As a long-time Trekkie who’s been through the warp drives and wormholes of Starfleet’s rich history, I can confidently say that Gillian Vigman’s portrayal of Dr. T’Ana in Star Trek: Lower Decks has been nothing short of purr-fect. Her dedication to the role, from learning cat noises to giving it her all during each recording session, has truly brought this unique character to life.
In its last season, Star Trek: Lower Decks delivered a traditional tale about Dr. T’Ana and, of course, some entertainingly explicit dialogue scenes. It has been an exciting period for voice actress Gillian Vigman, who was recently questioned by TopMob about any special preparation required to voice a character from the shapeshifting feline race. Thankfully, the actress behind Dr. T’Ana didn’t disappoint and shared her process in bringing the Caitian character to life.
Before delving into “Of Gods And Angles” on Paramount+, I managed to have a chat with Vigman. Although the news that Star Trek: Lower Decks won’t be gracing our screens in 2025 left her feeling a bit down, she was more than eager to discuss her journey so far. Naturally, I was intrigued as to whether she prepared any research for portraying Dr. T’Ana as a cat. To my delight, she shared an engaging tale about it, revealing:
You know, I did. It’s so funny. No one’s asked that. I will admit that at one point I think I went on YouTube, and I literally looked up cat sounds, cat noises. I remember I was doing it at home and one of my children was like, ‘What are you doing? Why are you doing, it?’
Regardless of whether they were preparing for an upcoming Trek show or not, I would 100% call out my parents for making cat noises if I heard them. Gillian Vigman had the best reason for doing so, seeing as she ultimately bagged the role of one of the best medical officers I’ve seen in Starfleet.
Even disregarding the cat sounds, portraying Dr. T’Ana can prove demanding. Gillian Vigman admitted to TopMob that she puts her heart into it during every session, and given how intense Dr. T’Ana can become at times, this can be draining: a testament to her dedication and talent as an actress.
After each voice-over recording, I find myself feeling rather worn out and breaking a slight sweat due to my intense focus. My voice becomes strained, and I feel like I’ve just completed an exhausting workout. Following the session, I often sit in my car and think, ‘I won’t forget this for a while as it will leave me with a sore throat for roughly two days.’ Voice-over artists might argue that I’m misusing my voice, but I enjoy adding a gritty edge to my performances because I believe that reflects the character of Dr. T’Ana.
It seems unlikely that Gillian Vigman will have more opportunities to bark and shout exhaustively in future episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks, as the series concludes on Paramount+. However, there’s a possibility she could play the character in live-action at some point, given Tawny Newsome’s ongoing collaboration with Justin Simien on what could be the first live-action Trek comedy.
Vigman expressed her readiness to play Dr. T’Ana in a live-action role, despite the long hours required for prosthetics application. Let’s hope Newsome is taking note!
As we near the conclusion of “Star Trek: Lower Decks”, I find myself growing increasingly nostalgic about its journey. Initially, the concept seemed like a fusion of “Rick and Morty” with “Star Trek”, but it has evolved into something much more profound. It brought clarity to some of the bizarre moments from shows like “Voyager” and offered insights that resonated deeply with viewers, connecting with them in ways that reflect their own lives. It’s a pity to see it come to an end!
On Thursdays, Star Trek: Lower Decks keeps moving forward in its final season on Paramount+. With only a few episodes remaining until the series concludes, it’s time to catch up and prepare for the finale – unless we hear some exciting updates before the end of the year!
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2024-11-25 21:07