Carol Kane was cast in the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as Pelias, the new chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise and a member of the extremely long-lived Lanthanite species. But when the Academy-nominated and two-time Emmy-winning actress was approached for the role, she was surprised.
Kane made her first convention appearance at STLV: Trek to Vegas and answered fan questions about her reaction to the role, how she played the role, and comparing herself to the character.
She said, “I was very challenged and surprised to be welcomed into this universe.” But she is glad she took a chance and “jumped in full force.” Talking about her character, Kane explained how she is more confident than she is in real life.
“She’s never worried about being straightforward. That’s a challenge for me and I really like it. I really like getting to where she is,” Kane – best known for her work in Taxi, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Princess Bride and Wicked – said.
Elaborating on her approach to the character, the actress said it was challenging as there was nothing to hold on to. “I was scared. That’s all I can say, I was scared,” she recalled.
That’s because speaking as a chief engineer means being very conscious of your words and understanding the lines well to make it sound seamless. “You really have to learn it very literally. And I’m unfamiliar with a lot of what I say,” Kane revealed.
Now she will have to get used to the role as her character may have a significant role in the show’s future. Pelias, who replaced the late Lt. Hammer (Bruce Horak), will be a part of the show’s third season. Although Scotty (Martin Quinn) joins the show as a regular in Season 3, the two engineers – he and Pelias – will be present together on the Enterprise.
Kane’s character has the potential to become a core member of the Enterprise and eventually a fan favorite. Pelias, who comes from The Lanthanite, is hundreds of years old, which adds a fun comedic element to the show’s present day.
