The mega-fit star of "La Femme Nikita" has found several sports and workouts that keep her in incredible shape, both on-screen and off.

Never understimate the power of devoted fans! That's the lesson TV network execs have learned from the USA Network's La Femme Nikita." When this program was canceled in the spring of 2000, fans barraged the network with cards and letters asking that their favorite program be returned to the schedule. The USA Network listened to the fans, and eight additional episodes wrapped up loose ends on the series.

The great news for fans of series star PETA WILSON is that she's moving on to an exciting new project. At press time, Peta was filming a pilot for NBC with a working title of "Other People". The drama is based on the real-life doings of Sheila Balkan, a Santa Monica California criminologist and private investigator.

Peta has high hopes for her new series. She describes Ms. Balkan as "an amazing woman," and recently has explained to syndicated columnists Marilyn Beck as Stacy Jenel Smith that "She's hired by prosecutors and criminal lawyers to find out exactly who (a criminal) is from eveyone and everything around him, then she forms an analysis of what his rehabilition should be...if she was an man, she's be Bogart. If she was a singer, she'd be Sinatra...She's the cowboy who rides into town, fixes it and rides out." Sounds great to us!

A Life On The Move

In "La Femme Nikita," Peta's character was constantly on the run due to her clandestine work with a government anti-terrorist agency. In real life, Peta also has been on the move, for happier reasons. Her father was in the army and as a result the native Australian spent several years in Papua, New Guinea and other South Pacific sites.

During her childhood years, Peta worked her way to to the title of Australian Interservice Champion Trailer Sailor. Her father and brother also head the same honor, and they enjoyed sailing together. Many of Peta's favorite exercise activities still revolve around water; she enjoys scuba diving, swimming and water skiing whenever she gets a chance.

Peta relocated to Los Angeles in 1991 to pursue an acting career, studying her craft and appearing in feature films before landing the role of Nikita. Getting the part neccessitated a move near the Toronto filming site - and some major body toning! An Airborne Ranger put her through four months of intense workouts to buff up her 5'10", model-perfect body for the action role. Tai Chi and boot camp-like routines were among the activities that got Peta into strong, stunning shape, and she says the serviceman who trained her "taught me to defend myself."

Shape-Ups Fit For An Action Star

While filming "La Femme Nikita," Peta made the time to get in some shape-ups in the set. She'd perform Pilates-type moves, lift five- to ten-pound weights, and use a Body Bar for exercises like biceps curls and squats. Ab crunches and wall squats would round out her ambitious routine.

At times, Peta also has attended regular yoga classes. A couple of years ago, she told USA Today writer Jefferson Graham that "I was doing yoga every morning, Then I got sick with the flu and had to give it up for a while." She swapped this mind-body exercise for another approach. "Now, I just laugh a lot and stay postitve." The actress also has hobbies that clear her mind such as working on classic cars and reading.

"I think it's important that you're doing it for yourself," Peta says about exercise. "And when you're clear and focused, then your body will follow suit." This attitude has held her in good stead during 16-17 hours days of filming "La Femme Nikita," and while working on her new venture.