Being a straight, married female, I’m not in the habit of perusing through PLAYBOY. But when a famous cover girl decides to bare all for the mag, I always wonder, will the photos do her justice?

When I found out that Tricia Helfer, who plays the many incarnations of the sexy Cylon model Number Six on the SciFi Channel series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, would be posing nude in the February 2007 issue, I knew I had to check it out.

The cover shot has Helfer bareback and showing a hint of booty, but her shoulder-length platinum blonde hair and chiseled facial features are the trademark of her Cylon alter ego, which suggests that her feature spread is more of the same. And while Number Six may be incredibly hot, she’s still a toaster with a coldness only a robot could emit.

But inside, the mag decided to ditch the Cylon angle and go instead with a homage to Farrah Fawcett, who Helfer portrayed in the 2004 TV movie BEHIND THE CAMERA: THE UNAUTHORIZED STORY OF CHARLIE’S ANGELS. There’s no trace of Number Six in this ten-page photo layout set in Acapulco and shot by Sante D’Orazio.

The spread’s color photos show the sultry actress topless and mainly poolside, with her bottom fontal area strategically covered. The black and white photos are more arty, even the provocative two-page shot of Helfer lounging against some pillows with her hand running through her long wavy hair.

But let’s not forget why men buy this magazine in the first place — the articles! A brief interview with Helfer reveals her Canadian farm girl roots, early intentions of playing college volleyball and studying animal psychology, and her minimal exposure to television and movies during her upbringing. Read on and find out how she transitioned from a successful ten-year modeling career into the GALACTICA role that’s made her a fan favorite (not to mention most-drooled-over!).

And she loves her fans, too. The actress told the magazine that she enjoys meeting her fans at BG conventions. “They are really intelligent and passionate people, and I appreciate those qualities.”