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Barbara March

Barbara March (October 9, 1953 – August 11, 2019) was a Canadian actress, playwright, and author best known for her recurring role as the Klingon warrior Lursa, one of the Duras sisters, in the franchise. Born in , , she built a distinguished career spanning , , and , earning acclaim for her commanding stage presence in Shakespearean roles and her contributions to Canadian . March passed away from cancer at the age of 65 in , . March's theatrical career began after graduating from the University of Windsor, where she honed her craft before joining the prestigious . She performed leading roles such as Isabella in , Desdemona in , Titania in , the Duchess in , Ruth in , and Lady Macbeth, the latter including understudy duties for on opposite . Her stage work extended to the Guthrie Theatre in , as well as productions in and , showcasing her versatility in classical and modern drama. In addition to acting, March was a nominated , receiving a Genie Award nomination for in the film Deserters and authoring works like . In the Star Trek universe, March made her mark starting in 1990, portraying Lursa in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Redemption," "Redemption, Part II," and "Firstborn," as well as the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Past Prologue" and the 1994 film Star Trek Generations. She also voiced the character in the video game Star Trek: The Next Generation – Klingon Honor Guard. Beyond Star Trek, her television credits included appearances in Night Heat, L.A. Law, The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw, The Portrait, and Total Security, highlighting her range in dramatic and supporting roles. On a personal note, March was married to fellow actor since 1979, with whom she shared a daughter, Tosia, and a stepson, . Together with Scarfe, she formed the performance group The Storm Alexis, blending her passions for acting and writing. Her legacy endures through her influential performances that bridged Canadian traditions with international iconography.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Barbara March was born Barbara Jean Maczka on October 9, 1953, in , , . As a child, she grew up in the , part of a family with strong Canadian roots that provided the backdrop for her early years. Specific details about her parents and any siblings are not publicly documented. This early foundation led her to pursue formal training at the .

Education

Barbara March attended the in , during the early , where she graduated with a in Dramatic Arts. The program, established as one of Canada's leading theatre training institutions, emphasized professional development for actors through rigorous practical coursework conducted in dedicated facilities following a major renovation in 1972. Her studies provided classical training central to building her skills as a performer, including techniques in voice, movement, and Shakespearean interpretation, which were integral to the curriculum's focus on both artistic process and production. This education equipped her with the foundational expertise necessary for a career in classical and professional stage work.

Acting career

Stage work

Barbara March began her professional stage career as a journeyman at Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival immediately following her graduation from the in the mid-1970s. Her classical training informed her early work in Shakespearean productions, where she developed a reputation for portraying complex, authoritative female characters with intensity and precision. Among her notable roles at Stratford were Isabella in Measure for Measure (1985), for which she received critical acclaim, and Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also portrayed Desdemona in Othello during a tour in the early 1980s, showcasing her ability to convey vulnerability amid dramatic tension. In New York, March understudied Glenda Jackson as Lady Macbeth in a Broadway production of Macbeth and performed the role herself for the final two weeks of the run, drawing on the character's sensual strength to inform her classical interpretations. March extended her career to American stages, particularly at the in , where she starred as the title character in John Webster's in 1989. Critics praised her commanding presence and nuanced delivery in these roles, highlighting her classical style that emphasized emotional depth and rhetorical power in verse drama. Her rising profile in theater earned her a Genie Award nomination for for her performance in the 1983 film , an early recognition that underscored her versatility as a performer transitioning from stage to screen.

Film and television roles

Barbara March made her screen debut in the 1983 Canadian drama film Deserters, directed by Jack Darcus, where she portrayed Val Manufort, the wife of a deserter hiding in . Her performance earned her a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at the 5th Genie Awards in 1984, highlighting her early potential in dramatic roles. This nomination marked a significant milestone, as it recognized her ability to convey emotional depth in a story exploring themes of , , and personal conflict. Transitioning from her stage background, which provided a strong foundation for her commanding screen presence, March expanded into television and film during the 1980s and 1990s, often taking on supporting and guest roles that showcased her versatility in dramatic narratives. In 1986, she appeared as Maria in a television adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, demonstrating her classical training in a comedic yet intricate character. Her television guest spot as Elsa on the Canadian crime series Night Heat in 1987 further established her in procedural dramas, playing a figure entangled in urban intrigue. By the late and early , March's career included several Canadian television movies, emphasizing her skill in ensemble casts and character-driven stories. In Kingsgate (1989), she played Brenda Kingsgate, a key role in a about corporate and family secrets. She followed with a minor but pivotal appearance as Woman Guest #2 in the 1991 TV movie Blood Ties, a supernatural drama involving historical lore. That same year, March portrayed the tough saloon owner Prairie Kate in the TV movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw, adding a layer of to her repertoire of resilient female characters. March continued to diversify her roles in the early with the lead supporting part of Marguerite Chirac in the biographical film The Portrait (1992), where she depicted a complex artistic muse in a story of obsession and creativity. On American television, she guest-starred as Dr. Marion Shearer on in 1992, bringing authoritative presence to a legal episode focused on . Her final notable screen role came in 1997 as Helen Dieboldt in the short-lived series Total Security, a recurring part in a detective procedural that allowed her to explore multifaceted supporting characters in high-stakes investigations. Throughout these projects, March's work in both Canadian and U.S. productions underscored her adaptability across genres, from intimate dramas to action-oriented thrillers, though opportunities remained limited for Canadian actors seeking broader breakthroughs during that era.

