… Well, Yitzi, I hate to tell you this, but Deanna Troi and Marina Sirtis really only have one thing in common: We’re the same height. That’s about it. That’s about it, mate. That’s about it. [Laughs]
I had the distinct pleasure of talking to Marina Sirtis. Marina is internationally renowned for her signature role as the beautiful, cerebral “Deanna Troi,” which she originated in the landmark “Star Trek: The Next Generation” TV series. Sirtis would subsequently reprise “Troi” in four “Star Trek” studio feature films as well as in the small screen series “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” “Star Trek: Enterprise” and “Star Trek: Voyager”. Currently, she recurs as “Troi” on the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Picard”.
Over the past 35 years, Marina has skillfully transformed the character from reserved beauty to delicious diva by inserting her own trademark wit and comedic timing, making “Troi” one of the beloved and iconic characters in the “Star Trek” pantheon and Marina, a fan favorite.
Sirtis’ career extends far beyond the role which made her famous -encompassing theater, TV, and film.
In 2019, she made her West End (London’s “Broadway”) debut starring as Marianne in the world premiere of Michael Dennis’ “Dark Sublime,” for which the actress earned raves from audiences and critics alike.
On television, Sirtis has enjoyed several recurring roles including playing Mossad director Orli Elbaz on CBS’ “NCIS,” among others. Her extensive guest starring credits also include “Titans” (Netfix), “The Orville” (FOX), “Scandal” (ABC), “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “The Closer” (TNT), and “Without a Trace” (CBS). Sirtis’ feature film credits include Lionsgate’s Oscar-winning Best Picture “Crash”.
Sirtis was born in London to Greek parents who initially did not want her to become an actress. After high school, she secretly applied to the prestigious Guild Hall School of Music and Drama. After graduating, Sirtis earned her acting chops performing on British television and stage, after which she moved to Los Angeles hoping to make her mark in American film and television.
After six months, Sirtis was ready to call it quits and head back to the UK. Legendary “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry would change her mind. After what she thought was a terrible audition for “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and with just moments before boarding a plane for London, Sirtis got the call that would launch her career.
Thank you so much for joining us Marina. It really is an honor. Our readers would love to get to learn a bit about your background and your origin story. Can you share with us a story of how you grew up?
Well, I’m first-generation British. My parents came to England three months before I was born, so I just made it and had a very poor, blue-collar background. The reason that they could come to England was because my dad’s parents were Cypriot, and back in the day, Cyprus was British. So even though my dad had never set foot in the UK, he actually had a British passport. So, he could bring his wife to England. Yeah, he was very poor. I was born in the east end within the sound of the Bow Bells. So that makes me a true and proper Cockney. I don’t know if you know what that is, a Cockney rhyming slang. I do know some of that. I grew up in north London. My parents worked very, very hard. I hardly ever saw my dad because he worked every hour. When they first got to England, my mother put me with baby minders because she had to go to work. In the end, my dad was a tailor, and she ended up doing some work for him. I liked finishing the jackets that he made at home. It was like a family concern. My mom would do the buttonholes and the finishing, and I would take out the basting. I would get five pence a jacket and that was how I earned money. My parents couldn’t afford to give me everything I needed or wanted. Well, I should say they gave me everything I needed- food, a roof over my head, but for the little extras I went to work. I’ve been working since I was 13 years old.
Wow. So can you share the story about what brought you to the specific career path as an actress?
I always wanted to be an actor. Apparently, my mum and I used to stand up on the seat and regale the other passengers with Que Sera Sera. So, I was always a bit of a show-off. I knew I was going to be in show business. TV was my escape. I loved television and I used to sit literally with my nose up against it. I just wanted to be in there with the other people and I was very lucky on a certain level that I knew what I wanted to do from a very early age. So, I wasn’t kind of diverted from my path. My mother, of course, didn’t want me to be an actress. In fact, when I told my mother I was going to be an actress, what she heard was I’m going to prostitute.
That went down like a cup of hot sip, as we say in my country. She did everything she could to stop this career path. Unfortunately, we were both Aries, one week apart, and I was actually stronger and more bullheaded than she was. I won that particular battle, obviously, much to her disgust.
