Character Spotlight #13-Betty Howser

Meet Betty Howser

Born and raised in Subsection 17 of The Well on Jemison, Betty Howser grew up in the shadow of crime. Her parents survived as petty thieves and pickpockets, and though Betty despised the hardship it brought, she inherited their knack for cunning and survival. With time, she learned to channel those instincts into her own path. Scraping together credits, she eventually purchased her first ship, the Lucky Lu, from the Trade Authority. This vessel marked her escape from a childhood steeped in poverty and her first step toward forging her own destiny. Betty carved out a career as a bounty hunter, working independently and rejecting the constraints of organizations like the Trackers Alliance. Her jobs were often dirty, her clientele rarely noble, and her methods always efficient. In a line of work where hesitation spelled death, she earned a reputation for finishing what she started. But independence has its risks. On what seemed a routine mission—taking down a rogue pilot—Betty failed to recognize her target’s ties to the Crimson Fleet.

The pirates struck back with ruthless precision, gutting her ship, looting her cargo, and leaving her adrift above Heinlein I, powerless and close to death.

It is here, aboard the Lucky Lu, that wanderers across the Settled Systems may encounter her. Offering Ship Parts to repair her vessel allows Betty to restore her independence—and in gratitude, she will lend her skills to your crew.

Though romance is not an option with Betty, her loyalty and firepower more than make up for it. Her specialties lie in Demolitions (Rank 3), making her a deadly asset with grenades and explosives, and Missile Weapon Systems (Rank 1), providing your ship with a boost in missile efficiency.

Betty Howser embodies the life of a survivor—pragmatic, battle-tested, and unwilling to be tied down by allegiances. From the slums of The Well to the void of Heinlein I, her story reflects both the harsh realities and the resilience required to thrive in the Settled Systems. For those captains bold enough to offer her a second chance, she brings not only firepower but also the hard-won lessons of a life spent just one step ahead of death.

Meet Adrienne Barbeau, voice actor for Betty Howser

Adrienne Barbeau grew up with Armenian and French Canadian roots that gave her a strong cultural identity. Her first foray into performance came through the stage, where she quickly proved her talent. By the early 1970s, she was cast as Rizzo in the original Broadway production of Grease, a role that earned her a Tony Award nomination and marked her as a rising star.

Barbeau’s next breakthrough came on television. From 1972 to 1978, she starred as Carol Traynor on the hit sitcom Maude, playing Bea Arthur’s daughter with wit and confidence. The role made her a familiar face in American households and opened the door to a flourishing career in film.

The 1980s cemented Adrienne Barbeau as a cult cinema icon. She starred in several genre classics, including John Carpenter’s The Fog (1980) and Escape from New York (1981), both of which showcased her as a strong, commanding presence. She followed with Swamp Thing (1982), securing her reputation as one of the decade’s most enduring “scream queens.” Married to Carpenter from 1979 to 1984, she became inseparably linked with the golden era of horror and sci-fi.

Her career extended beyond live-action into the world of voice acting, where her distinctive voice made her unforgettable. She became the definitive Catwoman in Batman: The Animated Series during the 1990s, a role she reprised in multiple projects.

More recently, she carried that same power into video games, including her performance as Betty Howser in Starfield (2023), where her delivery added grit and charisma to the bounty hunter companion.

In addition to acting, Barbeau turned to writing. She released a memoir, There Are Worse Things I Could Do (2006), offering a candid and witty reflection on her career and life. She also penned several novels, beginning with Vampyres of Hollywood (2008), blending her love for genre storytelling with a sharp comedic edge.

Across more than five decades, Adrienne Barbeau has remained a figure of resilience, versatility, and cultural influence. From Broadway and sitcoms to cult horror films, animation, and video games, her career is a testament to longevity in an ever-changing industry. Whether remembered as Rizzo, Carol, Catwoman, or Betty Howser, Barbeau continues to captivate audiences with her commanding presence and unmistakable voice.