Marina Sirtis

Series: TNG, Picard, Voyager, Enterprise

Movies: Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, Star Trek: Nemesis

Character(s): Deanna Troi

Star Trek: The Next Generation

When casting Star Trek: The Next Generation, asked the exotic-looking Sirtis to audition for a role after seeing the film Aliens with Bob Justman. Sirtis and Denise Crosby initially tried out for each other’s eventual roles on The Next Generation. Sirtis’ character was going to be named Lt. Macha Hernandez, the Security Chief. Gene Roddenberry decided to switch them, and Macha Hernandez became Tasha Yar.

Deanna Troi is a half-human, half-Betazoid. Her Betazoid abilities allow her to read the emotions of others. Her position on the Enterprise-D is ship’s counselor, looking after the crew’s well-being and serving as trusted advisor to Captain Picard, with a position next to him on the bridge.

Sirtis appeared in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and her character was developed from a more passive therapist to a tougher Starfleet officer. Troi’s switching to a standard Starfleet uniform in the same season in “Chain of Command” elevated the character’s dignity in Sirtis’ eyes, and her enthusiasm in playing her, with Sirtis commenting, “It covered up my cleavage and, consequently, I got all my brains back, because when you have a cleavage you can’t have brains in Hollywood. So I got all my brains back and I was allowed to do things that I hadn’t been allowed to do for five or six years. I went on away teams, I was in charge of staff, I had my pips back, I had phasers, I had all the equipment again, and it was fabulous. I was absolutely thrilled.”

Sirtis has reprised her character in the feature films, Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek First Contact (1996), Star Trek Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek Nemesis (2002).

Star Trek: Voyager

Sirtis also appeared in Star Trek: Voyager for three episodes toward the end of the series (1999 and 2000).

Star Trek: Enterprise

Sirtis appeared in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise (2005).

Star Trek: Picard

Sirtis returned to her role as Deanna Troi in Star Trek: Picard’s episode “Nepenthe”.