uhura star trek actress 2009

an image, when javascript is unavailable

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Zoe saldana on how nichelle nichols made her feel safe to play uhura in ‘star trek’.

"We have lost a true star," said Saldaña of the groundbreaking actress who preceded her in playing the franchise character. "She’s an icon, an activist and, most importantly, an amazing woman."

By Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner

Share this article on Facebook
Share this article on Twitter
Share this article on Flipboard
Share this article on Email
Show additional share options
Share this article on Linkedin
Share this article on Pinit
Share this article on Reddit
Share this article on Tumblr
Share this article on Whatsapp
Share this article on Print
Share this article on Comment

Zoe Saldaña “knew she had big shoes to fill” when she was cast as Uhura in J.J. Abrams’ 2009 feature film reboot of the Star Trek franchise, stepping into a role made famous by Nichelle Nichols . But she found a champion in Nichols herself, who offered sage advice.

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Police clear pro-palestinian protesters from columbia university’s hamilton hall after occupation, fka twigs developing her own deepfake to interact with fans, barbra streisand surprised by backlash over her melissa mccarthy ozempic comment, ‘futurama’ getting art book treatment from abrams comicarts (first-look), warner bros. in talks to land olivia wilde, luckychap comic book movie ‘avengelyne’, anita hill on harvey weinstein reversal: “our movement will persist”.

Nichelle Nichols, Trailblazing ‘Star Trek’ Actress, Dead at 89

By Daniel Kreps

Daniel Kreps

Nichelle Nichols, the actress who played the groundbreaking role of Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series, has died at the age of 89.

Nichols’ son Kyle Johnson announced his mother’s death Sunday on her official website , writing that she died Saturday night from natural causes.

“I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years,” Johnson wrote. “The light, however, like the ancient galaxies being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration. Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.”

We’re deeply saddened to report the passing of Nichelle Nichols – a trailblazer, an inspiration, and so much more. She will be deeply missed. https://t.co/iBwyOPaxTP — Star Trek (@StarTrek) July 31, 2022

Nichols was one of the first African-American actresses to appear in a major primetime television role when she was cast to play the USS Enterprise’s chief communications officer Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series in 1966; two years earlier, Nichols appeared in a guest role on The Lieutenant , Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s first TV series.

“Lt. Uhura set the bar pretty high, and has the distinction of being a significant, integral black character at a time when that was virtually unheard in on television, let alone in sci-fi,” Rolling Stone wrote of Nichols’ character.

Nichols’ presence on television was so trailblazing and important that Martin Luther King, Jr. dissuaded the actress, who wanted to go back to musical theater, from quitting the show after its first season. “He said that Star Trek was the only show that he, and his wife Coretta, would allow their three little children to stay up and watch,” Nichols said of her meeting with King, adding that he told her “for the first time on television, we will be seen as we should be seen every day, as intelligent, quality, beautiful, people who can sing dance, and can go to space.”

Nichols remained a passenger on the USS Enterprise for the pioneering series’ entire three-season run, including an episode where her character kissed William Shatner’s Capt. James Kirk, a moment that marked one of the first interracial kisses on television.

After the show’s cancellation in 1969, Nichols remained in Star Trek ’s orbit, appearing in the first six big-screen spinoffs of the franchise and voicing the Uhura character in a mid-Seventies animated series; the Uhura character was also featured in Star Trek ‘s reboot, played by Zoe Saldana.

Fittingly, Nichols also became an ambassador for NASA, spearheading an effort to bring more women and minorities into the space program. “That legacy continues into the modern astronaut corps, where sex and color no longer matter… as it should be,” Nichols told StarTrek.com in 2012 . “I continue to be proud to have been chosen to make those first women (including Dr. Sally Ride and Dr. Ronald McNair) and minorities a reality.”

Trump’s Team Has a Plan to Ensure He Doesn’t Go to Jail for Violating Gag Order

Ted cruz wants airlines to keep your cash when they cancel your flight, kendrick did everything he needed to on ‘euphoria’, kendrick lamar brings in the ultimate age of the hater on drake diss track 'euphoria', editor’s picks, the 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history, every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term.

In 2012, Nichols was invited to meet President Barack Obama at the White House. “Obama was quoted as saying that he’d had a crush on me when he was younger,” Nichols wrote after the meeting . “I asked about that & he proudly confirmed it! President Obama also confirmed for me that he was definitely a Trekker! How wonderful is that?!”

One of my most treasured photos – Godspeed to Nichelle Nichols, champion, warrior and tremendous actor. Her kindness and bravery lit the path for many. May she forever dwell among the stars. #RIPNichelle #Uhura pic.twitter.com/nFXHif8HEC — Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) July 31, 2022

With Nichols’ death, William Shatner and George Takei are the only surviving members of the USS Enterprise’s original crew; actor Walter Koenig joined the cast in Star Trek ‘s second season.

Barbra Streisand Swears She Was Trying to Compliment Melissa McCarthy by Asking 'Did You Take Ozempic?'

By Jon Blistein

St. Vincent, Flea, Beck, and More Join John Mulaney's 'Everybody's in L.A.' Comedy Special

Hella Mulaney Friends
By Tomás Mier

Paula Abdul Settles Sexual Assault Suit With 'American Idol,' Sets Trial With Nigel Lythgoe

COURTS AND CRIME
By Nancy Dillon

John Mulaney Shares What Lorne Michaels Told Him About John Belushi: 'He Didn't Want to Die'

Caitlin cronenberg goes her own dark, dystopic way with 'humane'.

FUTURE, SHOCKED
By David Fear

Most Popular

Ethan hawke lost the oscar for 'training day' and denzel washington whispered in his ear that losing was better: 'you don't want an award to improve your status', nicole kidman's daughters make their red carpet debut at afi life achievement award gala, louvre considers moving mona lisa to underground chamber to end 'public disappointment', sources gave an update on hugh jackman's 'love life' after fans raised concerns about his well-being, you might also like, kesha joining kylie minogue and janelle monáe as a weho pride headliner (exclusive), bridal designer yumi katsura, who revolutionized the industry, dies, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, slamdance film festival leaving park city for los angeles in 2025, details matter: ncaa settling house and carter won’t end legal woes.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Search Please fill out this field.
Manage Your Subscription
Give a Gift Subscription
Newsletters
Sweepstakes
Entertainment

Zoe Saldana Mourns 'Star Trek' 's Original Uhura Nichelle Nichols: She 'Helped So Many Others Prosper'

Nichelle Nicholas was "an icon, an activist and most importantly an amazing woman ... her strive for equality was unwavering," said Zoe Saldana

Lanford Beard is the former Senior TV Editor at PEOPLE. She worked at the brand from 2015 through 2024.

Zoe Saldana has paid tribute to late Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols , who personally paved the way for herself and many actresses of future generations.

Two days after Nicholas died at the age of 89, Zaldana posted a memorial on her Instagram for the groundbreaker, who first played the role of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in the '60s sci-fi TV series. In 2009, Saldana portrayed Uhura in a big-screen Star Trek reboot, and she's gone on to play the starship Enterprise communications officer in two follow-ups, with a fourth installment expected to come.

"I'm saddened to learn of Nichelle Nichols' passing," Saldana, 44, wrote on Monday. "We have lost a true star- a unique artist who was ahead of her time always. She's an icon, an activist and most importantly an amazing woman- who blazed a trail that has shown so many how to see women of color in a different light. Her strive for equality was unwavering."

"Meeting Nichelle was truly a very special moment in my life," Saldana continued. "Her energy was infectious every time I was in her presence. She convinced me in believing that anything was achievable, if you put your heart into it. I mean, she inspired Mae Jemison to follow her dreams of becoming an astronaut and that's exactly what Mae did.

Saldana reflected on taking over such an iconic character, noting, "I knew I had big shoes to fill when I was chosen to play Uhura, and Nichelle made me feel safe, told me to play her with all the confidence in the world."

Looking forward, she wrote, "My hope is that we continue to keep her memory alive by celebrating her amazing body of work, and by spreading the message of peace and equality amongst all people. She lived a long, impactful life and not only prospered, but helped so many others prosper too."

For more on Nichelle Nichols, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

"Maya Angelou once said 'People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,'" continued Saldana. "I agree with this statement with the exception of Nichelle Nichols. It'll be hard to forget what she said and hard to forget what she did, and it will certainly be impossible to forget how she made us feel.

She concluded the post: "REST IN POWER QUEEN NICHELLE."

On Sunday, Nichols' son Kyle Johnson posted a statement via Facebook announcing the news of his mother's death.

"Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away," he wrote in part. "Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Many of her friends, fans and costars have posted tributes to her enduring legacy, with fellow Star Trek star Whoopi Goldberg taking time out on Monday's episode of The View to say a few words about Nichols' legacy and their personal connection.

"Nichele Nichols was a trailblazer, a heroine, and an extraordinary woman — somebody who inspired millions and millions of people, but who inspired me because I explained when I went to get my gig at Star Trek that Nichelle was the first Black person I'd ever seen who made it to the future," she shared.

"This show and this woman was the one beacon that said, 'Yes, we'll be there.' And it just made me feel like that was an amazing thing," added Goldberg, 66. "She helped propel other women to go into space. She was extraordinary and I was lucky enough to spend time with her over the years."

Goldberg concluded, "She was my friend. She'll be missed."

More to Explore
Series & Movies

Published Dec 28, 2023

Nyota Uhura’s Most Iconic Star Trek Moments

It’s time to celebrate the Enterprise’s communications officer.

Collage of Uhura moments featuring Zoe Saldana, Nichelle Nichols, and Celia Rose Gooding

StarTrek.com

Nyota Uhura remains a groundbreaking character even to this day. Originated by Nichelle Nichols, the communications officer of the starship Enterprise was not only a courageous and clever addition to the crew, but represented a better future for viewers. Nichols herself was asked to remain on the show by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , as he said it was one of the few shows he allowed his children to watch due to its depiction of Black characters as an equal leading character. Nichols also inspired legions of others, such as Sonequa Martin-Green, who blazed a trail as Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery .

In 2009, Zoe Saldana stepped into the role in Star Trek (2009) . She delivered an equally powerful performance, setting the stage for Celia Rose Gooding to play the role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . While Gooding’s Uhura is a cadet, she is ready to prove herself and find her place among the cosmos.

To celebrate the beginnings of Uhura’s journey, we collected a few of Uhura’s most iconic moments from across the franchise to highlight her courage, her cleverness, and her leadership.

" Charlie X ," Star Trek: The Original Series

While this episode is full of dated views on gender, it does feature a scene highlighting Uhura’s friendship with the crew, particularly Spock. In the recreation room, Spock plays the Vulcan lute as Uhura sings “Oh, On the Starship Enterprise ” for the delight of the crew. While their performance ends abruptly due to Charlie’s powers, it’s a sweet scene that not only highlights Nichols’ gifted voice but shows that Uhura is a character with multiple sides to her beyond being a gifted officer.

"Mirror, Mirror," Star Trek: The Original Series

What do you do when trapped in an alternate universe? Uhura, along with Kirk, Scotty, and McCoy, finds the answer to that question in “Mirror, Mirror.” Uhura plays a key role in getting everyone home by distracting Sulu long enough for Scotty to divert warp power to the transporters. Even though she’s nervous, Uhura still proves herself to be as capable as the other officers on the mission, and without her bravery, Kirk and his crew would still be trapped in the Mirror Universe.

"The Lorelei Signal," Star Trek: The Animated Series

When Kirk and several male officers have their life forces drained on a planet full of siren-like women, Uhura steps up to take charge. Leading an all-women landing party, she convinces the women to free her captain and crew and to stop luring men to their deaths every 27 years. She even arranges for a ship — crewed only by women Starfleet officers — to come to pick up the women and take them to a more habitable planet. This is one of the few original episodes to allow Uhura to take full command, and of course she more than rises to the occasion, resolving the problem peacefully and without losing a single crewmember.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

When she has the opportunity to help Spock come back to life, Uhura joins the rest of the crew in taking action. While her role is smaller in the film compared to her colleagues, she still gets one key and memorable scene. Uhura easily disarms and stops a young, brash Starfleet officer who’s guarding the Transporter room. “I’m glad you’re on our side,” McCoy says, and he’s right. Any side with Uhura on it? That’s clearly the winning team.

Star Trek Beyond

In the Kelvin universe, Uhura gets many opportunities to shine, but one key moment is her face-off with Krall in Star Trek Beyond . Uhura never gives up the faith that Kirk and her fellow crew members will save the day, and never displays fear or worry when Krall is threatening her. Once rescued and aboard the Franklin , it’s Uhura who is able to figure out that Krall is actually Captain Edison via the video logs left on the ship. Without her, the mystery behind Krall would have never been solved. She showcases her quick thinking to help save the day.

" Children of the Comet ," Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

On her first away mission with Spock and La'An Noonien-Singh, the Enterprise crew discover an ancient relic buried in the comet's surface that Uhura tries to communicate with in 'Children of the Comet'

"Children of the Comet"

Uhura lands an invitation to dinner at the captain's cabin where the crew gets to learn more about the cadet, with Pike noting how impressive she must be to land one of the few postings aboard the flagship Enterprise . She surprises the crew with her fluency in 37 languages, as well as her belief that she's doesn't consider herself "all that Starfleet."

Knowing Uhura's desire to study alien languages, Pike orders the cadet to join her first landing party as they survey a comet. On the comet's surface, they end up cut off from the ship's comms as they're near a volatile ancient egg-shaped relic. With time against them and a crewmember in critical condition, the away team relies on Uhura's specialty as a linguistics expert to help them out of their current predicament. As this was the first time her life was in danger; Uhura questions her presence there. When she defaults to her trait of humming when distressed, they noticed that the relic and the chamber reacting to Uhura's melody — the comet's form of communicating. As Uhura matches the comet's melodies, it lowers its force field allowing them to beam back aboard the Enterprise to save not only Sam Kirk's life as well as the lives of a neighboring planet in the comet's range.

" Subspace Rhapsody ," Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Keep Us Connected

In another music-based moment, Ensign Uhura truly shines in her solo musical number, "Keep Us Connected," as performed by the Grammy Award-winning Gooding. She details the tragedies of her life — losing her family as well as her friend and mentor, Hemmer — at such a young age, and how that grief is woven into her fabric.

Despite all this, it's her experiences that has guided her here, and towards understanding the subspace anomaly. Armed with her strengths, she inspires the entire crew into a full-blown musical ensemble, " We Are One ," saving not only the Enterprise , but all others in the surrounding area.

What’s your favorite Uhura moment? Let us know on social!

Get Updates By Email

This article was originally published on May 16, 2022.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, South Korea, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In addition, the series airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada and on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Stylized and filtered repeating images of Breen soldiers

Nichelle Nichols: 'Trailblazing' actress who played Lt Uhura in Star Trek dies

Nichelle Nichols broke racial stereotypes by sharing an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner in the show - extremely rare in the 1960s.

