Most Important Women of the Star Trek Universe

The idea of male and female are universal constants.

Captain Kirk 'Metamorphosis'

Captain James T. Kirk reminded us of something which too many science fiction fans may forget. Both writers and fans go on and on about Kirk VS Picard or battle strengths of various starships against one another or what alien race may be the most developed or realistic. Volumes are written about villains we love to hate or flashiest sci-fi gadgets.

What about the women of Star Trek?

Gene Roddenberry's universe was progressive in many ways. It depicted the inclusion of a smoothly integrated multi-racial crew, the portrayal of television's first interracial kiss between Kirk and Lt. Uhura and even influenced real life astronauts and NASA scientists. The role of women in the show was central from the first pilot and culminated in Star Trek: Voyager with the first woman to star as a Starship captain.

Nichelle Nichols - Lt. Uhura

Singer Nichelle Nichols played the first Enterprise's communications officer. Complete with signature silver earpiece, Uhura opened hailing frequencies to aliens races friendly and dangerous. Before acting, Nichols sang with legendary Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton. Oscar winning actress Whoopi Goldberg - another woman of Star Trek - has stated how much Nichols inspired her as a young girl to become a performer.

Perhaps the most important and historic thing about Nichelle Nichols is when she was thinking of quitting the show, Martin Luther King told her to keep her job at because it was important for Americans to see blacks as role models in media.

Kate Mulgrew - Captain Janeway

Before playing the first woman to be Starship captain as lead in a Star Trek series, Mulgrew played Mrs. Columbo in a spin-off of TV detective show Columbo. Mulgrew is also known for her stage work and many years on the popular ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope as Mary Ryan.