shim@zip.eecs.umich.edu (Sam Shim) (04/19/91)
I picked this up from The Cincinnati Enquirer, March 29, 1991. Reproduced without permission. All typos are probably mine. [The following is reprinted with the permission of the Orlando Sentinel. Unauthorized transmission or reproduction of this article is strictly forbidden - ed.] Sirtis, 'Trek' Role Are Worlds Apart by Debra K Minor Orlando Sentinel Marina Sirtis doesn't want her fans to be disappointed, but she didn't become an actress just to be on Star Trek: The Next Generation. "I became an actress to work on anything," said Sirtis, who plays the sexy Counselor Deanna Troi on the popular syndicated show which airs twice here on Fridays (7 p.m., Channel 45; 10 p.m., Channel 19). "If you are your character all the time ... you get so associated with that character all the time that you possibly may not work very much afterwards. I really want to make a differentiation between Troi and Marina because I want to work." This is Sirtis' fourth season on the show as Troi, the half-human, half-Betazoid ship's counselor whose empathic powers enable her to sense the emotions of others. She is appearing at Star Trek conventions across the country. But, she said, she's leaving the Deanna Troi character in California. "When I do conventions, everyone is really surprised at the difference," said the London native in a telephone interview from her Hollywood home. "I don't do Troi when I'm me. I think it's dangerous not to dispel the image." Upfront Person Off the set, she said, there are many differences between her and the composed and mysterious character she plays. "I think I'm pretty transparent. I don't even think you have to get inside my head because I'm so vocal," she said. "Everyone knows where they stand with me. I'm the classic person who blows up and 10 minutes later I'm giving you a hug." Off screen, she sounds different too. Her British accent, although fading, stands out with words that come quickly, words like "quite" and "smashing." Born to Greek parents, the 30-year-old actress grew up in London, where she attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Before moving to Los Aneles in 1986, she already had gotten accustomed to a cult following when she played Magenta in a British touring production of The Rocky Horror Show. "We had fans following us around everywhere. I mean, we said Rocky Horror Show and doors would open. I call it my Star Trek training. I think next to Star Trek, it was my most enjoyable job." New 'Trek' Movies Sirtis feels certain that Next Generation movies will be made when the season ends. "Well, I think it's pretty much of a given. Without giving too much away, I think in the movie they pretty much hand it over to us at the end of Star Trek VI." If that happens, fans will be pleased to know that she expects to be a member of the movie cast. "I always say to the fans, 'If I'm not in it, I've been fired.'" Although she has no input on scripts and episodes, Sirtis admitted to occasionally complaining that Troi doesn't get action shots. That recently changed, but it wasn't exactly what she had expected. In shooting the "Night Terrors" episode that aired last week, Sirtis said she "got to fly like Peter Pan." "It was great when it happened but the thought of it was absolutely terrifying because I'm afraid of heights. Then they said I get to fly in the episode and I said, 'Oh great. The one thing that I'm really scared to do.' But it was fun." Sirtis said she has a couple of favorite Next Generation episodes. Loyal watchers will remember "The Offspring" in which Lt. Cmdr. Data, the ship's android, created an android like himself and called it his daughter. In another show, Sirtis sais she got to do something that was totally different with her character when Troi lost her empathic powers: She got nasty. "I had some really great lines in that one, like, I said to the captain, 'Spare me the inspirational anecdotes.' I was the psycho bitch from hell in that one." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Sam Shim + Heather Chandler says + + Ohio State University + - To all flamers: + + + What's your damage? + + shim@cis.ohio-state.edu + - To people who post + + shim@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu + obnoxious messages: + + shim.4@osu.edu + Did you have a brain + + shim@eecs.umich.edu + tumor for breakfast? + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The extreme always seems to make an impression." - Jason Dean, Heathers -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edited by Jim "The Big Dweeb" Griffith - the official scapegoat for r.a.s.i. Email submissions to trek-info@dweeb.fx.com, and questions to trek-info-request@dweeb.fx.com