As a lifelong Trekkie with a deep appreciation for strong female characters, I can wholeheartedly say that Nana Visitor’s portrayal of Major Kira Nerys was nothing short of groundbreaking. Growing up, I found myself yearning for characters like Kira – complex, dynamic, and unapologetically themselves. Characters who were not mere props to serve the male leads but had their own goals, dreams, and agency.
Women with strength and ability play crucial roles in “Star Trek,” and among these resilient women, Major Kira Nerys from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” stands out as one who shows no mercy. Initially, the creators may have underestimated the impact of Kira Nerys, but she proved them wrong by becoming a cherished character in the franchise. Notable sites like Slate and Wired often list her among their top 10 favorite “Star Trek” crew members.
Following the conclusion of “Deep Space Nine”, actress Nana Visitor, who embodied the character Nerys, made appearances as the ruthless Madame X (also known as Elizabeth Renfro) in six episodes of the cyberpunk series “Dark Angel”, co-created by James Cameron. From 2009 to 2014, she lent her voice to various characters in “Family Guy”. Later, Visitor secured a role on Seth MacFarlane’s “Star Trek”-inspired series “The Orville”. Unfortunately, fans of both “Star Trek” and “The Orville” were let down when they learned that Visitor had been offered the role but missed out due to not being informed in time by her agent.
Over time, this performer has made appearances on several other series, such as “Battlestar Galactica,” “Torchwood: Miracle Day,” “Grimm,” and “Castle.” She’s also starred in a handful of films, including her role as Pamela Voorhees in the 2009 version of “Friday the 13th” and as an adoption agent in another Seth MacFarlane project, “Ted 2.” Notably, she returned to play Kira Nerys on a 2022 episode of “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” Currently, she’s been immersed in writing “Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek,” which the actress described as “a book exploring the women of Star Trek and their cultural impact” (via X), set for publication in October 2024.
For Visitor, Kira Nerys was a gamechanging female role
In the 1990s, many TV and movie roles for women lacked depth and complexity. However, for actress Visitor, the character of Nerys was a game-changer. Previously, all her roles were written to further develop the male characters. “I was there to help viewers understand more about the male lead,” Visitor explained. Interestingly, Nerys was written so differently that the actress initially thought it was a male role. When she discovered her error, she prepared herself to get into the character of Kira Nerys by adopting a strong mindset with the help of some Doc Martens and loud rap music. In a world filled with one-dimensional female characters, Visitor found Nerys to be a compellingly complex figure.
As I shared with TrekMovie.com, this role was unlike any character I had played before – she wasn’t just an attribute; she had aspirations, autonomy, and ambitions. It felt liberating, as if I had been freed from a confining straightjacket. Years later, inspired by the realization that many viewers resonate with characters like Nerys and the profound impact these connections can have on lives, I decided to write my book.
A visitor notes that the fresh lineup of “Star Trek” series effectively addresses the requirement for varied representation. In her conversation with Bleeding Cool, she pointed out that viewers didn’t realize the vast array of diverse groups, including numerous women and black women, who were deeply inspired by the original show.
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2024-08-25 21:59