Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 10, 1993 TAG: 9309110267
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ian Spelllin
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Marina Sirtis, who has played "Next Generation's" empathic Counselor Troi for six years, read the newspaper and magazine articles and watched the television reports closely.
And she seethed - especially when reporters asked her to comment on the seemingly sudden influx of "strong" women into the "Trek" universe.
"I was a little bit sick of reporters coming up and saying, `How does it feel to finally see strong women on `Star Trek'? I wanted to punch their lights out," Sirtis says by phone from her Los Angeles home.
What do these reporters regard as being strong? To me, strength is a character thing, and Troi is a very strong person. She doesn't yell a lot or get angry often, but that doesn't mean she's not strong.
"Deanna Troi is a very strong person, inside and out."
Sirtis, who appeared in such films as "The Wicked Lady" (1983) and "Death Wish 3" (1985) before joining "Next Gen" in 1987, feels that "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry and the show's writers inadvertently thrust Troi and Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) into a dramatic black hole by assigning the characters "nurturing" professions.
By contrast, Visitor and Farrell play "DS9's" second in command and science officer, respectively. Both roles, Sirtis says, offer more dramatic meat than could ever be hoped for by an actress portraying a counselor or a ship's doctor.
Visitor has said that Sirtis helped pave the way for her and her character by continually lobbying for punchier dialog, additional screen time and a broadening of Troi's responsibilities.
"I think she's right," says Sirtis, who sounds nothing like Troi when speaking in her natural, husky British tones.
"When they created the females on `Deep Space Nine,' [producers] Rick [Berman] and Michael [Piller] couldn't let themselves fall into the same trap. The professions for the women had to be ones men or women could handle.
I'm happy for Nana and Terry."
Don't get Sirtis wrong. She is glad to be a part of "Next Gen" and particularly enjoyed the sixth-season episodes that showcased her character: "Face of the Enemy," "Man of the People" and "A Fistful of Datas."
The actress also relished spending another year with her co-stars." says Sirtis, who landed her role on the series just six months after arriving in American from her native England.
"It's strange to think this will all come to an end pretty soon. I'm getting withdrawal pangs just thinking about it, not being with my friends every day."
Sirtis, who is married to rock musician Michael Lamper, says she is both excited and sad about going back to work for the seventh and final season.
"We're going to go off to make our movies, and I'm excited about that. But, speaking for myself, I could go on.
"We really haven't done it all yet. There's more to do, to explore, to learn about our characters.
"But it's off to the movies we go."
\ If you have trek news or trivia to share - or if you have questions relating to "Star Trek - write to Ian Spelling, in care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like a reply.
by CNB