Sunday 31 July 2022 23:15, UK

Actor Nichelle Nichols, who found worldwide fame and led the way for black women in TV by starring in the original Star Trek TV series, has died.

Her son, Kyle Johnson, said she died on Saturday in Silver City, New Mexico. She was 89.

Her role in the 1966-69 series as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura earned Nichols great respect from the show's hardcore fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies.

It also earned her accolades for breaking racial stereotypes and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time.

**FILE PHOTO** Nichelle Nichols Has Passed Away at 89. WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 1: Nichelle Nichols at the Star Trek Renegades Premiere at the Crest Theater in Westwood, California on August 1, 2015. Credit: David Edwards/MediaPunch /IPX

"Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away," Kyle wrote on her Facebook page.

"Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration.

"Hers was a life well lived, and as such a model for us all."

More on Star Trek

**FILE PHOTO** Gary Graham Has Passed Away. HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 7: Gary Graham at the "Unbelievable!!!" Premiere and Star Trek 50th Anniversary event, at the TCL Chinese 6 in Hollywood, California on September 7, 2016. Credit: David Edwards/MediaPunch /IPX

Gary Graham: Alien Nation and Star Trek: Enterprise actor dies 'suddenly' aged 73

Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols' ashes headed for solar orbit in 'eternal memorial'

Britney Spears conservatorship: Star Trek icon Nichelle Nichols and pop-art pioneer Peter Max - is #FreeBritney just the beginning?

Screen Rant

Uhura has an “androgynous essence” in star trek 2009, says zoe saldaña.

Zoe Saldaña discusses the reception and "androgynous essence" of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies.

Zoe Saldaña describes the "androgynous essence" of Lieutenant Uhura, her energy and leadership, and how she is respected by her coworkers.
Uhura's professionalism and camaraderie contrast with Chris Pine's Captain James T. Kirk, who is more cocky and disrespectful.
The character of Uhura has been portrayed by different actors, each adding new facets to the role and contributing to the franchise's iconic characters.

Zoe Saldaña, who plays Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies, describes the iconic character’s “ androgynous essence ” in the franchise’s first reboot movie. A linguistics specialist with an aptitude for mathematics and USS Enterprise communications officer, Nichelle Nichols introduced Lieutenant Uhura to audiences in 1966. Running for three consecutive seasons until 1969, Star Trek: The Original Series cast went on to film six feature movies between 1979 and 1992 before Abrams’ 2009 movie modernized and recast the original crew. As the multilingual, eloquent Nyota Uhura, Zoe Saldaña brings inner strength, charisma, and a renewed sense of grounded independence to the character.

In Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross’ Star Trek oral history, “The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years,” Zoe Saldaña discusses the character’s interpersonal relationships with the other cast members and describes how Uhura’s “ androgynous essence ” lent to an energy that influenced the character’s reception . Saldaña addresses how the Starship Enterprise's articulate comms officer is perceived by her colleagues, how this self-awareness and internalized control drives her professionalism and camaraderie with the crew, and contrasts this against Chris Pine’s Captain James T. Kirk . Read her quote below:

There’s an androgynous essence to Uhura. Even though she’s very beautiful and her feminine presence is obvious, there’s this energy and leadership to her that sort of gives you that feeling that her sex appeal is probably observed and admired by the audience, but her coworkers just acknowledge her energy and authority. And I love that. She’s in charge of so many things and she has so much control of herself, her emotions, and she is considered capable enough to run the linguistics department on her own, and I just find that amazing. In the first movie, there’s definitely the curiosity that all the characters have for each other, because they are meeting for the first time. That’s one thing I absolutely loved. Here you’ve got Kirk, who is a very cocky young man who was born to do this. It’s a gift. Whether he wants it or not, he possesses it. Things are very easy for him, whereas a character like Uhura is someone who has had to work really hard for everything that she’s earned. There’s just an awareness of each other, and she’s, like, “Why is he so the boss of it all and so disrespectful and so funny?” And I’m pretty sure Kirk goes, “She’s sexy, she wears that little dress, she knows what she’s doing.” Maybe he’s not used to dating smart girls or something. So there’s definitely a very awesome sense of intrigue that all of the characters are possessing that I absolutely love.

Zoe Saldaña Shares How Nichelle Nichols Helped Her Play Uhura

Uhura has been played by three different actors, nichelle nichols, zoe saldaña, and celia rose gooding have all portrayed uhura.

Nichelle Nichols' pioneering performance as the brilliant communications specialist on Star Trek 's USS Enterprise infused the character with wisdom, humanity, and selected traits - she is graceful, musical, confident, intelligent, playful, and creative . Unfairly restricted due to the inequality and social attitudes of the time, the character has since seen renewal and development through portrayals by Zoe Saldaña in Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Celia Rose Gooding . With each performance drawing inspiration from Nichols's original work, Saldana and Gooding have woven complementary new facets into the role. Gooding's youthful energy adds inexperience and uncertainty, whereas Saldaña brings fearless readiness and strength.

Nichelle Nichols also voiced Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek: The Animated Series .

Each Uhura iteration lends depth and vitality to the role and builds into the majesty of the franchise's iconic characters. Celia Rose Gooding develops Nichelle Nichols' earlier performance, filling in details before Star Trek: The Original Series with familial history and formative experiences. Zoe Saldaña explores the role in a parallel universe , affected by different events and timing, offering an unwavering willingness to stand up when necessary, demonstrating persistency and a keen eye for observation. Taken alongside the character's energy and leadership skills throughout Star Trek , as commented on by Zoe Saldaña in the quote above, Uhura is definitively multifaceted with significance, depth, and room yet for even greater expression.

Source: The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years: From The Next Generation to J. J. Abrams: The Complete, Uncensored, and Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross

Star Trek (2009)

Skip to main content
Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' dies at 89

Mandalit del Barco

Nichelle Nichols made history for her role as communications officer Lt. Uhura on Star Trek. CBS via Getty Images hide caption

Nichelle Nichols made history for her role as communications officer Lt. Uhura on Star Trek.

Actress and singer Nichelle Nichols, best known as Star Trek 's communications officer Lieutenant Uhura, died Saturday night in Silver City, New Mexico. She was 89 years old.

"I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years," her son Kyle Johnson wrote on the website Uhura.com . "Her light, however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration."

Nichols was one of the first Black women featured in a major television series, and her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original TV series was groundbreaking: an African American woman whose name came from Uhuru, the Swahili word for "freedom."

"Here I was projecting in the 23rd century what should have been quite simple," Nichols told NPR in 2011 . "We're on a starship. I was head communications officer. Fourth in command on a starship. They didn't see this as being, oh, it doesn't happen til the 23rd century. Young people and adults saw it as now."

In 1968, Nichols made headlines when Uhura shared an intimate kiss with Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) in an episode called "Plato's Stepchildren." Their interracial kiss on the lips was revolutionary, one of the first such moments on TV.

Nichelle Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in TV history with William Shatner.

Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in a Chicago suburb where her father was the mayor. She grew up singing and dancing, aspiring to star in musical theater. She got her first break in the 1961 musical Kicks and Co ., a thinly veiled satire of Playboy magazine. She was the star of the Chicago stock company production of Carmen Jones, and in New York performed in Porgy and Bess .

'To me, the highlight and the epitome of my life as a singer and actor and a dancer/choreographer was to star on Broadway," she told NPR in 2011, adding that as her popularity on Star Trek grew, she was beginning to get other offers. "I decided I was going to leave, go to New York and make my way on the Broadway stage."

Nichols said she went to Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek , and announced she was quitting. "He was very upset about it. And he said, take the weekend and think about what I am trying to achieve here in this show. You're an integral part and very important to it."

The Two-Way

For mlk day: 'lt. uhura' on how rev. king told her to stay on 'star trek'.

So that weekend, she went to an NAACP fundraiser in Beverly Hills and was asked to meet a man who said he was her number one fan: Martin Luther King, Jr.

"He complimented me on the manner in which I'd created the character. I thanked him, and I think I said something like, 'Dr. King, I wish I could be out there marching with you.' He said, 'no, no, no. No, you don't understand. We don't need you ... to march. You are marching. You are reflecting what we are fighting for.' So, I said to him, 'thank you so much. And I'm going to miss my co-stars.'"

"His face got very, very serious," she recalled. "And he said, 'what are you talking about?' And I said, 'well, I told Gene just yesterday that I'm going to leave the show after the first year because I've been offered... And he stopped me and said: 'You cannot do that.' I was stunned. He said, 'don't you understand what this man has achieved? For the first time, we are being seen the world over as we should be seen. He says, do you understand that this is the only show that my wife Coretta and I will allow our little children to stay up and watch.' I was speechless."

Nichols returned to the series, which lasted until 1969. She also reprised her famous role in six subsequent feature films, including Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , where Uhura was promoted to commander .

Much More Than A 5-Year Mission: 'Star Trek' Turns 50

For years, Nichols also helped diversify the real-life space program, helping to recruit astronauts Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, Guion Bluford, and others. And she had her own science foundation, Women in Motion .

"Many actors become stars, but few stars can move a nation," tweeted actress Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman on TV in the 1970s. "Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media. Thank you, Nichelle. We will miss you."

George Takei, who costarred on Star Trek as helmsman Hikaru Sulu tweeted: "I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise," her wrote. "For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend."

He also posted a photo of his longtime friend, both of them flashing the Vulcan greeting, and these words: "We lived long and prospered together."

We lived long and prospered together. pic.twitter.com/MgLjOeZ98X — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

The Untold Truth Of Star Trek's Nyota Uhura

As a member of the original "Star Trek" crew, Lieutenant (and later, Commander) Nyota Uhura is a sci-fi legend. First appearing on television in 1966, Uhura was one of the first Black women to be depicted in a position of authority on American television. Following three seasons of the original "Trek," the character appeared in nine feature films (first portrayed by Nichelle Nichols and later by Zoë Saldana) and is about to make a more substantive return as part of the regular cast of the new streaming series "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," where she'll be played by Tony Award nominee Celia Rose Gooding.

While Uhura is practically omnipresent on "Star Trek: The Original Series" – appearing in more episodes than famous colleagues Scotty, Sulu, or Chekov — the "Trek" canon has provided scant few details about her backstory, personal life, or career apart from her decades-long tenure as Chief Communications Officer aboard the USS Enterprise. Thankfully, not only do official "Star Trek" novels and reference materials fill in some of the details, but the behind-the-scenes story of Uhura's evolution and contribution to American television has been very well documented. While we wait for "Strange New Worlds" to open a new chapter in Uhura's story, here's a quick look back at her legacy so far.

Nichelle Nichols gave Uhura her name

Actor Nichelle Nichols did more than perform the role of Lt. Uhura, she also played a substantial part in shaping and inspiring the character. According to her memoir, "Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories," Nichols and future "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry first met in 1963 on the set of his previous television series, "The Lieutenant," after which they began a months-long romantic relationship . During their time together, Roddenberry would make vague references to a science fiction project he'd been working on, which he called "Wagon Train to the Stars." Years later, while Nichols was on tour as a singer in Paris, she received a telegram from her agent telling her that she had an important audition for "Star Trek" — whatever that was.

Nichols was invited to audition for "Star Trek" before any specifics about her character had been decided. Since her part had yet to be written, she actually auditioned by reading scenes written for Spock. While waiting for her meeting with Roddenberry and his production team, Nichols was immersed in reading the novel "Uhuru" by Robert Ruark. Uhuru is Swahili for "freedom," and (according to the documentary "Woman in Motion" ) Nichols suggested that this be repurposed as her character's surname. Accounts vary as to when the first name of "Nyota" was decided upon, but it first appeared in the 1982 reference book "Star Trek II: Biographies," and did not become canon until its use in the 2009 "Star Trek" film.

Uhura's early life is yet to be depicted on screen

Most of Uhura's life before she joined the crew of the USS Enterprise has only been represented in non-canonical novels, which might be retconned by her appearances in the upcoming "Strange New Worlds." According to the novels "The Starless World" and "Catalyst of Sorrows," Uhura was born and raised in Kenya, which in the 23rd Century is part of the United States of Africa. As a teenager, she attends the Institute for Advanced Mathematics prior to being accepted into Starfleet Academy. "Beyond Uhura" explains that Nichelle Nichols and Gene Roddenberry imagined Uhura as Spock's protégé, an association that is supported by their interactions on "The Original Series" and expanded upon in the alternate "Kelvinverse" of 2009's "Star Trek" feature film.

Most non-canonical works depict Uhura's Academy years overlapping with that of her future commanding officer, James T. Kirk, and that may not be contradicted by her appearance on "Strange New Worlds." On the new series, Uhura is a fourth-year Academy cadet on assignment to the USS Enterprise. Since "Strange New Worlds" is set after the second season of "Star Trek: Discovery," it can begin no later than 2258, by which time Kirk would have already been a lieutenant serving aboard the USS Farragut — which doesn't preclude their having met there. What "Strange New Worlds" does change is that, while Kirk is the name most famously associated with the USS Enterprise, Uhura gets there first.

Uhura's job is actually really important

Lt. Uhura is unquestionably an underserved character on "Star Trek: The Original Series" and the subsequent films featuring the original cast, never getting the same spotlight as Kirk, Spock, McCoy, or even Scotty. While this is a completely fair criticism of the show, its producers and its writers, it has unfortunately led some fans and critics to diminish the character of Uhura herself and her role on the command staff of the USS Enterprise. At a glance, it's easy to see Uhura as the woman reduced to placing Captain Kirk's phone calls — after all, that's most of what she's seen doing in your average episode. While the underuse of Uhura is a glaring defect of the series, her contributions to the crew are not unimportant, merely underexposed.

As Chief Communications Officer, Uhura is the nerve center of a crew of over 400. She's a department head managing the rest of the communications staff, meaning anyone else you ever see at her post, plus other stations around the ship that we never see. She handles all inter- and intra-ship communications, including Kirk's orders from Starfleet and imperatives issued to the rest of the crew. Since the production of "Star Trek" predates our modern concept of networked computers , Uhura essentially is the network aboard the Enterprise, manually routing information across its hundreds of work consoles. Uhura being away from her station would basically be the equivalent of the internet going out on the ship.

Dr. Martin Luther King insisted Nichols remain on Star Trek

By the end of the first season of "Star Trek" in 1967, Nichelle Nichols was frustrated with how little her character actually got to do on the show. According to "Beyond Uhura," Nichols suffered a number of indignities during her time on "Star Trek" — her lines and subplots were frequently cut from the script , the studio secretly ordered the mail room not to deliver her fan letters , and studio representatives would make malicious racist comments directly to her face. Having had enough, she told Gene Roddenberry that she would be leaving the show to pursue a role on Broadway. Roddenberry asked her to take the weekend to think about it.

