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Home » GGA Columns » STAR TREK: 8 Women of Vulcan

STAR TREK: 8 Women of Vulcan

Posted by Avery Kaplan | Mar 8, 2024 | GGA Columns , List Articles , Star Trek , Stuff We Like , Trek Tuesday , TV & Streaming | 0

Geek Girl Authority is celebrating International Women’s Day (March 8) with a look at Star Trek ‘s women of Vulcan! Spock may be the first Vulcan ( Leonard Nimoy ) introduced on Star Trek: The Original Series . However, we subsequently met several stellar women of Vulcan through  TOS and the following shows. Here are just a few examples!

T’Pring

Two versions of T’Pring.

In  TOS season 2 episode “Amok Time,” T’Pring was first introduced as Spock’s betrothed. In this episode, she evoked kal-if-ee during her koon-ut-kal-if-ee  ceremony with Spock. She succeeds in her goal to end her betrothal with Spock and instead marry Stonn. In this appearance, T’Pring was played by Arlene Martel.

RELATED: Read all our recaps of  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds here.

But the character of T’Pring enjoyed further development in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1. In this series, the role of Spock’s betrothed is played by Gia Sandhu . During this time period, T’Pring is a recovery specialist at a Vulcan rehabilitation colony. She plays important roles in several SNW season 1 episodes and is expected to return in season 2.

Amanda Grayson

Two versions of Amanda Grayson.

Mother to Spock and foster mother to Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ), Amanda was first introduced in  TOS  season 2 episode 15, “Journey to Babel.” She subsequently appeared in  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . In these appearances, she was played by Jane Wyatt.

The character returned to play a significant role in  Star Trek: Discovery , where she was played by Mia Kirshner. These episodes revealed that Amanda served as a foster mother to Michael after her parents were seemingly killed in a Klingon attack. While Amanda is human, she plays an important role in Vulcan and Federation history. Furthermore, as first demonstrated in  TOS , she is directly involved with her husband Surak’s diplomatic responsibilities.

Two versions of Saavik.

Saavik was first introduced in  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . In the opening sequence, Saavik is seen undertaking the infamous Kobyashi Maru test. In this appearance, Saavik is played by Kirstie Alley.

RELATED: Read all our recaps of  Star Trek: Picard here.

The character subsequently plays a supporting role in  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , and appears in a cameo role in  The Voyage Home . In these appearances, she is played by Robin Curtis. As revealed by  Star Trek: Picard season 3, a shuttlecraft aboard the  Titan-A is named after Saavik. This is to pay homage that, after her movie appearances, she became Captain of the first  Titan .

T’Pol

T’Pol.

Introduced in the first episode of Star Trek: Enterprise , T’Pol ( Jolene Blalock ) serves aboard the NX-01  Enterprise  under Captain Jonathan Archer ( Scott Bakula ). Initially posted aboard the ship by the Vulcan High Council, T’Pol eventually resigns her commission and becomes the first Vulcan in Starfleet.

T’Pol continued to serve aboard the  Enterprise for years after the conclusion of the main timeline of the series. Eventually, she was present at the founding of the Federation.

T’Pau

Two versions of T’Pau.

T’Pau was first introduced as a high priestess in “Amok Time.” In this episode, she was played by Celia Lovsky.

However, T’Pau returned in Enterprise  season 4, which explored important Vulcan backstory. In these appearances, the younger version of the character was played by Kara Zediker. In these episodes, it is revealed that T’Pau is an important figure in the Syrranite movement. This movement seeks to bring forth the true teachings of Surak to Vulcan. T’Pau is able to work with Captain Archer and T’Pol to succeed in the movement’s mission. She subsequently becomes an important minister in the Vulcan government.

Michael Burnham

Pictured: Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham of the Paramount+ original series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: Michael Gibson/Paramount+ © 2021 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved.

After her parents were seemingly killed in an attack by Klingons, Michael was raised by Sarek and Amanda Grayson. She considers Spock to be her brother, and Spock considers her to be his sister. Because of her upbringing, Michael is able to administer the Vulcan nerve pinch and has a deeper knowledge of Vulcan culture than most humans.

RELATED: Read all our recaps of  Star Trek: Discovery here.

Michael is an important figure in the Federation, although her existence is widely classified at the conclusion of  Discovery season 2. At this point, she travels to the 31st Century and subsequently becomes embroiled in events on a galactic scale. Fortunately, her intelligence and leadership have spelled victory for the Federation in the past and the future.

T’Rina

T’Rina and Saru. Photo Cr: Marni Grossman/Paramount+ © 2021 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved.

In the 31st Century, the Vulcans and the Romulans have fulfilled Spock’s dream of unification. This new unified planetary society is called “Ni’Var.” As President of Ni’Var, T’Rina ( Tara Rosling ) plays an important role: she oversees the readmission of Ni’Var into the Federation.

In  Discovery season 4, T’Rina and Saru ( Doug Jones ) become involved in a tentative romance. And T’Rina also plays an important function in the advancement towards First Contact with Species 10-C by performing an impressive mind meld.

T’Lyn

Photo: PARAMOUNT+ ©2022 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved

So far, T’Lyn ( Gabrielle Ruiz ) has only played a major role in one episode:  Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2 episode 9, “wej Duj.” In this episode, T’Lyn served aboard the Vulcan cruiser  Sh’vhal . However, her “emotional outbursts” (by Vulcan standards) led to punitive spiritualism. Eventually, she was transferred to Starfleet to serve among humans.

