In an exclusive interview with CBR, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds actors Rebecca Romijn and Christina Chong share some of the command challenges they face in Season 3, hint at interpersonal developments to arise in the latest season, and provide an exciting update on the status of Season 4.
CBR: Rebecca, in Season 3, we get to see Una Chin-Riley in a leadership position more often, while still caring for her crew. How is it to maintain that balance?
Rebecca Romijn: It's interesting to see what Una could potentially be like as Captain. Who is Una as Captain? I think she prides herself on being really connected with her crew. I think she's very fair, that she wants to be correct and on the right side of history, but also knows when it's important to bend the rules for the greater good, which is what I think is all about — bending rules for the greater good. It's been fun getting little glimpses and hints and playing with that a little bit.
CBR: Christina, you have a lot of scenes with Ethan Peck's Spock this season. How is it teaching a Vulcan how to ballroom dance?
Christina Chong: I was surprised at how good he is at dancing. I knew that he was athletic, but I thought that doesn't necessarily translate rhythmically. One of the very first rehearsals he missed because his flight was delayed. I turned up and learned all the choreography for this particular dance. The next day, we had another rehearsal and I thought that I'd turn up half an hour late because Ethan would take forever to learn that choreography.
I turn up half an hour late, they're sitting on the floor, and I'm like, "Oh, they haven't even started yet! I could've stayed in bed an extra half hour!" And they were like, "No, he's learned it."
He's just such a solid dance partner. He's strong. You've got to trust your partner because there are a few lifts there. Especially for half-Vulcans, it's pretty dicey if you don't trust your dance partner. It was great!
CBR: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also isn't afraid to get goofy and funny on occasion. How is it playing in those episodes?
Romijn: It's so fun and, as an actor, the most challenging fun that you could possibly hope for. We didn't think that we could outdo Season 2, but Season 4, which we're almost finished filming, wait until you see where we go genre-wise for Season 4. We don't think of them! It's Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers and all our wonderful writers who just keep coming up with these totally outside-the-box opportunities for us to really keep switching it up.
It's really fun to jump from horror straight into a musical, straight into pure comedy. The hits keep on coming and it's really fun.
Created by Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 premieres July 17 on Paramount+.
