BIGRAT Bytes: A Tribute to Zienia Merton
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2019
- Zienia Merton is best known for her role as Sandra Benes in series one and two of Space:1999. In this week's BIGRAT Bytes, Chris looks at her life and work in Space:1999 and beyond.
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What's your favourite Zienia Merton moment? Did you enjoy this tribute to her? Let us know!
Lovely tribute
I really liked the scene in "The Beta Cloud" where she was instructing Bill Fraser how to erect an electrical barrier. It showed that she was more than an "emotional barometer". That she was also a technical expert!
Just her being there at moonbase Alpha loved Sandra xx
Very touching.. wonderful work from Chris as always! I think her book is out of print. It was available on Lulu. Hoping it will get a reprint someday.
Hard to pick a fave moment, but she was a credit to space 1999 and was totally professional in her career and a joy to watch in space 1999 , thanks for your tribute it was a fantastic job.oh don't be to hard on Millie.
I once had the good fortune to meet Zenia and I couldn't resist bringing up Space 1999. She was very gracious, lovely and unassuming. RIP
I had no idea she'd died. I always loved Sandra Benes. She was all that you say and more. Three cheers to Zenia Merton!
Zienia Merton as Sandra Benes was the backbone of the show. She had her vulnerable moments, yes. Her portrayal was full of humanity but her softer side was counterbalanced by a hidden steeliness. As Sandra, if she thought she was right, she stood her ground and she was a fierce friend who knew that you had to do the right thing no matter the cost. Her retuŕn to the character in the farewell to Alpha was spot on, like she had never been away. I found her performance completely entrancing and very moving. I don't mind admitting I shed a few tears. She brought a wonderful warmth and honesty to her performance as Sandra. As long as we can watch her, especially in series 1, she will always be with us. Gone but not forgotten.
She had the makings of a UN peace
envoy.
I was 17 when the show came on. Quickly developed a crush on her. Loved her character.
Oh, we seem the same age.
I agree with you entirely also Zienia acted the part brilliantly
Thanks for a lovely tribute.
I was always disappointed that Space:1999 rebooted so drastically for season two and never gave us resolution with Sandra and Paul - the romantic in me always wanted to see their wedding and then children. And I always looked for Sandra, and missed her when she wasn't in an episode. A lovely and talented lady.
No, I did not know that Zienia Merton had died! So very sad!!! She was my favorite as well. So many special people to me are now gone....tis a much sadder world without them!
Sad news ..RIP Zenia ..you will remain forever young in Space 1999..
She's always be on my mind forever
As Zienia's agent and close friend from 1988 until her death, many thanks for creating such a beautiful tribute to a beautiful lady. Z was an extremely modest person, and sadly I don't think she truly realised just how much she meant to so many fans worldwide. She was also exceptionally brave, and having been given a terminal cancer diagnosis never once complained or asked "why me?", but set about putting her affairs in order to leave the minimum of work for her executors. During her illness she always retained her impish sense of humour, and delighted in telling how she had gone to make arrangements for her own funeral, and when asked for the name of "the deceased" she grinned and said "ME"! Dearest Z, gone but never forgotten.
Oh well when your numbers up, then gotta go, 72 was good age to live to, so no complaints if I live to that age and in good health.
Thank you for the info., Barry. Only one question, did she ever marry?
@@Gumby56 No, Z remained single.
Thanks Barry .
Barry Langford thank you so much for taking the trouble to post this. Lovely to hear about her from her agent and friend. As has been said she was a favourite character from the show, and it is wonderful to know that her true nature came through in the character she played.
I only recently found out that she passed away last year. Have to agree, one of the memorable characters from Space: 1999. Sad to watch repeats, knowing she is no longer here. Good tribute.
*Zienia was the kind of girl you would be proud to take home to mum.*
And hide her from Dad.
"Hi, Mum, this is Sandra. We're in a relationship. Funny thing is, she works on the Moon ..."
S.I.G.
This was a perfect tribute to Zienia Merton and her character of Sondra Benes.
love Zienia RIP
Space 1999 used to scare me as a kid ...
used to watch it on my own while parents where at work :(
love the set
So sad. I had a HUGE crush on her when she was in that series. Sleep well beautiful girl! x
No one is ever really gone
As long as we remember them
@@spectre55919 Doesn't mater whether we remember them or not, not ones dies we return home , again
A very touching and fitting tribute to her. We love you, Zienia.
I remember being surprised by her appearance in an episode of "Lovejoy" where she says the line, "Beam me up Scotty!" when she wanted to evade an encounter.
Great Tribute!
Great actress! Bet she would be pleased at the fact that she is still remembered!
Wonderful tribute.
Had no ideas Zenia had passed on and this is very sad news.