Star Trek roles

Appearances in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine

Barbara March portrayed Lursa, the elder of the infamous Duras sisters, in the episodes "" and "Redemption, Part II," both aired in 1991. In these episodes, Lursa and her sister B'Etor, played by , emerge as key antagonists during the Civil War, supporting their nephew Toral's claim to the chancellorship against legitimate leader . Their schemes involve manipulating alliances and challenging Worf's loyalty to the Empire, highlighting the internal power struggles within society. March also appeared as Lursa in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Firstborn," which aired on March 28, 1994. In this episode, Lursa and B'Etor attempt to assassinate Worf's son and his future protector K'mtar (an aged ) to prevent Worf from supporting , furthering their vendetta against the legitimate leadership. This appearance continues the Duras sisters' antagonistic role, emphasizing their persistent threat to the Klingon Empire's stability. March reprised the role in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine pilot episode "Past Prologue," which aired in 1993. In this episode, Lursa and B'Etor arrive on Deep Space Nine as disgraced outcasts, secretly meeting with Bajoran terrorist Tahna Los to supply him with volatile materials for a plot to seal the and expel the from Bajoran space. This appearance ties into broader lore by extending the House of Duras's rebellious legacy from the , illustrating their opportunistic alliances beyond Klingon borders and their disdain for influence. As a , Lursa embodies the of a fierce warrior, characterized by unyielding ambition, emotional intensity, and a rebellious spirit that drives much of the Duras family's treachery. March's portrayal emphasized Lursa's commanding presence and strategic cunning, contributing significantly to the serialized Klingon storyline across The Next Generation by personifying the Empire's factional divides and themes of honor versus betrayal. Her chemistry with Walsh as B'Etor created a dynamic sisterly duo often described as a formidable, almost comedic "bad " pair, blending menace with synchronized menace that enriched Klingon cultural depictions. Behind the scenes, March underwent extensive Klingon prosthetics, including forehead ridges and dental appliances, which transformed her appearance for the role and required hours in makeup each day. She later donned the full Lursa makeup for appearances, delighting fans with improvisational Klingon sketches alongside Walsh. March expressed surprise at the character's enduring popularity, noting the rarity of strong female Klingon roles and the joy of their on-screen partnership. Fan reception was overwhelmingly positive, with Lursa and B'Etor hailed as iconic villains who added depth to 's exploration of Klingon politics, frequently celebrated at global conventions during the .

Role in Star Trek Generations

In (1994), Barbara March portrayed Lursa, the elder of the ambitious Duras sisters, as a formidable antagonist seeking to seize control of the Klingon High Council. Lursa, alongside her sister B'Etor (played by ), allies with the rogue scientist Dr. Tolian Soran to obtain a trilithium weapon capable of destroying stars, using it as leverage for their political dominance. Their key scenes feature commanding a Bird-of-Prey cloaked near the Veridian system, where they demand payment from Soran and engage in a high-stakes space battle against the USS Enterprise-D, led by Captain . The confrontation escalates with photon torpedo exchanges, culminating in the sisters' deaths when their ship is critically damaged and crashes into Veridian III's atmosphere, exploding in a fiery demise. This cinematic appearance provided definitive closure to the Duras sisters' ongoing narrative arc, which had been established in prior television episodes as a persistent threat to Klingon stability following their brother Duras's disgrace and death. In , their relentless pursuit of power—rooted in House Duras's bid to install a puppet chancellor—reaches its explosive end, eliminating the sisters as recurring villains and resolving the factional intrigue that had simmered across and . March's performance amplified Lursa's cunning and ferocity, tying the episodic television schemes into a feature-film scale climax that underscored the sisters' unyielding ambition. Production on Generations highlighted March's collaboration with Walsh, whose synchronized schedules ensured the sisters' seamless on-screen dynamic, often described as a "sister act" of intense loyalty and scheming. The actors navigated challenging Klingon makeup and costumes, including rigid prosthetics and whalebone corsets that restricted movement during action sequences, shifting focus to vocal intensity and expressive glares rather than physical stunts. March relished working with leads like () and (), though she noted in a 1994 interview a missed opportunity for deeper involvement in the film's climactic events, such as a planned but cut torture sequence involving . These elements elevated the role from television constraints to the grandeur of a motion picture, with practical effects enhancing the Bird-of-Prey battle's tension. March's portrayal of Lursa in Generations cemented the character's as a fan-favorite embodiment of villainy, praised for its emotional depth and the sisters' rare depiction as powerful female duo in cinema. Post-release, the role sparked widespread fan discussions at conventions, where March and Walsh were celebrated for bringing nuance to the antagonists—drawing from inspirations like to portray Lursa as strategically ruthless rather than caricatured evil. The film's reception highlighted the sisters' impact, with their dramatic exit contributing to Generations' exploration of and transition in the franchise. March also voiced Lursa in the 1998 video game Star Trek: The Next Generation – Klingon Honor Guard, further extending the character's presence in the franchise's .

