I'm proud to announce Leah Cairns, aka Lt. Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson, as our latest addition to our ever expending guestlist for Emissaries: Galacticon 3. Leah was announced on ComicCon and our Facebook page last week and she's been quietly added to our guestlist here, but since I was on vacation I didn't have time to properly make a full announcement on the website.

Leah Cairns was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, with dreams of becoming a professional dancer, which were dashed when she broke her back in a car accident at age 16. When her dance team went to an international competition in her graduating year, rather than sit and mope at home, she headed off to Costa Rica, starting an eight-year backpacking odyssey that took her to 36 countries. Prior to returning to Canada, she stumbled into an improvisation class at an ashram in India.

She started her acting career in the vampire thriller Blood Angels (aka Thralls). She starred as Jenna in the popular Canadian series Godiva's, a waitress and aspiring dancer, a role she could really relate to. She had worked in restaurants all over the world and served tables upon retuning to Vancouver when trying to find work as an actress. So, it's kind of funny that her first serious work as an actress turned out to be a waitress serving tables.

Missing numerous auditions for the thriller 88 Minutes, because she was either working on Godiva's or Battlestar Galactica, Leah was finally able to meet after working hours with both the casting director and Jon Avnet the director. Jon Avnet was looking for inspiration to create a more interesting opening scene, which required a dancer. After the three brain stormed together, they created a very memorable opening to the movie. Leah didn't realise until much later that she had actually booked the part as well! How did it feel to work with Al Pacino? After filming her dance scene with Pacino, Leah threw her arms in the air and announced, "I'm done! I quit! It can't get any better than this!"

Leah is one of the most friendly people I've ever met and I'm sure all fans who've ever had the joy to meet and talk to her will agree. So I'm really glad she's part of next year's Battlestar Galactica Anniversary Celebration!