RELATED: Read all our recaps of  Star Trek: Lower Decks here.

In  Lower Decks season 3 episode 10, “ The Stars at Night ,” it was revealed that T’Lyn will be working alongside Ensign D’Vana Tendi ( Noël Wells ) in the Science Officer Training Program. Hopefully, this means we’ll see much more of T’Lyn in the upcoming  Lower Decks season 4!

Every episode of  Star Trek is currently available for  streaming on Paramount Plus .

STAR TREK: PICARD – Talkin’ Lt. T’Veen With STEPHANIE CZAJKOWSKI

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About The Author

Avery Kaplan

Avery Kaplan is the author of several books and the Features Editor at Comics Beat. She was honored to serve as a judge for the 2021 Cartoonist Studio Prize Award and the 2021 Prism Awards. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her partner and a pile of cats, and her favorite place to visit is the cemetery. You can also find her writing on Comics Bookcase, NeoText, Shelfdust, the Mary Sue, StarTrek.com, in many issues of PanelxPanel, and in the margins of the books in her personal library.

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Star Trek: 10 Best Vulcan Characters, Ranked

Leonard Nimoy's Spock was the first Vulcan to appear in the franchise, with many others following in his steps as Star Trek's universe expanded.

With their elfin ears, acute preference for logic, and unswept eyebrows, Vulcans have become one of the most well-known and emblematic alien species in science-fiction history. They were formally introduced in the Original Series fan-favorite episode "Amok Time," and have become a key component of every Star Trek  show or movie.

Related: Star Trek: The 5 Best Episodes From The Original Series (& The 5 Worst), According To IMDb

Leonard Nimoy's Spock was the first Vulcan to appear in the franchise, with many others following in his steps as Star Trek 's universe expanded beyond its first series.

10 T'Pring Eventually Gained Her Freedom

A member of the Vulcan aristocracy, T'Pring was bonded to Spock as a child as it's customary for their people. After Spock falls victim to his first Pon Farr , he returns to his home planet in order to unite with T'Pring, unaware of her plans to claim kal-if-ee and 'divorce' him in the process.

T'Pring is shown to be a very intelligent and determined female Vulcan, doing her best to achieve her goal of separating from Spock and marrying Stonn instead. Ceding T'Pring her freedom, Spock congratulates her on her 'flawless logic,' a compliment that she seems to enjoy.

9 Vorik Helped To Save The Voyager Multiple Times

First appearing as an Ensign aboard the Voyager, Vorik is a skilled engineer under half-Klingon, half-human Chief Engineer B'Elanna Torres. Like most Vulcan males, Vorik was bonded to a female who was not able to help him when his Pon Farr hit in the Voyager episode "Blood Fever".

Vorik has assisted the crew during multiple crises, including skillfully recalibrating the ship's electro-plasma system and maintaining life support systems online after entering a dangerous Class Y planet. He was played by actor Alexander Enberg.

8 Valeris Betrayed Her Crewmates In The Name Of Logic

After impressing Captain Spock during her time at the Academy, Valeris was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant and given the post of helmsman aboard the Enterprise-A. She ultimately chooses to betray the crew by joining the Khitomer conspiracy to ruin peace talks between the Klingons and the Federation.

Related: Star Trek: The 10 Most Respected Characters In The Franchise

Valeris debuted in The Undiscovered Country as a replacement for Saavik, who was originally supposed to be the traitor. Given the fans' devotion to the female Vulcan, Gene Roddenberry decided to create a completely new character, which actress Kim Catrall helped name after the goddess Eris.

7 Saavik Has Trouble Understanding Human Emotion

Making her first appearance in The Wrath of Khan , Saavik is one of the first Vulcan females to be seen aboard a Federation starship. After failing the Kobayashi Maru, she explains her frustration to Admiral James T. Kirk , who proceeds to assign her to the Enterprise as a navigator with the rank of Lieutenant.

Akin to other Vulcans, Saavik has trouble understanding human emotion, a struggle that she seems willing to explore during her two next appearances in the franchise. She was played by Robin Curtis in The Search for Spock and The Voyage Home after the original actress, Kirstie Alley, refused to reprise the role.

6 Sybok Tried To Follow A Different Path & Failed

The Final Frontier completely altered Spock's backstory when Sybok was introduced. As Spock's revolutionary older brother, Sybok lived under Pre-Surakian Vulcan's much more liberal and emotional philosophy. His quest to find the Vulcan paradise known as Sha Ka Ree leads him to infiltrate a starship , where he's reunited with his estranged half-brother.

Blinded by his delusions, Sybok attempts to command the Enterprise-A through the Great Barrier, a gigantic energy field at the edge of the galaxy. He's eventually forced to face the truth when an evil entity threatens the ship, and he gives his life to save the others.

5 T'Pau Is A Modern Vulcan Legend

One of the most important figures in Vulcan's modern history, T'Pau first appeared to officiate Spock's wedding to T'Pring during his tumultuous Pon Farr. Known as an exceptional diplomat and philosopher, T'Pau is described to be the first person to refuse a seat in the Federation Council.

Related: 15 Strongest Star Trek Ships, Ranked

A younger version of the character appeared in several episodes of Enterprise , recounting her exploits as one of the leaders of the Surakian movement in the 22nd century. Two centuries later, during the time of The Next Generation , a Vulcan vessel with her name would be discovered by the crew of the Enterprise-D.

