Star Trek: Discovery Exhausts Doug Jones More Than He Thought Possible
While the point can be debated, one might say that Saru, the Kelpien played by Doug Jones, is the best character on "Star Trek: Discovery." Early in the series, it was explained that Kelpiens had been, for many generations, bred to be eaten by another species. They had evolved to have a keen sense of fear and believed that a set of small tentacles on their heads would, when they reached a certain age, transform them into mindless killers. When Saru reached that age, he found that the tentacles merely fell off, and that he did not become a violent monster. Thereafter, Saru became calmer, more diplomatic, and more intelligent. Like other characters on "Discovery," he would temporarily serve as the ship's captain.
As with many of his acting roles, Jones' face is largely obscured by makeup on "Star Trek: Discovery." Jones is one of cinema's great creature performers, having appeared as a kangaroo man in both "Tank Girl" and "Warriors of Virtue," as a zombie in "Hocus Pocus" and its 2022 sequel, as a carrot man in "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle," as a Yeti in "Monkeybone," and famously as Abe Sapien in Guillermo del Toro's "Hellboy" movies. This is in addition to dozens of other notable roles besides. Jones began his performing career studying mime, and his thin frame and tall height (he's 6'4") has made him well-suited to playing aliens and inhuman characters.
In an interview with Space.com, however, Jones admitted that "Discovery" was his biggest professional challenge to date. Not just physically, but emotionally as well.
'It takes an awful lot out of a person'
One can see from the above photos that Doug Jones' face is largely covered by the Saru makeup. His nose is not visible, his eyes have large, blue contact lenses in them, and there are prosthetics on his ears and on his hands. Jones is also required to wear a special kind of heel-less high-heeled shoe, forcing him to walk on tiptoe on two-inch platforms. It seems that one would have to concentrate awfully hard just to avoid stumbling.
Additionally, "Star Trek" shooting schedules seem they would be especially taxing. Jones, requiring makeup every day, likely works long, difficult hours, all while projecting sympathy and sensitivity. Jones finds the experience rewarding, as his co-stars are his friends, and he finds that Trekkies have been supportive in general. But that doesn't mean the 62-year-old doesn't require some recovery time. He explained:
"It is more physically, mentally and emotionally taxing than I ever thought possible. It takes an awful lot out of a person to do a 'Star Trek' series. I've found that out, just through trial and error, but it's ultimately more satisfying than I ever thought possible, largely because of the fan base. The love and family feeling that has made it above and beyond anything I've done before. When I'm done with a season, I fall on my face for a few days. I can't come out and play, and I can't talk to anybody, because I'm so wiped out."
The con scene
A unique outcropping of appearing as a regular on a "Star Trek" show is that you kind of become marked for life. Sometimes that can be a curse, as typecasting can lead to difficulty in finding other acting work, but it can also be a blessing, in that there will always be a grateful crowd of Trekkies eager to talk to you about your "Star Trek" work. A role on "Star Trek" will assure work at sci-fi conventions in perpetuity. It will also, given the current state of "Star Trek" and its "jumping all over the 'Trek' timeline" approach to show-making, eventually inspire a return to the franchise at some point.
Doug Jones said that attending "Star Trek" conventions has allowed him to interact with the "Discovery" fans in person, and he has found a close connection with the people who have connected with him and with the show. He may have been worn out by the filming, but the energy comes back when in a room full of passionate Trekkies. He elaborated:
"I'm so energized when the finished product comes out and the fan response is there, or we get to go to the conventions. 'Star Trek' conventions — where we get to meet those who consume this show, hear their responses, what they love about it, the life events they've gone through and how this show has been there for them throughout all of it — mean the world to me. That we've been in people's living rooms when they're going through their own life."
The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery" looks to stream on Paramount+ in early 2024. Filming is currently wrapping.