View source for Wilma Deering

{{Character Data
|photo=BR25 - Wilma Deering - 2491.jpg
|caption=Deering in [[2491]].
|photo 2=BR25 - Wilma Deering - 2492.jpg
|caption 2=Deering in [[2492]].
|actor=[[Erin Gray]]
|seen=Awakening
|name=
|nickname=
|born=Earth
|birthdate=
|rank=Colonel
|role=Officer, [[Earth Defense Directorate]]
|marital status=Single
|sortkey=Deering, Wilma
}}

{{disambiguation|Wilma Deering (disambiguation)|an overview on the Wilma Deerings from various ''Buck Rogers'' incarnations}}

Colonel '''Wilma Deering''' is one of [[Earth]]'s most ambitious and ace [[Thunderfighter]] pilots in the [[Earth Defense Directorate]], rising through the ranks and achieving the rank of Colonel in [[2491]].

== Notes ==

Initially, Wilma was depicted as a cold, aloof military officer and starfighter pilot, with little interest in Captain Rogers. However, she quickly warmed to him and, throughout the weekly series, Wilma Deering's character became warmer, sexier, and more humorous. Often, it was Wilma who came to the rescue of Buck, as opposed to the other way round. Erin Gray has commented that her role as Colonel Deering was an inspiration for many women who watched the program, particularly with regard to careers in the military. She also commented that she was aware of the highly sexualised one piece uniform she wore and its effect on the show's male audience. She was once described by Clive James as Wonder Woman with brains.

Revisions to the program in its second season changed Wilma from the central role of a Colonel directing Earth's space defense, to more of a co-pilot role on the spaceship ''Searcher''. This change was never entirely explained, but along with Buck and Twiki, hers was the only character viewed central enough to migrate to the revamped show.

After the release of the film in 1979, Erin Gray initially opted not to reprise the role for the weekly television series and actress [[Juanin Clay]] was cast in the part. However, Gray then decided she would continue with the role. Clay actually did appear in an episode of the series as Major [[Marla Landers]], a Wilma Deering-type character, in the 1979 episode "[[Vegas in Space|Vegas In Space]]".


==External links==

*[http://www.thefutureandyou.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=62385 Interview with Erin Gray] on the podcast ''The Future and You'' (anecdotes about how she broke into Hollywood and how she feels about being remembered as Wilma Deering)

==References==
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{{Characters (BR25)}}

[[Category: A to Z]]
[[Category: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century]]
[[Category: Characters]]
[[Category: Earth Defense Directorate]]
[[Category: Main Characters]]
[[Category: Searcher Crew]]
[[fr:Wilma Deering]]