Ethan Phillips played Neelix on Star Trek: Voyager for seven seasons
Though it wasn’t popular, at the beginning of Star Trek: Voyager, Ethan Phillips’ character, Neelix, was in love with Kes, a two-year-old Ocampan, who’d taken shelter aboard Voyager. Not many fans were particularly fond of the relationship, and, at the beginning of season four, Jennifer Lien, who portrayed Kes, left the series which dissolved the romance. But, according to Phillips, in one part of his interview for the Voyager documentary, (beginning at 5:07 in the video below) “To the Journey,” the Talaxian had his eye on someone else aboard the ship.
Phillips said that when he plays a role, he always has a secret that no one else knows, and, on Voyager, the secret was Neelix’s heart belonged to Captain Janeway. The actor went on to say if you watch the scenes when Neelix is talking to her, he’s just gazing at the captain.
Ethan Phillips’ character eventually found love toward the end of the series
No one knew about Neelix’s love for the captain, but, toward the end of the series, in the episode “Homestead,” the Talaxian found love with Dexa, a widowed Talaxian who was also a mother. Neelix joined Lt. Paris and Tuvok on an exploration of an asteroid when they discovered a hidden Talaxian settlement. Neelix grew close to Dexa and her son, Brax, and was sad when he had to leave them behind when it was time for Voyager to move on.
But that sadness didn’t last for long as Neelix decided to follow his heart and stay with Dexa and the other Talaxians on the asteroid. Captain Janeway appointed him the Official Starfleet Ambassador to the Delta Quadrant, and the crew lined up to say goodbye to their friend in a touching sendoff.
In the interview, Phillips says he did tell Kate Mulgrew his secret after the series concluded, and now that he’s shared it with the rest of us, we might look at those Neelix/Janeway scenes a little differently!