As fate would have it, Nichols was scheduled to attend a fundraising event for the civil rights organization NAACP the very next day. There, Nichols was introduced to "her greatest fan" — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As recalled in "Beyond Uhura" and in interviews such as this one with the Washington Post , King told her that Uhura was an indispensable role model for viewers, particularly for Black children, who needed to envision themselves in a better future. Up to this point, she admitted in the documentary "Woman in Motion," Nichols had seen "Star Trek" as just another acting job. Now enlightened to the broader impact of her presence on the show (by one of the century's most compelling leaders, no less), Nichols retracted her resignation the following Monday and would remain for the duration of the series.

Uhura and Kirk's kiss made history

In the "Star Trek" episode "Plato's Stepchildren," Lt. Uhura and Captain Kirk are telekinetically compelled to kiss for the amusement of bored aliens. This caused quite a stir on set, according to "Beyond Uhura." Episode director David Alexander still insisted on capturing versions of the scene both with and without the kiss, in case NBC affiliates refused to air a kiss between Black and white performers. Nichelle Nichols and William Shatner performed the scene with the kiss first, insisting on dozens of takes from different angles. They left time for only one take without the kiss, which Shatner sabotaged by crossing his eyes directly into the camera. This assured that the show's producers would have no choice but to use one of the takes where the pair actually kisses.

Uhura and Kirk's kiss in "Plato's Stepchildren" is sometimes cited as "the first scripted interracial kiss on television," though this is an exaggeration — it's the earliest known kiss between white and Black actors on American TV, but actors of other differing races had kissed on TV previously, and outside the United States. Strictly speaking, "Plato's Stepchildren" wasn't even William Shatner's first interracial kiss on TV, as he and French-Vietnamese actress France Nuyen kissed while performing a scene from the play "The World of Suzie Wong" on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1958. (These two events do, of course, carry different cultural connotations.) The actual earliest known kiss between Black and white actors on TV took place on British television in 1962. Nevertheless, Uhura and Kirk's kiss remains an important moment in US television history, challenging cultural taboos during one of the most tumultuous years of the civil rights movement.

Uhura finally commands the Enterprise

Though high in the command structure of the USS Enterprise, Uhura never gets the chance to sit in the Captain's chair during "The Original Series" or any of her appearances in feature films. She does, however, get to briefly take the lead in "Star Trek: The Animated Series," the brief ink-and-paint revival of "Star Trek" that aired between the cancellation of "The Original Series" and the launch of the film franchise. In the 1973 episode "The Lorelei Signal," siren-like aliens from the Taurean system transfix and incapacitate the entire male population of the Enterprise, leaving the ship's remaining female officers to rescue them. Uhura (still voiced by Nichelle Nichols) takes command of the Enterprise and leads an away team comprised of herself, Nurse Chapel, and a number of female security officers who one must assume had always been just off-screen somewhere this whole time.

It's still a sad state of affairs that the storytellers behind "Star Trek: The Animated Series" felt they needed to arrange such a contrivance to get Uhura her moment in command, as if it would take every single man on the ship to be out of commission in order for her to get her turn. (It should have taken five, tops, which is still pretty damning of the show.) Would it be too much to ask that "Strange New Worlds" find an opportunity to give Cadet Uhura another (by which we mean "previous") turn at the big chair?

The novels detail Uhura's illustrious career

"Star Trek" made the leap to the big screen in 1979 with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," in which Uhura still serves as Communications Chief aboard the refitted USS Enterprise. The classic crew mostly sticks together throughout the six films, which see the gang receive a string of promotions but still remain in their familiar posts with their found family. Uhura is last seen in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" at the rank of Commander, but still far from, well, command.

Thankfully, Uhura's journey continues in print, via the ongoing series of "Star Trek" novels. In "Vulcan's Forge," Uhura serves as Spock's first officer aboard the USS Intrepid II, where she later succeeds him as captain. The short story "The Hero of My Own Life" sees her move on to a new command, the USS Hermes, where she serves as captain for over a decade. The novel "Catalyst of Sorrows" reveals that, at some time during this command, Uhura is secretly recruited into Starfleet Intelligence, and served concurrently at both posts for a period of decades. As human lifespans are significantly longer in the future of "Star Trek," Admiral Uhura is revealed to be alive and well and still working for Intelligence during the Dominion War (concurrent with "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" ) at the age of 138. A contradictory tale in "The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard" mentions that she is elected President of the United Federation of Planets.

Nichelle Nichols changed the real-life space program

While Lt. Uhura was television's first Black astronaut, actress Nichelle Nichols leveraged her character's popularity to effect substantive change in the real-life US space program. Her involvement in real space activism began in 1975, when a NASA presentation at a "Star Trek" convention impressed upon her the homogeneity of NASA's white, male astronaut pool. Nichols decided to take it upon herself to create the change that her TV character was supposed to represent, writing editorials for newspapers and magazines questioning why the pool of American astronauts was not representative of the America around us.

These editorials got the attention of NASA, who invited her to cooperate in revamping their recruitment efforts for the upcoming class of space shuttle astronauts. Nichols agreed, but wisely did so as an independent contractor rather than as some sort of mascot. Not only did this preserve her credibility, but it also meant that she could hold NASA accountable if they didn't hold up their end — if she lined up the qualified candidates they asked for and NASA still hired only white men, she'd have the leverage to sue. Nichols spent the latter half of 1975 traveling the United States spreading her vision of the space program and personally recruiting much of the NASA Class of 1978, which would include America's first six female astronauts and first three African American astronauts.

Nichols' efforts for the space program are the center of the documentary "Woman in Motion."

Plans to bring Uhura back fell through

During the "Star Trek" renaissance of the 1980s and '90s, nearly every core member of "The Original Series" cast returned to make appearances on "Star Trek" offshoots — except for Nichelle Nichols. DeForrest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy and James Doohan each returned as special guests on "The Next Generation," Doohan joined William Shatner and Walter Koenig in the crossover film "Star Trek: Generations," George Takei and Grace Lee Whitney returned on an episode of "Voyager," but Nichols never officially reprised Uhura after 1991's "Star Trek VI." (She did appear in the unofficial miniseries "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men" produced by "Trek" alums in 2007.)

This isn't to say that Nichols was never invited to return to "Star Trek," but perhaps that no invitation was particularly enticing. In 1996, Nichols was offered a cameo in the "Star Trek: Voyager" episode "Flashback," which had a far more prominent role for her castmate George Takei as Captain Sulu. Nichols declined, feeling that her role was not significant enough to warrant her involvement. The most recent opportunity to bring Nichols back into "Star Trek" was a pitch for an episode of "Short Treks" in which an older Uhura would send a young Jean-Luc Picard on a mission. This episode has yet to be produced.

The movie reboot expands her role

In 2009, "Star Trek" was rebooted as a big-budget blockbuster film series featuring new versions of the original characters, with only Leonard Nimoy returning from the original cast as a time-displaced older Spock. Uhura, now portrayed by Zoë Saldana, had a much more prominent role in the new film series than she had previously. In addition to being depicted more explicitly as a genius polyglot whose skill with languages saves the crew on several occasions, she and James T. Kirk cross paths frequently at Starfleet Academy as Kirk is an infamous ne'er-do-well who also happens to be dating her roommate. The pair end up serving aboard the USS Enterprise together, where they eventually put aside their differences. Uhura also gets to participate more in the action-adventure side of "Trek" than her television counterpart, and has a romantic subplot with Spock that runs across all three films.

Zoë Saldana was offered the role of Uhura after already signing on to play Neytiri in James Cameron's sci-fi behemoth "Avatar." Saldana was initially hesitant to take on another demanding role with an overlapping production, prompting a summit between Cameron and "Star Trek" director J.J. Abrams to ensure that she wouldn't have to miss out on either opportunity. Saldana joined "Star Trek" with relatively little knowledge of the franchise, which is ironic — Saldana had previously portrayed a massive "Star Trek" fan in Steven Spielberg's 2004 film "The Terminal."

Uhura actress Nichelle Nichols died in 2022

Uhura will forever be hailed as an icon in the annals of science fiction history, and the character, no matter who plays her in the future, will surely continue to appear in future "Star Trek" reboots and spin-offs for as long as the franchise endures. However, as important as Uhura was to the television landscape, the woman who first brought her to life — the actor, singer, and activist Nichelle Nichols — was no less iconic.

Sadly, Nichols died on the night of July 30, 2022, as reported by Variety . Nichols had spent the last few years of her life diagnosed with dementia, per The Los Angeles Times . She is survived by her son Kyle Johnson, who was the one to reveal the news on her official Instagram account the morning after her death. There, Johnson wrote, "Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration."

International edition
Australia edition
Europe edition

Actor Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek, has died.

Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt Uhura in original Star Trek, dies aged 89

Actor achieved worldwide fame and broke ground for Black women while playing Nyota Uhura in the original TV hit

Nichelle Nichols, who played communications officer Lt Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series and helped to create a new era for television in the 1960s, has died in New Mexico at the age of 89.

Nichols’ son, Kyle Johnson, announced her death on Sunday via Facebook , saying: “I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years.” Nichols’s death, on Saturday night in Silver City, was later confirmed by her agent.

Johnson said his mother had succumbed to natural causes, seven years after suffered a stroke.

“Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from and draw inspiration.”

Nichols will be remembered chiefly for her role in the sci-fi adventure series, but she began her career as a dancer and nightclub singer.

US president Joe Biden paid tribute to Nichols, saying she “shattered stereotypes”. “Our nation has lost a trailblazer of stage and screen who redefined what is possible for Black Americans and women”.

“Our nation is forever indebted to inspiring artists like Nichelle Nichols, who show us a future where unity, dignity, and respect are cornerstones of every society.”

Co-star George Takei tweeted that his heart was heavy, “my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend” and he would have more to say soon on the “incomparable” trailblazer.

I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who passed today at age 89. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

Prominent Georgia Democrat and voting rights organizer Stacey Abrams , who is running again for the state governorship and is a longtime Star Trek fan, tweeted a picture of herself with Nichols.

“One of my most treasured photos – Godspeed to Nichelle Nichols, champion, warrior and tremendous actor. Her kindness and bravery lit the path for many,” she wrote. “May she forever dwell among the stars.”

One of my most treasured photos - Godspeed to Nichelle Nichols, champion, warrior and tremendous actor. Her kindness and bravery lit the path for many. May she forever dwell among the stars. #RIPNichelle #Uhura pic.twitter.com/nFXHif8HEC — Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) July 31, 2022

Star Trek brought Nichols enduring recognition and helped to break down some racial barriers in the television business, as they were rampant elsewhere.

She shared one of the first lip-to-lip interracial kisses on television – with co-star William Shatner, aka Captain Kirk. The kiss at the time was considered a forward-looking move on the part of the actors, as well as Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and the network that broadcast the show, NBC.

The episode in question, titled Plato’s Stepchildren, aired in 1968 and was fashioned in a way that gave those involved something of an out from any potential discriminatory backlash: Uhura and Kirk did not choose to kiss but were instead made to do so after being inhabited by aliens.

Roddenberry had reportedly insisted on an integrated crew for Starship Enterprise – a bold move given that interracial marriage was still illegal in 17 US states. Only a year earlier, Variety reported, Sammy Davis Jr had gone no further than kiss Nancy Sinatra on the cheek on Movin’ With Nancy.

Nichols as Lt Uhura in a 1968 Star Trek episode

The original Star Trek premiered on NBC on 8 September 1966. Its multicultural, multiracial cast was creator Gene Roddenberry’s message to viewers that in the far-off future, the 23rd century, human diversity would be fully accepted.

“I think many people took it into their hearts … that what was being said on TV at that time was a reason to celebrate,” Nichols said in 1992 when a Star Trek exhibit was on view at the Smithsonian Institution.

She often recalled how civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr was a fan of the show and praised her role.

She met him at a civil rights gathering in 1967, at a time when she had decided not to return for the show’s second season.

“When I told him I was going to miss my co-stars and I was leaving the show, he became very serious and said ‘You cannot do that’,” she told The Tulsa World in a 2008 interview.

“‘You’ve changed the face of television forever, and therefore, you’ve changed the minds of people’,” she said the civil rights leader told her.

Nichols said: “That foresight Dr King had was a lightning bolt in my life.”

More recently, she had a recurring role on television’s Heroes, playing the great-aunt of a young boy with mystical powers.

Nichols, trained as a dancer and also worked as a nightclub chanteuse, with the Washington Post reporting that she thought being cast in Star Trek would be a “nice stepping stone” to Broadway stage fame, not realizing that the TV show and her character would be an iconic and enduring smash hit.

Actor Wilson Cruz wrote on Twitter that “representation matters”.

Nichols “modeled it for us. With her very presence and her grace she shone a light on who we as people of color are and inspired us to reach for our potential,” he wrote . “Rest well, glittering diamond in the sky.”

Before we understood how much #RepresentationMatters #NichelleNichols modeled it for us. With her very presence & her grace she shone a light on who we as people of color are & inspired us to reach for our potential. Rest well glittering diamond in the sky https://t.co/DmeLFbg825 — Wilson Cruz (@wcruz73) July 31, 2022

The Smithsonian tweeted a picture of Lt Uhura’s iconic red mini-dress and noted that Nichols made “history for African American women in TV and film. Nichols also volunteered to recruit women and people of color for Nasa.”

Today we remember Nichelle Nichols. She starred as Lieutenant Uhura on "Star Trek" wearing this uniform now in our @NMAAHC , making history for African American women in TV and film. Nichols also volunteered to recruit women and people of color for NASA. #BecauseOfHerStory pic.twitter.com/fZZqfGlomz — Smithsonian (@smithsonian) July 31, 2022

Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, on December 28 1932. According to the National Space Society , she sang as a 16-year-old with jazz great Duke Ellington – her career getting under way at an early age – in a ballet she created, and later joined his band.

Her big break in the 1961 Chicago musical Kicks and Co. Nichols later appeared in the title role in Carmen Jones and in a New York staging of Porgy and Bess as well as in Jean Genet’s The Blacks, and landed small film roles.

Nichols was married and divorced twice, and is survived by her son, Kyle Johnson.

US television

Star Trek Day pays tribute to Uhura actress Nichelle Nichols in moving in memoriam

See how Star Trek's big day honored the late cultural icon.

Amid all the special announcements and sneak peeks at upcoming shows coming from all corners of the Starfleet universe on Star Trek Day , the Los Angeles-based event took a moment to pay tribute to Nichelle Nichols , the late actress known for playing Lt. Nyota Uhura in the original William Shatner-fronted Trek series.

Nichols' son Kyle announced his mother died from natural causes at the age of 89 in July, saying how "her light... will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration."

The United Launch Alliance announced that a portion of Nichols' cremated ashes would be spread into deep space aboard their Vulcan rocket.

