Star Trek's Denise Crosby Had A Major Change Of Heart About The Franchise [Exclusive]
by Jeremy Mathai · /FilmAdd SlashFilm on Google:
Google Discover
One of the many joys of "Star Trek" is that, thanks to the vast and ever-sprawling universe of movies and shows over its 60 years of existence, there's always room for supporting characters to loom incredibly large. Some reach those lofty heights quite organically — the potential for fan-favorites like Andrew Robinson's Elim Garak in "Deep Space Nine" or even Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) in "The Next Generation" felt apparent almost as soon as they arrived on the scene, for example. But others required a fair amount of time to sink into the "Trek" melting pot, garner enough love and good will among the fanbase, and ultimately end up standing alongside the undisputed pillars of the franchise.
"The Next Generation" actor Denise Crosby knows a thing or two about that particular phenomenon, having portrayed chief security officer Tasha Yar throughout the debut season of the series. It all came to an abrupt stop, however, when her behind-the-scenes misgivings about the underbaked role led to Tasha getting written off the show and dying at the hands of the controversial tar monster Armus late in Season 1. In the end, the no-nonsense lieutenant only had a little over 20 episodes with which to make an impression. But, thanks to Crosby's eventual return (first as an alternate-universe version of Tasha and later as the villainous half-Romulan Commander Sela), she received a new lease on "Trek" life ... though it would take many more years for the star to see things the way fans did.
While promoting the new documentary "The Sixty-Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World" at this year's New York Comic Con, Crosby spoke to me about her unconventional journey through "Trek," her legacy, and what finally made her appreciate the fandom's love of Tasha Yar.
Everything clicked for Denise Crosby when she revisited Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1
"Star Trek" actors: They're just like us! Outside of attending conventions or arguing online about the most minute and technical details in any given series, there's no greater tradition among Trekkies than going back and re-watching our favorite installments of the franchise. In Denise Crosby's case, she was inspired to do exactly that with "The Next Generation" after receiving an invite to join "The 7th Rule" podcast, hosted by "Deep Space Nine" veteran Cirroc Lofton and producer Ryan Husk. As she explained to me, this is what finally helped bridge the gap between her own view of her time on "Trek" and how everyone else came to embrace Tasha Yar:
"About two years ago I watched 'The Next Generation,' the first season, for the first time since it aired. I had never gone back to have a look [...] So, that allowed me to look at that first season again for the first time.
And now I'm looking at it from this perspective, not in real-time, but at a distance, and it gave me such a renewed appreciation. Because my only context for it has been at conventions and people coming to me and saying, 'Oh my God, I love this character of Tasha Yar. I cried when she died. I stopped watching the show.' And I would hear it and I'd be very grateful and appreciative, but I couldn't really get under it. Like, 'what do you mean by that?'"
As it so happens, coming back to "The Next Generation" after such a long period of time proved to be the key. Understandably, Crosby was perhaps a little too close to truly appreciate the character's effect. But that's no longer the case.
Denise Crosby explains why she now loves Tasha Yar's short but sweet role in The Next Generation
From being devoured by an evil tar monster to becoming a regular presence at conventions all over the world, it's safe to say that no other person in all of "Star Trek" has undergone the same experience as Denise Crosby with Tasha Yar. That's precisely why it took a little longer for the brief (but integral) star of "The Next Generation" to accept her legacy throughout the series and the franchise as a whole. Most importantly of all, Crosby can now see herself through the eyes of the specific demographic who had been influenced the most by her presence on the series.
As she put it to me:
"And then I watched ['The Next Generation'] again for the first time in almost 40 years and went, 'Ahh, I love this character.' It gave me a renewed joy for Tasha Yar. I get why she would've meant something, especially to young girls. And so, it took me by surprise. It really took me by surprise. And I went, 'Yeah, I'm so grateful I was able to leave this as part of a legacy.'"
Having witnessed Crosby interact with fans at New York Comic Con and continue to serve as one of the biggest ambassadors carrying the torch for the property, it's clear that the actor relishes the role she's played and the importance of lending her insights to the history of the "Trek." You can see Crosby do exactly that in the documentary "The Sixty-Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World," now playing in Regal theaters.