By GustavoLeao / 21:09, 23 October 2004 / General Star Trek

The latest issue of DreamWatch magazine, out in the UK, features an exclusive interview with Grace Lee Whitney, who played 'Janice Rand' in the first season of the original STAR TREK series and four TREK movies (THE MOTION PICTURE, THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, THE VOYAGE HOME and THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY), in which she says she'd like to work again in a series of STAR TREK EXCELSIOR TV movies. Here are a few excerpts of the interview :

She was fired from the series during the first season "I almost committed suicide" the 74-year-old actress told journalist Ian Spelling "It was Leonard Nimoy who saved me. He wouldn't let me kill myself. He said I was going to be brought back. He said "They didn't kill you. If they didn't kill you, you'll be brought back. Don't worry. This is just a temporary thing." It took a long time - I didn't come back for the series - but he was right. I did the movies. I did VOYAGER. And if they had done an EXCELSIOR series I'd have a whole second career."



The actress was invited again to return to the STAR TREK universe in 1996 along with fellow actor George Takei (Captain Sulu), as "Commander Janice Rand," USS Excelsior Communications Officer in the STAR TREK VOYAGER episode "Flashback." This episode was specially penned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the classic series. Soon after that, fan campaigns lobbied for a EXCELSIOR TV Series, via the internet and conventions, but it never came to pass.

"I think it was pretty close." she says "It didn't happen, but it was still amazing to get the call to come and do VOYAGER. I'd been watching Kate Mulgrew and Tim Russ and everyone on VOYAGER, and suddenly I was on the show."

"I still think an EXCELSIOR series with George and Gracie - which is what I suggested to [executive producer Brannon Braga], would be a good idea. I don't think it should be every week. I suggested they do four TV movies a year. That way we could bring really good writers in and bring in some of the TREK actors. Sulu and Rand would have been a great team. It's just too bad that it didn't happen."

After learning that Brent Spiner is doing three episodes of ENTERPRISE and that William Shatner is in negotiations in regards to a possible appearance on the show, she says "They should put me in one too. Tell Rick Berman to expect a call !"

To read the full interview, get the latest issue of DreamWatch UK, at your local newstands.