March 11 is the birthday of three greats of 20th and 21st century Science Fiction. Writer Douglas Adams was born March 11, 1952 (he sadly isn’t with us anymore, having died May 11, 2001). Actor/dancer/singer John Barrowman was born March 11, 1967. Actress Alex Kingston was born March 11, 1963. That makes Barrowman and Kingston 54 and 58 years old respectively. Douglas Adams died at the young age of 49, and would have been 69 years old today.

Douglas Adams wrote for Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Dr. Who, but most famously The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and its sequels. He was a technophile and an environmental activist as well as a scriptwriter and novelist.

John Barrowman, MBE, played picaresque Captain Jack Harkness, first on Doctor Who, and then reprised the role in the DW spin-off Torchwood. He also played Malcolm Merlyn, the Dark Archer, on Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. He also has an extensive list of appearances on stage in London and on Broadway. He is also an author, having written two memoirs and several comic books about his character, Captain Jack.

Barrowman’s professional acting career began in London’s West End in October 1989, playing the role of Billy Crocker in Cole Porter‘s Anything Goes at the Prince Edward Theatre, alongside Elaine Paige as Reno Sweeney and Bernard Cribbins as Moonface Martin. He continued to appear in West End productions for the next decade, taking the title role of Domingo Hernandez in Matador at the Queen’s Theatre in 1991; as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1992; as Claude in Hair at the Old Vic Theatre in 1993; as Chris in Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1993; as Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre from 1994–1995; and as Beast in Beauty and the Beast at the Dominion Theatre in 1999

Barrowman has recently returned to Doctor Who in his role as Captain Jack in series 12 of the show opposite Jodie Whittaker. He has also begun working with British designer Dobell to create a new line of men’s clothing. Combining red carpet style with British Design, the “JB x Dobell” collection has been designed to make exclusive fashion achievable for everyone.

Alexandra Kingston was born in London, England and got her first television role in 1980 as Jill Harcourt on the series Grange Hill. She has graced many TV shows with her prodigous talents in both the USA and the UK since, from E.R., to Blue Bloods, to NCIS, to Marchlands. She is currently playing a leading role in A Discovery of Witches as Sarah Bishop, and had a role on Arrow as Dinah Lance, but is perhaps best known to our audience as Dr. River Song on Dr, Who.

Both Barrowman and Kingston have both been busy doing voice acting for Big Finish, creating on-going Doctor Who and Torchwood adventures.

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Susan Macdonald
Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress ”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.