Sandra was a very likeable and relatable character and despite the 'scream queen" element of some of her stories, I always saw as an intelligent strong lady and a bit of a role model.
It's testament to everyone that worked on SPACE 1999 that what they created had a profound influence on millions of little boys and girls and all these years later it's remember as fondly as STAR WARS and the Golden Era of Doctor Who which come from the same time period.
It set up a lifetime of imagination for me and many others and you cannot put a value on that kind of influence
I have tears in my eyes. To say that we won't see her again, that we won't hear from her again, her gaze open to the world has definitely closed...
I met her at a SPACE: 1999 Convention in NYC in1999-2000. I took a picture with her that I will post when I find it. With the changes to SPACE: 1999 in Season 2, I was looking for characters from Season One. I was glad that Sandra made the cut. She seemed like a nice person when I met her too.
Yeah, Sandra was my fave Space:1999 heroine, even more than Dr. Helena Russell & Maya. She was not only very pretty & attractive, she had a sense of vulnerability about her.
Cheap studio sets
RIP Z. Loved you in space 1999!
I loved Zienia's portrayal of Sandra because she was such a well rounded character. Unlike so many of the others who had one or two defining characteristics, she contained the whole range of human emotions. She used her face, her eyes so intensely to add to the character.
A fitting tribute to a fine actress. Her finest performance as Benes is in "Message From Moonbase Alpha". Rest in peace, Zienia.
I had a big crush on her too back in the day. Never wrote to her which I’m real sorry about now. I wrote a fan letter to ITC and got back some autographed photos including from her but they were generic copies.
Grazie per questo stupendo tributo a Zienia 😔
Loved the character of Sandra in "Space 1999". Her finest moment was her running around in that leopard skin outfit from the episode "The Full Circle".
😞😞😞 That is very sad news, Zienia Merton was a lovely actress and Sandra
was one of my favorite
charecters in Space 1999,
as you say she was the most human. I have her on
CD in Dr Who with
William Hartnell , Marci Polo
the first thing she ever did,
and I can hot'ly reccomend.
Paul Bacchus esq
Was so truly saddened when I initially found out Zienia had passed away. I remember watching Space:1999 as a 10yo when it first premiered and really loved the show and her character of Sandra. This was a great tribute to her, and even though I unfortunately never met her in person she really seems to have been a genuinely warm, caring and good hearted person. I will always remember her and what a lovely person and great actress she was through her work.
R.i.P Zrenia any many thanks for entertaining us. 🖖😔
Thanks for this heartfelt tribute. You made me realise for the first time that, when I watched Space 1999 as a child, it was always the character of Sandra that I looked out for. There was just something reassuring about her presence onscreen.
Truly a shame time is the true enemy. I am a big fan of the show , born in 68, for so many yrs it was hard to find the show after the first 2 eps but in 99 I was lucky and found them and now I am getting it on DVD. It's a shame every year we lose one of the actors. I really wish if done right a reboot
Very nice intro to the channel, by the way, a great retro sci-fi feel there. -- I was a kid back when Space: 1999 first aired, but I have only recently started watching / rewatching the show. It often got pre-empted back then. -- I wish they'd done more with several of the characters, including Zienia Merton's intriguing, quietly efficient character. If they'd come up with something other than "the moon breaks out of Earth's orbit" as their starting point, they'd have a good basis for a new take on the show. I know we keep hearing about tries to bring it back, but so far, none of those have worked out. I think it still has potential. -- I wish we could have seen her in many other great science fiction roles.
This tribute and the farwell. Bringing tears to my eyes thinking of it. RIP, Zienia Merton. Always in my memory. Yes, spot on!
Zienia and Prentice were my favourites on the show. Somehow it was easiest to identify with those characters, but I loved all of them. Zienia always seemed like the kindest gentlest soul on the show.
She was always my favourite character.
This was very nice Thank you
🙏 May Zeinia Merton be Blessed to a Better World & Realm ... 🕯🌷🌿🌍💖🕊
Rest in Peace Zienia, one of my favorite actresses on Space 1999. 🙏🏼❤️
Beautiful tribute, thank you!!!
Thanks for this tribute, she deserved it.
Well done.
Loved the show. still watch it. R.i.p. zienia
One my first celebrity crushes ..RIP beautiful lady
Ironically saw Zienia Merton briefly in 2003 when i when to see Dirk Benedict from Battlestar Galactica and the A-Team at a convention in Birmingham. She knew i saw her out of the corner of my eye and she smiled at me. Yes i did recognize her and acknowledged i knew who she was, and what i saw her from? But it was so very brief. I felt sad for you dude that you weren't there, as i fully agree she was a wonderful person indeed.
