Ethan Peck plays Spock on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Portraying a character that no one has ever heard of before gives an actor more leeway than playing one that has such iconic roots as Mr. Spock. Leonard Nimoy established the Vulcan character back in 1966 on Star Trek: The Original Series, and he set the bar high, making it challenging for any actor coming after him. Series star Ethan Peck acknowledged to The Hollywood Reporter that he is still growing into Spock in many ways and that both he and Celia Rose Gooding, who portrays Cadet Nyota Uhura, have added pressure.
That said, playing a character on any Star Trek series is an honor not afforded to all, and Peck realizes that, saying that he’s still grasping the reality that he is playing Mr. Spock on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
"“I’m still kind of grasping the reality of my situation — that I’m playing this character and on this show. It fills me with wonder and honor.”"
Ethan Peck acknowledges that Star Trek represents something so special to many.
And this isn’t a role he’s taking lightly. As he described what Star Trek means to the world, he called it “a beautiful burden for all of us and a heavy one, too.”
"“It represents something so special to so many people. It’s hopeful and aspirational and inspiring and curious and accepting. And I think it’s always anecdotal to all of the important things that are happening in the world.”"
It’s understandable that the mantle of playing well-known characters would be heavy. Only Peck and Gooding really have that challenge as even though Number One was portrayed on the original pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, we knew nothing about her. So that character is able to be shaped as the series progresses, much like Captain Pike who really began a journey fans could follow along with on Star Trek: Discovery.
There is a lot of pressure on Star Trek actors to “get it right.” Fan response has proven that, so far, the cast of Strange New Worlds is doing that. We know the burden weighs a lot, but we’re so appreciative that this cast is pulling out all stops to make this series one of the best live-action, episodic series that has aired since Star Trek: Enterprise ended.