the conclusion of the series, Nikita also learns the truth of why she was recruited into Section One.
Cast and characters
Characters are listed in order of title credit and by appearance on the show. = Main cast (credited) = Recurring cast (2+) = Guest cast (1) ActorCharacterSeasons12345 Main castPeta WilsonNikitacolspan="5" Roy DupuisMichael Samuellecolspan="4" colspan="1" Don FrancksWaltercolspan="5" Matthew FergusonSeymour Birkoffcolspan="4" colspan="1" Eugene Robert GlazerOperations (Paul Wolfe)colspan="5" Alberta WatsonMadelinecolspan="4" colspan="1" Cindy DolencKatherine “Kate” Quinncolspan="3" colspan="1" colspan="1" Recurring castAnais GranofskyCarlacolspan="2" colspan="3" Julian RichingsErrol Sparkscolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="2" Ingrid VeningerSiobhan Lawrencecolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="2" Carlo RotaMick Schtoppel / "Mr. Jones" / Reginald “Martin” Hendersoncolspan="1" colspan="4" Nigel BennettEgran Petrosiancolspan="2" colspan="3" Douglas O’KeefeDavid Fanningcolspan="2" colspan="3" Yvonne ScioLisa Fanningcolspan="2" colspan="3" Tara SloneGailcolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="3" Lindsay CollinsDevo One (Elizabeth)colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" James FaulknerDominiccolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="2" Stephen ShellenMarco O’Briencolspan="1" colspan="3" colspan="1" Bruce PayneJurgencolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="3" Jill DyckBelindacolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="3" Roman PodhoraMowencolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="3" Kris LemcheGreg Hillingercolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" Siân PhillipsAdriancolspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" David HemblenGeorgecolspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Evan CaravelaAdamcolspan="2" colspan="3" Samia ShoaibElenacolspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Josh HollidayDevo Two (Henry)colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Lawrence BayneDavenportcolspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" Matthew FergusonJason Crawfordcolspan="3" colspan="2" Larissa GomesNaomi Hillcolspan="3" colspan="1" colspan="1" Kira ClavellJasmine Kwongcolspan="3" colspan="1" colspan="1" Polly ShannonMichellecolspan="4" colspan="1" Edward WoodwardMr. Jones (Philip) / "Flavius"colspan="4" colspan="1" Aidan DevineGraffcolspan="4" colspan="1" Conrad CoatesHaledcolspan="4" colspan="1" Note
For the first two seasons, Devo Two was portrayed by two different uncredited extras.
Main Peta Wilson as Nikita: The show's central protagonist and titular character, Nikita was falsely accused of killing a police officer and sentenced to life in prison, only to be forcibly recruited by Section One and trained as a spy and assassin. Her compassion and sympathy constantly conflict with the ruthless orders she is given, and this endears her to the majority of the people she works with, including Walter, Birkoff, and Michael, who eventually becomes her love interest. Roy Dupuis as Michael Samuelle: A former radical student activist-turned-coldly efficient assassin, as well as Section’s top mission team leader. At first alternately cruel and compassionate toward Nikita, he eventually falls in love with her, and repeatedly puts his life on the line to protect her. Eugene Robert Glazer as Operations: The often ruthless head of Section One, and the show’s main antagonist for the majority of the series. He exercises considerable geopolitical power, which places him in conflict with the hierarchy above Section on multiple occasions. Later in the series, it is revealed that his real identity is Lieutenant Paul L. Wolfe, who was forcibly recruited into Section after serving in the Vietnam War. Alberta Watson as Madeline: Section One’s executive strategist, responsible for the psychological conditioning of all operatives, as well as the extraction of critical intel from captured terrorists—using torture if necessary. Madeline eventually becomes the show’s secondary antagonist, as she and Operations expend considerable Section resources to keep Nikita and Michael apart, as they perceive their romantic and professional partnership to be a threat to their power. Matthew Ferguson as Seymour Birkoff: Section One’s youthful head of Comm, who supervises mission operations in progress. Late in the series, he learns that he is one of two twin boys born to a Section operative, with the other—Jason Crawford—living on the outside as part of a psychological comparison implemented by Section. Crawford is later recruited into Section. Ferguson played both roles. Don Francks as Walter: Head of Munitions, he is responsible for creating and providing all weapons, gadgets, and tools needed for use on various missions. As one of the oldest Section operatives, he is initially flirtatious with Nikita, but eventually becomes a trusted confidante. Although one of Birkoff’s closest friends, their relationship is strained when Birkoff discovers Walter's role in the aforementioned psychological comparison. Cindy Dolenc as Katherine “Kate” Quinn: Late in the series, she becomes Birkoff’s replacement as head of Comm, and is forced to endure the newly recruited Jason Crawford’s romantic affections, while at the same time scheming to take the place of Madeline.