The convention was running late and was closing up late in the day as i finally saw Dirk. I figured i'd see her again some day but sadly this won't ever be the case again for me or anyone else. We all have these moments where we wish we could see somebody again cos time was running short but i so wished upon hearing that you never met her. That it could've been you standing behind me all those years ago man! As a fan of Space 1999 lets just say?, she technically smiled at both of us in that brief moment in time alright dude! Anyways take it easy man!
Absolutley lovely video. Thanks for that. One of my favourite characters on the show
I loved her :) The 1999 short film is a charming coda to show that was a brilliant star in TV's SF firmament.
Agree & so missed her not being in more of S2 but glad to have what we have.
I wonder why The Star Trek or Babylon 5 never picked her up as an actor to work in the franchise?
Yep she was lovely. I think she appeared in 'Eastenders' a few times, possibly in the nineties
Sad news indeed. It’s easy to forget how old these programmes are. I was in my mid teens when I first saw Space1999, and I’m 60yrs old now...Scary!
The only reason this Star Trek fan watched Space:1999, was to gaze upon the lovely face of Z!!!
Didn’t do much for me
@@jacksugden8190 sorry but for me, she was a cutie.
Fair well Zienia and thank you for being part of my happy memories from 1999. Loved your 'update' video from a few years ago which was full of warmth. Happy travels. 🎥🎥🎥
It was not until recently I found that that Zienia had died. She lived local to me just outside of Norwich. As part of my job would work round her house, she was very humble, and her proudest picture she had was her as a Simpson Character from a Episode that was personally drawn and sent to her. I miss my visits there every year.
It was one year and 1 day ago, when Ms Merton left this mortal coil - to venture forever more in our hearts aboard MoonBase Alpha.
It was also exactly 20 years ago today when that nuclear waste ignited (cough-cough... bad science, cough-cough), causing MoonBase up be jettisoned from earth's orbit.
I just found out about Ms Merton's passing (I'm a slight bit slow keeping up with current event's).
I think this was a lovely rememberance of her, and I believe the biggest tribute to the impact she had on MANY fans is that the brief 'final message from MoonBase' is spoken by Ms Merton as her beloved character. It was a touching, bittersweet farewell 🕊
What a lovely tribute. I loved Sandra very much. I was quite saddened when I learned of Zienia's passing. Sandra had an endearing quality...such a beautiful soul. I loved Zienia's performance in the Final Message. She conveyed so much emotion in such an understated way, if that makes any sense. I wish I could have met her. It was so awesome of her to send you those signed photos, which is quite indicative of the kind of person she must have been. Thanks for sharing and posting. RIP, Zienia.
I didn´t know but I love the episodes with her too
Great video,Chris!👏👏👏👍👍😎😊
She passed away in September? The video posted in late august? Clairvoyant? Or did she pass last September?
She was so cute in that show. Space 1999 was the reason I had my most memorable Christmas as a child. Growing
Up our family like many didn't have a lot of money, but our parents always made sure we had something on Christmas.
Some gifts wrapped from mom and dad. Some unwrapped from Santa. Christmas of '76 came downstairs around 5am
To find several Space 1999 toys setup on the couch with my name on them. Inc!using the Eagle ship. Some figures and
The phaser. Maybe the communicator. The lAst one could be a false memory, but that show being the reason for the
Only childhood Christmas I have detailed memories of just show how impactfull thAt show was and she was a very
memorable part of it.
This was a lovely tribute to her. I watched the show as a kid, and like other young lads, had a bit of a crush on her. Those exotic good looks and accent did something to a pre-pubesent me. Sandra was sweet and kind, which also appealed to me at the time. Thanks for my boyhood crush, Zienia! RIP.
Although Zenia Merton didn't appear in every episode of Space: 1999, her presence was huge. I also appreciated her commentary on the bonus featuretts in the remastered DVD/Blu-ray sets. Some of my favorite Zenia Merton episodes include "Full Circle," "The Last Sunset," "War Games," "Missing Link," ""Black Sun," "Testament of Arcadia," and "Breakaway" from season one, and "Beta Cloud," "Bringers of Wonder Parts 1 & 2," "The Metamorph," "Space Warp" and "The Lambda Factor" from season two. It's too bad she wasn't in the final episodes of season 2, but Alibe Parsons did a fine job.
It's kind of overlooked by some critics of the show and her character, even the writers at the time, that in order to have been selected to be part of the Alpha mission in the 1st place, her character would have needed to have been very good at her job, and to have passed the recruitment tests. You wouldn't have just gotten picked to be a Alpha Moonbase mission specialist. Zienia understood this I think, and tried hard to buck against the writers and producers line that cast should simply do as they were told. If you ask me, another little used character was Paul Morrow played by Prentice Hancock. He never saw season 2 sadly.
