While watching Star Trek: The Next Generation today, it's difficult to imagine any other actors in the roles of the iconic bridge crew, as their names have become synonymous with the amazing characters they brought to life. But did you know that two cast members nearly played the other's role? During a panel at Trek Talks 5, TNG alum Denise Crosby revealed that's nearly what happened.
Crosby said (per TrekMovie.com): “This is after maybe three auditions … I’m still reading for Deanna Troi and Gene [Roddenberry] right there in the office said, ‘Would you do me a favor? Would you take the sides for Macha Hernandez, and go look at them, and come back and read that part?’ And you go, Sure, you know, of course, whatever you want me to do. And that’s how it how it flipped. He just flipped Marina [Sirtis] and I right, right then and there.”
Imagine having that kind of eye for matching actors to their roles and creating future icons that are still beloved by the fandom, even almost 40 years later.
While Crosby left The Next Generation at the end of season 1 because she was unhappy with her character's growth, she returned in "Yesterday's Enterprise" as a version of Yar who served aboard the Enterprise-C in another timeline.
This led to Crosby pitching the idea of Yar's half-Romulan daughter Sela, a role she would portray in several episodes of TNG, including the two-parter "Redemption." Pitching a role after leaving a series, only to return to play your dead character's daughter, took some serious confidence on Crosby's part.
Plus, who knows if Sela ever would have come to fruition, if Crosby had been cast as Deanna rather than Tasha. Share your thoughts and comments with us on the matter via the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
And for those who do not subscribe to Paramount+, all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation are currently streaming for free on Pluto TV.
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