4 T'Pol Was The First Vulcan Aboard A Human Ship

Set before the events of The Original Series, Enterprise introduced T'Pol as the first Vulcan to ever serve on a Human ship. She was a mid-rank science officer aboard the Enterprise NX-01 , eventually ascending to the role of First Officer after a successful mission to return a Klingon courier to his planet.

T'Pol had a long career with the crew of the Enterprise, being part of several high-profile missions including a journey into the Delphic Expanse, various dealings with the Xindi, and battles against the Terra Prime terrorist group. She was bonded to Koss before the marriage was dissolved after a mutual accord.

3 Sarek Struggles To Understand His Children

While serving as Vulcan ambassador to Earth, Sarek married Amanda Grayson and fathered his second son, Spock. He first appeared in the fan-favorite Original Series episode "Journey to Babel" being played by actor Mark Lenard, who had previously appeared as the Romulan commander in "Balance of Terror".

Related: Star Trek: 10 Things That Don't Really Hold Up Today

Over the years, Sarek has appeared in multiple Star Trek stories, most recently popping up in various Discovery episodes as Michael Burnham's adoptive father. He's shown to be a kind, but stern individual who strives for logic above everything else, struggling to find the balance between Spock's Human and Vulcan sides.

2 Tuvok Is A Key Asset Aboard The Voyager

After serving under Captain Hikaru Sulu on the Excelsior and a short return to Vulcan, Tuvok joined Captain Janeway's crew aboard the Voyager as Chief of Security. He was a key player during the Maquis mission, working undercover to help a ship commandeered by Chakotay.

Tuvok married his bondmate T'Pel at the beginning of the 22nd century and fathered four children. He enjoys playing the Vulcan lute, breeding orchids, and playing kal-toh with Ensign Harry Kim. He has a close friendship with his Captain, Kathryn Janeway , whom he trusts implicitly and considers family.

1 Spock Originated An Entire Alien Race

Without Spock , Star Trek wouldn't have achieved its prized place within pop culture. The half-Vulcan, half-human first appeared in the Original Series rejected pilot, "The Cage," before joining Captain Kirk's Enterprise in "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Leonard Nimoy originated the character, but several actors have played the Vulcan, with the most recent being Ethan Peck in Discovery .

Spock's mixed heritage is his biggest dilemma throughout the series, as he continues to search for logic despite his humanity. He's the most recognizable Star Trek character, usually representing the franchise despite the numerous characters attached to the brand.

Next: Star Trek: 10 Things We Know About The Upcoming Strange New Worlds Series

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11 Ways to Attract a Leo Man As a Cancer Woman

3 ways to protect your village in clash of clans, 11 easy ways to respond when someone asks for prayers, 6 ways to change font size on a computer, how to can vegetables: 10 steps, 3 ways to weigh a baby, how to install wamp, 3 ways to dress for softball success, how to change an ink cartridge: 7 steps, 3 ways to style dreadlocks, 10 star trek female vulcans ranked worst to best.

As one of the most iconic and enduring science fiction franchises, “Star Trek” has introduced a multitude of memorable characters that have become cultural icons. Among them, the Vulcans stand out with their logical minds, pointy ears, and fascinating culture. Female Vulcans, in particular, bring a unique perspective and strength to the series. Here’s our ranking of 10 female Vulcans from worst to best.

10. Valeris (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

The only character on our list to serve as an antagonist, Valeris is remembered for her betrayal as she succumbed to logic without morality. While her actions were deplorable, her complexity adds depth to Vulcan characters.

9. T’Pring (Star Trek: The Original Series)

Famous for her role in “Amok Time,” T’Pring challenged Spock’s claim over her in a traditional Vulcan battle. Calculating and cold, she demonstrated that logic could sometimes overshadow loyalty.

8. Saavik (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

Originally portrayed by Kirstie Alley and later by Robin Curtis, Saavik is a Vulcan Starfleet officer who learns about emotions while retaining her Vulcan composure and rationality.

7. Selar (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Although Dr. Selar had limited screentime, she left an impact as a reliable physician on the USS Enterprise-D with dignity and professionalism that epitomize Vulcan ethos.

6. T’Pol’s Mother (T’Les) (Star Trek: Enterprise)

While not receiving ample time on screen like her daughter, T’Les is memorable for her deep devotion to Vulcan principles and the complex relationship with T’Pol, which offered viewers a heartfelt look at Vulcan family dynamics.

5. Sakonna (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

As a Vulcan member of the Maquis, Sakonna was intriguing due to her willingness to join a rebel group while maintaining firm adherence to Vulcan principles.

4. T’Pel (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Ambassador T’Pel serves as an example of Vulcan diplomacy and intelligence. She maintained grace and patience while navigating through delicate interstellar interactions.

3. T’Shael (Non-canon – Starfleet Academy Novels)

While not part of the official canon, T’Shael from the Starfleet Academy novels deserves recognition for resonating with fans through her struggles and triumphs within the Academy.

2. T’Pau (Star Trek: The Original Series & Star Trek: Enterprise)

T’Pau is one of the most influential Vulcans of all time within the Star Trek universe. Her powerful position within Vulcan society and critical role in “Amok Time” secure her high rank on our list.

