Zienia Merton (1945-2018)

It's never too late to say goodbye. I believe that there's nothing wrong with paying tribute to the people that had an impact on your life---certainly those we know and love and even those we loved but never met, even if we're late doing so.



So last year we lost the actress who played a beloved supporting character, data analyst Sandra Benes, on one of your/my/our favorite Gerry and Sylvia Anderson shows, Space:1999. I'm so sorry I never got around to writing about her at that time. That actress who played Benes was the lovely, petite, exotic, Burmese-born Zienia Merton (1945-2018).



FAB FRIDAY seemed a good opportunity to celebrate her contribution to our science fiction universe and our innumerable childhood joys and memories.



Merton remained a proponent of the series long after it ended even partaking in the Space:1999 cannon-related farewell piece Message From Moonbase Alpha (1999; approximately seven minutes), written by the late, equally great Johnny Byrne (End Of Eternity, Force Of Life). Merton starred in the short returning as Benes. It was unveiled at the Space:1999 Breakaway convention in September of 1999, the same date of the series original debut with Year One's Breakaway. Fans of the series consider it to be the 49th and final episode of the series, a remote Year Three complementary segment if you will.



Merton appeared in both Year One And Year Two and is one of a handful of the cast members to do so. She was featured in 37 episodes behind only the late Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and Nick Tate for most on screen appearances. Though Merton was mishandled for Year Two and even Barbara Bain managed to keep her on board. The changes between the handling of Year One and Year Two were disappointing for Merton's character yet she remained.

For a time Message From Moonbase Alpha could only be found on the Space:1999/ UFO documentary available online through the Fanderson club. I've joined several times just to get that documentary and the slough of wonderful FAB publications that are often printed and have been put out over the years through that wonderful exclusive organization. You can have your country clubs I'll take Fanderson.



Merton guest starred in a Doctor Who story Marco Polo (1964). It was broadcast in 1964 and then went completely missing. Later, Merton returned for a BBC audio novelization of that very story in 2018, which would mark her final professional contribution before her passing. In between the Marco Polo saga, Merton retuned to the Doctor Who universe for The Wedding Of Sarah Jane Smith (2009) on The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007-2011) starring the lovely Elisabeth Sladen.

Merton also appeared on the uproarious Benny Hill (1972) and speaking of funny, funny enough she appeared on an episode of Ian McShane's Lovejoy (1986). McShane, as Space:1999 fans know, appeared as a guest star in Space:1999 episode Force Of Life (Y1, E9) opposite Merton and company.



I remember hearing of her passing in 2018 and it was definitely disappointing news as someone who holds that show so dear. It's nice to write this piece in tribute to her contribution on Space:1999, truly arguably my favorite science fiction series ever made if not in the top five.

Merton always shined on screen, with an alluring, immediate likability and enjoyed significant work on Year One episode The Full Circle (Y1, E15). And like that episode's title, and her ongoing Marco Polo engagement life begins and ends exactly that way and it has come full circle for another one we held dear, the lovely Zienia Merton. It's nice to remember her.

Merton was 72.