As the iconic science fiction franchise “Star Trek” celebrates its 60th anniversary, actress Rebecca Romijn, best known for her role as Una “Number One” Chin-Reilly in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” has expressed her gratitude for her journey within this beloved universe. Reflecting on her five-season tenure with the show, Romijn recalls the profound impact that the series has had on her life and the world at large.
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Romijn, who first encountered “Star Trek” as a child introduced to the original series by her mother, recognises the franchise’s ability to engage audiences across different generations. “It’s been around for roughly a quarter of the history of our nation,” she said in a recent interview. Sharing it with her own children has made the experience even more meaningful, as she relishes passing on the love for “Star Trek” to her 17-year-old twin daughters, Dolly and Charlie.
Not limited to her immediate family, Romijn has recently introduced her five-year-old niece to the franchise, converting another family member into an enthusiastic Trekkie. “She’s completely enthralled,” Romijn stated, noting the timeless appeal of the series. “The reason it endures so beautifully is it offers a version of the future that’s optimistic and beautiful. It treats the unknown with open-mindedness.”
In its fourth season, streaming now on Peacock, “Strange New Worlds” continues to delight fans with its inventive storytelling. One particularly memorable moment for Romijn occurred during a scene where her character performs Bonnie Tyler’s classic “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in Klingon. The sequence, which required Romijn to learn a fully developed Klingon vocabulary, was both challenging and exhilarating for the actress.
“I took it very seriously,” she explained about the process of preparing for the unique performance. With the help of a dialect coach, Romijn ensured the accuracy of her pronunciation and translation. “I had an absolute blast,” she said, acknowledging how familiar the song was to her in English. “It was a challenge I never knew I wanted.”
Despite the passing of Bonnie Tyler earlier this year, Romijn reflected on the joy of performing the song, which she described as the perfect karaoke number. “I think it was scripted with a different song,” she laughed. “But ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ is just so fun.”
While fans will have to wait until next summer for the fifth and final season of “Strange New Worlds,” Romijn has expressed a sense of bittersweetness regarding the conclusion of the series. Having finished filming earlier this year, she feels fortunate to have been given the opportunity to conclude character storylines meaningfully. “It was always going to be a five-year mission,” she noted, drawing on the show’s famous motto.
Romijn remains optimistic about the legacy of “Strange New Worlds,” believing that it will persist in the cultural landscape alongside its predecessors like “The Original Series” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” “I think our show will live in perpetuity, as streaming shows do,” she asserted, hoping it will continue to resonate with both longtime fans and new audiences alike.
In her closing remarks, Romijn highlighted the importance of storytelling in the “Star Trek” franchise, which has consistently offered audiences a hopeful vision of the future. As viewers continue to discover its messages of positivity and acceptance, she remains proud to be part of a series that has sparked such joy and inspiration across six decades.
As fans look forward to the final season, “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” continues to stream on Paramount+, reminding us of its lasting impact and the enduring legacy of exploration, diversity, and hope that has defined the franchise.