The actress Sharon Small is extremely pretty. The "Lynley" hair/makeup/wardrobe people transform her into the character Barbara Havers, who is plain and somewhat insecure, and who takes no trouble with her appearance.
Sharon Small does have a biggish forehead and big, wide-set eyes; those, coupled with Havers' bad haircut, contribute to the OP's unkind characterization, but I would hardly say that Havers looks like an alien.
"All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people."

Hear, hear! This infatuation with plastic-looking clones is absurd and leads to boring productions. Not to mention that most people on TV are average-looking when they don't have makeup artists, hairstylists, and lighting experts making them look good.
"All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people."

I agree. .. she is beautiful. Huge, beautiful eyes. She always looks a bit frumpy because that is the character, which she plays very well.

I think she is very pretty. She has beautiful bone structure and will still be attractive when she is 80.

People who actually take the time and effort to comment here about their own negative opinions as to any actor's looks really need to find a new pastime. If you require that all actors meet your personal criteria for "attraction," you should stick with most of the vapid material Hollywood churns out for the under-thirty set. Leave the adults to enjoy quality acting, direction and production in peace.

Yes, I think Sharon Small is prettier than the Havers we meet in the books. I find her endearing and I think her relationship with Tommy is more interesting because she's NOT a bombshell. Why do all main characters, especially women, have to be beautiful before some people will find them worth watching?

I think her deshelveness is what makes her character work. I read where the author of the Lynley mysteries thought S.Small was too pretty to play th
e part.until she saw her in character/costume

LOL i thought the same thing about Havers but, in time "I've grown accustomed to her face" she DOES have pretty green eyes

The comments are extremely shallow. Sharon Small is attractive and a gifted and extremely versatile actress the kind of actress Marilyn Monroe wanted to be when she went to New York's Actors Studio to get lessons, not just a pretty stereotype which some commenters seem to want; i.e. don't even begin to comprehend what it is for an actress to shed herself bare to take on a character.

She is often pulling strange expressions because she is "in character". She seems to hold her mouth a certain way, and have a harsh look in her eyes- excellent acting, actually. You can get a better idea of what she truly looks like when she smiles- her features are very open and bright and she is very pretty.
If you are trying to say she does not have a face worthy of television, then I think your comment is a bit shallow. So what if someone were to have three nostrils (for instance)? It's just how they were born.

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Well, judging from what I've read about her in the books, description and so on - that's the general idea, isn't it? Lynley's supposed to be the handsome one, not Havers.
I agree with the other comments here, though. Sometimes, Havers IS pretty, in a very appealing non-Hollywood kind of way. I find that very refreshing. I've had all too much of those typical stereotype "Hollywood-blondies" whom you have trouble telling apart.

Harsh
. I think she's pretty.
Don't tell me what I
can't
do.John Locke (Lost)

Ever wondered what they might look like? Some need to compensate you know?

Nice. An alien and a hedge backwards. Really nice.
Procrastination is the fine art of keeping up with yesterday.

For what it's worth, I think they mean Sgt. Barbara "Havers", played by Sharon Small.

Who is Hayer?
Procrastination is the fine art of keeping up with yesterday.

She certainly lacks charisma; Always looks as if she were pulled through a hedge backwards.