User Profile

Character Details

Full name: Laura Roslin
Aliases: N/A
Canon from: Battlestar Galactica (the re-imagining)
Canon type: Television series
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Link to picture of character (if possible): http://media.battlestarwiki.org/images/thumb/8/8b/Laura_Roslin.jpg/360px-Laura_Roslin.jpg

Character history:

Laura was born in Caprica City, on Caprica. Her parents were both teachers and they greatly inspired both Laura and her two older sisters to go into teaching themselves. Tragically, Laura’s father and sisters were killed in an accident; Laura’s mother, Judith, never completely recovered from this shock. Years later, Judith was diagnosed with breast cancer and Laura cared for her until her death, an experience which deeply affected her.

After her mother’s death, Laura devoted herself to her job at one of the large public schools in the city, where she proved to be an excellent teacher and administrator. When she won the award for Teacher of the Year she came to the attention of Richard Adar, the Mayor of Caprica City who was just preparing to start a bid to run for Governor. Adar persuaded Laura to join him in his campaign and for the next twenty years Laura worked with Adar, from his position as governor up to him becoming President of the Twelve Colonies. Laura’s work centered on the education system and she eventually rose herself to the position of Secretary of Education. At the same time, she also began a romantic relationship with Adar, despite the fact that he was married.

Laura eventually came to suspect that she might have breast cancer, the same disease that killed her mother. She chose not to act on these suspicions until it was too late: the cancer had spread to the point where treatment would not save her, only prolong her life. On the same day that she received this diagnosis, the Cylons attacked the Twelve Colonies and Laura was sworn is as the President. She then turned herself to the task of gathering together survivors of the attack and creating a fleet, which she planned to take away from their former home in order to survive. She eventually persuaded the military to support this decision, and the escape began.

Laura proved to be a very capable president, despite the strange circumstances surrounding her rise to the office. She devoted herself to protecting the survivors and was not afraid to shirk from morally questionable decisions when she felt they were also the best ones to make.

To treat her illness, Laura chose to take chamalla extract, rather than suffer through diloxin as she had seen her mother do. As a result, she became to have hallucinations, which appeared to be linked to ancient prophecies concerning Earth. Because of her belief in these visions, she convinced Kara Thrace to secretly return to Caprica to retrieve the Arrow of Apollo, despite Adama having disagreed with this decision. As a result, Adama asked for his resignation and, when he did not receive it, has her arrested and taken to the Galactica brig.

During this imprisonment, she revealed her cancer to the world and also came to embrace the destiny she saw for herself as the dying leader who would lead her people to Earth. She then was able to escape and brought a third of the fleet to the planet Kobul, to look for a way to Earth. This splinter in the fleet was thankfully resolved when Bill Adama decided to come and make peace. Both Bill and Laura put aside some of their past differences and began a friendship, which was strengthened when Bill helped her face her cancer and imminent death.

However, at the last moment, Laura was saved when Gaius Baltar discovered that the blood of the half-human/half-Cylon fetus destroyed cancer cells. She was soon cancer free and resumed her office. Soon after, she suffered a great blow when her aid, Billy, was killed. Soon after, she found herself fighting to keep the presidency against her former vice-president, Baltar. The election was complicated by the issue over New Caprica, a planet which has been discovered that could support human life. Laura was adamant that settling on any planet other than Earth would be a disaster. She was determined to win the election, even going so far as to try and fix it in her favour. She was caught however, and Bill convinced her to concede her defeat as not doing so would kill her inside.

During the next year, Laura resumed life as a teacher on New Caprica and tried to enjoy this new life, rather than waiting for the day it would end – something she was certain would occur. When the Cylons invaded her fears were confirmed and she found herself arrested twice; the second time she was brought before a firing squad and only barely survived. After the survivors of New Caprica were rescued, Laura once again became president.

She faced many new challenges, including the trail of Gaius Baltar and the return of her cancer. She also found herself having to work with Cylons and faced the fact that she had fallen in love for the first time with Bill Adama. And then, finally, the journey was over. They reached Earth and there was much rejoicing.

Until they landed on the planet and discovered it was a desolated wasteland.


Character personality:

Laura’s definitely characteristic is her pragmatism. She is very practical and realistic, often to the point of ruthlessness. For her, the ends do justify the means and she is willing to take the blame for these actions upon herself, so long as those in her care are kept alive. While she often does disconnect her head from her heart while making decisions, Laura cares greatly for those around her and dedicates her entire being towards keeping them safe.

In apparently contrast with her realism, Laura is deeply religious. She chose to take chamalla as treatment for her cancer instead of the usual diloxin and while under its influence she experienced hallucinations which she took to be visions from the gods. She believed in these visions enough to risk dividing the fleet in order to follow them on the quest for Earth.

Beyond her job, Laura is a bit of a loner. She has very few close friends and guards herself from forming attachments (except perhaps with her students, whom she is quite warm towards). However, she is scared to die alone.

Among most people, Laura appears very controlled. However in private she shows much more emotion and easily smiles and laughs. She rarely loses her temper.


Physical description:

Laura is of average height and build. She wears glasses when reading, and also at times when she feels more presidential. She did have long, reddish brown hair but due to the diloxin it has all fallen out. In public, she wears a wig. Among those who are closer to her, she sometimes merely wraps a scarf around her head or goes without entirely. She generally wears suits that are light or muted in colour and always wears skirts and high-heeled shoes. When she is in more relaxed environments however, she has worn bright colours and more relaxed fashion. She also wears a silver bracelet on her arm at all times.

Magical powers or special skills: N/A

Any crimes committed in canon: Tampering with an election, attempted murder (Kara Thrace), kidnapping (Hera Agathon), attempted murder (Gaius Baltar), criminal negligence causing death, escaping lawful custody, war crimes (murder of Cylon prisoners, attempted use of biological warfare), psychological torture (Gaius Baltar), conspiracy to commit murder (Helena Cain)

Crime incarcerated into Glaxcin for: War crimes

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