Star Trek: Lower Decks actors Tawny Newsome and Paul F. Tompkins hosted the event and dedicated a moment of silence to Nichols' memory. Then Star Trek Strange New Worlds actress Celia Rose Gooding introduced a moving video honoring the late Star Trek icon.

"On Star Trek Strange New Worlds it has ben my honor to perform the role of Cadet Nyota Uhura," Gooding said. "I stand on Nichelle's shoulders, not only in portraying the character she originated and embodied but in following a path she blazed for Black women and femmes on screen and off. As I sit on the bridge of the Enterprise I feel her presence, I see her influence in those who knew her and I strive to carry the majestic legacy forward into the future she wanted for all of us."

"Nichelle Nichols was a forced to be reckoned with," Dawnn Lewis, who voices Captain Carol Freeman on Star Trek: Lower Decks , said in the tribute.

"This woman is a true hero," said Sonequa Martin-Green , who plays Captain Michael Burnham on Star Trek: Discovery .

Other voices featured in the tribute include Newsome, Gooding, Discovery and Star Trek: Picard director Hanelle Culpepper, Star Trek: Prodigy actress Kate Mulgrew, Picard 's Michelle Hurd, Trek executive producer Alex Kurtzman , and more.

"She's uncompromising in her belief that the stars should be for everybody," Kurtzman said.

The Star Trek Day festivities, which were live-streamed for fans globally on various Trek platforms, also brought looks at Star Trek: Picard season 3, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, and the animated Lower Decks and Prodigy .

Watch the Nichols tribute above.

Nyota Uhura

View history

Nyota Uhura was a female Human Starfleet officer who served from the mid- 23rd through the early 24th century . Uhura had a distinguished career as a communications officer aboard the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise -A and was later given command of the USS Leondegrance until her retirement . ( Star Trek: The Original Series ; Star Trek: The Animated Series ; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ; Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ; PIC : " The Star Gazer " commemorative plaque )

1 Childhood
2.1 USS Gallant
2.2.1 Captaincy of Christopher Pike
2.2.2.1 2266
2.2.2.2 2267
2.2.2.3 2268
2.2.2.4 2269
2.2.2.5 2270
2.2.3 Captaincy of Will Decker
2.2.4 Captaincy of Spock
2.3 USS Enterprise -A
2.4 USS Leondegrance
3.1 First Contact Day Party
3.2 Malfunctioning holoprogram
3.3 Jam session on the bridge
4.1 Interests
4.2 Talents
4.3.1 Dal R'El's Kobayashi Maru
5.2 Montgomery Scott
6.1 Romulans revealed in 2266
6.2 UEF Enterprise
7 Key dates
8.1 Appearances
8.2.1 Identifying appearances
8.2.2 Name and heritage
8.2.3 Establishing the role
8.2.4 Legacy
8.3 Apocrypha
8.4 Sources
8.5 External links

Childhood [ ]

Uhura appearing as she would as a child

Nyota Uhura was born in 2237 in Kenya on the continent of Africa on Earth , where she grew up in a village near Lake Simbi Nyaima . ( TOS : " The Savage Curtain "; SNW : " Children of the Comet ", " Those Old Scientists ") She had an aptitude for mathematics and languages. By 2259 , Uhura was fluent in 37 languages, including Andorian , Vulcan , and Swahili as well as 21 other languages spoken in Kenya. ( TOS : " The Man Trap ", " The Changeling ", " Spectre of the Gun "; SNW : " Children of the Comet ")

During her youth, she was able to run the hundred meter dash in record time . ( TAS : " The Slaver Weapon ")

Uhura's family photo

Uhura originally intended to attend the University of Nairobi , where both her parents were teachers . However, shortly before the beginning of her studies, her parents and brother were killed in a shuttle accident . She abandoned her original plans as attending the campus was too painful for her. Uhura went to live with her grandmother – who had herself served in Starfleet during her youth – and later followed in her grandmother's footsteps by attending Starfleet Academy . ( SNW : " Children of the Comet ", " Lost in Translation ")

Starfleet career [ ]

While at the Academy, Uhura wrote three papers about famed linguist Hoshi Sato of the Enterprise NX-01 . ( SNW : " Those Old Scientists ")

USS Gallant [ ]

Uhura would serve aboard the USS Gallant prior to her assignment to the USS Enterprise as a cadet . For Starfleet Remembrance Day in 2259 , she wore a pin memorializing the crewmates she had lost from this ship. ( SNW : " Memento Mori ")

USS Enterprise [ ]

Captaincy of christopher pike [ ].

Cadet Uhura's first Starfleet assignment on space duty began in 2259 when she was assigned to the USS Enterprise on communications rotation duty under Captain Christopher Pike , who described her as a " prodigy ". ( SNW : " Strange New Worlds ") In spite of this, she was concerned about whether Starfleet was the right choice for her and if she could handle the duties required of her. ( SNW : " Children of the Comet ")

Her first away mission occurred shortly thereafter, when she landed on the comet C/2260-Quentin along with Spock , La'an Noonien-Singh , and George Samuel Kirk , in an effort to prevent the comet's collision with the planet Persephone III . She was assigned to the away team due to the discovery of an artificial structure within the comet; it was hoped that her knowledge of linguistics , like Kirk's expertise in xenoanthropology , would assist in understanding its nature and averting the threat. After Kirk was severely injured and the away team was trapped, Uhura was called upon to decipher the markings on the surface of an egg-like object within the structure. Despite her misgivings and insecurity in the dangerous situation, she was inspired by a pep talk from Spock to rise to the occasion. When she hummed the Kenyan traditional song Vamuvamba as she worked, the away team realized that the structure was responding to her music . She then used her musical talent to attempt to communicate with it. After the mission, she analyzed the structure's musical response and discovered that it had precognitive ability. ( SNW : " Children of the Comet ")

The Enterprise 's chief engineer, Hemmer , would take Uhura under his wing and question her about her path in life – a question she didn't have an answer for. He reminded her of his late father, who had also pushed her to see things differently. ( SNW : " Memento Mori ", " All Those Who Wander ")

While assigned to Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh she impressed the strict chief of security with her diligence and ingenuity. ( SNW : , " Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach ")

When an alien consciousness from the Jonisian Nebula brought the fairy tale The Kingdom of Elysian to life on the Enterprise , Uhura was used for the character of Queen Neve . Uhura didn't remember the events after the ship was returned to normal. ( SNW : " The Elysian Kingdom ")

When Uhura's assignment on the Enterprise was nearing its end, she was still unsure if she should remain in Starfleet or not. She was then part of a mission to the USS Peregrine , which had made a crash landing on Valeo Beta V and was confronted by young Gorn who hunted the landing party. When Hemmer was infected by Gorn eggs and sacrificed himself for his comrades, he encouraged Uhura to open herself up to others and remain in Starfleet.

At his funeral, she acknowledged how much Hemmer meant to her and by guiding her, he had succeeded in his life goal of "fixing what was broken". ( SNW : " All Those Who Wander ")

Ensign Uhura

In the months that followed, Uhura graduated from the Academy and was commissioned as an ensign and continued to serve aboard the Enterprise . ( SNW : " The Broken Circle ")

During the Enterprise mission to the Brannon's Nebula , Uhura was contacted by a newly discovered species of extragalactic lifeform that lived there. ( SNW : " Lost in Translation ")

Sometime early in her career she once performed the delicate work of rigging a subspace bypass circuit , a fact she noted years later when she attempted to perform such a task aboard the Enterprise . ( TOS : " Who Mourns for Adonais? ")

Captaincy of James Kirk [ ]

After Pike's promotion to fleet captain , Captain James T. Kirk assumed command of the Enterprise in 2265 , with Uhura remaining for the transition. In the years that followed, she proved to be a proficient technician and was considered by Captain Kirk to be a capable and reliable bridge officer , manning the helm , navigation , and main science station when the need arose. ( TOS : " The Man Trap ", " The Naked Time ", " Balance of Terror ", " The Galileo Seven ", " Whom Gods Destroy ")

Lieutenant Uhura in 2266

In 2266 , Lieutenant Uhura was a command division staff officer aboard the USS Enterprise . She was the department head of the communications section . ( TOS : " The Corbomite Maneuver ", " Mudd's Women ")

Later that year, Uhura permanently transferred to the operations division .

On stardate 1672.1, before taking a brief on-board ship sabbatical, Uhura's voice was heard ship wide reminding her fellow crew members to file their accurate " time sheets via the communications department." ( TOS : " The Enemy Within ")

Uhura taken under the "protection" of Sulu in 2266

On stardate 1704.2, Enterprise navigator Lieutenant Kevin Riley , while under the influence of the Psi 2000 polywater intoxication , left his post at navigation and Commander Spock assigned her to the station until Lieutenant Brent relieved her from that duty later the same day.

On stardate 1704.3, Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu , also under the influence of the polywater intoxication, fantasizing himself a musketeer, took Uhura under his "protection" before first officer Spock subdued him with a Vulcan nerve pinch . ( TOS : " The Naked Time ")

Uhura loses her singing voice

On stardate 1533.7, Uhura was singing in the crew lounge with Spock's Vulcan lyre accompanying her for a song she made up about Charlie Evans , " Oh, On the Starship Enterprise ", when Charlie suddenly decided to literally take away Uhura's voice and stop Spock from playing the Vulcan lyre, because he wanted undivided attention from his love interest, Yeoman Janice Rand . Uhura then nearly choked on her own voice.

Uhura's communication console explodes

On stardate 1535.8, to keep Uhura from opening hailing frequencies to Starfleet Command to warn them about Charlie, Charlie caused electrical sparks to emit from the communications console, giving her second degree burns on her hands and causing her fall to the floor near her station. Fortunately, Dr. McCoy came with a medical bag and ointment for her hands. Charlie was ultimately taken from the Enterprise by the Thasians, who returned him to their homeworld. ( TOS : " Charlie X ")

On stardate 1709.1, Uhura also took over the navigation post when Lieutenant Stiles was needed elsewhere on the ship during the confrontation with the Romulans near the Neutral Zone . ( TOS : " Balance of Terror ")

Uhura informs Kirk and Ferris of habitable planet

Uhura, as acting science officer, discovers a Class M planet

In 2267 , from stardate 2821.5 to 2823.1, while the Enterprise shuttlecraft Galileo was studying the Murasaki 312 quasar , it was lost and then crashed on an uncharted planet . Because Spock was the commander of that mission and was not on the Enterprise , Uhura took lead in the search for the missing Galileo and took over at the bridge 's science station, as well as still helping at communications relieving Lieutenant Brent at sciences. Uhura discovered the planet Taurus II that the Galileo had crashed on. After Spock and the four other surviving crew members were found and rescued, Uhura was happy to allow Spock the science station back under his command. ( TOS : " The Galileo Seven ")

She was one of a few officers privileged to dine at a banquet arranged at the request of Lieutenant Marla McGivers for Khan Noonien Singh on stardate 3141.9.

When Khan later cut life support to the bridge, Kirk listed the names of bridge personnel to be recorded for commendations . Before Kirk ran out of air, he was able to include Uhura in that list.

Afterwards, Uhura was assembled along with several officers in the briefing room , when one of Khan's henchmen forcefully grabbed Uhura by the arm and shoved her into a chair located in front of a computer terminal. When Uhura resisted obeying Khan's orders, the henchman slapped Uhura across the face. ( TOS : " Space Seed ")

On stardate 3417.4, Uhura, under the influence of pod plant spores from the planet Omicron Ceti III , disobeyed direct orders from Captain Kirk, for the first and only time, and disabled the communications console aboard the Enterprise to only allow communications between the ship and the planet. She then left her post and her ship, to join other crew members on Omicron Ceti III. When Uhura was freed of the influence of the spores, she re-enabled the communications console to normal. ( TOS : " This Side of Paradise ")

Uhura as part of landing party that discovered the Guardian of Forever

Later that year, Uhura was part of the landing party that beamed down to the Guardian of Forever planet to find Dr. Leonard McCoy , who was in a wild state of mind due to an accidental overdose of cordrazine . Uhura was the first one of the landing party to notice that they had lost contact with the Enterprise . This was due to the fact that Dr. McCoy had run into the Guardian of Forever altering the timeline and erasing the Enterprise and everything the landing party knew becoming nonexistent. This was the only time where Uhura actually admitted to someone, specifically Captain Kirk, that she was truly frightened (without being under an influence of an alien force taking control of her mind). Fortunately after Kirk and Spock went through the Guardian of Forever and then came back from the past with Dr. McCoy they restored the time line and the existence of the Enterprise . ( TOS : " The City on the Edge of Forever ")

Uhura rewiring the communication circuits

Following a communications blackout caused by Apollo , jamming all communication frequencies between the Enterprise and her landing party on stardate 3468.1, Uhura attempted the delicate task of rewiring the entire communications system in an attempt to break through the interference. In conjunction with Sulu's rigging of all transmission circuits for maximum power generation, Uhura successfully connected the bypass circuit, a task she had not done in several years. Spock praised her work and could think of "no one better equipped" to handle the necessary repairs. ( TOS : " Who Mourns for Adonais? ")

Uhura having her memories erased by the probe Nomad

Perhaps Uhura's most traumatic experience during her time aboard the Enterprise occurred on stardate 3541.9. On this date, Uhura had her memory wiped out by the space probe Nomad , which misinterpreted her singing of " Beyond Antares " as a biological malfunction. This assault required Dr. McCoy to use advanced medical and educational techniques to restore her memories. ( TOS : " The Changeling ")

Uhura distracts the mirror universe Sulu

Later, Kirk, McCoy, and Montgomery Scott relied heavily on Uhura to help them after a transporter accident caused the four of them to be trapped in a violent and ruthless mirror universe run by the Terran Empire . They relied heavily on Uhura for her skills at communications and to distract the parallel universe's Lieutenant Sulu , the head of security on the ISS Enterprise , by spurning him, flirting with him and then spurning him, again, so he would not see what the four of them were doing to get back to their universe, which successfully they did. ( TOS : " Mirror, Mirror ")

Near the end of 2267, Uhura was reluctant to testify against Kirk, at an on-board hearing in the briefing room , but was forced to do so and could unfortunately only agree with Commodore Stocker that when Kirk was suffering from the rapid aging he was not anywhere near his best. This unfortunate incident for Uhura started on stardate 3479.4 when Kirk ordered Uhura to send a coded message to Starfleet and to use code 2 since the Enterprise in orbit around Gamma Hydra IV was close to the Romulan Neutral Zone. When Uhura reminded Kirk that the Romulans had already broken code 2, a befuddled Kirk ordered her to use code 3 and to relay the information about the rogue comet that Spock (also suffering the rapid aging) had discovered earlier and that was strongly suspected may have spread the radiation that started the rapid aging. Luckily for Uhura, the rest of the crew, and the Enterprise , McCoy (also suffering from the rapid aging) discovered an adrenaline based cure for the rapid aging before Stocker nearly got the ship destroyed by the Romulans. ( TOS : " The Deadly Years ")

