RED ALERT! This interview accommodates spoilers for the seventh and most up-to-date episode of Star Trek: Picard season 3, “Dominion,” at the moment out there for streaming on Paramount+.
Brent Spiner first appeared as Data the android within the collection premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Encounter at Farpoint.” Over the years, he’s performed a number of roles throughout the Franchise, in addition to taking part in numerous extra roles throughout the stage, display screen, and web page. Now, the actor has returned as Data (sorta – possibly simply watch the season).
The Beat caught up with Spiner over Zoom to ask all about Picard season 3. We requested about working with long-time co-star LeVar Burton‘s daughter Mica Burton, found out more about how meeting fans at conventions helped him better understand the perception of Data, and learned about Dreamland, the follow-up album to Ol’ Yellow Eyes is Back.
This interview has been edited for content material and size.
AVERY KAPLAN: Did you’ve got a private relationship with Trek earlier than becoming a member of the TNG forged?
BRENT SPINER: I had seen a few of it. That was my solely relationship. I didn’t know any of these folks, I’d by no means met them previous to TNG. I subsequently met all of them.
I can keep in mind being in faculty, and a pal of mine and I might come house from faculty and watch an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series.
But even previous to that – and I’ve informed him this – I keep in mind William Shatner from an episode of a collection known as The Dick Powell Theatre. It was an anthology present. I keep in mind seeing him in an episode a few Swede within the Old West (1963’s “Colossus”). And then, increase, there he was, as Captain Kirk!
But I at all times consider him as that Swede.
KAPLAN: How does your make-up on this season of Picard evaluate to previous make-up iterations?
SPINER: Well, it’s rather a lot much less make-up, blessedly. I imply, I’m nonetheless carrying the contacts, however mainly it’s my pores and skin – it’s only a base make-up, like everybody else wears. But gone is the gold. Golden Boy is now not golden, he’s only a boy. With yellow eyes.
KAPLAN: Picard season 3 has reunited you with LeVar Burton. However, I’m curious what it’s like working with the following technology, Mica Burton. Did you understand her earlier than manufacturing?
SPINER: I’ve recognized Mica for the reason that day she was born! I’ve a very good Mica story that I gained’t inform as a result of she’ll get mad at me. But I’ve recognized her since she was a toddler, and watched her develop up and grow to be this formidable younger lady who’s a expertise in her personal proper. I’m so happy for her, and for the remainder of us, that she was there.
The complete season appears to be about household in a number of methods, and connections. It goes deep. Certainly, that’s the deepest is LeVar and Mica, as a result of they’re certainly father and daughter. But the season offers with Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) who’s the son of Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). And William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) have a relationship, and we’ve met their residing youngster, Kestra (LuLu Wilson). And they’ve a tragic historical past with certainly one of their different youngsters. And Data and Lore are brothers.
And even to the depth of Amanda Plummer (Captain Vadic) being there, and the callback to General Chang, the character her father Christopher Plummer performed in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. And all the remainder of the individuals who have made appearances to date, like Michelle Forbes (Ro Laren) and Daniel Davis (Hologram Moriarty). I don’t wish to spoil something, so I gained’t go on, however there you’ve got it.
KAPLAN: You’ve appeared in all 3 seasons of Picard. What has this development been like?
SPINER: Well, it’s been like a shock – each for me and the viewers. Because I by no means anticipated to be there for any of it. And I wound up one way or the other being in all three seasons, albeit very totally different in all three seasons. Which as an actor, is extra satisfying.
KAPLAN: Do you’ve got a favourite position you’ve got performed in Star Trek?
SPINER: I wouldn’t say I’ve a favourite, actually. Obviously, I’ve performed Data greater than I’ve performed some other character – I believe I’ve performed Data greater than anybody’s performed some other character, in all of historical past, it appears.
But I’ve loved each one of many characters that I’ve been allowed to play. It’s been an unimaginable reward. Data himself performed many alternative characters. He was Sherlock Holmes, we did a Western the place he was three or 4 characters (“A Fistful of Datas”), and naturally, there was Lore and all of the Doctor Soongs. I simply embrace all of them as they arrive alongside; I have a look at each certainly one of them as a chance.
KAPLAN: Do you’ve got any significantly memorable conference tales you would share with us?
SPINER: They’re all fascinating. For a wide range of causes, together with assembly people who find themselves enthusiastic and inspiring, as our followers are, not like any followers – and discovering out that there have been these ancillary facets of it. The bonding that folks have had with their households over this present.
For me personally, the notice that I didn’t have whereas I used to be doing the present, was that the character appealed so strongly to folks on the spectrum who have been having problem understanding emotion and have been referring to the character in ways in which I had no concept. And that was such an honor to me to seek out out that the character was capable of…
You know, we got down to be an leisure. We’re a sci-fi present! Action, journey, you understand. But it had so many different tangential advantages, each for us and for the viewers, that I didn’t even find out about. And I discovered that out doing conventions.
