As a dedicated Star Trek fan with a soft spot for the unique characters that populate the galaxy, I must say that Yvonne Craig’s harrowing experiences with the infamous Orion makeup leave me both awestruck and amused. The sheer determination to bring authenticity to her role despite the potential health hazards is nothing short of heroic. It reminds me of a joke: “They say acting is painful, but I didn’t know it could be this literal!”
In the expansive universe of Star Trek, there are several memorable extraterrestrial beings that have left their mark. Among them are the Vulcans with pointed ears and the Klingons, who have evolved over time, and it’s not hard to identify which species hail from Gene Roddenberry’s multiverse. One particularly striking race is the Orions – aliens with a green hue that first appeared in “The Cage,” the pilot episode of “Star Trek: The Original Series.” This episode also marked Captain Pike’s tragic fate. Susan Oliver was the pioneer who brought the Orion species to life, creating an indelible impression for viewers embarking on the five-year mission. In a later episode, “Whom Gods Destroy” (Season 3, Episode 14), Yvonne Craig took up the mantle of going green, but the challenge turned challenging and even risky when no one could recall the original method for achieving this transformation.
To Pop Goes the Culture TV, Craig shared that they struggled to recall how they made Susan Oliver appear green as they attempted to replicate her look from “The Cage”. The initial attempt to recreate the appearance of the Orion people left Craig touchless because the paint came off effortlessly. They also considered using a liquid bandage, but this would necessitate acetone for removal, posing a risk to the actor during the six days of filming due to its harmful effects. Craig explained, “You’ll be left with no skin and no liver.” Interestingly, decades later, Rebecca Romijn from “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” faced a similar predicament with blue tinting while working on the 2000’s “X-Men”.
Strange New Worlds’ Rebecca Romijn got a little green after turning blue for X-Men
Back in the days of “X-Men,” it was me, Rebecca Romijn, who dared to go blue. As Mystique, I donned the iconic blue makeup from head to toe, just like my comic book counterpart. The process was a lengthy ordeal, with nine grueling hours spent applying those prosthetics and another two and a half to remove them. However, on the final day of shooting, an unexpected challenge arose – a rather intense case of the blues, if you will. In an interview with AOL, I shared that the last-minute issue left me eager for celebration… but instead, I found myself dealing with an unwelcome and vividly blue surprise.
On rare occasions, Mystique’s story has been shared. On the fateful night when we wrapped up, someone broke out tequila shots for a celebration. I took one and almost instantly vomited blue. The extended period in Mystique’s costume had caused her body paint to soak into her skin, resulting in an unexpected and shocking event. “My stomach was filled with all that blue paint,” she clarified. Despite what could have been a distressing experience for many, Romijn still cherishes the character fondly. For her, it was the most stunning costume she had ever donned. To delve deeper into some challenging wardrobe mishaps, explore other movie costumes that left actors feeling unwell.
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2024-08-20 20:59