Uhura with Harcourt Fenton Mudd

In 2268 , on stardate 4513.3, the ship was hijacked by Norman to a previously undiscovered planet, the Enterprise 's crew discovered that Harcourt Fenton Mudd had crashed on the planet. The planet was populated by androids , from the Andromeda Galaxy , who wished to use the Enterprise to visit other planets and strand the Enterprise crew there. The androids tempted Uhura with long life and to never grow old by having her consciousness transferred to an android body, offering her virtual immortality. In the end, the crew banded together and escaped the planet, leaving Mudd with five hundred android replicas of his overbearing wife, Stella . ( TOS : " I, Mudd ")

Uhura giving away tribbles

On stardate 4523.3, while on shore leave aboard Deep Space Station K-7 , Uhura met a dealer named Cyrano Jones , who tried to sell rare galactic items, among them, furry little creatures Jones called tribbles . In hopes of more sales, Jones gave one to Uhura, which subsequently, due to their high reproduction rate, threatened to overrun the Enterprise when Uhura took the creature with her on board. Fortunately, the crew was able to find a way to dispose of the tribbles in a humane way. ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles "; DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ")

From stardate 4040.7 to 4041.7, during the Enterprise 's mission to Planet 892-IV , Uhura monitored the radio broadcasts , she explained to Kirk and Spock what they had misheard as " sun worship " was actually "son worship", as in the " Son of God ", and what they were witnessing was the equivalent of that planet's birth of Christianity . ( TOS : " Bread and Circuses ")

On stardate 3211.8, Uhura was the victim of an attempted sexual assault . When she, Kirk, and Chekov were kidnapped and imprisoned by the Providers of the planet Triskelion , Uhura fought off the advances of the drill thrall Lars with a water pitcher. ( TOS : " The Gamesters of Triskelion ")

When the Enterprise encountered a giant space amoeba in 2268, Lt. Uhura was one of the officers named by Captain Kirk as deserving of "special citation", along with Cmdr. Spock, Montgomery Scott, Dr. Leonard McCoy, Pavel Chekov, and Lt. Kyle . ( TOS : " The Immunity Syndrome ")

In 2268 on stardate 4657.5, Uhura was on the bridge when the Kelvan Hanar suddenly transported himself on to the bridge. Uhura, along with the rest of the bridge crew, was put into temporary stasis by Hanar. This was when the Kelvan Milky Way Expedition attempted to hijack the Enterprise to return to their homeworld in the Andromeda Galaxy. On stardate 4658.9, Kelvan leader Rojan neutralized and reduced Uhura into a dehydrated porous cuboctahedron solid , the size of a Human fist, composed of Uhura's base minerals which represented the "distilled" essence of her being. Uhura was considered by the Kelvans as one of many non-essential members of personnel. Uhura was reconstituted after Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty, the only four crew members not neutralized, regained control of the Enterprise . ( TOS : " By Any Other Name ")

On stardate 4770.3, the essence of the alien Henoch , in possession of Spock's body, terrorized the whole bridge crew, inflicting tremendous pain on Uhura with a flick of Spock's hand. Uhura managed to survive and rose above the pain inflicted by Henoch. ( TOS : " Return to Tomorrow ")

When the Enterprise was temporarily placed under the control of the M-5 multitronic unit as part of an experiment by Doctor Richard Daystrom on stardate 4729.4, Uhura was one of twenty officers selected by the computer to operate the starship during the series of M-5 drills . Most of her duties were accomplished by M-5, and when its became clear that the unit was becoming increasingly dangerous, she was unable to override the interference it caused, but was able to tap into the communiques between Starfleet Command and the USS Lexington . ( TOS : " The Ultimate Computer ")

On stardate 4372.5, the Enterprise was assigned to transport Elaan , Dohlman of Elas to the planet Troyius , Uhura offered Elaan her quarters to stay in while traveling on board the Enterprise . While the Dohlman was dissatisfied with them, Kirk appreciated her sacrifice in offering them. When Kirk confronted the Dohlman about her complaints, he explained that " my communications officer generously vacated the rooms hoping you would find it satisfactory, " which she did not, primarily due to it being too plush. After Kirk denied Elaan request for better quarters, noting that none better existed, he offered to "arrange to have the whole room filled from floor to ceiling with breakable objects ," as a means of getting her the gratification she sought. ( TOS : " Elaan of Troyius ")

An image planted by the Starnes Exploration Party children in Uhura's mind, of her seeing her own worst fear of being an old woman

On stardate 5029.5, the Starnes Exploration Party children, under the influence of Gorgan , terrorized the whole bridge crew with their telekinetic powers, including creating an illusion of Uhura's worst fear: a reflection of herself as a disfigured, diseased, dying, old woman. The illusion made it impossible for Uhura to perform her duties as communications officer. Once the children were freed of the influence of Gorgan, the image planted in her brain, making her see an illusion on the communications console, disappeared, freeing Uhura. ( TOS : " And the Children Shall Lead ")

Later in 2268, on stardate 5431.4, Uhura was rendered unconscious by the Eymorg Kara when she boarded the Enterprise and used her control bracelet in order to steal Spock's brain. Later, following her recovery, Kirk trusted Uhura's finding large, regular energy pulsations on the otherwise glaciated and pre-industrial Sigma Draconis VI as to the planet in that system to find Spock's missing brain over Sulu's and Ensign Pavel Chekov 's suggestions of which planet to search for Spock's brain. Uhura's guess proved to be the correct one. ( TOS : " Spock's Brain ")

Uhura ( first row, third from left ) attends Kirk's memorial service

Again in 2268, Uhura, after attending Kirk's memorial service , was the first one of the crew to see the ghost-like image of Kirk in a mirror in her quarters. Kirk was trapped in the interphase Tholian space aboard the USS Defiant . For a short time after, Uhura thought she might be suffering from the ill mental effects of the interphase as many of her fellow crew members were. But after Scotty, McCoy, Brent, and Spock saw the ghost-like image of the interphase trapped Kirk, McCoy determined that Uhura was completely sane. ( TOS : " The Tholian Web ")

Kirk and Uhura about to kiss

On stardate 5784.2, under the influence of powerful telepaths, Uhura was forced to kiss Captain Kirk; Kirk stopped the aliens from forcing him to torture Uhura. ( TOS : " Plato's Stepchildren ")

On stardate 5710.6, Uhura was the first one on the bridge to notice the "disappearance" of Kirk after he sipped some of the Scalosian water spiked coffee , courtesy of Deela , while hyper-accelerated Kirk up to the Scalosians speed. Later, she accidentally touched the tape button from the previous Scalosian distress call , which called up an image of Deela on the viewscreen , but Kirk inquired if it was indeed not a malfunction, which Uhura comfirmed. ( TOS : " Wink of an Eye ")

Also in 2268, Uhura had trouble making Spock comprehend that she was inquiring about what happened to the Enterprise from the turbulence caused by the image of Losira appearing in the transporter room to protect the Kalandan outpost planet. She had to laugh at Spock commenting about his head hitting the captain's chair when she made the inquiry and then she had to rephrase the question. ( TOS : " That Which Survives ")

Near the end of 2268, Uhura immediately ran to the bridge's main science station after an explosion on the far side of planet Elba II had Scotty and Sulu registering it as a 9.5 earthquake . Just as with Scotty and McCoy, Uhura was as concerned about whether life still remained on Elba II as Kirk and Spock were at the Elba II asylum penal colony. Fortunately Uhura, McCoy, and Scotty's fears about Kirk and Spock being dead turned out to be unfounded. ( TOS : " Whom Gods Destroy ")

On stardate 5423.6, Uhura agreed with McCoy and Scotty that Spock should stand his ground – with Spock starting to concur with them – that he wouldn't let the evasive answers of or behavior from Ambassador Hodin , of the planet Gideon 's Council , about what happened to the missing Kirk or Admiral Fitzgerald 's trying to get Spock from insisting on getting true answers about the whereabouts of Kirk . ( TOS : " The Mark of Gideon ")

On stardate 5725.3, Uhura temporarily lost her ability to move her hands and could not open hailing frequencies to contact the Memory Alpha library when the Enterprise encountered the "lights of Zetar " beings. ( TOS : " The Lights of Zetar ")

Later in 2269, on stardate 5843.8, Uhura was miniaturized and placed into temporary stasis by Flint . After Kirk's successful plea, she was restored to normal. ( TOS : " Requiem for Methuselah ")

On stardate 5221.3, Uhura picked up a strange radio signal from a long-abandoned insectoid race's ship orbiting the dead star Questar M-17 . After Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty beamed back aboard the Enterprise from investigating the abandoned ship, the crew discovered they had also beamed aboard the same malevolent entity that had caused the insectoids' ship's abandonment. The crew, including Uhura, were temporarily taken hostage by the entity, until Kirk managed to trick it into leaving the ship and go live around Questar M-17's orbit. Scotty then used a slingshot effect to break the Enterprise free from Questar M-17's orbit. As they were leaving the stellar cluster that Questar M-17 was located in, Uhura, on stardate 5221.8, picked up one last signal from the entity, announcing it was "lonely, very lonely...." ( TAS : " Beyond the Farthest Star ")

Uhura takes charge on the planet

In 2269 on stardate 5483.7, the male Enterprise crew was incapacitated by the "siren's song" of the second planet of the Taurean system 's female population , necessitating Uhura to take command of the ship. She and Nurse Christine Chapel led an all female landing party to rescue Captain Kirk, first officer Spock and Dr. McCoy. ( TAS : " The Lorelei Signal ")

On stardate 1254.4, as the Enterprise was exploring the galactic core , the ship and its crew became caught in a matter-energy whirlwind and were thrown into an alternate universe . In that universe, the crew met a being who called himself " Lucien ". Lucien claimed that he had, at one-time, been on Earth and had met Humans before. Lucien also claimed that the Enterprise crew could perform magic in the alternate universe, with the crew being very surprised when they could. Unfortunately, Lucien's fellow Megans were not thrilled to discover that the Enterprise crew was doing just that. The Megans transported the whole crew to planet Megas-Tu and promptly put all of them, including Uhura, into 17th century style pillories, as punishment. The crew, including Uhura, were in the Megans' interpretation of 1691 Salem and were put on a similar Salem witch trial , nearly put to death courtesy of Megan Asmodeus ' prosecuting legal tactics. Fortunately, Spock, as a Vulcan defense counselor, pleaded successfully for the crew's release in that Humanity had grown away from the hatred, fear and bigotry of 1691. ( TAS : " The Magicks of Megas-Tu ")

Uhura held hostage by the Shore Leave's Planet's master computer

Uhura held hostage by the Shore Leave Planet's master computer

On stardate 5591.2, Uhura suffered the first of two assaults by a computer. Kirk took the Enterprise and its crew to the " Shore Leave Planet " in the Omicron Delta region for much-needed rest and relaxation. But unaware to the crew, the planet's Keeper had died since their last visit and the planet's master computer suffered from what amounted to its version of a mental breakdown. One of the many violations of its original protocol the planet's master computer did was to kidnap Uhura. While being held hostage in the planet's computer core, Uhura found out that the master computer decided it was time to free the individuals on the fellow computer, the Enterprise , from their being a slave to their master. Uhura reasoned with the computer and convinced the master computer that the Humans on board the Enterprise did not have that kind of relationship and, with the Humans on board needing rest and relaxation, the planet's computer itself was not being taken advantage of – but that was useful and needed purpose for it. That worked, eventually, to get the master computer to go back to its protocols, and to cease its hostile actions against the Enterprise crew. That talk also made much easier Spock's later work with the master computer to make sure something like that did not happen again, on the "Shore Leave Planet". ( TAS : " Once Upon a Planet ")

On stardate 5577.7, Uhura and the rest of the Enterprise crew were paralyzed from a flash of light coming from a planet in the Cepheus star system, after Uhura received a distress signal using a 21st century intersat code with the word " terratin " attached. The flash of light ended up shrinking Uhura and the rest of the crew to fingernail length, at one-sixteenth of an inch high. Uhura and the rest of the crew were restored to normal size via the transporter as the mutated descendants of the lost Terra 10 colony were rescued and relocated from the unstable planet. ( TAS : " The Terratin Incident ")

On stardate 5267.2, when the Enterprise went through the " Delta Triangle " space-time warp, Uhura, along with the rest of the crew, suffered from temporary vertigo . ( TAS : " The Time Trap ")

In 2269, on stardate 4187.3, Uhura was on the Enterprise shuttlecraft Copernicus , traveling with Spock and Sulu, when the Slaver stasis box they had on-board indicated the existence of another stasis box on an uncharted icy planet in the Beta Lyrae system. Uhura, Spock and Sulu discovered, in the second box, a weapon of great power. When the Kzinti traveling on the Traitor's Claw found out that the three Enterprise crew members were on the planet with such a newly discovered Slaver stasis box, they twice kidnapped Uhura and the Chuft-Captain held her hostage . Spock and Sulu were able to free Uhura by discovering new settings on the weapon, settings that tricked the Kzinti. ( TAS : " The Slaver Weapon ")

In 2270 , Uhura was again temporarily in command of the bridge when the Enterprise lost contact with Kirk and Spock, half of the ships' contact party , while exploring the surface of Delta Theta III . Per Kirk's orders of avoiding unnecessary risks, she ordered Scotty and Sulu, the other half of the contact party, to re-board the ship, contrary to their attempt to locate Spock and the captain. ( TAS : " Bem ")

Uhura, McCoy, and Sulu caught in a vicious blizzard

In 2270, on stardate 3183.3, Uhura dealt with the second assault by a computer. This time, the assault came from the Enterprise computer. Captain Kirk, to hide the ship from an attacking Romulan ship, took the Enterprise into a space cloud, not realizing that this would turn the ship's computer into a practical joker, and there were several jokes played on many crew members. To get away from the practical jokes, not realizing that the computer was the cause of the jokes, Uhura, McCoy, and Sulu decided to get themselves away from the practical jokes in the holographic recreation room . The computer first played a "practical joke" on the three of them by trapping them in a deep hole in a forest. When a security search party could not find them, the Enterprise computer's practical joker went further and trapped Uhura, McCoy, and Sulu in a raging blizzard that none of the three asked for. Fortunately, all three were found and saved, before they froze to death, by a second successful security search party. Another trip through the cloud rid the Enterprise computer of the practical joker. ( TAS : " The Practical Joker ")

Later in 2270, on stardate 5275.6, Uhura collapsed on the bridge due to the effect of the Dramia II plague . Fortunately, Dr. McCoy was able to find a cure to rescue her and the rest of the infected crew. This was the final illness Uhura suffered from during the Enterprise 's historic five-year mission. ( TAS : " Albatross ")

On stardate 6770.3, upon entering an anti-matter universe , the Enterprise crew experienced the effects of accelerated reverse aging and Uhura also was reduced to infancy. After returning the ship to normal space, the crew was able to return to their normal age by using the transporters. ( TAS : " The Counter-Clock Incident ")

Captaincy of Will Decker [ ]

Lt. Commander Uhura in the 2270s

In the mid- 2270s , Lieutenant Commander Uhura served aboard the refitted Enterprise under the command of Captain Will Decker , and later during the V'ger crisis under the command of Rear Admiral Kirk. ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

Captaincy of Spock [ ]

During the mid- 2280s , Uhura remained aboard the Enterprise , which was then attached to Starfleet Training Command , where it served as a training vessel under the commander of Captain Spock.

