RALPH
The magnificent Jeri Ryan has single-handedly put the sex back into Star Trek. She fills the black hole left by the departure of Captain Kirk, who had kept the series simmering by boldly going where no man had gone before - down aliens' pants, or whatever they wore to cover up their sex organs.
Former Miss America runner-up Jeri plays Seven of Nine, who struts around the USS Voyager in a uniform that was originally so tight she passed out four times while wearing it.
In the Star Trek Voyager series, Seven of Nine is a human being raised by the Borg, a race of emotionless drones. She tries to come to terms with emotion and sexuality while blissfully unaware of the effect she has on the male members of the Crew.
DOMINIC CADDEN fires the questions at the woman who is making Star Trek, and the future in general, look very bright indeed.
Has William Shatner ever hit on you?
He hasn't had the chance, we've never met.
Is there enough sex in Star Trek, or do you think it should return to the old days when William Shatner's Captain Kirk tried to intimately get to know a woman from every civilisation he came across?
You mean when we had Kirk's flirt of the week? Seven's bringing sex back into Star Trek in a sense, because Voyager was pretty much devoid of sexuality before she arrived. The reason I am so OK with what she looks like physically is because she is such a positive female portrayal. It doesn't bother me she has such an overtly sexual presence, because she has no concept of what effect that physical package would have on some male member of the crew. That's what's fun, her innocence.
Is it possible to be typecast as a lesbian?
A lesbian? Seven of Nine's not a lesbian!
Aw, come on...
There was a fake press release in the States when the character was first announced. It was supposedly from the executive producers, and it said that Seven of Nine was going to be the first gay character in Star Trek history - but it was all false. Having said that, it wouldn't surprise me if it was touched on for an episode. She would be the obvious one to do it with, because she has no preconceived assumptions of sexuality - she is exploring all aspects.
What is it like being single again?
It's strange. It's been a while, but I'm having a great time.
Does playing Seven intimidate people, or do they think they can hit on you?
I think it's intimidating to people who think there's a personality crossover between Seven and myself, because she's such a tough character. It can be a little off-putting though.
I understand a woman is employed to get you in and out of that snug Seven outfit.
Yeah, it's true. It's a two woman operation.
Does she get paid?
Of course!
We know some people who'd do it for free.
We have had a lot of unsolicited offers.
What's the most stupid gobbledygook you've ever had to learn on the show?
Technobabble is actually worse than Shakespeare. It's the worst thing in the world I've ever had to wrap my mouth around.
Really?
It's like trying to speak a foreign language by syllables, without translation. I had to speak Russian in [X-Files-style TV show] Dark Skies, and this is no different - you're just memorising sounds. I started by looking everything up in a Star Trek dictionary so I knew what I was talking about, but then you realise that you can't do that because they talk in circles, and half of it doesn't make sense, so you'll just end up driving yourself more insane.
Were the Borg named after ice-cold Swedish tennis champ Bjorn Borg?
I don't know if he had something to do with it. But then Seven is the only character who gets in the Captain's face, so she's not that calm.
What is it like to have action figures made of you?
Bizarre. This entire process has been a surreal experience. You have action figures, you have the internet, you have drinking mugs in the shape of your head.
Are they anatomically correct?
They look nothing like me; they're terrible likenesses, to be quite honest.
Were you concerned you might get stuck in some poor kid's throat?
That hadn't crossed my mind.
Do you like to play with guns?
I do. They created a monster when I was on Dark Skies. I have a lot of fun with guns, especially the M-16, but my favourite is my little .22. It fits nicely in the palm of your hand. It's a cute little gun, but you know you're shooting with it. But I do limit myself to blanks.
I hear you're a big fan of fruits and vegetables.
That's a lot less exciting than it sounds. I'm a foodie - I love everything about food. I love going to the grocery store and spending hours pouring over vegetables, poring over every aisle and every item.
Are the produce aisles pick-up zones? I've been told that some American supermarkets have special singles nights.
I've heard that, but most of the time, when I was living in LA, I didn't have that concern because I was living in West Hollywood which is predominantly gay, so every man that came into the grocery store was shopping for his boyfriend.
What's the best thing you get to do in this job?
I get to play. I get to pretend I'm flying into space, and hang out with my friends. That's what I do for a living.
I've heard you're not a science-fiction fan.
I never have been, and I had never seen much of Star Trek, or any other science fiction, before I was cast. But Seven's wonderful. I would defy people to find a more beautifully developed character than Seven of Nine for an actor to play. She's endlessly challenging and interesting - every day is a new discovery for this character.
I read an internet poll that voted for Salma Hayek (followed by Cameron Diaz) to replace you as Seven if you left the show. Who would you want to fill your shoes?
I might do some really interesting casting - RuPaul or something like that. I'd go in the other direction, I think.
What about if someone was going to play you in a movie about your life?
Play me? Boy, I think Meryl Streep could play me in a couple of years. It would be a good role - I've had an interesting life.
This interview was originally published in Australian men's lifestyle magazine "RALPH" in August '99 and was written by Dominic Cadden.