1. T’Pol (Star Trek: Enterprise)

Commander T’Pol is undoubtedly at the top of our list; no other female Vulcan character has been explored so deeply over multiple seasons. Her evolution from a traditionalist Vulcan officer into an individual who embraced some human emotions reflects one of Star Trek’s core narratives—exploring personal growth and understanding between cultures.

These incredible female Vulcans have each brought something special to their respective series—challenging conventions, showcasing strength and intelligence, while teaching us lessons about logic versus emotion in their unique ways.

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Stephanie Czajkowski On Playing A Vulcan In Star Trek: Picard

Actress Stephanie Czajkowski joins us on Close-Up Culture to chat about her role in the third and final season of the series, Star Trek: Picard.

You star in season 3 of Star Trek: Picard. How excited were you to step into this beloved franchise? 

Well “star” might be a bit of stretch. I mean it is called “PICARD”. I would say a fairer estimation would be I’m a supporting player in one of the most iconic reunions in history. 

Were you a Trekkie beforehand?

I think my previous statement may answer that, but in all seriousness, Star Trek has been deeply threaded throughout my life. It was one of my father’s favorite shows, I watched the re-runs religiously with him on weekends, and my mother who was an exceptionally talented seamstress did a bustling side business making Starfleet Uniforms from “The Final Frontier”. So yeah, by familial association, I’ve always considered myself a bit of a “Trekkie”, though it wasn’t until I walked on that bridge, I realized how very deep it ran.  

You play Vulcan L. T’Veen. What can you reveal about the character and how you prepared for the role?

Lt T’veen is a Vulcan and, in the footsteps of Spock, she is also a science officer, which thrilled the hell out of me. She is clear headed and calm in even the most dire circumstances. I was very fortunate to have my working knowledge of watching the Treks, but also the Production Office Secretary, who was a giant fan, was kind enough to send me a list of all the “Spock Centric” episodes from TOS as well other “Vulcan heavy” episodes to help me get a handle on the history. And in terms of being in alignment with canon, “Memory Alpha and Beta” in Fandom.com  was indispensable when it came to developing T’veen. 

What was your experience like playing a Vulcan?

In one word: ZEN. I was really struck by the history of Vulcan’s and specifically Surak and the Age of Enlightenment. The idea of how Vulcans were so deeply, violently emotional, and how it almost destroyed them. How meditation became standard practice, in controlling them. I, as a person, have a pretty high level of anxiety, that had also been amplified a bit by a cancer med I was taking.  And I found that I was meditating more to get in touch with what I called “The Vulcan Mindset”.  It bled into my life in a lovely way, and I have made meditation more of a habit. 

What will be your most cherished memory from working on the show?

That’s so unfair, because legitimately I have dozens, but when asked the thing that always comes to mind first is the feeling of sitting on that iconic bridge. 

I remember my first day on set, taking a seat at my station and being, I guess, smart enough to, in the midst of the excitement, fully take in where I was. So much history, such a legendary franchise, and here I was stepping in to become a small part of it. I still get choked up talking about it. 

And I made a concerted effort to try and take that moment, once every time I was on set, because I realize how easy it could be to let it become “routine” and how, before I knew it we would be wrapped.

I’m forever glad I made myself do that. Because, it is something I will never forget. 

Another exciting role saw you play Chyna in the NBC comedy,  Young Rock.  What was it like being on that set and playing one of the most iconic female wrestlers of all time?

Is it overkill to gush about how much I adore my job? I was only there for one episode this season and every single person on Young Rock made me feel like I’d been part of the cast from day one. Though nothing quite prepared me to walk out in that arena and hear the extras who are also true wrestling fans yell “Chyna ! Oh my god is that Chyna?!”. That energy and passion was surreal and wonderful, and made the infamous ladder match feel that much more authentic. 

But It was a truly an honor to play her. Chyna is such a huge presence in wrestling and she is so beloved. When you are lucky enough to try to embody someone as iconic as Joanie, you build the character with as much love and care as you can hoping that you will do her memory justice. 

You have an incredibly inspiring story, a lot of which is documented in your podcast, ChemoSkinny. What is the show all about?

The podcast was the seeming natural progression to the blog of the same name, my husband and I wrote as we dealt with the tidal wave of my three consecutive cancer diagnoses. It seemed that we had seen so many blogs about the subject from the patient’s perspective, but rarely from both patient and caregiver at the same time. 

Then not long after the final surgery, the pandemic happened, and it afforded us the opportunity to actually process what we’d been through. So the podcast is a darkly funny, (hopefully) telling of my breast cancer adventure. From finding the lump, through the surgeries, chemo, the radiation, and perceived remission. 

We talk about what happened, how we felt about it then and looking back what we wish we would have known at the time. And we laugh, ‘cause I mean sometimes it’s all you can do. Cancer treatment is like being in a burning building, you are trying to get out as fast as you can. The “processing” never happens when you want it to, it happens, when it happens. 

I hear you are turning the podcast into a movie. Can you reveal anything about that?

Well, we are trying our hardest, that’s for sure. We’re trying to close a pretty decent funding gap (which is sadly not uncommon). What we have found, is that trying to sell a story about cancer that’s not solely focused on the disease itself or anchored in the overdone tropes we’ve historically seen is incredibly challenging. It’s a bit frustrating because the demographic of people experiencing, and specifically living with cancer just keep getting bigger and as someone in it whose part of that demographic, I am not alone in looking for narratives, that don’t just distill the experience down into simply death or remission. But just like this cancer journey, we soldier on.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

Hmmm I guess, personally, that I get to travel more and see the people I love who are all over the globe. Professionally that I get to keep embodying more of these fantastic characters, and that we get to see even more of their complexity. That I get to jump back up on the professional stage, it’s been decades since I’ve done a musical.

