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A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 1 July 2022
Sonequa Martin-Green, Kate Mulgrew share 'Star Trek' stories

By HILARY FOX heart-to-heart exchanges
Associated Press that I've had with people
LONDON (AP) — After light already, it's mind blowing.
years in space, actors "I decided to go into STEM
Sonequa Martin-Green and because of you." Or even if
Kate Mulgrew are meeting somebody just decides to
up on Earth to compare speak up for themselves in
"Star Trek" stories. one exchange — if it's posi-
Martin-Green, as Michael tive, then how grateful am I
Burnham, is at the helm of to be a part of it?
"Star Trek: Discovery" which MULGREW: Because these
is headed for a fifth season. are not conventional aspi-
While Mulgrew was the first rations. These are women
woman to lead a series on who are not aspiring to
'90s "Star Trek: Voyager" be beautiful, sexy, attrac-
and has returned to her tive to men. These are not
character, Kathryn Jane- Kardashian women. These
way, albeit as a hologram, are women who are trying
in the new animated series to inspire people to under-
"Star Trek: Prodigy." Both stand things like the prime
shows are on Paramount+. directive. Like hope. Like
In a joint interview, both science. Everything that's
captains talk about inspir- elevated, noble and rich.
ing women and why hair MARTIN-GREEN: Sacrificing
styles can be important in for the future...
deep space. Responses MULGREW: ...of the species.
have been edited for brev- It's pretty, pretty evolved.
ity and clarity. It's very, very elevated.
AP: Is there a support group AP: I did watch a video that
or WhatsApp group for "Star kept track of your many
Trek" captains? hairstyles.
MARTIN-GREEN: I should MULGREW: Outrageous.
start one because I'm go- Lost in space in the Delta
ing to get (Mulgrew's) quadrant, 75,000 light years
number for sure. We've from home, a complement
seen each other a couple of 165 crew. And all she
of times here lately doing can do is change her hair-
press and everything. And I do every ten days. Ridicu-
will be calling her up. lous. They finally let it be.
MULGREW: I look at AP: Michael's braids got
Sonequa and I can see massive positive response.
very clearly why she would MARTIN-GREEN: It meant
be a very compelling cap- a lot, because from the
tain. I don't think I need to very beginning, I was ada-
support that. That simply is. mant about having natu-
But do you mean do we ral hair, because that's a
talk about what it is to be socio-political statement
female captains? in itself. And then going to
MARTIN-GREEN: We've the braids. I love that Af-
started. Kate Mulgrew, left, and Sonequa Martin-Green pose for photographers upon arrival at the UK rocentric expression and I
MULGREW: We have and, of launch of the streaming site Paramount +, in London, Monday, June 20, 2022. love being able to see it in
course, we go to the wom- Associated Press that world and in that story.
an place. We go to the I think it has an impact be-
fact that we're raising small And Janeway couldn't first female captain, those MULGREW: Somebody sent cause, yet again, I want to
children while we're work- stand it either. Baloney. women in STEM — a lot of me an image of my grand- contribute to that kind of
ing hard. And women like AP: Sonequa, your catch- them changed their minds, daughter watching me on progression and inclusivity,
to share that conflict. We're phrase is "Let's fly." Are you reformed, reshaped their "Prodigy," and here was because we no longer are
torn. You have two children happy with that? opinions and their goals as her face (wide-eyed). And bound by the European
for whom you would easily MARTIN-GREEN: Oh, I'm so a result of Captain Jane- I thought, she has no idea standard of beauty. You
die. And then you have this happy with that. It's poetic. way. And because I saw it it's me. get to be who you authen-
career about which you MULGREW: That's wonder- directly, I was deeply and AP: Sonequa, you are a tically are and be accept-
are in expressively passion- ful. Oh, I'm enviable. directly affected by it. And woman of color running her ed.
ate. So it's a tough one to AP: How do fans respond over the years it's done own ship — how do people MULGREW: Authentic. That's
reconcile. to you? These characters nothing but evolve. Very, react? the key.
AP: Do you think your cap- inspire a lot of women, es- very few actresses have MARTIN-GREEN: The re- MARTIN-GREEN: And I love
tains would get on? pecially to go into STEM that. I've had it for over 25 sponse that I've gotten what you said about us not
MULGREW: We would get subjects. years. It's extraordinary to has been overwhelming- catering to the male gaze.
on because (Burham's) MULGREW: I've had prob- me. ly, overwhelmingly uplift- MULGREW: Well, that's
real, she's vulnerable and ably the single greatest AP: And now you've got ing. There were bits here what "Star Trek" is. If the
she's honest. No holds response from my fan a younger generation as and there that I was not captain of "Star Trek" is go-
barred. We would get on. base than any other ac- well, with "Star Trek: Prodi- surprised by. But the sto- ing... (mimes doing hair in a
It's artifice I can't stand. tress because it I was the gy?" ries that I have heard, the mirror) It's absurd.q