1. Nichelle Nichols | The Original Series & TOS films
No debate here. Nichelle Nichols didn’t just play Uhura — she invented her and inhabited her. At a time when women of color were nearly invisible on television and redshirts were cannon fodder, Nichols stood on the bridge as a senior officer with intelligence, authority, and calm charisma. No one doubted for even a second that she belonged there, including Abraham Lincoln.
Her performance defined the character: competent, poised, and respected by everyone around her. Nichols also sang on TOS — demonstrating Uhura’s cultural depth and versatility — though usually in short, contained moments. Every actress since has built on that foundation, whether by command presence, dramatic authority, or, in Gooding’s case, musical performance.
Nichols’ impact goes beyond fiction: she inspired generations of viewers and even helped shape real-world opportunities for women and people of color at NASA. We saw her influence every time Uhura took the bridge with confidence, across any timeline.