But honestly Spock said it best: To Live Long, and Prosper.

Thanks for the chat!

For more about STEPHANIE CZAJKOWSKI visit:  www.stephanieczajkowski.com

Twitter:  @SkiSays   IG:  @SkiSays   Facebook:  /StephCzski   TikTok: @stephskisays

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Top 10 Best Star Trek Female Characters, Ranked From Romulans to Illyrians

It’s not easy coming up with the  best Star Trek female characters , because there are so many to choose from. We wish we could name every one of them since there have been amazing female characters throughout the original Star Trek series, The Next Generation, and the recent Strange New Worlds. But this bodes well for the franchise, providing an excellent balance between male and female characters that’s helped elevate Star Trek beyond the confines of any world. Without further ado, let’s check out the list.

10. Romulan Commander

The first time the Federation’s deadliest enemy was introduced was in the original series episode The Enterprise Incident. Kirk gives in to his daring nature and takes his Enterprise ship into Romulan territory, where he encounters a squadron. What makes this character even more significant is the fact that she remains unnamed to this day and yet is such an important milestone for Star Trek canon and history.

While Kirk attempts to gather intel on the Romulans, the commander is fascinated by Spock and tries to persuade him to join her. It becomes apparent she might have a romantic inclination toward him. After inviting Spock to dinner, she explains how Romulan women are passionate when compared to logical Vulcan women. Spock is put on edge, but resists her offer and maintains his loyalty. All along, Spock was helping Kirk steal the invaluable cloaking device to help advance the Federation’s technology. At the end of the episode, the Romulan commander is captured aboard the Enterprise and held as a prisoner. In a moment of privacy, Spock admits that his romantic interest in her was not pretended.

9. Philippa Georgiou

Georgiou is a Malaysian human who became one of the Starfleet Academy’s most decorated officers and the captain of U.S.S. Shenzou. During a routine activity, her crew encountered the hostile Klingon Empire and things quickly escalated into an event known as the Battle at the Binary Stars before becoming the catalyst to the Klingon-Federation War. Georgiou lost her life to the leader of the Klingons, T’Kuvma, as she tried to capture him on his ship in an attempt to prevent the war. She is a smart and driven commander who will go down in Star Trek history for her sacrifice.

8. Elizabeth Shelby

Commander Elizabeth Shelby has a bit of notoriety to her name, mostly owing to her rivalry with Commander William T. Riker. After confidently believing she would replace him as Captain Picard’s first officer, Riker didn’t take too kindly to her after his promotion to commander of U.S.S. Melbourne. To Shelby’s chagrin, she ended up becoming Riker’s first officer. Elizabeth has a similar personality to Admiral James T. Kirk in that she is a risk-taker when the greater good is involved.

As such, she ended up going over Riker’s head when leading an away team to investigate a Borg attack, and went so far as to lead another team to rescue Picard when the Borg kidnapped him. She eventually moved up the ranks to be a commanding officer herself, and it would be great to find out more about her in future shows.

7. Deanna Troi

Deanna Troi is a standout character not just due to her exoticness, but also because of her half-human, half-Betazoid hybrid race. This mixed-race is what gave her telepathic abilities (though decreased in their effectiveness), and those powers were perfect for the crew’s counselor. She brought prominence to this Starfleet position and proved the most valuable assets to have in space are communication and empathy.

On many occasions, her abilities helped smooth things out during turbulent encounters, and she survived many different scenarios including being surgically altered, impersonating Romulans, and figuring out when others were lying. Deanna eventually married Riker and did more than enough to secure her legacy in Star Trek canon and history.

6. Michael Burnham

Michael has great importance to Star Trek canon, bringing more diversity while also being the main protagonist on the Star Trek: Discovery series despite not acting as the captain. Her story overshadows her captain Gabriel Lorca, and while she served under Captain Phillippa Georgiou, she would commit mutiny and injure Phillippa in order to force the U.S.S. Shenzhou to preemptively attack the Klingons. After being a part of the Klingon-Federation war’s inciting incident, Captain Lorca reduced her sentence since he wanted crew members dedicated to defeating the Klingons.

Her backstory is unique in that she was a human raised by Klingons, and none other than Spock’s father, Sarek, specifically. Not a typical Star Trek character, Michael is a complicated woman, most likely created under modern characterization precepts, and it will be interesting to see how her story develops.

5. Beverly Crusher

Talk about an intimidating name. Beverly Crusher is an all-around amazing female character, and not at all an aggressive one like her last name might suggest. She served as the chief medical officer on both Enterprise-D and Enterprise-E, and was a main crew member on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She was also a loving mother to Wesley Crusher and after her husband’s tragic passing, developed a close bond with Picard that blurred the lines between friendship and romance.

Beverly Crusher is controversial in that many wished she was further developed than what was allowed on screen in the Star Trek the Next Generation shows and movies. Her closeness to Picard also rallied fans to request her to have a main role in the Picard series, and many non-canonical books were written about the pairing, and the life they share together, along with their son.

