Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
This roundtable session delves into the finer points of Star Trek and how the show’s spirit of hopefulness
and community still informs our culture today. Melissa Navia and Celia Rose Gooding, who portray
Lt. Erica Ortegas and Ensign Nyota Uhura respectively share their experiences and discuss how being
part of the queer community informs their approach to Ortegas and how they bring the character to life.
They also explore how their work on the show has helped to create meaningful representation for trans
and nonbinary characters in pop culture. So join us for a fascinating episode that’s full of insight into
the world of Star Trek and its enduring legacy!
Melissa Navia (On an emotional scene in season two
it was so interesting because as I was shooting it, it was incredibly emotional and a bit terrifying. And
so you’re pulling from what you know, from your own life, and you’re also then pulling from your
character’s life. And it was absolutely wild. And our crew and our cast are so supportive and wonderful.
Celia Rose Gooding
I would say the beautiful thing about Trek is that it’s found a way to tell very specific stories, but have sort of a theme that can reach globally and everyone can take something away from an episode of Trek at any given moment. But I would say the current theme of hope is something that everyone can look forward to. And I think that’s why Sci-fi is so interesting.
