Movies - TV
Star Trek's Captain Garrett Actress Played Two Other Unrecognizable Roles
By WITNEY SEIBOLD
"Star Trek" is notoriously good to its actors, often asking that they return to play multiple roles. Tricia O'Neal was one of those actors, playing three different characters.
In the 1990 "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode Yesterday's Enterprise" from Season 3, O'Neil brings Captain Garrett to life, commanding the U.S.S. Enterprise-C.
O'Neil shared what the role meant to her, stating, "I knew what that captain's chair was and when I, Tricia O'Neil, sat in that chair, I understood the importance of it."
In the episode "Suspicions," O'Neil portrays the Klingon scientist Kurak, a spiky and defensive character who might have had something to hide.
She shared her Klingon experience, emphasizing, "The makeup was difficult, but once I saw it, it was such a support to believe the world, to get into character.
In the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" episode "Defiant," O'Neil returns as Korinas, a Cardassian member of the Obsidian Order — the Cardassian equivalent of the CIA.
O'Neil recalled the tone on the "Deep Space Nine" set to be very different due to issues with makeup and costume. She said, "My makeup was confining [...] It was hard breathing."
She ended up channeling the physical rigidity of her makeup and costume into character traits, saying, "It was a darker set, a more closed-in feeling."
O'Neil worked consistently from 1970 until 2001 and knew how to think about characters, saying, "How the makeup makes you appear affects how you think of a character."