How did Kate Mulgrew feel about Jeri Ryan joining the cast of Star Trek: Voyager?
08.06.2025 03:38
Unhappy, to put it mildly.
Jennifer Lien, who was suffering from personal issues as well as her character (Kes) reached a creative dead end, was chosen to leave instead.
Garret Wang was originally on the chopping block, which is why Ensign Harry Kim was attacked and nearly killed in “Scorpion, part 1.” However, Wang's agent managed to improve Wang's public image by getting him on People's “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” list.
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The original catsuit they gave Ryan was a complex suit. She often needed help getting in and out of the costume, resulting in the embarrassing production delays of 30 minutes to an hour so that she could use a restroom.
Mulgrew thought Ryan was being a diva, and very unsympathetic to Ryan's struggles.
The Borg costume that Ryan originally appeared in had a piece that put pressure on Ryan's carotid artery. More than once, it caused Ryan to faint.
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An anger that only got worse when Ryan had trouble with his costumes.
“Let’s be very straight about something,” said Kate matter of factly “This is on me, not Jeri. She came in and did what she was asked to do. No question about that, and she did it very well. It’s on me, because I’d hoped against hope that Janeway would be sufficient. That we didn’t have to bring a beautiful, sexy girl in. That somehow the power of my command, the vicissitudes of my talent would be sufficient unto the day, because this would really change television, right? That’s what dug me the hardest, that to pick up the numbers they did that… That was my interpretation of it. And that hurt me. I found it sort of insulting. And, of course, she embodied the part, this beautiful girl. But we certainly were utterly professional. I had been nothing short of completely professional, and she did her job. Very well! It was a very good idea that she was half Borg, but it’s on me. I’m sorry it has to be part of this legacy, and I probably should have comported myself better. I should have been more philosophical about it, but in the moment it was difficult.”
Going into Season 4, Voyager was not getting the viewership the executives were hoping for, and decided changing the cast was necessary. To make room for Jeri Ryan, someone else had to go.
In other words, no eye candy.
As the star of the show, Mulgrew had a great deal of influence with the executives. One of her personal goals was to make certain that the female cast members were treated properly.
As I recall, the two would overcome the animosity that Mulgrew took responsibility for, and become friends by the time Voyager ended.
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Kate Mulgrew, Women's World, Jan. 21, 2018.
As I understand it, Mulgrew was not happy with the change. She was rather protective of the younger Lien.
Mulgrew later regretted this attitude, as the redesign to Ryan's costumes put an end to the delays, and Ryan proved herself a professional and capable actor.
Add to it the realization that Ryan was supposed to be exactly the “eye candy” she was determined to not have on the main cast, and Mulgrew was very angry with the producers.