The Merchandise Guide
Annual 1977

Because she knows the secrets of molecular transformation, Maya has the uncanny ability to change her shape at will. To become, instantly, another human being. To turn herself into an animal of any kind. Even into a tree, a rock, or a monster. An astounding accomplishment for this beautiful alien who has become a science officer on Moonbase Alpha, her com- puter-like brain a valuable added weapon in the fight for survival of John Koenig and his people.    The search for the most favulous female of all time neces- sitated testing 154 actresses of numerous nationalities for the part - and Cahterine Schell was chosen.    This tall Hungarian-born actress won high praise for her performance in the Peter Sellers comedy 'Return of the Pink Panther' - one of the many films and television shows in which she has attracted attention.    By coincidence, her first major role in a British film was in 'Moon Two Zero', in which she portrayed a girl who went to the Moon in search of her missing astronaut brother.    Catherine is the daughter of the Baron and Baroness Schell Von Bauschlott, but her father renounced his title when the family fled to The United States during Hungary's post-war political upheaval. She was educated in Washington and New

York, then in Munich, Germany. "So," she says, "I can't help feeling that I'm aptly cast as Maya because I, too, am an alien. A foreigner in every country. I have an Americal passport and a British resident permit, but wherever I go, I can't feel that I really belong."    Catherine enrolled as a drama student after school, took part in a radio play, and made a brief appearance in a film before going to Brazil to play her first lead in 'Lana, Queen of The Amazons'. After this, she was based in Munich with her family, but filmed all over Europe and elsewhere.    Of her role as Maya, Catherine says: "I have feline looks," and my make-up is marvelous. Transforming myself into all sorts of other creatures is intriguing, and to help in these changes I have to study the animals and other creatures before- hand so that I can slip into poses which suggest them, and make the transformations appear more real. I've been learning to crouch, snarl and growl! That's something they never taught me at drama school!"    A tense moment in Main Mission for Maya -    pictured here with controller Tony Verdeschi,             played by Tony Anholt.

---