NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 13: Actress Emma Watson attends the “Beauty And The Beast” New York screening at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on March 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Emma Watson as Counselor Deanna Troi
The ships counselor, resident empath and former/future love interest of Commander Riker, Deanna Troi is a deceptively complicated character to cast as she has a wide range to play, something even original star Marina Sirtis struggled with at times before becoming fully comfortable with the character later on.
With the ability to sense emotions and deception in people she is a key character in many ways on a ship lead by an accomplished diplomat like Captain Picard and in order to be used to the best of her abilities needs to be portrayed by an actress with an equally wide range.
Emma Watson, who’s played a Disney Princess in the recent Beauty & The Beast live action remake is of course best known as a veteran of the Harry Potter series where she played one of the lead characters Hermione Granger has basically grown up in front of a demanding audience, she would be more than comfortable in both an ensemble cast and with a rabid fan base.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 29: Actor Teresa Palmer attends the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Expo Hall on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Honourable Mention: Teresa Palmer
The star of the current Sky one series A Discovery of Witches based on the best-selling novels by Deborah Harkness, Teresa is an outstanding actress who has quietly amassed a pretty impressive resume.
Her work on her current series has shown a strong performer with a wide range as she plays a modern-day witch cut off from her powers who becomes embroiled in a conflict between witches, vampires, werewolves and demons all while trying to gain control and understanding of the power she possesses. While it’s a departure from the more grounded psychologist like character of Deanna Troi the gambit of emotions and situations lends many surprising similarities, making Teresa Palmer an excellent choice for the role.