But additionally, it’s one other place the place I get to hang around with my pals. A few weeks in the past, Jonathan and I have been in Kansas City. The fantastic thing about that’s we get to hang around, and we work lengthy days on the conventions, after which we at all times go to dinner someplace, collectively. Whether it’s two of us, three of us, or 5 of us. Or seven of us. And that’s at all times enjoyable. I at all times sit up for that: to only communing with my mains.
KAPLAN: Is there any chance we are going to ever see an episode of Trek the place you play each single character?
SPINER: (laughs) One can solely hope! It’s excessive time, don’t you suppose? (laughs once more)
I don’t suppose that’s ever going to occur. I believe this one’s as shut as you’re going to get. You know, I believe I’m too previous – however I wish to see the final word Soong episode, or collection or miniseries. Just discovering out who this household is. Where they got here from, actually. Because you at all times should ask your self: “How did this guy get a Chinese last name? Who was he, really? Why are all iterations of him so into eugenics and creating perfect species?”
It’s a very intriguing story of a household. It might even be informed with out me. There may very well be different actors who do it.
KAPLAN: If you would give your youthful self some recommendation again whenever you started your Trek journey, what would it not be?
SPINER: Buy Apple. That can be it.
KAPLAN: How have your interactions with the press and fandom modified over time (if they’ve)?
SPINER: My interactions with the press… I believe the press might be much less concerned with me than they have been at sure occasions in my life. Which is okay, I get it. The press is “of the moment,” and it’s a must to be of the second to pique their curiosity.
But as for the followers, the followers have been nice from starting to finish. It’s not ended but, so I’m assuming that ending will likely be simply as pleasing. No, however now we have the most effective followers on the planet. They’ve stayed with us by thick and skinny. Not with out some criticism, and I believe there are some followers who’re skilled criticizers.
I truly noticed a evaluate of episode 4, “No Win Scenario,” that was a really unfavourable evaluate, and the episode hadn’t aired but. It wasn’t particular, it form of only a basic, “I hated this episode. They’ve lost it again. Blah blah blah.” But it hadn’t truly aired but, so I don’t suppose that individual had seen it.
But for probably the most half, 99.9% of the followers are encouraging and pleasant, and we’ve been actually lucky to have them.
KAPLAN: Would you ever take into account releasing a follow-up to the 1991 album “Ol’ Yellow Eyes is Back”?
SPINER: Well, I did one other album – are you aware 2008’s Dreamland? That can be my follow-up. It’s solely a follow-up in that it’s one other album that I sing on.
But I believe Dreamland is a much better CD than Ol’ Yellow Eyes – I didn’t fairly know what I used to be doing but on Ol’ Yellow Eyes. I had some fantastic preparations and musicians taking part in, however I don’t suppose I used to be that good.
But I believe I received higher by Dreamland. And then I had the benefit of getting an excellent singer like Maude Maggart sing with me, and Mark Hamill doing all the opposite characters. And it was an actual idea album. So I’m actually happy with it. Very few issues I’m actually happy with, however I believe Dreamland got here out actually properly.
KAPLAN: Are there any books, albums, exhibits, films, or some other type of media that you’ve got discovered significantly inspiring recently?
SPINER: I’ve been studying a lot recently. I simply completed Paul Newman’s The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir, which was put collectively from tapes that he did with a pal of his. I discovered {that a} actually fascinating ebook. Primarily as a result of right here was a man who was an idol to so many. I imply, he was a film star, and he gave so many nice performances.
But the essence was how actually he was uncertain of himself, all the best way to late in his profession. That he simply felt like, “Is this really any good?” And simply to see anyone of that high quality and that stature, who suffered the identical issues that the majority of us who do this sort of work undergo, was very reassuring and provoking.
KAPLAN: If you personally might order something from a replicator, what would it not be?
SPINER: I don’t know. It’s type of weird what I used to be pondering, which was, everybody that I’ve ever recognized that was gone. I’d like them again. I don’t know if that’s actually one thing you wish to do with a replicator… nevertheless it hit me, is everybody that I’ve ever recognized.
KAPLAN: Is there something that also stays on your “Star Trek bucket list”?
SPINER: You know, I’m undecided. There could also be nothing. It simply relies upon. If there’s extra Star Trek in my future, hopefully, it’ll be one thing that I wish to be part of. It in all probability will likely be.
And if there isn’t any extra, I don’t really feel like I received cheated.
KAPLAN: Would you be prepared to look in one of many animated exhibits?
SPINER: Sure. Absolutely. Yeah, I might like to. I believe that can occur in some unspecified time in the future. I’d like to, as a result of they’re doing nice work – these animated exhibits are terrific.
New episodes of Star Trek: Picard can be found for streaming on Paramount+ on Thursdays.
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