I think all of them were great, but yes she was a great character in space 1999
She was dull and boring
A lovely tribute too a lovely character and actress. I also saw Zienia in The Chairman with Gregory Peck
I enjoyed her role as an inland revenue inspector in an episode of Lovejoy.
Agreed - and she was still gorgeous!
Such Sad News. Rip and thanks.
Descansa en paz Zienia Merton! La dulce y bella Sandra Benes, gracias por alegrarnos con tus grandes actuaciones en la mejor serie de mí infancia Cosmos 1999! Hasta pronto Sandra Benes!
This came out the year I was born so missed it first time round..but..caught the re-runs years later as a kid..and really enjoyed them more so as an adult in recent years. They don't make em like this no more..mores the pity. This and UFO..absolute quality!!!!....
No I did not know. 😔
I did not get to see her much since the Moon traveled back into Earths Orbit. I will always be grateful for her update video produced to give the series a good conclusion. RIP moonbase alpha chicky. 😘
💔💔💔😢😢😢
R.I.P. Zienia Merton
Great video, thanks.
When she got angry in space 1999 the lunar madness.
She got the role of "Resident Screamer" in Space 1999 after throwing a hysterical wobbly when told she was going to film a scene in which a tarantula crawled up her arm, (she was incredibly arachnophobic), causing Gerry Anderson to ask if she was pregnant!
Sandra is very similiar to Kes from Voyager in that damsellish way.
Just started watching Space: 1999, and her character is rather striking: she also is one of the ones that the bob cut actually looks good on because of her naturally rounded race.
This is a gem from Norway (1977), where Zienia Merton, has a leading role. All her dialog is in english, but the main language is norwegian, and sadly, no subs...
Her caracter, is a stone cold business woman, with the purpose to make all sewage, in Norway into cosmetics. The english title of the movie, would be Something like "The Cosmetics revolution"...
czcams.com/video/lMLnwCeunKQ/video.html
or "The Revolting Cosmetics !" 😉
She was one of the few ethnic characters from that time period even though her background was never discussed and as you say more realistic than Tony, Nick, or Maya. Your passion clearly shows, thanks.
Wish I could get a copy of zienia,s book. She sounded so down too earth (no pun intended)
Zienia Merton in her furry leopardskin cave costume in The Full Circle and she also bashed the commander when he was a caveman with a rock!
@Alan Cogan Ha,ha! I hope you're not going to wear it!
@Alan Cogan 😄😄 Whatever floats your boat!
I wonder whatever happened to that costume? you never see it when they show collections of the props and costumes...@Alan Cogan
2023-02-19
You know...in that alternate time line, Sandra had a shorter/longer life. She had at least one child (damm, i have to see that episode again), and many loving days that didn't happen in the prime timeline. I'm hoping Zienia had an equally loving life.
She played Leila Khaled in a German film about the 1977 Mogadishu airliner hijack; her role consisted of her "Dying in a hail of bullets", even though Leila (a) wasn't there, and (b) is still alive; she's the Palestinian ambassador to the UN!
Godspeed ziena
One day after the Moon left Earth in the story. She died
Sure miss her in season two episodes she was not in
sadly another great actress gone.
"Zeni 💜💘 (Sandy) 💜💘. ..💔💔!!
d 🤕
Zenia was also very cute in a waifish way. Full Circle was good because we also got to see more skin.
Watching it on original broadcast it was a few episodes in before I realized she wasn't Chinese. Never seen her in anything else, was she using her natural voice?
Yes. Never dubbed
From IMDB. Zienia was born in Burma on December 11th, 1945, of an English father and a Burmese mother, Zienia lived in Singapore, then in Borneo and was schooled in Portugal. Her accent was natural.
Benes (pronounced as 'ben-nesh') is a Czech family name, by the way.
She was exotic and likable. Glad they cut all the fainting short, or she might have ended up like Dale in Flash Gordon. Dale spent most of Flash Gordon unconscious.
I have read in many places that not only Mierton but also Barbara Bain resented and fought against the depiction of the Sondra/Son (don't ask... I can't even) character as timid and skittish, prone to screams and fainting.
Freddy The Show-Killer Freiberger treated Mierton horribly.
Note name - JACK SUGDEN - If he replies to one of your comments note that it will probably be in the negative (I've read 'em).
Yes, he/she seem like a real piece of shit!
10:37 Tomorrow people...!
Did you say September 14? One day after September 13!!!
So cute, like a sci-fi Audrey Hepburn I thought as a kid.
Cannot believe she died recently. She was so sassy.
Zienia Died on September 14, 2018
It wasn’t me that ate it, a cat did it then ran away.
She got paid scale for her role so sad