In March 2285 , Uhura, who was by that time promoted to commander , was a participant in Saavik 's Kobayashi Maru scenario at Starfleet Training Command . After the scenario, she served aboard the Enterprise under the command of Captain Spock.

Later, she was one of the ship's communications officers for a three week training cruise. Upon receiving a call for help from Regula I , Starfleet Command ordered an investigation by the Enterprise . With Rear Admiral Kirk assuming command, the cruise was cut short. The Enterprise became involved with Project Genesis and Khan Noonien Singh's attempt to steal the Genesis Device . Eventually, Kirk was able to stop Khan, but not before the latter had wrought extensive damage upon the Enterprise , requiring Captain Spock to sacrifice his life to save the ship. Uhura attended the funeral of Spock. ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan )

Uhura performs her part in Kirk's theft of the Enterprise

Following the return of the Enterprise to Spacedock, Uhura had requested an assignment to the Old City Station transporter room . During the planned rescue attempt of Spock from the Genesis Planet , Uhura played an instrumental role of illegally transporting Admiral Kirk and company to the Enterprise prior to its theft. ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )

Kirk and his senior staff succeeded in saving Spock, and Uhura met up with her crewmates on Vulcan . Along with the rest of the crew she traveled back to the year 1986 aboard a Klingon Bird-of-Prey – which they named the HMS Bounty – to retrieve two humpback whales to save the planet Earth from an alien probe .

Uhura and Chekov extracting protons from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise

After arriving in the 20th century , Uhura quickly located whale song coming from San Francisco .

Upon landing, she and Chekov were assigned with resolving "the uranium problem" that impeded their return to the own time. From San Francisco the two questioned a number of passersby on how to find the naval base in Alameda . That night they beamed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise stationed there and acquired the required high-energy photons from its reactor core . Uhura narrowly escaped with the collector in hand, but Chekov was captured.

Uhura monitored the local comm channels, but displayed regret for leaving Chekov behind; Kirk assured her that she did what was necessary. She eventually located him at Mercy Hospital , and following his rescue and their departure, she directed the Bird-of-Prey towards George and Gracie , after locating their signal in the Bering Sea .

Upon their return to the 23rd century, she was among the crew charged with her involvement – specifically conspiracy – in the theft of the Enterprise . However, all charges against them were dropped because they had saved the planet. She and her crew were subsequently reassigned to the USS Enterprise -A . ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

USS Enterprise -A [ ]

Uhura seduces the Paradise City Guards in the desert on Nimbus III

In 2287 , the Enterprise was dispatched to resolve a hostage situation on Nimbus III , the Planet of Galactic Peace. Under the influence of the rebel leader Sybok , Uhura, and many other crew members cooperated to divert the Enterprise to the galactic core where Sybok convinced them they would find the mythical Sha Ka Ree . In an initial attack on the rebel-held Paradise City , Uhura played a vital part by performing an erotic, moonlit fan dance on a sand dune to distract a lookout party of rebels. Her dance seduced the entire party and they were captured by Kirk and his team in order to steal their horses which they used to enter Paradise City. ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

Uhura with Chekov in 2293

In 2293 , Uhura was three months from standing down as the communications officer of the Enterprise-A . Before the Camp Khitomer crisis, she had expected to chair a seminar at Starfleet Academy . During the crisis, Uhura served as communications officer of the Enterprise -A. The Enterprise crew played a vital role in the success of the Khitomer Conference by exposing a conspiracy that sought to sabotage the peace process. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

USS Leondegrance [ ]

Sometime after the Enterprise -A was decommissioned, Uhura was promoted to Captain and given command of the USS Leondegrance . From 2301 to 2305 , Uhura and the Leondegrance carried out a five-year mission to the Lesser Magellanic Cloud , and participated in over one hundred first contact missions with the civilizations encountered there. Following the five-year mission, the Leondegrance became an Academy training ship in 2317 , with Uhura retaining command until her retirement in 2333 . During that time, many Academy cadets experienced faster-than-light travel for the first time under Uhura's command; one of these was a young Jean-Luc Picard . ( PIC : " Remembrance " Speed of Light Club certificate ; PIC : " The Star Gazer " commemorative plaque )

By the 25th century , Uhura would be honored by having a ship named after her, the USS Uhura . ( PIC : " The Star Gazer ")

Anything but canon scenarios [ ]

First contact day party.

Uhura at the First Contact Day party

According to an anything but canon account, Uhura was present along with Hemmer , Spock , Una Chin-Riley , Christine Chapel and others at a First Contact Day celebration on the Enterprise.

Although the captain originally assigned Hemmer to emcee this event, he turned it over to Spock , who might have a better idea of what to do since he's technically both Human and Vulcan . After all, First Contact day was all about first contact between those two species .

Spock then begins by playing a variety of bloopers from a blooper reel that he compiled together. These bloopers were very much offensive, since they resulted in the deaths of various Starfleet officers . This was upsetting to the other crewmembers . Uhura even told him that bloopers shouldn't have an in memoriam .

She goes onto explain that a blooper should be about a person walking into a door and slamming into it because it failed to open automatically like it's designed to do, or someone accidentally mispronouncing " Spock " as " Spork ." Inspired by her words , he decides to try one last clip, which featured an ensign who had space diarrhea running through the corridor along a freshly mopped floor . He slips and and rams his genitals into the mop and then farts . Uhura then tells Spock that this clip was perfect. ( VST : " Holiday Party ")

Malfunctioning holoprogram

Nyota Uhura (Holograms All the Way Down)

Uhura hologram 1

Nyota Uhura (Holograms All the Way Down) 2

Uhura hologram 2

According to an unreliable and unverified account, two different holograms of Uhura were present in the narrative of a nonsensical or malfunctioning holoprogram .

The first version of Nyota Uhura to appear in this program appeared alongside her fellow crewmate , Hikaru Sulu . They were shown to be in the rec room in Area 39 of the USS Enterprise . They were running a program about Gwyndala , Zero and Rok-Tahk . Sulu was annoyed with the nonsensical nature of the program, and he stopped the program, saying that he was sick of the nonsense. He and Uhura then began to leave the rec room, but the were frozen in place when Saru called out to the computer , saying: "Computer, end simulation ."

Uhura appeared in the same malfunctioning holoprogram later on during the program. This time it began on as a scene on the USS Voyager , where Neelix was watching a holonovel on his PADD . He finally decides that he's seen enough silly stories for one night , and so he puts his PADD down, and lies down, going to sleep . The scene turns quiet for a second, until the voice of Charles Tucker III could be heard trying to pause the playback .

Then the shocking reveal, was that he wasn't really Tucker at all, but just a head on a holographic five-headed monster . The other four heads were holographic images of the heads of William T. Riker , T'Pol and Spock . Uhura's head was likewise part of the holo-monster. This time the computer itself calls out to pause the program, and the holographic monster was frozen in place. ( VST : " Holograms All the Way Down ")

Jam session on the bridge

Uhura on the viewscreen

In another anything but canon account, there was a party on the bridge of the Enterprise in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the TOS era crew 's cartoon show .

To celebrate, William T. Riker brought his trombone and Hikaru Sulu brought his keyboard , so that they could play some Post Mainframe Acid-Cardassian Ten Forwardcore music . As they began their song , other band members joined in. Scotty played the drums , Arex was on the double guitar , M'Ress played the tambourine and D'Vana Tendi provided backup vocals .

Clips from the animated series were shown on screen during their song . Uhura could be seen at her communications station at one point. Eventually, the song ends when a fleet of D7 class Klingon battle cruisers attack the ship , causing an explosion on the bridge . ( VST : " Walk, Don't Run ")

Personal life [ ]

Interests [ ].

Uhura off-duty in her quarters

Uhura was proud of her African heritage. In fact, she decorated her personal living quarters aboard the Enterprise with a zebra -skin bedspread, some African sculptures and masks, and wall panels containing African images. ( TOS : " The Tholian Web ")

After Uhura offered her quarters for Elaan in 2268, the offended Dohlman referenced her treatment by being placed in Uhura's quarters, complaining " am I a soft Troyian fawn to need pillows to sit on? " Her review of Uhura's decor was, " and these ridiculous female trappings. They are an offense to my eyes . " When Elaan later questioned if Kirk was going to fulfill her request for new quarters, Kirk replied, " There are none better. I suggest you make do with these. " ( TOS : " Elaan of Troyius ")

Talents [ ]

Uhura was also talented in music , and had a " bad habit " of humming . In 2259 , however, her humming of the Kenyan folk song " Vamuvamba " led to the serendipitous discovery that the M'hanit communicated through music. On this occasion she also used her knowledge of musical theory to benefit the mission. ( SNW : " Children of the Comet ")

She was well-known among her fellow Enterprise colleagues for entertaining them with her singing talent, including her own renditions of songs, such as " Oh, On the Starship Enterprise ". ( TOS : " Charlie X ")

One of Uhura's favorite love songs to sing was the song " Beyond Antares ". She chose the song in response to a request made by Kevin Riley, who was on duty alone in engineering , and who wanted to be reassured that he was not the only living thing left in the universe. ( TOS : " The Conscience of the King ") She also sang it while on bridge duty the following year. Her performance led to the incident that triggering Nomad 's assault on her. ( TOS : " The Changeling ")

She also hummed a tune while she relaxed planet-side during the Enterprise ' second visit to the Shore Leave Planet. ( TAS : " Once Upon a Planet ")

Holograms [ ]

Dal r'el's kobayashi maru [ ].

A holographic Uhura

During Dal 's setup of the Kobayashi Maru scenario aboard the USS Protostar in 2383 , he requested that the computer select the best officers on his behalf, which included a holographic version of Communications Officer Uhura, from the TOS era , as a member of his command crew. ( PRO : " Kobayashi ")

Relationships [ ]

Spock reunited with his shipmates

Throughout their years of serving together, Uhura developed a strong friendship with the other members of the Enterprise senior staff. In 2285 , she helped Kirk without hesitation in his quest to find peace for Spock 's katra . When the other crew members had recovered Spock's body from the Genesis Planet, Uhura had been waiting for them on Vulcan and witnessed the fal-tor-pan ritual being performed on Spock. ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )

Spock and Uhura make music together in the recreation room

Near the beginning of her service aboard the Enterprise , Uhura attempted to reach the Human side of Spock.

On stardate 1513.1, she tried to start a conversation with a sardonic Spock and asked him how Vulcan looked when its moon was full. When Spock mentioned to her that Vulcan has no moon, she expressed little surprise at his lack of romanticism. She was also amazed that Spock lacked any curiosity with regard to the identity of a dead officer on planet M-113 . ( TOS : " The Man Trap ")

Soon afterward, when Charles Evans was aboard the Enterprise , Uhura and Spock entertained the crew together in the recreation room on stardate 1533.6. With Spock on the Vulcan harp , Uhura sang two versions of the improvised song Oh, On the Starship Enterprise , one about Spock, the second about Evans (which caused Evans to make her temporarily lose her voice). ( TOS : " Charlie X ")

In the alternate reality , Uhura and Spock became romantically involved. ( Star Trek )

Montgomery Scott [ ]

Scotty and Uhura (2267)

In 2287 , Uhura and Montgomery Scott were to take shore leave together. As Scott was unable to leave the Enterprise -A, she brought him dinner . Later, she began to show some romantic interest in Scott while being under the influence of Sybok. Scott, nevertheless, politely declined the advance, mindful of her "condition" and realizing that she was in fact a "convert". ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

Uhura and Scott (2287)

Scott helped Uhura and Chekov look up Klingon phrases in antique books in 2293 while trying to cross the border into Klingon space to rescue their jailed colleagues. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

Alternate timelines [ ]

Romulans revealed in 2266 [ ].

Lt. Uhura in an alternate 2266

In an alternate 2266 where Captain Pike prevented his exposure to delta radiation and saved the lives of several cadets that were due to die during that accident, Nyota Uhura had reached the rank of lieutenant and was still serving as communications officer aboard the Enterprise under Pike. ( SNW : " A Quality of Mercy ")

UEF Enterprise [ ]

Nyota Uhura aboard the UEF Enterprise in alternate 2259

In an alternate timeline created where Khan Noonien Singh was killed by the Romulan Sera and United Earth was at war with the Romulan Star Empire , Uhura joined the United Earth Fleet and by 2259 was assigned as communications officer aboard the UEF Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk . ( SNW : " Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow ")

Key dates [ ]

Assigned to the USS Enterprise
Graduates from Starfleet Academy and commissioned as an Ensign
Between 2259 and 2266 : Promoted to Lieutenant
2270s : Promoted to lieutenant commander
2285 : As a commander , whilst remaining attached to the Enterprise , is assigned to Starfleet Training Command
2285: Requested assignment at Old City Station
2287 – 2293 : Communications officer of the USS Enterprise -A
Between 2293 and 2301 : Promoted to Captain
2301– 2333 : Commanding officer of the USS Leondegrance
2301– 2305 : Explores the Lesser Magellanic Cloud and participates in over one hundred first contact missions
2333: Retires from Starfleet

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

" The Corbomite Maneuver "
" Mudd's Women "
" The Enemy Within " (voice only)
" The Man Trap "
" The Naked Time "
" Charlie X "
" Balance of Terror "
" What Are Little Girls Made Of? "
" Dagger of the Mind "
" The Conscience of the King "
" The Galileo Seven "
" Court Martial "
" The Menagerie, Part I "
" The Menagerie, Part II " (voice only)
" Shore Leave "
" The Squire of Gothos "
" The Alternative Factor "
" Tomorrow is Yesterday "
" The Return of the Archons "
" A Taste of Armageddon "
" Space Seed "
" This Side of Paradise "
" Errand of Mercy "
" The City on the Edge of Forever "
" Operation -- Annihilate! "
" Catspaw "
" Metamorphosis "
" Friday's Child "
" Who Mourns for Adonais? "
" Amok Time "
" The Changeling "
" Mirror, Mirror "
" The Deadly Years "
" I, Mudd "
" The Trouble with Tribbles "
" Bread and Circuses "
" Journey to Babel "
" A Private Little War "
" The Gamesters of Triskelion "
" Obsession "
" The Immunity Syndrome "
" A Piece of the Action "
" By Any Other Name "
" Return to Tomorrow "
" Patterns of Force "
" The Ultimate Computer "
" The Omega Glory "
" Assignment: Earth "
" Spectre of the Gun "
" Elaan of Troyius "
" The Enterprise Incident "
" And the Children Shall Lead "
" Spock's Brain "
" Is There in Truth No Beauty? "
" The Empath "
" The Tholian Web "
" For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky "
" Day of the Dove "
" Plato's Stepchildren "
" Wink of an Eye "
" That Which Survives "
" Let That Be Your Last Battlefield "
" Whom Gods Destroy "
" The Mark of Gideon "
" The Lights of Zetar "
" The Cloud Minders "
" Requiem for Methuselah "
" The Savage Curtain "
" Beyond the Farthest Star "
" One of Our Planets Is Missing "
" The Lorelei Signal "
" More Tribbles, More Troubles "
" The Infinite Vulcan "
" The Magicks of Megas-Tu "
" Once Upon a Planet "
" The Terratin Incident "
" The Time Trap "
" The Slaver Weapon "
" The Pirates of Orion "
" The Practical Joker "
" Albatross "
" How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth "
" The Counter-Clock Incident "
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Star Trek Generations (picture only)
Star Trek Beyond (picture only)
DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations " (archive footage)
PRO : " Kobayashi " ( hologram ; archive audio)
" Strange New Worlds "
" Children of the Comet "
" Ghosts of Illyria "
" Memento Mori "
" Spock Amok "
" Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach "
" The Elysian Kingdom "
" All Those Who Wander "
" A Quality of Mercy "
" The Broken Circle "
" Ad Astra per Aspera "
" Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow "
" Among the Lotus Eaters "
" Charades "
" Lost in Translation "
" Those Old Scientists "
" Under the Cloak of War "
" Subspace Rhapsody "
" Hegemony "
" Holiday Party "
" Holograms All the Way Down " (background hologram)
" Walk, Don't Run " (archive footage)

Background information [ ]

Identifying appearances [ ].