That’s a great story. So you probably have a lot of fascinating experiences, and you’ve had a very accomplished career. Can you share with us one of the most interesting stories that have happened to you in the course of your career?
Oh, well, you have to be a little more specific, Yitzi, as I’ve had a 46-year career!
One story that I always tell is was when I was at drama school. It was the Guildhall School of Music and Drama which right now is one of the good schools to go to. So I can say that with pride, but there was Alfred Molina (“Spider-Man”) and me. He was a year ahead of me. Then there was another wonderful actress called Souad Farress (“Game of Thrones”).
Alfred is of Italian heritage and Souad is Ghanaian. Anyway, we got nothing at drama school. We were talking about it recently. We literally got nothing. I think we felt like the tokens, you know what I mean?
The token people of color, not that we had many black people, [laughs] I have to be honest. Actually, Art Malik (“Doctor Who”) was the year below me and I think he was the first Asian that was there. I could be wrong. When I was there, I think he was the only Asian on the drama course.
You invite all the agents and everyone to come and see you so that you can get an agent and get some work. I was in the chorus of the musical and don’t cancel me now — but I was playing, and I didn’t cast myself in this role, I was 21 years old and they cast me as a middle-aged Black maid.
I didn’t do blackface. I hold up my hands, I did not do blackface. So I don’t have to worry about those pictures coming to light. I wasn’t in the last big production, which was The Rivals. When I complained to the director of drama, he just basically told me to get on my bike and what’s done was done.
So, I decided, how was I going to get an agent? I was the first actress of my generation. Back in the day, when you wanted headshots, you went to the park with a friend and they took pictures of you. So, I went to Elizabeth Arden and I had my hair and makeup done. This was a first by the way, and I found a photographer that did the most glamorous headshots. I got an agent through my photos. I auditioned right after that for the part of Ophelia in Hamlet which I got. So I went back to drama school, the term hadn’t finished, and I was riding in the elevator with our director of drama. He was bemoaning the fact that none of his girls were going to get any work. His boys would do alright, but the girls would not. I said, “Well, you don’t have to worry about me, Mr. Bucknall. I’ve got a job.” He said, “Community theater somewhere, darling?” I said, “No, I’m playing Ophelia at the Connaught Theatre,” and he couldn’t help himself. He just blurted out, “You can’t play Ophelia!” — to which I responded, “Well, you are the only effing person that thinks so,” and I walked out of that school and never went back. That basically told me that I had to clear my own path because no one was going to clear it for me.
So it has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a mistake that you made when you were first starting and the lesson you learned from it?
Actually the biggest mistake that I made was after “Star Trek” was finished and I was sent two scripts. One was an Indie about saving the rainforests and the other one was a sci-fi movie. Now, the rainforest movie was an offer but for the sci-fi movie, they wanted me to go in and read, which is fine. However, having just done a bunch of sci-fi, I decided that I wanted to save the rainforest. So I went to Puerto Rico to make this film about saving the rainforest. The movie that I didn’t go in on was “Men in Black”. So since then, I pretty much said “yes” to everything because I obviously can’t read a script to save my life, because “The Paradise Lost” went straight to video [Laughs].
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person that you’re grateful for that you think helped you achieve your current level of success?
Well, it’s always a teacher, isn’t it? It’s always a teacher. The teacher that helped me literally just passed away and we are having a memorial for her next month.
As I said earlier, not a single adult encouraged me to be an actor. In fact, on Careers Day, they would give me leaflets that told me that I was going to be broke for the rest of my life and to think of something else to do. The problem was that I was smart. So, my parents had visions of university and me becoming a lawyer or something because I was clever. But this one teacher, Rosemary Lake, came up to me. I think it must have been when I was about 17 and said, “So you want to be an actress, do you, Marina?”
