The Star Trek Visitor Actor Who Nearly Performed Captain Janeway Earlier than Kate Mulgrew

When “Star Trek: Voyager” was in growth in 1994, the franchise was booming. “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” was making its method to the massive display within the type of “Star Trek: Generations,” and its spinoff, “Star Trek: Deep Area 9,” was discovering its stride because it entered its third season. . “Deep Area 9,” nevertheless, came about aboard an area station, and franchise honchos felt that an extra “Trek” present ought to be created to include the extra conventional star trek. “Voyager” was put in aboard a Starfleet ship, the USS Voyager, when it discovered itself stranded 75 years from Earth.

Present creators Rick Berman, Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor, recently deceasedwhereas growing their sequence, determined that they wished the captain of the USS Voyager to be feminine, as all earlier “Star Trek” fundamental captains had been males. Captain Kathryn Janeway was created and casting started in due time. In the end, the trio selected veteran actress Kate Mulgrew for the function, and plenty of appreciated Mulgrew’s pure openness and authority; Janeway was a terrific character and Mulgrew helped her develop.

However Mulgrew was not a favourite from the beginning. Certainly, deeply rooted Trekkies will in all probability know the best way to inform you in regards to the well-known two days spent on the set of “Voyager” when the famous Canadian actress Geneviève Bujold played Janeway. Bujold, unaccustomed to working in tv, was unable to deal with the quick tempo of the sequence and her power was very low (as her surviving footage indicated). She resigned after two days and Mulgrew got here to switch her on the final minute.

Fewer will in all probability be capable to inform you a couple of third actress who was additionally significantly thought of for Janeway. It seems that Susan Gibney, who had beforehand performed Dr. Leah Brahms in two episodes of “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology,” had undergone a really lengthy audition course of for “Voyager” and was apparently near getting the place when Bujold was chosen. Gibney spoke about his many auditions in a 2014 interview with StarTrek.com.

The way in which Gibney describes it, she and Bujold had been thought of on the identical time. Bujold, being the extra well-known of the 2, appeared extra prone to get the function of Captain Janeway, however Gibney felt the showrunners had been actually concentrating on her. In any case, she was already a part of the “Star Trek” household due to her two “Subsequent Technology” episodes. Dr. Brahms, to explain to the uninitiatedwas the designer of the USS Enterprise and he or she had a rivalry with Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), the ship’s chief engineer. They’d a really awkward first assembly, as Geordi fell in love with a hologram of Dr. Brahms. Gibney was in a position to play each the hologram and the actual Leah.

Gibney was comfy with “Star Trek.” She knew the individuals concerned and was prepared to guide a brand new sequence. She was introduced again to the set of “Voyager” time and time once more to show herself. She even obtained to put on the captain’s uniform. In line with Gibney’s recollections:

“They did a full display check and introduced in the remainder of the solid and crew. We did a number of hair exams and several other costume exams, after which they introduced in the entire solid and crew. They usually did filmed many of the scenes within the pilot that day was it the primary check or the second check? I did three exams for them each time I assumed it was over. I used to be in opposition to Geneviève, I used to be in New York. [when Bujold left] and I used to be informed, ‘Susan, you need to return to Los Angeles.’ Then there was one other audition. »

Getting starring roles on main TV reveals is, after all, an extended and arduous course of that entails a number of layers of approval from all of the studio heads, however even by that evaluation, Gibney appeared to have it discovered.

Gibney remembers having to audition consecutively with a number of different actresses who she felt weren’t superb for the function. She suspected her audition companions had been strategic picks by govt producer Rick Berman to showcase her. Sadly, that did not appear to be sufficient, as Mulgrew in the end landed the job. As she remembered:

“I had an audition with one other girl, however clearly the opposite girl did not do as properly that day as she would have favored, so that they thought Rick was making an attempt to get me into the sequence by not having adequate individuals in entrance of me Then it went to the final spherical and, anyway, we all know the outcomes of that one It lasted for weeks and weeks. I used to be there and I used to be out, and I used to be on the market. was an extended course of.”

Gibney stated she acquired a form of “comfort prize” for her extended efforts. She was finally solid in a two-part episode “Deep Area 9” as Commander Erika Benteen. Within the first half, “Homefront” (January 1, 1996), she was a commander. Within the second half, “Paradise Misplaced” (January 8), the character had been promoted to Captain. She was positioned in charge of a ship named the USS Lakota.

So Gibney did not get to play Captain Janeway, however she did get to play a reputable Starfleet captain, even when it was just for one episode. And as Trekkies have fond reminiscences, she’s going to endlessly be remembered as an integral a part of “Star Trek” historical past. Moreover, many have argued that “Deep Space Nine” is the best of all the “Star Trek” series – higher than “Voyager” after all – so Gibney will at all times have one thing to brag about.