Literary works

Plays

Barbara March authored the dramatic work The Razing of , a play centered on the 19th-century English novelist. She also wrote the comic play Pinteresque. The script of The Razing of was translated into and published as Le riflessioni di , facilitating potential international staging. 's playwriting drew from her background in theater , allowing her to craft dialogue and character dynamics informed by years on . As of 2025, neither The Razing of nor Pinteresque had been produced on . Critical reception and awards for her plays remain undocumented in available sources, reflecting their status as unpublished stage works.

Screenplays

March contributed to writing as a story editor and original writer for the Canadian series Mysterious , starring her husband . She penned the "Labours Lost". She also wrote several screenplays and treatments for .

Prose writings

Barbara March's primary contribution to prose literature is her novella The Copper People, first published in 2010 by Trafford Publishing. The story centers on an older Canadian woman who relocates to a remote hilltop village in to immerse herself in learning the , only to become entangled in the villagers' hidden history as descendants of an ancient Etruscan afflicted by a that has enforced their isolation for centuries. Blending suspenseful horror with memoir-like introspection, the evokes the sensory allure of rural life—its , landscapes, and communal rhythms—while delving into themes of , personal identity, and the perils of uncovering buried secrets in a foreign land. March's narrative voice, informed by her extensive travels and time residing in , creates an intimate, immersive tone that mirrors the performative depth of her acting career, transforming everyday encounters into dramatic revelations. A later edition appeared in 2017 from Smart House Books, maintaining the work's compact 146-page format and emphasizing its appeal as a "" for readers drawn to cross-cultural mysteries. A screen of the was in development as of 2019, but has not been produced as of 2025. While no other published short stories or prose collections by March have been documented, The Copper People stands as a singular expression of her literary voice within Canada's artistic community, where her multifaceted career bridged and . The received positive reader feedback for its evocative storytelling, earning a perfect rating on platforms like from early reviewers who praised its atmospheric tension and emotional resonance.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Barbara March married fellow actor in 1979, having met while performing together at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in , . The couple shared professional collaborations rooted in their theater backgrounds, including co-starring in the made-for-TV movie The Portrait, which featured a notable on-stage chemistry between them. They also worked together on creative endeavors outside acting, such as a joint research and writing project on , where March contributed historical insights to Scarfe's manuscript. March and Scarfe welcomed their daughter, Antonia "Tosia" Scarfe, in 1985; she developed an early interest in music, learning and guitar while her mother balanced a demanding schedule. March also became to Scarfe's son from a previous marriage, , who is also an actor. The family dynamics emphasized mutual support for their artistic pursuits, with Scarfe encouraging a relocation to to advance March's career opportunities, and March often prioritizing family stability by scaling back on roles to focus on home life. Antonia frequently accompanied her mother to professional events like fan conventions, fostering a close bond amid the travels required by March's work, and later pursued her own path as a and . Alan Scarfe passed away on April 28, 2024, from colon cancer.

Death

Barbara March had been battling cancer in the years leading up to her death. She passed away on August 11, 2019, at the age of 65, in , , . Her husband, actor , confirmed the news on , describing her fight as a "cruel battle with cancer" and praising her wisdom, compassion, and brilliance. The announcement prompted widespread tributes from the Star Trek community, with the official StarTrek.com publishing an obituary that highlighted her iconic portrayal of the Klingon character Lursa and her contributions to the franchise. Fans and fellow actors shared condolences on , remembering her as a talented performer whose work left a lasting impact. Theater peers also mourned her loss, noting her extensive stage career and the profound influence she had on Canadian . No public details emerged regarding a or formal service, though an online memorial was established to celebrate her life and legacy at the time of her passing.

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