And I said, “Yes, Miss,” so she said, “Well, how are you going to do it?” I said, “I don’t know how I’m going to do it.” No one from my neighborhood had ever gone into show business. You know, back in that day, a woman was successful if she was a secretary to an executive. We’re talking the 1970s now. About a month later she found me again, handed me a manila envelope, and inside the envelope was a prospectus of every drama school and all the universities that had good drama courses and English courses. She just handed it to me and told me to apply. Well, I did, and that all worked out. Many years later, my class found her again. She had moved to Wales, so it wasn’t that easy.
I had tea with her at the Victoria & Albert Museum one day and I said, “So Miss Lake,” and she said, “Call me Rosemary.” I said, “I can’t call you Rosemary. I can’t. Miss Lake, why did you help me? Why were you the only adult?”
I thought she was going to say, “Well, I saw you in the school play and I thought you were brilliant.” No, she said, “You came into school one day, Marina.” Now I have to preface this. I am of Greek heritage. So, I’m a very hairy woman. She said to me, “You came into school one day and you had waxed all the hair off your body and I thought, wow, any girl who can take that kind of pain has got what it takes!” So that was me thinking it was my immense talent, it was the fact that I had a major wax job! [Laughs]
That’s hilarious. So, Marina, you have been blessed with great success in a career that can be challenging. Do you have any words or advice for others who may want to embark on a similar career path but are intimidated by the prospect of constant rejection?
Well, you know, if you can’t take rejection, then you should find another career. I mean, let’s be honest. You’re going to get rejected 90% of the time.
When young people come to me and say they want to be actors, the first thing I ask them is there anything else that they enjoy just as much? And if there is, I tell them to do that. If they don’t like anything, then I basically say, “How are you going to do it?” They say to me, “Well, I’ll get discovered.”
No one gets discovered.
Whereas Lana Turner was discovered sitting at the soda counter at Top Hat Cafe in Hollywood, back in the day, that doesn’t happen anymore. That ship sailed a long time ago. It’s very hard work. You need to know what you are doing. You need to get some track. I mean, if they listen to me with open ears and they’re receptive, I encourage them. If I see their eyes glaze over because they want to become famous on Instagram.Then I basically say, God bless good luck and I walk away.
The problem now is that they say they want to be actors. A lot of young people say, “I want to be an actor.”’ What they’re actually saying to me is, “I want to be famous.”
They’re not the same thing at all. Well, let me say in Britain where I trained and worked for the first 11 years of my career, I think there’s probably maybe 2% of actors who become famous to get rich because you don’t get rich in the UK by being an actor. That’s why we all come to America. [Laughs] Let’s be honest. That’s why we all come to America because that’s where you get the best salaries! And also, back when I came in ’86, there was a lot more product being made in America than there was in the UK, just in a numbers game. You were more likely to get a job in the US than you were in the UK.
Wow. So, there’s been a lot of talk about the importance of having a “why”. So what drives you to get up every day to work in TV and film?
That’s kind of a weird question because would you ask that question of a plumber or an electrician?
No, it’s like my acting is my job.
Like an electrician, plumber, teacher, nurse, or doctor. This is what I do. This is how I earn a living. So, as I said, you wouldn’t ask those people what drives them to get up in the morning.
Sorry. Yitzi, I’m going to add something to that. We’ve got to stop making royalty out of our actors. It’s a job.
We’re in a very lucky profession because we are doing what we love to do. I mean that old adage you never work a day in your life if you love your work? Well, that is true. It is true. If you really know, you are blessed. If you enjoy your job, you are blessed. If you enjoy what you do to keep a roof over your head and food on the table. But this aggrandizement of actors bothers me a little bit.
That’s great. I respect that, Marina. Are there any changes you anticipate or hope to see in the entertainment industry broadly and particularly in the movie industry going forward?
Well, the movie industry is not the same movie industry that I went into in 1976 and admittedly, I didn’t do a lot of films in England before I came to America, but I did a few. The main difference is that the directors and cinematographers are more concerned about the overall look of a scene. As an aging actress, [laughs] I get a little insecure when I feel like I’m not being lit because they’re lighting the scenery. That’s one change because back in the day cinematographers lit the actors.