Recurring Anais Granofsky as Carla (seasons 1–2), Nikita's neighbor, later revealed to be one of Adrian's operatives. Julian Richings as Errol Sparks (seasons 1, 3), the leader of terrorist group Glass Curtain, responsible for the capture of Michael's first wife Simone. Ingrid Veninger as Siobhan Lawrence (seasons 1, 3), Glass Curtain's second-in-command. Carlo Rota as Mick Schtoppel (seasons 1–4) / "Mr. Jones" (seasons 4–5 ) / Reginald "Martin" Henderson (Season 5), a greenlisted informant, later revealed to be "Mr. Jones", the head of Center, the organization above Oversight that directs all Sections. Later, Mr. Jones is revealed to be another cover identity for actor Henderson. Nigel Bennett as Egran Petrosian (seasons 1–2), former deep cover operative who is later briefly in charge of Section One. Douglas O'Keefe as David Fanning (seasons 1–2), a terrorist hit man later recruited into Section One. Yvonne Scio as Lisa Fanning (seasons 1–2), David's wife and victim of his marital abuse. Also recruited into Section One. Tara Slone as Gail (seasons 1–2), Section One operative and Birkoff's girlfriend. Lindsay Collins as Devo One alias Elizabeth (seasons 1–5), a White Room operative used to torture uncooperative terrorists. James Faulkner as Dominic (seasons 1, 3), who tortured Nikita and Michael when they were captured by the terrorist group Red Cell. Stephen Shellen as Marco O'Brien (seasons 1, 5), a former police detective recruited into Section One; later became Michael's replacement. Bruce Payne as Jurgen (season 2), a high-ranking operative in Spec Ops, who evaluated Nikita upon her return to Section One. Jill Dyck as Belinda (season 2), an abeyance operative who became Walter's fiancé. Roman Podhora as Mowen (season 2), a Section One team leader. Kris Lemche as Greg Hillinger (seasons 2–4), Birkoff's rival in Section One, later revealed to be a mole for Oversight. Siân Phillips as Adrian (seasons 2, 4), the "Mother" of Section One, who sought to depose Operations with the help of Nikita. David Hemblen as George (seasons 3–4), the head of Oversight, former lover of Adrian and enemy of Operations. Samia Shoaib as Elena (seasons 3–4), Michael's wife as part of a "blood cover" mission to capture her father, a terrorist. Evan Caravela as Adam (seasons 3–5), Michael's son with Elena. Josh Holliday as Devo Two alias Henry (seasons 3–5), Devo One's White Room partner. Lawrence Bayne as Davenport (seasons 3–4), a Section One team leader loyal to Operations. Larissa Gomes as Naomi Hill (season 4), Jason Crawford's girlfriend and Section One "valentine operative." Kira Clavell as Jasmine Kwong (seasons 4–5), young recruit turned Section One operative. Polly Shannon as Michelle (season 5), Mr. Jones' mysterious secretary, and Nikita's sister. Edward Woodward as Mr. Jones alias Philip, codename "Flavius" (season 5), the true head of Center and Nikita's father. Aidan Devine as Graff (season 5), leader of terrorist "supergroup" the Collective. Conrad Coates as Haled (season 5), the Collective's second-in-command.
Broadcasting history
Ratings success