4. Seven of Nine

Seven of Nine’s name should state the obvious; there’s nothing quite like her. Although human, she was a former Borg drone, meaning she was part of the Borg Collective until she was liberated by Kathryn Janeway and her U.S.S. Voyager crew. As an assimilated Borg, she was taken by them and enhanced with cybernetics. In the case of Seven of Nine, or Annika Hansen, she was abducted at the age of six and dubbed Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One.

After her complex and traumatic upbringing, she becomes nuanced and complicated aboard the U.S.S. Voyager. She brings many deep, dramatic, and thematic elements to Star Trek, portraying a character that demands respect, patience, and understanding. After all, consider the fact that she was kidnapped as a child, forced to become a Borg drone, and then has difficulty assimilating with her human peers (let alone other races), while also having to suppress an urge to rejoin the Borg. For the show, she brought plenty of tense moments, as well as emotional scenes, funny moments, and butt-kicking action.

3. Nyota Uhura

Uhura has seen different incarnations throughout the various Star Trek series and movies, and Strange New Worlds has really taken her to the next level. Her latest on-screen portrayal brings a balanced sense of vulnerability, strengths, weaknesses, and backstory. Although she begins as a communications officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, she eventually achieves the rank of commander of the U.S.S. Leondegrance for her remaining services to the Starfleet.

She can also be considered the first true standout female character or lead and deserves it completely. Uhura brings a great amount of diversity and unique themes to explore. As the expert linguist on her crew, and with her potential to grow, we’re looking forward to seeing more of her on a regular basis.

2. Number One / Una Chin-Riley

As her designated name states, Number One is the first officer to Pike, and ranks just shy of the number one spot on this list. In the original series, she was only referred to as Number One but was later named Una Chin-Riley in several non-canon Star Trek novels. It’s great how Strange New Worlds finally solidifies her name as canon. Also in the new series, Una is given a more involved role and is attached to a key plot involving Pike’s destiny. Since she’s an Illyrian, she’s genetically modified, which is also why she looks like a human, while her kind normally does not.

From the beginning of the Strange New Worlds series, Starfleet makes it clear that they are anti-genetically modified beings. This puts her in a terrible position, and in direct defiance of Federation law. Regardless, she’s already had spotlight episodes where she’s saved the crew from a deadly virus, and has special empathy when it comes to forming bonds with fellow crew members. The fact that she risks it all to help her crewmates and perform her duties to better mankind makes her all the more compelling and one to root for.

1. Kathryn Janeway

Kathryn Janeway is an iconic female character that hasn’t received as much attention as she should, especially in recent Star Trek lore and media. In Starfleet history, she remains one of the most highly decorated captains and is notoriously known for her obsession with coffee. On a more serious note, one of her most notable accomplishments is how she took command of the U.S.S. Voyager as it made its way through the dangerous Delta Quadrant, which is home to the Borg Collective. Thanks to her leadership, the Voyager was able to bring the crew safely back to earth through a Borg transwarp conduit.

Her time as a commander also gained her another milestone which she achieved during her space exploration. It’s been estimated in various episodes how she’s made first contact with more alien races than James T. Kirk. She eventually gets promoted to the rank of Admiral after helping prevent another technologically advanced species from the Delta Quadrant, the Vau N’Akat, from destroying the Federation. To top it off, she defeated the Borg Queen and has a diverse background full of hobbies, passions, and scientific skills. Most of all, she comes across as being a balanced leader; one who is smart, decisive, and strong, but also kind, caring, and understanding. No other female character has been involved in so many Star Trek critical events and achieved so much, which makes her deserving of this top spot.

That’s our list of the top best Star Trek female characters , but the great thing about this franchise is that it has always been a pioneer for portraying powerful women of diverse races, ages, and cultures. There are way more than 10 great female characters in the Star Trek mythos, and new prominent female characters are being introduced all the time. If you’re a Star Trek fan, you owe it to yourself to check out the video game, Resurgence .

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The Best Vulcan Characters on Star Trek

These are the best Vulcan characters I've seen on the series.

1. Tim Russ

Actor | Spaceballs

Timothy Darrell Russ was born on June 22, 1956, in Washington, D.C., to Air Force officer Walt and his wife Josephine. He and his younger siblings Michael and Angela grew up on several military bases, including Niagara Falls, Elmendorf (Alaska) AFB, Omaha, Taiwan, Philippines and Turkey. During ...

Played Lt Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager

2. Leonard Nimoy

Actor | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Leonard Simon Nimoy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Dora (Spinner) and Max Nimoy, who owned a barbershop. His parents were Ukrainian Jewish immigrants. Raised in a tenement and acting in community theaters since age eight, Nimoy did not make his Hollywood debut until he was 20, with a bit ...

Played Commander Spock on Star Trek TOS as well as in the first 5 Star Trek movies as well as he played Ambassador Spock on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

3. Mark Lenard

Actor | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Mark Lenard was an American actor, primarily known for television roles. He is primarily known for playing Vulcan ambassador Sarek (Spock's father) in "Star Trek: The Original Series" and a number of its spin-offs. In 1924, Lenard was born under the name "Leonard Rosenson" in Chicago Illinois. His ...

Played Ambassador Sarek on Star Trek TOS

4. Jolene Blalock

Actress | Enterprise

Jolene Blalock was born and raised in San Diego, California. At age 16, she left home to pursue a modeling career in Europe and Asia. It was on a 1998 trip back to the United States that Blalock was compelled to flex her untested acting skills, and after a few commercial appearances and some ...

