Following French and American big-screen versions, USA's La Femme Nikita (Mondays, 10 P.M.) blasts onto television with the same basic premise: A secret government organization forces a junkie to become an undercover agent. But this Nikita is toned down for TV.

Aussie newcomer Peta Wilson (right), who plays the title role, says, "In the movie, she was a killer. In the series, I'm innocent. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Why is she the right woman for the part? "I think there's an element of wildness and defiance about me that is very similar to the character of Nikita."

To appear believable, the 26-year-old trained for eight weeks before shooting began. "I went to the gun ranges, I did breaking and entering, close combat, tai chi, karate." Tough as she sounds, Wilson says she can still be dressed down by her grandmother, who is living with the actress while she is working in Toronto: "When she saw me acting, I'm like, 'Nan,what do you think?' And Nan is like, 'You've already done your Oscar-winning performances trying to get out of going to school. There's no difference except you're being paid for it now.'"