The Female Stars of Star Trek: Then and Now

By: Past Chronicles Staff | Published: Jun 14, 2022

The female stars of Star Trek have always been an important part of the franchise. From the original series to The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise, the women of Star Trek have played a vital role in keeping the universe alive.

Here is a look at the female stars of Star Trek over the years. Let’s see what role made them famous and what they are up to today!

Nichelle Nichols

Then: Nichelle Nichols played Lieutenant Uhura in the original series of Star Trek. She was one of the first African American women to have a leading role on television. After Star Trek, she had roles in several movies and TV shows, including Heroes and Batman: The Animated Series.

Alamy/ Wikimedia Commons

Now: Nichelle Nichols is now 89 years old. She appeared in an episode of The Big Bang Theory in 2014 and has been a guest star on several episodes of The Simpsons. She has been a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award and has worked closely with NASA to inspire people of color to join the space program.

Kate Mulgrew

Then: Kate Mulgrew played Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager. She was the first female captain of a Star Trek series. Before Voyager, she had roles in Ryan’s Hope and Cheers.

Startrek.com/ Wikimedia Commons

Now: Kate Mulgrew is now 67 years old. She has had roles in Orange Is the New Black and Warehouse 13. She is also an active member of the Alzheimer’s Association and is a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s research.

Gates McFadden

Then: Gates McFadden is well known for her role of Dr. Beverly Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She was a doctor and chief medical officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. After Star Trek, she appeared in shows including Mystery Dance and Mad About You.

Alamy/ Startrek.com

Now: Gates McFadden is now 73 years old. She will be reprising her role as Dr. Beverly Crusher in the Star Trek series, Star Trek: Picard. McFadden will appear in an episode in 2023.

Marina Sirtis

Then: Marina Sirtis played Counselor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She was a half-human, half-Betazoid who served as the ship’s counselor. Following her success with the Stark Trek franchise, Sirtis would go on to guest star in a bunch of TV programs, including NCIS, Family Guy, and Without A Trace.

Reddit/ Getty

Now: Marina Sirtis is now 67 years old. Recently, she has taken roles in popular movies likes A Thousand Little Cuts and on the animated series Young Justice. She is also an active member of the Best Friends Animal Society.

Jeri Ryan

Then: Jeri Ryan played Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager. She was a former Borg drone who was assimilated when she was just a child. In the early 2000s she also had roles in shows like Boston Public, Shark, and Body of Proof.

Pinterest/ Getty

Now: Jeri Ryan is now 54 years old. She has recently reprised her role as Seven of Nine in the TV show Star Trek: Picard. She is an active member of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (G.L.S.E.N.), which works tirelessly to promote equality among the genders.

Whoopi Goldberg

Then: Whoopi Goldberg played Guinan in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She was a bartender on the U.S.S. Enterprise who had the ability to sense the future. After her Star Trek appearance, she would continue to have success in the industry from the 80s to present day. She starred in Ghost, Sister Act, and did voice acting in The Lion King.

Alamy/ Getty

Now: Whoopi Goldberg is now 66 years old. Today, she is likely most known for being a host of The View. Over the course of her career, Whoopi Goldberg has earned Oscars, Emmys, Grammy, and Tony Awards.

Terry Farrell

Then: Terry Farrell played Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She was a Trill who was joined with a symbiont. The symbiont had been host to several other people over the years, so Jadzia had the memories and experiences of all of them. She was a science officer who served on the U.S.S. Enterprise.

SYFY.com/ Pinterest

Now: Terry Farrell is now 58 years old. She has been a guest star on several episodes of Star Trek Renegades in 2017.

Nana Visitor

Then: Nana Visitor played Kira Nerys in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She was the first officer and Bajoran liaison on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Kira was a strong and determined woman who was always willing to fight for what she believed in. She was also fiercely loyal to her friends and family and would do anything to protect them.

Now: Nana Visitor is currently 64 years of age. In addition to her stint on Star Trek, Visitor continued in the sci-fi niche and did several episodes of Battlestar Galactica, where she played the character of Six. She also starred in the TV show, Wildfire starting in 2005.

Roxann Dawson

Then: Roxann Dawson played B’Elanna Torres in Star Trek: Voyager. She was the ship’s chief engineer and a half-Klingon, half-human. B’Elanna was a fierce warrior who always fought for what she believed in.

Pinterest/ IMDb

Now: Roxann Dawson is now 63 years old. She now has a prolific directing career, including titles such as This Is Us, House of Cards, Bates Motel, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Linda Park

Then: Linda Park played Hoshi Sato in Star Trek: Enterprise. She was the communications officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Hoshi was a gifted linguist who was able to learn any language, no matter how difficult it was.

Pinterest/ Getty

Now: Today, Linda Park is 43 years old, making her the youngest Star Trek woman of the this list. Since her work on Star Trek, Park has been on several episodes of Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, and Fairfax.