Erin Gray Reveals What Derailed Her Chance to Lead Star Trek

Erin Gray’s Star Trek audition nearly won her one of science fiction’s iconic roles, but it ultimately left her feeling humiliated. In a new interview, the “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” star opened up about the audition, which became one of the most memorable moments of her career, according to PEOPLE.

The timing created an unexpected opening for Erin Gray, as the Star Trek role had already been cast once. Genevieve Bujold, a French actress, had been the lead. However, she left the project shortly after filming began. Bujold’s sudden exit, which she attributed to being unable to cope with the demands of a network TV schedule, left producers scrambling to find a suitable replacement. When Erin Gray heard about the Captain Janeway role, she was immediately interested.

Why Erin Gray Wanted to Win the Star Trek Audition So Badly

It had been over a decade since she played Colonel Wilma Deering on “Buck Rogers,” a character who spent much of the series alongside Gil Gerard’s title character, and it was still the role she was best known for. To her, the role of Captain Kathryn Janeway on “Star Trek: Voyager” was an opportunity to portray a woman whose story did not revolve around a male lead.

In a recent interview with Woman’s World, Gray said: “I knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime. I really wanted to be in charge. It just came at a time in my life where I went, ‘I want this.’”

Unfortunately, her passion was not enough to secure the role, and while fate had helped her get one foot in, the director and producers initially did not want to see her. “I had a hard time getting in on the audition; they did not want to see me,” she said. “I kept asking my agent to please try again. And finally they did. They let me in.”

What Cost Erin Gray the Star Trek Audition

After finally making it to the audition shortlist, Gray spent a lot of time getting ready by memorizing the long monologue. The 76-year-old actress was determined to do her best, even though she admitted to blanking out when nervous.

Gray recalled being unable to perform at her best because, just as she was about to begin, she heard a voice from across the room saying something that disrupted her focus. “I get in there and I’m about to say the opening line and I hear a voice off to my right saying, ‘So you don’t remember me, huh? We only spent three weeks together in Hawaii,’” Gray recalled.

The comment left her scrambling to place the face, as she had filmed in Hawaii on three different occasions. The interruption threw her off her rhythm and left her feeling “humiliated.” “I got through it, but not to that place as an actor where you know you nailed it,” she said. “You feel good about it. You were flowing. This was not that. I did it, but it wasn’t the best.”

How the Franchise Found Its Way Back to Her

While Erin Gray’s Star Trek audition was unsuccessful, she got another chance to enter the Star Trek universe about two decades later. In 2014, she appeared in the fan-produced series “Star Trek Continues.” She played Commodore Laura Gray in two episodes, with her second appearance coming in 2016.

The Captain Janeway role had been her target. However, playing Commodore Laura Gray still gave her a foothold in the Star Trek universe, this time on her own terms.

Where Is She Now?

For the most part, the 76-year-old veteran has stepped back from acting. However, she remains a relevant figure in fan communities. She founded Heroes for Hire, a company that supports actors by helping them book appearances at comic book and fan conventions.

Gray remains a constant fixture at events where “Buck Rogers” and “Silver Spoons” fans gather for a chance to meet her. Outside showbiz, she is married to Richard Hissong, her husband of more than three decades, and is a mother and grandmother.

Her hobbies currently include Tai Chi and Qi Gong, interests she picked up long after she stepped back from acting. As for the Star Trek audition that left her feeling so humiliated, Gray has moved past framing it as a loss. “It turned out to be for the best,” she said.