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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: Kate Mulgrew was awful! | Report this post to moderator
By: NCC-1701 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:33:53 on Jul 01, 2009

Mulgrew was great. She owns Janeway - especially when you see Bujold's performance.

She is Janeway, no one else could be.

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Kate Mulgrew was fine. | Report this post to moderator
By: prometheus 59650 (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 09:54:02 on Jun 30, 2009 | Edit History (1)

Janeway's writing was awful.

On the other hand Bujold delivered every line as though she had to finish before her Ambien kicked in for the night.

THAT was awful.

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"We've been attacked by the intelligent, educated segment of our culture." ---Pastor Ray Mummert speaking of those who favor Darwinian Evolution over Intelligent Design.

"If this is your God, he's not very impressive. He has so many psychological problems; he's so insecure. He demands worship every seven days. He goes out and creates faulty Humans and then blames them for his own mistakes. He's a pretty poor excuse for a Supreme Being." ---Gene Roddenberry

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RE: Kate Mulgrew was fine. by OV-101 @ 10:33:29 on Jun 30
    RE: Kate Mulgrew was fine. by GustavoLeao @ 10:39:11 on Jun 30
       RE: Kate Mulgrew was fine. by prometheus 59650 @ 12:41:26 on Jun 30
          Didn't Bakula win a Tony award by Muldfeld @ 13:47:04 on Jun 30
             RE: Didn't Bakula win a Tony award by prometheus 59650 @ 14:37:02 on Jun 30
                RE: Didn't Bakula win a Tony award by Muldfeld @ 18:18:11 on Jun 30
                RE: Didn't Bakula win a Tony award by cdydatzigs @ 16:49:29 on Jun 30
                   RE: Didn't Bakula win a Tony award by prometheus 59650 @ 18:41:17 on Jun 30
                   RE: Didn't Bakula win a Tony award by GustavoLeao @ 17:12:14 on Jun 30
                      RE: Didn't Bakula win a Tony award by DavidDownUnder @ 17:25:43 on Jun 30

RE: Kate Mulgrew was awful! | Report this post to moderator
By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 09:29:10 on Jun 30, 2009

You are welcomed.

And I disagree.

Kate Mulgrew was terrific as Janeway.

Gustavo

--------

TrekWeb.com Supervising Editor

gl2000@uol.com.br

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RE: Kate Mulgrew was awful! | Report this post to moderator
By: cdydatzigs (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:04:31 on Jun 30, 2009

Just curious Muldfeld... is there any Star Trek that you DO like? Rather than just blindly accuse you of being a troll, I figured I would ask first.

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-- 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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