It is hard to imagine Star Trek: The Next Generation‘ without Deanna Troi though Marina Sirtis has shared that she was almost cut from the show in the first season. It was something Sirtis suspected while the first season was in production and was later confirmed by Gene Roddenberry’s wife, Majel Barrett. Barrett (who would go on to play Deanna’s mother, Lwaxana Troi) eventually shared that the series creator felt that there was “one too many women” and that a psychologist was not needed on the series.
Roddenberry truly believed that humans would have worked past interpersonal conflicts by the 24th century and the profession would be highly outdated.
That seems like some wishful thinking these days.
Still, during the first season the only reason that Sirtis felt she was saved was because Denise Crosby quit her role as Lt. Tasha Yar at the end of the first season:
“I was very insecure in the first season because they were always writing me out of episodes and I went from being the favorite – because when I was cast, I knew I was their favorite. [Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry] loved me, it was obvious I was their favorite – and it got to the point where if a producer saw me coming, they would turn around and walk away. So, I knew my job was on the line…I was on the bubble.”
I’m sure anyone would feel great at their place of employment with that kind of a situation.
The show was far from the last time she almost lost her job as it also occurred during negotiations for one of the ‘Star Trek’ movies:
“When I was negotiating for Nemesis, they literally threatened to fire me and recast Troi. Well not actually recast, but they said ‘We are going to fire you and hire Jeri Ryan. And I said ‘Well Jeri Ryan won’t do it for that money, that is for sure.’”
I hope that is the exact comeback she used to keep her job.
Are you happy that we were able to keep Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi throughout ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’? Share your thoughts below!
Source: Trek Movie