Uhura was played by Nichelle Nichols , who appeared in sixty-six episodes. The character was voiced by her in two additional episodes, "The Enemy Within" and "The Menagerie, Part II", and appeared in stock footage in "The Paradise Syndrome". [3] For Star Trek 's 30th anniversary , Uhura reappeared in archive footage from "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "Mirror, Mirror" that was used in the Deep Space Nine episode "Trials and Tribble-ations". Twenty-six year later, Uhura was portrayed by Celia Rose Gooding for her inclusion in the TOS prequel, Strange New Worlds .

In addition to her physical appearances, Nichols also provided Uhura's voice for The Animated Series , in which Uhura appears in all but three episodes . Forty-eight years later, archive audio of Uhura from in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , "The Gamesters of Triskelion", "The Enterprise Incident", "The Mark of Gideon", "Space Seed", and "The Trouble with Tribbles" were later used for her appearance in the Prodigy episode "Kobayashi".

Name and heritage [ ]

According to an anecdote told by Nichelle Nichols at Shore Leave 29 , she and Gene Roddenberry decided on the name "Uhura" because, before Nichols' audition, she and several others involved in casting had been reading the 1962 novel Uhuru by American author Robert Ruark. The story was verified by Robert H. Justman and Herb Solow in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story .

"Uhuru" is the Swahili word for "freedom". Spock, after making a mind meld with Kollos in " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ", says that Uhura's name means "freedom" and recites a line of poetry about beauty from Lord Byron . In Star Trek VI , her name is misspelled "Uhuru" in the credits.

In the non- canon Star Trek RPG published by FASA in the 1980s, the full name given for the character was "Samara Uhura". In the RPG adaptation, the USS Samara Uhura was included as one of several Decker -class starships that were named for the Enterprise crew. Another first name suggested by a non-canon source was included in a character index in an issue of the fan publication Trek (later included in an edition of The Best of Trek published by Signet Books): Penda Uhura.

Nichelle Nichols herself has said that an author writing about the history of Star Trek had asked Gene Roddenberry what Uhura's first name was and was told that one had never been decided. The author then recommended the name "Nyota". Roddenberry liked it, but said to ask Nichols before he allowed the name to be used. Nichols thought the name was perfect. ( TOS Season 2 DVD commentary) Alternatively, in the video William Shatner's Star Trek Memories , Nichols also said that she and Roddenberry came up with the name in initial discussions about the character, just after her casting.

The name Nyota ("star" in Swahili) was first publicly used for the character by William Rotsler , in his 1982 book Star Trek II: Biographies . ( Enterprise NX-01 communications officer Hoshi Sato 's given name, "Hoshi", also means "Star", in Japanese.) Uhura's given name was finally canonically established as Nyota in the 2009 film Star Trek . (In the movie, the revelation playfully paralleled the long-time real-life ambiguity; starting with their first meeting in an Iowa bar , for three years Kirk tries unsuccessfully to learn her first name, only to learn it when her lover – Spock – assures her that he will return alive from a particular mission he and Kirk are about to embark on.)

Uhura's date and location of birth were also never established on screen. Her date of birth ( 2239 ) was derived from the Star Trek Chronology and the Star Trek Encyclopedia . The original Star Trek writer's guide and the Star Trek Concordance established that she was born in the United States of Africa . Her familiarity with the Swahili language implied – but did not require – an East African origin or heritage. The Concordance also states the intended information from deleted material regarding her mother, M'Umbha .

Establishing the role [ ]

Uhura was the last main character to be cast for the Original Series (except Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov , since that character didn't debut until the second season of the show ). The casting of Uhura took place only a few weeks before production began on " The Corbomite Maneuver ", the first regular episode. In the original script of that installment, the communications officer was named " Dave Bailey ". When Nichelle Nichols (a former lover of Gene Roddenberry) was cast as the new comm officer, Bailey (played by Anthony Call ) was "transferred" to navigation. ( Inside Star Trek: The Real Story , pp. 153–154) Other than Nichelle Nichols, three additional candidates for the role were Ena Hartman , Mittie Lawrence and Gloria Calomee . ( These Are the Voyages: TOS Season One )

Uhura was included in the final draft script of " Miri ", given multiple lines of dialogue. Her part in the story, however, was ultimately rewritten for relief communications officer John Farrell .

Nichelle Nichols has stated on many occasions during the years (including in the video William Shatner's Star Trek Memories ) that, during the first year of the series, she was tempted to leave the show as she felt her role lacked significance, but a conversation with Martin Luther King, Jr. changed her mind. King personally encouraged her to stay on the show, telling her that he was a big fan of the series and told her she "could not give up" as she was playing a vital role model for young black children and women across the country. After the first season, Uhura's role on the series was expanded beyond merely manning her console.

The 1967 Writers' Guide for Star Trek 's second season described the character thus:

Communications officer Uhura was born in the United States of Africa. Quick and intelligent, she is a highly efficient officer and expert in all ships' systems related to communications. Uhura is also a warm, highly female female off duty. She is something of a favorite in the Recreation Room during off-duty hours too, because she sings – old ballads as well as the newer space ballads – and she can do an impersonation at the drop of a communicator.

Uhura was to have appeared in Star Trek: Phase II , an aborted second Star Trek series. A character description of her was included in a 1977 Writers'/Directors' Guide for that series, a document written by Gene Roddenberry and Jon Povill . Uhura's description was as follows:

Rank of Lieutenant Commander, Communications Officer, played by attractive young actress Nichelle Nichols. Uhura was born in the African Confederacy. Quick and intelligent, she is a highly efficient officer. Her understanding of the ship's computer systems is second only to the Vulcan Science Officer , and expert in all ships systems relating to communications. Uhura is also a warm, highly female female off duty. She is a favorite in the Recreation Room during off duty hours, too, because she sings – old ballads as well as the newer space ballads – and she can do impersonations at the drop of a communicator.

Nichelle Nichols was slated to make a cameo as Uhura in the Star Trek: Voyager episode " Flashback ", but was cut from that episode after requesting more lines for her role. ( Star Trek: Communicator issue 108 )

Former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison has cited Nichols' role of Uhura as her inspiration for wanting to become an astronaut. [4]

Whoopi Goldberg also found Nichols's portrayal of Uhura inspiring as a child. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 64)) Goldberg recalled that when she saw Uhura on-screen for the first time, she ran out of the room, telling everyone in her house, " I just saw a black woman on television; and she ain't no maid! " ( Star Trek Monthly issue 56 )

Deanna Troi actress Marina Sirtis has stated about Uhura, " It was great that a black woman was on the bridge, but she really wasn't involved in many storylines. She was just there and that was enough for the times, it seems. " ( Star Trek Monthly issue 27 , p. 18)

The idea that a young Jean-Luc Picard served under Captain Uhura has its roots in a story proposed for Star Trek: Short Treks , in which a young Picard would have been mentored by an elderly Uhura. Although the proposed Short Treks episode never came to fruition, two pieces of set dressing for Star Trek: Picard (the Speed of Light Club certificate in Picard's quantum archive, seen in " Remembrance ", and the commemorative plaque for the USS Leondegrance seen in " The Star Gazer ") establish the relationship canonically. [5]

Apocrypha [ ]

In the novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (p. 49), Uhura was described as having a "fine-boned Bantu face". Likewise, in the novelization of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , Pavel Chekov said Uhura was from the Bantu Nation. James Blish referred to Uhura as "a beautiful Bantu girl" in his adaptations of the original Star Trek episodes.

According to Star Trek II: Biographies , Uhura was born on October 24th, 2240 in Nairobi , United States of Africa to parents Damu Pua and M'Umbha Makia. She has two siblings named Malcolm Marien Uhura and Uaekundu Uhura.

According to the novel Living Memory , Uhura's father was named Alhamisi (Damu Pua was a childhood nickname meaning " bloody nose "). She has a brother named Malcolm and a younger sister named Samara, as well as an uncle Raheem.

In the novel The Fire and the Rose , set shortly after "Mudd's Women", Uhura went to Captain Kirk and requested to be reassigned from the command division to the engineering and services division. Kirk was not happy with this decision and grilled her about throwing away her command abilities and leadership potential, however, despite his disappointment, he approved her transfer and explaining why she switched from a red uniform to a gold uniform.

In the novel Vulcan's Forge , Commander Uhura served as first officer of the USS Intrepid II under Captain Spock. She and Dr. McCoy were the only members of Captain Kirk's bridge crew to join Spock in his new command (Captain Sulu commanded the Excelsior and took Commander Chekov along as his first officer, and Captain Scott retired and headed off to the Norpin colony ). Uhura turned down a captaincy before becoming Spock's first officer, commenting that she'd never married or had children, and didn't want to take on the similar commitment to a ship that a promotion to captain would entail. This story took place a year after Captain Kirk was lost to the Nexus . Following a mission to the planet Obsidian, Spock resigned his Starfleet commission, and Uhura was promoted to captain and given command of the Intrepid II .

Uhura was depicted in the novels The Art of the Impossible , Catalyst of Sorrows , and Vulcan's Soul : Exodus as later going on to achieve the rank of admiral and becoming the head of Starfleet Intelligence in the 24th century , serving into 2377 .

According to The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard , Uhura was the President of the United Federation of Planets in the year 2327.

The Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual mentions a ship named the USS Samara Uhura , which is presumably named after Uhura, as her first name "Nyota" didn't become canon until Star Trek .

In Star Trek Cats , Uhura is depicted as a Burmese cat .

Sources [ ]

Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens ; Star Trek: Phase II - The Making of the Lost Series ; Pocket Books , ISBN 0671568396 (softcover, 1997)
Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens ; Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Continuing Mission ; Pocket Books, ISBN 0671025597 (softcover 1998)

External links [ ]

Nyota Uhura at StarTrek.com
Nyota Uhura at Wikipedia
Nyota Uhura at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Nyota Uhura at the Star Trek Online Wiki
2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Cast & crew
User reviews

The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one pl... Read all The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time. The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time.

J.J. Abrams
Roberto Orci
Alex Kurtzman
Gene Roddenberry
Zachary Quinto
1.6K User reviews
532 Critic reviews
82 Metascore
27 wins & 95 nominations total

Spock Prime

(as Zoë Saldana)

Amanda Grayson

George Kirk

Winona Kirk

Captain Robau

Officer Pitts
(as Antonio Elias)
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

Trivia Simon Pegg did not audition for the role - he simply received an email from J.J. Abrams asking if he would like to play Scotty. Pegg said he would have done this for free, or even paid Abrams to be in this film, if he had not been offered a role.
Goofs After Spock boards the Vulcan ship on board the mining vessel, Kirk is seen walking through some pipes. His Starfleet phaser has switched to a Romulan gun (longer barrel and no lights), before switching back to the Starfleet one again in the next scene. He actually acquires the Romulan gun a few scenes later.

Spock Prime : James T. Kirk!

James T. Kirk : Excuse me?

Spock Prime : How did you find me?

James T. Kirk : Whoa... how do you know my name?

Spock Prime : I have been and always shall be your friend.

James T. Kirk : Wha...

[shakes head]

James T. Kirk : Uh... look... I-I don't know you.

Spock Prime : I am Spock.

James T. Kirk : Bullshit.

Crazy credits The first part of the closing credits is styled after the opening credits of Star Trek (1966) , where the starship Enterprise blasts off into space as a monologue describes its mission, and then the cast names appear as the famous "Star Trek" theme music plays.
Connections Edited into De wereld draait door: Episode #4.157 (2009)
Soundtracks Theme from 'Star Trek' TV Series Written by Alexander Courage & Gene Roddenberry

User reviews 1.6K

Apr 17, 2009
If this premise is that an alternate timeline created when Nero traveled back in time, then what happened to James Kirk's older brother, Sam, aka George Samuel Kirk Jr.?
How can Spock's mother still be alive years later (original series) when she dies earlier on in this movie ?
What is Star Trek about?
May 8, 2009 (United States)
United States
Official Facebook
Star Trek: The Future Begins
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA (Vulcan)
Paramount Pictures
Spyglass Entertainment
See more company credits at IMDbPro
$150,000,000 (estimated)
$257,730,019
$75,204,289
May 10, 2009
$385,681,768

Technical specs

Runtime 2 hours 7 minutes
Dolby Digital
Dolby Atmos
2.35 : 1 (original ratio)
2.39 : 1 (original ratio)

More to explore

Emmys: Supporting Actress (Drama) — Will Elizabeth Debicki Continue Her Undefeated Awards Season Run for ‘The Crown?’

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys , Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

OSCARS | EMMYS | GRAMMYS | TONYS

2024 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Weekly Commentary (Updated: April 25, 2024) : With her captivating portrayal of Princess Diana in the sixth and final season of Netflix’s “The Crown,” Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki has earned universal acclaim and a trifecta of major televised awards, including Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and Screen Actors Guild honors. As the awards season shifts towards the Emmys, Debicki’s undefeated streak positions her as an undisputed frontrunner, potentially poised to claim her first Emmy trophy amid widespread industry admiration.