And I’m sure that if you are spending $20 million or $100 million on a picture with a big Oscar-winning star in it you’re going to like that actor, but my experience these days is that I have to stay on top of it. Let’s put it that way. I have to stay on top of it. I mean, it’s okay- if I don’t look after myself then I only have myself to blame. Do you know what I mean? So, there’s a lot of that. There’s also the fact that the director used to be on the set watching the action and now they’re not. They’re in Video Village watching it all on a screen because it’s all about how it looks. Right. So that’s different. There are lots of little things.
Oh, you never get a script anymore. Yes. You never get a script anymore because everything’s a big slippery secret.
I mean, to this today, people expect you to accept a job just from the sides, from the audition, from the audition scenes. So they don’t send you a script. I said to my agent, “When did that happen? When weren’t we allowed to read a script anymore?”
I’ve offered to sign an NDA. That’s what it’s come to. I said, “I will sign NDAs if they will send me a script. I’d like to read a script before I commit to a film.”
It’s bizarre. It’s bizarre! Very, very different.
Wow. So can you share with our readers some of the exciting projects you’re working on now and what you hope to release in the near future?
Actually, I’ve just had a movie released. I think it’s released and it’s had its European premiere at the Kingston International Film Festival a couple of weeks ago. I think it might be on one of the cable channels. I think it’s one of those things that I can’t say which one, but I think it’s going to be on one of the cable channels in the US. It’s a movie called “A Thousand Little Cuts” and it’s about what we call in England, coercive control. Do you know what that is? Coercive control is when a man abusively controls a woman, not physically but financially, all the other ways that a man can control a woman and the damage that that does, and so I think it’s quite an important film.
Wow. That’s great. That’s exciting. So let’s talk about the elephant in the room now. As you know Star Trek Next Generation has been one of the most popular television shows of all time. I’m 40, I grew up on Star Trek Generation. Honestly, Deanna Troi was my favorite character. [Laughs]
You are only saying that because you are talking to me…
No. Who else?
[Laughs] Well, everybody loves Data!
I really like Deanna Troi. And the truth is, I found the idea of having a chief mental health officer on a warship extremely unique.
[Laugh] Well, Gene Roddenberry was a visionary in more ways than one, let’s put it that way. I mean, he imagined a lot of stuff that we are doing today, seeing today, and using today. So he was a bit of a genius in that respect.
Did you know him?
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. We were the last of his children, the TNG cast. He cast us personally and his wife (Majel Barrett) played my mom, I had a special relationship. I mean, they kind of adopted me, so, you know, I still call Rod “bro” and he calls me “sis”, and I used to call Majel “mom.” I would get invited to all the holidays or every time there was any function or holiday. I was always invited to the Roddenberry’s.
She used to have12-foot Christmas trees in their house during the holidays
And she went all out. She gave parties. She really gave parties, that one. They were legendary.
So, in your opinion, What do you think was it that captured the world’s attention about “Star Trek: Next Generation,” particularly, and I guess “Star Trek,” in general?
With us, it was a bit of a slow burn because the fans were not happy that we had come along. I mean, they love us now. They do, they love us, adore us and worship us now- but back when we started, they were sitting there with their arms crossed, going, “How dare you try to take the place of our heroes?!”
They will lie about it now. Say they always loved us, but they did not, they did not, and I will call them on it every time.
Our audience grew. It kind of really got going at the end of the second into the third season- and then it just took off.
Unfortunately, because we were a syndicated show, we weren’t in the Nielsen ratings at the time but I think if we had been, we would’ve been in the top 10 every week. Considering we didn’t have a time slot, you couldn’t say to the audience, “Wednesday at 9 o’clock.” You had to say that horrible thing, “Check your local listings.”
And even then, we did that great. So, I think it’s because, bottom line, good story, well told, well-acted, and hopeful future.
That’s the thing. It was non-judgmental. All the things we are striving for in 2022- equality, justice, and all those things which appeal to people. So, I don’t think it’s one thing. I think there are lots and lots of things.
Wow. So, you mentioned this a little bit, but what lessons do you think we can learn today in 2022 from the themes “Star Trek: Next Generation”?
