THIS INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED PRIOR TO SAG-AFTRA STRIKE ACTION
Playing a new Star Trek character in an established timeline, as well as piloting possibly the most iconic ship in sci-fi, Melissa Navia has her work cut out for her. “As a storyteller, I keep saying that Erica Ortegas is a dream role,” she says. “It’s the embodiment of every cool role that I’ve ever played in one. I played an astronaut once that wanted to go to Mars – she didn’t get to go to Mars either,” she jokes of Ortegas almost always missing out on away missions. “Fast forward a few years, and here I am at the helm of a starship. So I’m like, ha ha, forget Mars…”