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Genevieve Bujold, the First Captain Janeway, Talks Career Choices

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By GustavoLeao / 03:05, 30 June 2009 / Voyager

French-Canadian actress Genevieve Bujold was the first choice of the producers of Star Trek Voyager to play Captain Nicole Janeway (see photo above). She quit after a day and a half of shooting the pilot episode, with the public reason being she was unaccustomed to the hectic pace of television filming.

The producers subsequently hired TV veteran Kate Mulgrew, and changed the captain's name from Nicole to Kathryn Janeway at Mulgrew's advice.

Here is excerpts of a rare interview with Bujold, conducted in 2007, in which the actress talks about her career, but does not mention her role in the creation of Voyager.

Box Office Mojo: You have been criticized for making poor career choices-


Bujold: The process is the process. I did Earthquake! for a contract and I loved doing that film. When I was [enrolled in Catholic school] at a convent-Hochelaga in east Montreal [Canada], they would show Ben-Hur [the 1959 version starring Charlton Heston]. It was wonderful, working with Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner in downtown L.A. We were very comfortable with each other. For me, it brought alive the days of Ben-Hur at the convent. Earthquake! was entertaining and people liked it.

Box Office Mojo: Why do you make so few movies?


Bujold:
I'm older, more aware, and I agonize more now. I stir myself. I want a director to think he'd like to work with me-and I have a life, really. My career isn't my life, which is why I don't work as much. When a part comes, I'm like a little girl. I boogie board in the summer for fun. I just live my life.


Box Office Mojo: Is that a lesson for aspiring moviemakers?


Bujold:
Yes. Stay with your baby and don't abandon a project. You've done it, you've shot it, you wrote it. Don't just forget it.


The full interview is here.

The 8-minute footage of Bujold as Captain Nicole Janeway (plus a video interview with Rick Berman) can be found at YouTube.



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RE: Did she quit, or was she 'let go'..? | Report this post to moderator
By: cdydatzigs (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:02:26 on Jun 30, 2009

Her being let go was very much a mutual process. Even though she technically "quit" the show, everyone on set pretty much knew she wasn't right for the part. I have seen her in a film with Parker Posie and I am shocked she was ever cast as Janeway to be honest -- she seemed too old and... umm, French-Canadian schoolteacher like.

--------

-- Steve
"If a sixth Star Trek television series is ever realized, it will be set in the new universe." -- cdydatzigs, June 15, 2009.

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