The Tough Girl Prototype

I may have based the look of my Gigi Gutierrez character as a cross between my friend Colleen and Rachel Welch, but the character's inspiration goes all the way back to the prototype.

Back to Emma Peel.

Portrayed by Dame Diana Rigg on “The Avengers” television series during 1965-68, talented amateur Mrs. Peel partnered with top professional spy John Steed to protect the British realm from enemy spies, diabolical masterminds, and aliens from outer space. Fashion (the catsuit), movies (Ripley, Sarah Conner, Lara Croft), television (Leela, Sarah Walker, Buffy),  and even comic books (Wonder Woman, Phoenix, and my very own Gigi) still feel her influence today!

Mrs. Peel turned the traditional damsel-in-distress motif on its ear, rescuing Steed just as often as he rescued her. Not only was she skilled in martial arts, but science, art and business as well. Successfully navigating Joseph Campbell’s Heroic Journey, Emma has in turn been rendered helpless, imperiled and nearly destroyed during her ordeals yet ultimately emerging to claim victory time and time again.

Sexy as she was in public, Emma was loyal to her men: first to Peter Peel, and second to Steed (when Mr. Peel was presumed dead). Beautiful, self-assured and witty, she was what most women aspired to be: Cool Brittania.

However, for my Pretty Vacant purposes, Mrs. Peel did have a dark side! Throughout her 51 episodes, she was bound, gagged, hypnotized, transformed into a robot, and (most memorably), forced to become a dominatrix:



Granted, it was in defense of Queen and Country, but the underlying kinkiness has always been part of her male, or m-appeal.

When I originally conceived of Pretty Vacant, I realized that the main character Gigi needed to be someone the readers could cheer on in the story. She would have to be admired for her ability, her determination, and yes… her looks!



Fans (of both sexes) have told me how they really like the strong woman character in Gigi -- the latest in a long line started by Mrs. Emma Peel.