roseembolism (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
roseembolism) wrote2008-12-18 05:59 pm
roseembolism) wrote2008-12-18 05:59 pm
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Majel Barrett RIP
I just received the news that Majel Barrett Roddenberry, one of the major figures of Star trek both in front and behind the camera, passed away at age 76.
While not a household name, she in fact played a groundbreaking role in the first Star Trek pilot as the logical, emotionless and businesslike Number One (yes, she was the original Number One). Bear in mind that this was back in the early 1960s, when feminism was a new concept, women's options in both the military and business were very limited, and SF tended to relegate women to the roles of girlfriends and hostages.
Even after the series was revised and Number One's characteristics were given to Spock, she continued in the series as Nurse Chapel. She also supplied the voice of the ship's computer, and also played the exuberant Lwaxana Troi in the New Generation series. She was known as "the First Lady of Star Trek", and while not as prominant as other actresses, she did help pave the way for women in SF and television.
I thought she was a very classy lady. So, she will be missed by the fans of the series she helped create.
While not a household name, she in fact played a groundbreaking role in the first Star Trek pilot as the logical, emotionless and businesslike Number One (yes, she was the original Number One). Bear in mind that this was back in the early 1960s, when feminism was a new concept, women's options in both the military and business were very limited, and SF tended to relegate women to the roles of girlfriends and hostages.
Even after the series was revised and Number One's characteristics were given to Spock, she continued in the series as Nurse Chapel. She also supplied the voice of the ship's computer, and also played the exuberant Lwaxana Troi in the New Generation series. She was known as "the First Lady of Star Trek", and while not as prominant as other actresses, she did help pave the way for women in SF and television.
I thought she was a very classy lady. So, she will be missed by the fans of the series she helped create.