Hey there, let's talk about Kate Mulgrew, an incredible actress who’s made waves in the entertainment industry. You might know her today for her Emmy-nominated role as Red in Netflix's Orange is the New Black. But let's rewind to her earlier days when she was making history in the sci-fi world. Back in 1995, Kate Mulgrew broke barriers by being cast as Capt. Kathryn Janeway on the TV series Star Trek: Voyager. She was the first female captain in the franchise’s nearly 30-year history. At the time, it was a huge deal, even if it doesn’t seem as groundbreaking today.
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From Cinescape to Voyager: An Inside Look
Back in the day, I was the Senior Editor at a magazine called Cinescape, and Star Trek was one of my beats. This gave me the opportunity to interview Kate a number of times for the magazine, first when she was cast and then during the show's early seasons. While the show itself didn’t necessarily blow me away, I was amazed by Kate’s unwavering enthusiasm. She was an ambassador of goodwill, and she embraced her role as an inspiration to young girls everywhere with unflagging dedication. That's something truly special.
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Seven of Nine: A New Era Begins
Fast forward to the fourth season when the bigwigs decided that the show needed a ratings boost. They wanted to attract a younger male demographic, so they introduced a character known as Seven of Nine. Played by Jeri Ryan, this character was assimilated into the Borg but was rescued by Janeway and had to re-acclimate to her humanity. Jeri was dressed in a skin-tight outfit, and the numbers proved that the network’s strategy worked. I was on set right before Jeri made her debut, and I knew immediately that Star Trek was about to venture into uncharted territory.
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The Ratings Surge and the Fallout
When Seven of Nine made her debut, the ratings skyrocketed. Posters of Jeri Ryan were flying off the shelves, and she was gracing the covers of virtually every magazine you could think of. The media, as it often does, focused on the shiny new object, leaving Kate somewhat overshadowed. This shift didn't go unnoticed, and it stung. Despite this, Kate remained outwardly supportive, praising her co-star and the show. However, something definitely changed behind the scenes.
It took me about 20 years to fully realize just how much things had shifted. In 2015, my co-author Mark A. Altman and I were working on a two-volume oral history of Star Trek called The Fifty-Year Mission. For this project, we spoke to Voyager executive producer Rick Berman, who revealed the tension between Kate and Jeri. He described Kate as the "Queen of Star Trek" at that time, mingling with astronauts and influential figures like Hillary Clinton. The arrival of Jeri Ryan, with her stunning looks, seemed to steal the spotlight, creating some antagonism that lasted until the show's end.
