When Katee Sackhoff was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, it changed her life. In an interview with Jenna Wrenn from the Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast, Katee discussed how she was always taught as a young girl to be seen, not heard. And how her Battlestar Galactica role and her diagnosis changed that. 

The Battlestar Galactica actress began her career when she was 17 and found herself surrounded by a lot of men. Though she was not in any danger, she began to develop an “alter-ego,” especially while performing her most well-known role as Kara “Starbuck” Thrace in Battlestar Galactica. “I created this crassness, this vulgar sort of like, stereotypical masculine energy about me because it protected me,” Sackhoff said in her recent interview on Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast. 

Katee Sackhoff on her cancer diagnosis

Playing Starbuck wasn’t the only thing that helped Sackhoff learn how to speak up and advocate for herself. Sackhoff really had to develop her voice when it came to her thyroid cancer diagnosis. She describes her experience with the anesthesia as traumatic due to a loose IV and seeing blood everywhere. She passionately explains how waking up after the thyroid removal surgery ignited a profound awakening within her.

“I woke up from that surgery–which was a very long surgery–but I woke up from it with this sort of defiance to always speak my mind and always say what I want to say,” Sackhoff said. “I felt like I was so scared at that moment.”

After her surgery and Battlestar Galactica, Sackhoff has continued to carry her newfound voice throughout her other roles. She instilled two qualities within all of her characters that are also a reflection of herself: Self-doubt and vulnerability.

“I am being given the privilege of playing these strong women and learning from them but I do not believe that I was inherently strong as I was playing these characters. It was sort of a symbiotic growth,” Sackhoff said.

Katee Sackhoff can be found in various films and television shows, such as Battlestar Galactica, the Star Wars franchise including The Mandalorian, The Big Bang Theory, and many more. 

About POAFG

“Portrait of a Fangirl” is a series from the team at Temple of Geek. Initially a web series, it has expanded into a podcast, now in its second season. You can watch and listen both here and on our YouTube channel. Hosted by Jenna Wrenn, the project focuses on telling the stories of women who have found inspiration, growth, and power through fandom.