Played T-Pol on Enterprise

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How Star Trek's Vulcans Evolved Beyond Gene Roddenberry's Creation

Quick links, creating the vulcans in the original series era of star trek, the vulcans stay at arm's length during the next generation era, how star trek: enterprise reimagined the vulcans and history with humanity, the vulcans and romulans are living in the days of futures past.

When Gene Roddenberry was first creating his " Wagon Train to the stars" in 1964, the Vulcans were the first alien species he created during development. Personified by Mister Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy), these logical humanoids were imagined with pointed ears, green blood and, most importantly, no emotions. However, Nimoy, other actors and writers all contributed behind the scenes to making Vulcans the most important aliens in Star Trek history. What's interesting about the Vulcans is that along with being a logical and scientific people, they are also deeply spiritual and ritualistic. This seems a bit like an incongruity, especially knowing how adamant Roddenberry was about humanism over religion.

Later storytellers helped reconcile these two facets of the Vulcan culture by fleshing out the species' history. Along with strong psychic abilities, the Vulcans are not emotionless. Rather, they have very intense and destructive emotions, far different from their human cousins. Thus, ritualism and spirituality are the "scientific method" they use to suppress their emotions in healthy and constructive ways. In the modern, third wave of Star Trek series, the Vulcan culture continues to be examined with storytellers continuing to build on the foundation laid by Roddenberry, D.C. Fontana, Star Trek's "other" Gene , Nimoy and everyone from set designers to costumers.

'The Phone Didn't Ring': Walter Koenig Reflects on Career Struggles After Star Trek

When developing the first Star Trek pilot in 1964, Gene Roddenberry hadn't fully fleshed out the idea of what the Vulcans were. Vulcans existed only so far as making Spock half-human. "I wanted part of him to be at war with the other, the human part and the alien part," he said in The Fifty-Year Mission by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman. Later, when developing the second Star Trek pilot, thanks to Lucille Ball , Roddenberry combined Spock's character with the "computer-mind qualities" of Number One, the woman First Officer discarded in the second version. That's how they became unemotional and logic-based.

In The Making of Star Trek by Roddenberry and Stephen E. Whitfield, the former envisioned that, despite the multispecies Federation, crews would be mostly human, Vulcan or other member species. As Spock became Star Trek 's central character , more stories about his people were created. Sarek, his father, was brought into the show. The classic Season 2 episode "Amok Time" introduced the Vulcan homeworld, while also establishing that Vulcans, while logical, were almost irrationally private about their most basic biological functions.

Leonard Nimoy was also essential to defining who the Vulcans were. He created the infamous Vulcan neck pinch and the salute, drawn from his Jewish heritage. Later, in the films, he would weigh in on Vulcan culture, defining it exclusively once he started directing. In The Center Seat - 55 Years of Star Trek , actor Robin Curtis who played Saavik described how Nimoy created the "love scene" between her and the reanimated Spock going through his first Pon Farr. Set and costume designers tried to marry the ideas Vulcans were scientific and logical as well as an ancient society. Their robes, ceremonial accessories and mostly stone structures were born from this notion.

9 Things About Star Trek: The Original Series That Make No Sense

When Gene Roddenberry was asked by Paramount to develop Star Trek: The Next Generation he turned to many of his collaborators from the days of the original series. Robert H. Justman, Dorothy Fontana, David Gerrold and others came back to help, though they didn't last long on the series. While many concepts from The Original Series were reused for The Next Generation , Roddenberry didn't want to include too many familiar elements. Primarily, this meant the Vulcans. There were no regular Vulcan characters in any of the second-wave series until Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager .

Despite the lack of regular Vulcan characters, there was significant advancement to the Vulcan story. The first came in Season 3's "Sarek," in which it's revealed that Vulcans live hundreds of years longer than humans. This episode also introduced what writer Marc Cushman called "the idea of a Vulcan going through senility," in The Fifty-Year Mission . Roddenberry liked the idea, but in the same book writer Ira Steven Behr reveals there was a massive fight with producers over whether they could even say Spock's name. Later, Paramount would convince Nimoy to bring Spock to Star Trek: The Next Generation to "pass the baton" and promote Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

The episode featured Spock seemingly defecting from the Federation to the Romulan Star Empire. Only he wasn't defecting. Spock wanted to bring the logic philosophy of Surak to Romulus in the hopes of reunifying the Romulans and the Vulcans into a single society again. Some fans felt the episode was too small, and executive producer Michael Piller said he was unhappy with his work on the episode. He called the episode "dark," "flat" and "talky" in The Fifty-Year Mission . In hindsight, it's a love swan song for the Spock character. He shares a lovely scene with Data, and his final mission puts him on a path to making the last great enemy of his time in Starfleet an ally.

Star Trek The Next Generation: When Does TNG Get Good?

Every new iteration of Roddenberry's universe since Star Trek: The Animated Series has been met with skepticism, and in some cases, outright hostility from fans. Star Trek: Enterprise perhaps received the most flak, in part because of how it depicted the pre-Federation history of the Vulcans and humans. Rather than dear friends, the Vulcans were antagonistic and did not trust the emotional humans to join the larger galactic society. Enterprise 's creators were trying to do something different without moving things too far from what makes Star Trek so identifiable.

