As a dedicated Trekkie who has spent countless hours immersed in the galaxy-spanning adventures of Starfleet, I can confidently say that Majel Barrett is not just a star, but a luminary of the “Star Trek” universe. Her journey through the cosmos parallels that of Captain Kirk himself, spanning decades and multiple generations of fans.
Among all individuals significant to the “Star Trek” universe, none surpasses the importance of Gene Roddenberry, the franchise’s 58-year-old creator. He crafted a cosmos inhabited by valiant heroes and explorers who ventured into uncharted territories and new civilizations, forever altering science fiction in the process. This impact extended to Majel Barrett, who later became known as “The First Lady of Star Trek” after marrying Roddenberry.
Through an encounter with Roddenberry before the series commencement, Barrett discovered her starring role when she was chosen for the original “Star Trek” series as Nurse Christine Chapel following her portrayal of Number One in the show’s debut episode. Though not always at the forefront, she became a fixture in “Trek” folklore, featuring in all three seasons of the original series and “Star Trek: The Animated Series.” More recently, Chapel has resurfaced as a crucial member of Captain Pike’s (Anson Mount) team in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” with Jess Bush now embodying the character. Interestingly, Barrett is one of the rare original “Star Trek” veterans who played various roles across the franchise’s timeline.
Majel Barrett returned as the mother of Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation
In the year 1979, Barrett once more assumed the character of Chapel, now a doctor, for “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”. She reprised this role again in “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” in 1986. The following year, Barrett embarked on a new space adventure, taking on a role that would eventually win the hearts of many fans.
In nine episodes starting with the 11th episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation’s” first season, she embodied the iconic and notoriously flirtatious Lwaxana Troi, a character who was also seen in multiple episodes on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” This role, distinct from her past one, made her performances especially enjoyable for Barrett.
In a 1988 interview for the official magazine of the show (as reported by StarTrek.com), Barrett expressed that Lwaxana is a more enjoyable character for her to play and she could continue doing so convincingly due to her age. She also mentioned that she would like to carry on playing this role. However, if given the opportunity, she could easily let go of Chapel but would gladly take up the role again. Lwaxana was Barrett’s final acting role in the “Star Trek” universe, yet she had been connected to the franchise since 1966 in a significant way. Through the magic of television and film, she remained associated with it even after her death in 2008.
Majel Barrett voiced the Starfleet computer
Apart from caring for injured crew members on the Enterprise and nursing them back to health, Majel Barrett also provided the voice for the Starfleet Computer. She assumed this role since the initial “Star Trek” series, meaning it was her voice that delivered information when life signs were needed or food had to be ordered in response to the crew’s requests. This subtle detail becomes impossible to ignore once you become aware of it while watching numerous episodes of “Star Trek.”
Through Gene Roddenberry’s visionary understanding of future technology and his wife’s distinctive voice serving as a compass, key companies interested in turning his fantasies into reality contacted her years later. Before her passing in 2008, Rod Roddenberry (son of Majel and Gene) disclosed that global leaders in smart devices had attempted to collaborate with her on their projects. He recounted to Cinema Blend, “Companies actually reached out to her. I think Apple was one, and I’m certain Google did so before she died. Everyone shared the same vision: ‘Let Majel Roddenberry, the voice of the Star Trek computer, be the voice of all our automated systems.'”
Despite it not happening, Barrett’s voice continued to be heard in “Star Trek” until J.J. Abrams’ 2009 big screen reboot of the franchise. This demonstrated that, similar to her husband, the First Lady of Star Trek and her influence would resonate across space long after she was no longer present.
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2024-08-24 16:59