Star Trek actress Mariette Hartley has spent decades reflecting on the unexpected cultural legacy of a series that, at the time, felt like a creative risk rather than a guaranteed classic.
Now 85, the Emmy-winning actress has offered a candid glimpse behind the scenes of the original series, sharing thoughtful observations about her co-star William Shatner and the realities of working in television during the 1960s.
© Getty ImagesIn a December 2025 interview with That’s Classic, Mariette, who memorably played Zarabeth in the episode All Our Yesterdays, spoke about the practical details of filming that often go unnoticed by audiences. Among them was the fact that William wore lifts on set, something she framed not as gossip but as a reflection of the visual demands placed on leading men at the time.
"Most people don’t know how short he is," she said, highlighting how television often relied on subtle illusions to reinforce authority and screen presence. In the rigid visual language of 1960s television, height, posture, and physical dominance were considered essential to a heroic role, particularly one as commanding as Captain Kirk.
© CBS via Getty ImagesMariette’s reflections extend beyond her co-star to the wider expectations placed on performers, especially women. She recalled her own discomfort with the leather costume she wore on the show, noting that it was designed by someone more interested in spectacle than practicality. While she described the outfit with humour, her comments underline a broader truth about the era, when actresses were routinely asked to endure physically uncomfortable costumes in service of visual impact.
Despite these challenges, Mariette has often spoken about sensing that her Star Trek appearance was part of something larger. In a 2011 interview, she reflected on being drawn to the script and the emotional depth of her character’s connection with Spock, a storyline that quietly pushed boundaries around intimacy, vulnerability, and difference in mainstream television.
Looking back, Mariette has said she felt there was a special quality to the episode, even if no one involved could have predicted the franchise’s future cultural dominance. Her perspective adds weight to the idea that Star Trek’s longevity lies not only in its sci-fi concepts, but in the humanity and emotional nuance embedded within its storytelling. "I sensed that it was a very special thing when I was doing it. I don’t know why. I don’t know if it was because of the script or the costume or the makeup, but there was a special-ness to it. I mean, who had any idea that it’d become what it has? I don’t think Leonard (Nimoy) or Bill (Shatner) had any idea, either," she told StarTrek.
William’s career has followed a similarly enduring arc. While his original run as Captain Kirk concluded in the mid-1980s, his association with Star Trek has remained a defining part of his public identity. From Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979 through six subsequent films, William helped shape a character that became synonymous with leadership, curiosity, and moral certainty in science fiction.
© Getty ImagesOn February 2, 2025, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd Saturn Awards ceremony. This recognition was for his significant involvement in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
Aside from his numerous acting roles, he took his legacy to the next level when he became the oldest person to go into space in 2021. He flew on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket and experienced a sub-orbital flight that took him beyond the Kármán line. However, his trip left him with an interesting take and made him reflect on the fragility of life on earth, rather than his love of space.
Still a busy man, he is also nearing the end of his nationwide tour titled William Shatner: Live on Stage, where Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is screened.
© Getty ImagesIn terms of returning to the frontier, William said he would only reprise his role under one condition: "If Kirk is going to come back, it has to mean something."
Nowadays, the 94-year-old is focusing on his health battle with tinnitus, a hearing disorder, and was recently announced as one of the new faces of Tinnitus Quest.