Debicki faces competition from her co-star Lesley Manville, who delivered a compelling performance as Princess Margaret, and Christine Baranski, the formidable matriarch in HBO/Max’s “The Gilded Age.” Nonetheless, Debicki is leading the pack. Her acclaimed work in “The Crown” not only captivated audiences, amid a mixed reaction for the final season, but it also earned her first Emmy nom for the series’ fifth season last year. Despite losing to Jennifer Coolidge’s scene-stealing role in “The White Lotus,” Debicki’s rising star may be too bright to ignore.

The race is intensified by a potential robust lineup from Apple’s “The Morning Show,” featuring Greta Lee, Nicole Beharie, Julianna Margulies, Holland Taylor, and Karen Pittman—all of whom have significant fan bases. The crowded field increases the likelihood of vote-splitting, potentially benefiting other potential nominees and contenders.

As the first phase of Emmy campaigning kicks off, attention is focused on “The Crown” and “The Morning Show” potentially dominating the field. Yet, there’s room for surprises. “The Gilded Age” has more potential nominees such as Cynthia Nixon and Audra McDonald, and industry buzz suggests that Leslie Uggams, fresh off her acclaimed role in the Oscar-winning “American Fiction,” could gain traction for Prime Video’s “Fallout.” Additionally, former Emmy darlings like Archie Panjabi from Apple’s “Hijacks” and standouts from Netflix’s “3 Body Problem,” such as Rosalind Chao and Eiza González, might also make an unexpected splash.

Other genre shows could also attract attention, including young standout Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura in Paramount’s “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” and Sophia Di Martino, who, along with her co-star Tom Hiddleston, could become favorites for their roles in Disney/Marvel’s superhero series “Loki.”

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Primetime Emmy predictions in the major categories.

And the Predicted Nominees Are

Next in Line

3 Body Problem. Eiza González as Auggie Salazar in episode 102 of 3 Body Problem. Cr. Ed Miller/Netflix © 2024

Also in Contention

Eligible performances (supporting drama actress).

**The list below is not complete and have been confirmed as officially submitted. All information is subject to change. Grouped by network that airs each series.

Christina Chang — “ The Good Doctor ” (ABC)
Fiona Gubelmann — “ The Good Doctor ” (ABC)
Jessica Matten — “Dark Winds” (AMC)
Jeri Ryan — “Dark Winds” (AMC)
Paula Malcomson — “Parish” (AMC)
Clémence Poésy — “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” (AMC)
Pollyanna Mcintosh — “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” (AMC)
Christina Hendricks — “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+)
Aubri Ibrag — “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+)
Josie Totah — “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+)
Adina Porter — “The Changeling” (Apple TV+)
Amirah Vann — “The Changeling” (Apple TV+)
Archie Panjabi — “Hijack” (Apple TV+)
Jodi Balfour — “For All Mankind” (Apple TV+)
Nicole Beharie — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
Greta Lee — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
Julianna Margulies — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
Karen Pittman — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
Holland Taylor — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
Emily Mortimer — “The New Look” (Apple TV+)
Maisie Williams — “The New Look” (Apple TV+)
Kiersey Clemons — “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” (Apple TV+)
Mari Yamamoto — “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” (Apple TV+)
Rashida Jones — “Silo” (Apple TV+)
Harriet Walter — “Silo” (Apple TV+)
Rosalind Eleazar — “ Slow Horses ” (Apple TV+)
Saskia Reeves — “ Slow Horses ” (Apple TV+)
Kristen Scott Thomas — “ Slow Horses ” (Apple TV+)
Anna Gunn — “Sugar” (Apple TV+)
Amy Ryan — “Sugar” (Apple TV+)
Bridget Moynahan — “ Blue Bloods ” (CBS)
Marg Helgenberger — “ CSI: Vegas ” (CBS)
Carra Patterson — “Elsbeth” (CBS)
Alexa Davalos — “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS)
Stephanie Arcila — “ Fire Country ” (CBS)
Diane Farr — “ Fire Country ” (CBS)
Jules Latimer — “ Fire Country ” (CBS)
Yasmine Al-Bustami — “ NCIS: Hawai’i ” (CBS)
Tori Anderson — “ NCIS: Hawai’i ” (CBS)
Natasha Liu Bordizzo — “Ahsoka” (Disney+)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead — “Ahsoka” (Disney+)
Sophia Di Martino — “Loki” (Disney+)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw — “Loki” (Disney+)
Wunmi Mosaku — “Loki” (Disney+)
Adelaide Clemens — “Justified: City Primeval” (FX)
Gail Bean — “ Snowfall ” (FX)
Christine Baranski — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
Celia Keenan-Bolger — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
Audra McDonald — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
Cynthia Nixon — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
Kelli O’Hara — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
Natasha Behnam — “The Girls on the Bus” (Max)
Christina Elmore — “The Girls on the Bus” (Max)
Carla Gugino — “The Girls on the Bus” (Max)
Molly Burnett — “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC)
Rosalind Chao — “3 Body Problem” (Netflix)
Eiza González — “3 Body Problem” (Netflix)
Kiawentiio — “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (Netflix)
Elizabeth Debicki — “ The Crown ” (Netflix)
Lesley Manville — “ The Crown ” (Netflix)
Olivia Williams — “ The Crown ” (Netflix)
Emily Rudd — “One Piece” (Netflix)
Nicole Kidman — “Special Ops: Lioness” (Paramount+)
Mary Wiseman — “Star Trek: Discovery” (Paramount+)
Christina Chong — “ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ” (Paramount+)
Celia Rose Gooding — “ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ” (Paramount+)
Sarita Choudhury — “Fallout” (Prime Video)
Leslie Uggams — “Fallout” (Prime Video)
Rachel Blanchard — “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Prime Video)
Jackie Chung — “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Prime Video)
Sophie Okonedo — “The Wheel of Time” (Prime Video)
Birgundi Baker — “The Chi” (Showtime)
Nizhonniya Luxi Austin — “The Curse” (Showtime)
Hikmah Warsame — “The Curse” (Showtime)
Philippa Dunne — “The Woman in the Wall” (Showtime)
Sophie Skelton — “Outlander” (Starz)
Jennifer Tilly — “ Chucky ” (Syfy)

More Information (Supporting Drama Actress)

2023 category winner : Jennifer Coolidge — “The White Lotus” (Max) — Season 2

2024 Emmy Awards Calendar and Timeline (all dates are subject to change)

Eligibility period: June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
Feb. 29: Submissions open
May 9: Deadline for programs that identify as Primetime programming to upload all entry materials.
June 13: Nominations-round voting begins
June 24: Nominations-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PT
June 28 – July 8: Voting for peer group-specific top ten rounds panels (if applicable)
July 17: Primetime Emmy nominations are announced.
July 24: Deadline for errors and omissions to the nominations.
August 5: Find-round videos available for viewing.
August 15: Final-round voting begins.
August 26: Final-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PST.
Sept. 7-8: Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Gala
Sunday, Sept. 15: 76th Primetime Emmy Awards to air on ABC.

Emmy Awards Predictions

Other awards predictions, about the primetime emmy awards.

The Primetime Emmy Awards, commonly known as the Emmys, are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Established in 1949, these celebrate outstanding achievements in American primetime television. The Emmys are categorized into three divisions: the Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production excellence, the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards recognizing achievements in artistry and craftsmanship, and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, which honor significant engineering and technological advancements. The eligibility period typically extends from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Television Academy, which hosts the Emmys, consists of over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives.

More From Our Brands

Nypd descends on columbia campus, arrests protesters.

Woodford Reserve’s $1,000 Mint Julep Cups Are Back

Details matter: ncaa settling house and carter won’t end legal woes, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, monday ratings: all american posts season high in audience, sytycd eyes low, verify it's you, please log in.

IMAGES

Saldana_Uhura
Zoe Saldana Shows Off Uhura’s Uniform in New Pic From Reshoots
Star Trek Lt. Uhura actress Nichelle Nichols dies aged 89
Star Trek Picture 59
ST09: Publicity Photos
Zoe Saldana as Uhura in wetsuit

VIDEO

Трагическая Утрата Легендарной Российской Телеведущей.. Вся Страна в Трауре!
Spock & Uhura
Spock and Uhura || Thinking Out Loud
major shock! will break heart!Star Trek TNG Actress Shocked by Classic Borg Episode Ending !
Uhura Star Trek: The Original Series #28daysofcosplay ##28daysofblackcosplay #startrek #uhura
Spock & Uhura

COMMENTS

Star Trek (2009)
The contrary, Nero's very presence has altered the flow of history, beginning with the attack on the U.S.S. Kelvin, culminating in the events of today, thereby creating an entire new chain of incidents that cannot be anticipated by either party. Lt. Nyota Uhura : An alternate reality. Spock : Precisely.
Nichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols (/ n ɪ ˈ ʃ ɛ l / nish-EL; born Grace Dell Nichols; December 28, 1932 - July 30, 2022) was an American actress, singer and dancer whose portrayal of Uhura in Star Trek and its film sequels was groundbreaking for African American actresses on American television. From 1977 to 2015, she volunteered her time to promote NASA's programs and recruit diverse astronauts ...
Zoe Saldaña
Star Trek (2009) was a box-office success earning $385.7 million. ... 2009 Star Trek: Nyota Uhura: The Skeptic: Cassie Avatar: Neytiri: 2010 The Losers: Aisha Takers: Lily Jansen ... 2009 ALMA Awards: Actress in Film: Star Trek: Nominated Boston Society of Film Critics: Best Ensemble Cast: Won
Nyota Uhura
Nyota Uhura (/ n i ˈ oʊ t ə ʊ ˈ h ʊr ə /), or simply Uhura, is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. In the original television series, the character was portrayed by Nichelle Nichols, who reprised the role for the first six Star Trek feature films.A younger Uhura is portrayed by Celia Rose Gooding in the 2022 prequel series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, while an alternate ...
Zoë Saldana
Zoë Saldana (born 19 June 1978; age 45) is an American actress and model who played Nyota Uhura in Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond. She also voiced the character for the 2013 Star Trek video game. Saldana is pictured on cards #54 "Cadet N. Uhura" and #99 "Communications Officer N. Uhura" of the virtual collectible card battle game Star Trek: Rivals. In addition to ...
Nichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols. Actress: Star Trek. Nichelle Nichols was one of 10 children born to parents Lishia and Samuel Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. She was a singer and dancer before turning to acting and finding fame in her groundbreaking role of Lt. Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek (1966) series. As long as she could remember, she wanted to do nothing but sing, dance, act and write ...
Zoe Saldana Pays Tribute to 'Star Trek' Star Nichelle Nichols
Zoe Saldaña "knew she had big shoes to fill" when she was cast as Uhura in J.J. Abrams' 2009 feature film reboot of the Star Trek franchise, stepping into a role made famous by Nichelle ...
Nichelle Nichols, Trailblazing 'Star Trek' Actress, Dead at 89
Nichelle Nichols, the actress who played the groundbreaking role of Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series, has died at the age of 89. Nichols' son Kyle Johnson announced his mother's ...
Nichelle Nichols, Who Played Uhura on 'Star Trek,' Dies at 89
Share. Resize. Listen. (1 min) Nichelle Nichols, the trailblazing "Star Trek" actress who played Lieutenant Uhura and shared one of the first interracial kisses on prime-time TV, died Saturday ...
Zoe Saldana Mourns Star Trek's Original Uhura Nichelle Nichols
Zoe Saldana has paid tribute to late Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols, who personally paved the way for herself and many actresses of future generations. Two days after Nicholas died at the age of ...
Nyota Uhura's Most Iconic Star Trek Moments
In 2009, Zoe Saldana stepped into the role in Star Trek . She delivered an equally powerful performance, setting the stage for Celia Rose Gooding to play the role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. While Gooding's Uhura is a cadet, she is ready to prove herself and find her place among the cosmos.
Nichelle Nichols, trailblazer known for playing Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek
"Star Trek" fans are mourning the death of Nichelle Nichols. She played Lieutenant Uhura on TV and films. And in the 1960s, she was one of the first Black women starring on a TV show.
Nichelle Nichols: 'Trailblazing' actress who played Lt Uhura in Star
Star Trek co-star George Takei tweeted: "I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who ...
Uhura Has An "Androgynous Essence" In Star Trek 2009, Says Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña, who plays Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies, describes the iconic character's "androgynous essence" in the franchise's first reboot movie. A linguistics specialist with an aptitude for mathematics and USS Enterprise communications officer, Nichelle Nichols introduced Lieutenant Uhura to audiences in 1966.
Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' dead at 89 : NPR
Actress and singer Nichelle Nichols, best known as Star Trek's communications officer Lieutenant Uhura, died Saturday night in Silver City, New Mexico.She was 89 years old. "I regret to inform you ...
Star Trek (2009)
Justin Stafford. ... special contact lens painter. Susan Stepanian. ... makeup artist. Miho Suzuki. ... makeup effects lab technician: Proteus Make-up FX.
The Untold Truth Of Star Trek's Nyota Uhura
As a member of the original Star Trek crew, Nyota Uhura is a sci-fi legend. ... as he and French-Vietnamese actress France Nuyen kissed while ... In 2009, "Star Trek" was rebooted as a big-budget ...
Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt Uhura in original Star Trek, dies aged
First published on Sun 31 Jul 2022 15.49 EDT. Nichelle Nichols, who played communications officer Lt Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series and helped to create a new era for television in ...
Watch the Star Trek Day tribute to Uhura actress Nichelle Nichols
Zoe Saldaña pays tribute to Nichelle Nichols after following in her footsteps as Uhura on Star Trek. Nichelle Nichols, groundbreaking Star Trek actress, dies at 89. Star Trek Day honors the late ...
Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana. Actress: Avatar. Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, to Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaña. Her father was Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican. She was raised in Queens, New York. When she was 10 years old, she and her family moved to the Dominican Republic, where they would live for the next seven years.
Nyota Uhura
Nyota Uhura was a female Human Starfleet officer who served from the mid-23rd through the early 24th century. Uhura had a distinguished career as a communications officer aboard the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise-A and was later given command of the USS Leondegrance until her retirement. (Star Trek: The Original Series; Star Trek: The Animated Series; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; Star ...
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Returning for Seasons 3 & 4
Here's everything we know about Season 3 of 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,' including cast, plot, renewal news and more! We'll add the release date, trailer, guest stars as soon as they're announced.
Star Trek (2009)
Star Trek: Directed by J.J. Abrams. With Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana. The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time.
2024 Emmys Supporting Actress Drama Predictions
Other genre shows could also attract attention, including young standout Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura in Paramount's "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and Sophia Di Martino, who, along ...