“Star Trek: Discovery” has finally premiered and its star Alabama actress Sonequa Martin-Green is receiving rave reviews. But that’s not the only Alabama connection to the new “Star Trek” series.
The 32-year-old actress, who was born in Russellville and graduated from the University of Alabama, has already gained fame as one of the ensemble stars of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” but is literally and figuratively reaching new heights in outer space boldly going “where no man has gone before.”
In this CBS subscription-service series, she becomes the first African-American woman to be the main star of a “Star Trek” film or series, and critics are lauding her work.
“The first two episodes of ‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ … essentially established one thing for me: Sonequa Martin-Green is a star I’d gladly watch navigate from one end of the TV universe to the other,” said The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg.
“That’s a positive for Discovery, because it feels like a star vehicle to a degree well beyond the beloved franchise’s normal ensemble trappings. And Martin-Green, who never really stood out for me during her long run on AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead,’ looks to have the intelligence, command and sheer presence a good ‘Star Trek’ series needs at its heart.”
The other Alabama connection to the new “Star Trek” series is just as interesting.
Showrunner Bryan Fuller has said that one of his main inspirations for Martin-Green’s character is astronaut Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space. Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, about 47 miles from Martin-Green’s hometown.
Alabama Film Office Blog 