Still, there were conflicts. Antoinette Stella recounted in The Fifty-Year Mission when an angry fan called Paramount to complain a Vulcan character lied. Her assistant, Juan Hernandez spoke to the fan, who pointed out Spock said Vulcans don't lie, quoting The Original Series . "And Juan took a beat and said, 'When Mr. Spock said that, he was lying." In fact, there are many examples of Spock lying, especially in The Undiscovered Country . The Enterprise storytellers made Vulcans more complete by showing they had the same kind of idiosyncrasies and character flaws as any group of people .

The showrunner for season 4, Manny Coto , helped to reconcile the Vulcans of Enterprise with the Vulcans fans knew. " I thought there was a great opportunity to do [a series of episodes] which bridged those two cultures and to develop a story about how they'd floundered from the original teachings of Surak ," he said in The Fifty-Year Mission . Not only did it help explain why these Vulcans seemed so different, it also underscored why Vulcans and humanity would be close allies while still maintaining the elements of secrecy and tension established in previous series.

Review: Discovery's Final Season Is a Bittersweet Star Trek Symphony

The third wave of series -- particularly Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds -- faced fan consternation as well, particularly because of their handling of Vulcan history. Michael Burnham, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, was conceived as Spock's adopted sister, raised by Sarek and Amanda Grayson after her parents died. This gave viewers a new angle on Vulcan culture, from "logic extremists" to a reunified Vulcan and Romulan society in the 32nd Century . The producers know that Vulcans are extremely important to Star Trek , so they want to both honor the past and advance their story, justifying the use of the characters.

The best development to come of this is fixing the biggest mistake of the Kelvin Timeline films . The time-travel convention used to bring Nimoy's Spock into the past inadvertently meant his final mission was a failure. Yet, by the 32nd Century, Spock's mission to unify Vulcan and Romulans is a success, and they fully credit him for the development. This was an important element for Discovery Season 3, according to showrunner Michelle Paradise , allowing Burnham to discover just how far her adopted brother reached out to the galaxy.

In Strange New Worlds , however, some of the Vulcan cultural developments happen as they did in The Original Series era: out of story necessity. For example, the Vulcan V'Shal ritual "purely came out of [writers] breaking the story," co-showrunner Henry Alonso Meyers said . While the storytellers wanted to keep it authentic to Vulcan culture, it was created because it was funny to put Spock through a "when he's 'pretending' to be Vulcan" scenario. The danger of treating Star Trek Vulcans with too much regard for their sacred history is underserving the stories being told today . Thankfully, Star Trek has found that balance as it always does.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.

Created by Gene Roddenberry

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film Star Trek: Nemesis

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Cast Nichelle Nichols, Scott Bakula, Kate Mulgrew, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Avery Brooks, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan

TV Show(s) Star Trek: Animated, Star trek, Star Trek Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks

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Ds9 actor nana visitor's book about women in star trek releases first look images.

The amazing women of Star Trek are explored in Open A Channel, a new, upcoming book by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Nana Visitor.

• Nana Visitor's new book celebrates women of Star Trek, inspired by Lt. Uhura, features interviews with numerous female stars.
• Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek showcases luminous women who portray iconic Star Trek characters, now available for pre-order.
• The book includes interviews with stars like Kate Mulgrew, Terry Farrell, Denise Crosby, Rebecca Romijn, and others from Star Trek.

Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek , a new book celebrating the women of Star Trek by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actor Nana Visitor has released first-look images. Inspired by Nichelle Nichols' Lt. Nyota Uhura of Star Trek: The Original Series , Nana Visitor, who plays Colonel Kira Nerys on DS9 , interviewed almost every woman who has starred in Star Trek , including Star Trek: Voyager 's Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Terry Farrell, Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Denise Crosby, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' Rebecca Romijn, Melissa Navia, and Christina Chong.

Now available for pre-order, new images of Nana Visitor's book, Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek , showcases many of the luminous women who portray some of Star Trek 's greatest characters . Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek releases on October 1, 2024. Check out the preview images below:

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide

Star trek boasts amazing female characters, there is no lack of great women in the final frontier.

Starting with Nichelle Nichols' Lt. Uhura, the Star Trek franchise boasts one of the greatest rosters of female characters in pop culture . Today, Star Trek features Starfleet admirals like Kate Mulgrew's Kathryn Janeway , starship captains like Sonequa Martin-Green's Michael Burnham and Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine, doctors like Gates McFadden's Dr. Beverly Crusher, and nurses like Jess Bush's Christine Chapel, pilots like Melissa Navia's Erica Ortegas, scientists like Terry Farrell's Jadzia Dax, and heroic survivors like Christina Chong's La'an Noonien-Singh.

Star Trek 's iconic female characters have inspired countless women to pursue careers in science, medicine, engineering, technology, and the arts. Beyond the actors and creative visionaries of Star Trek , in Open A Channel, Nana Visitor also interviews many real-life women who have been inspired by Star Trek to become soldiers, doctors, scientists, and astronauts, including astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti while she was in orbit around Earth on the International Space Station. Open A Channel: A Women's Trek is a celebration of Star Trek 's women whose time has come.

Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek is available for pre-order at Amazon.com

Source: Amazon.com

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List category for members of the Vulcan species.

All items (135)

• Category:Memory Alpha images (Vulcans)

• Sural (name)

• T'Hain

• T'Leel

• T'Meni
• T'Meni (daughter of Sek)

• T'Para

• T'Pel (wife of Sasak)

• T'Penna
• T'Plana-Hath (matron)

• Category:Unnamed Vulcans