I think the prime directive is number one. However, there is a part of me that kind of goes off that sometimes we have to intervene. Do you know what I mean? I’m thinking of Ukraine now, where it’s all well and good to say, “Let them sort it out,” but as a human race and as human beings, when you see suffering you must do something. You must do something. I have two mottos. My first motto is, I didn’t make it up myself, but I really try to live by this, is that evil triumphs when good men stay silent.
The other one, I hope this doesn’t offend your sensibilities, is bitches get things done.
Got it. it’s great hearing that from Deanna Troi. [Laughs]
Well, Yitzi, I hate to tell you this, but Deanna Troi and Marina Sirtis really only have one thing in common: We’re the same height. That’s about it. That’s about it, mate. That’s about it. [Laughs]
That’s such a good line. That’s great. It’s brilliant.
So basically, I like the good bits of Star Trek. I like the bits of Star Trek that are about justice, freedom, equality, kindness, and the separation of church and state, which is something that America seems to have forgotten right now.
Yeah. We’re going through a rough patch. [Laughs]
Yep. I know. I have to keep reminding myself, that it’s not my problem anymore now, I’m in the UK. But I can’t help it. I lived in America for half my life. I still have an attachment to it, can’t help it.
So, I’m just curious. What always struck me about Deanna was her accent. I know there are some questions about it, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. What’s your take? What is Deanna Troi’s accent?
Oh, you’re going to love this. You’re going to love this. I don’t know if I’ve ever told people before. I certainly haven’t told a lot of people before. My accent is based on my Israeli friend, Tova.
Really?
It is.
So it was an Israeli accent.
It’s a bit of an Israeli accent. It’s not an Israeli accent. It’s based on an Israeli accent. My friend spoke English with an American accent because she’d been taught English by an American teacher.
That’s great. That’s wonderful. So, this is our signature question that we ask in all of our interviews. You’vee had a very accomplished career. Looking back, are there five things you wish somebody told you when you first started and why?
Okay. Five things. Oh, Jesus, hang on. This is hard…
Do you know why I’m finding this hard? No one can tell me anything- and if they had told me, I wouldn’t have listened. So, five things that I wish someone had told me…
Give me an example of what someone else said. Maybe that’ll jog my memory. Maybe that’ll give me inspiration.
Here you go. One is, “I wish someone told me to be more gentle with myself”.
Oh, okay. All right. That kind of thing. I wish someone had told me…
You know, I cannot think of a single thing. [Laughs] I’m going to be the one that got away. I’m going to be. No, you see, that’s not a question that applies to me, Yitzi.
It’s my personality and I’m not the thinker, Yitzi.
I remember my friend, Pat, when I was 16, she was a bit cross with me one day and she said, “Don’t you ever think?” And I went [laughs] “No, I don’t think. I think about it tomorrow.” She was like, “Oh my God, you are nuts.”
So that’s me, not a great thinker, and obviously not a great taker of advice because I can’t think of any.
No problem at all. Let’s go on. This is our big question. Marina, by virtue of your accomplishments and your platform, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the greatest amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? Because you never know what your idea can inspire.
Well, it would have to be something to do with women’s issues, obviously.
I think that although things are a bit rubbish in America right now, they’re not as rubbish as they are in certain other countries when it comes to women. I’m talking about Africa, countries in Africa where they still do FGM. I don’t even want to say the words so if you don’t know what FGM is, look it up. I think that is something that’s really important, we have to get it stopped, and we have to persuade the mothers and the grandmothers who had this done to them and are now doing it to their daughters, that they mustn’t do that. They can’t do this. They have to stop. They have to stop the cycle. We have to do something about this! It’s inhumane!
That’s great. It’s wonderful. Okay. We are very blessed that prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world with whom you would like to have a power lunch and why? Because we could tag them and then see what happens. Let’s see if we can make it happen.
You know what? I am a huge Hillary Clinton fan. I worship at the feet of Hillary Clinton. I actually have, because a friend of mine had them made. I have a journal that says Madam President on the front. Because that’s how sure I was that she would win the presidency. She’s the one person because I think she’s been a great public servant. I think she’s been exceedingly brave. I think she’s achieved so much in a male-oriented arena. Against all the odds, all the hate, and everything that was thrown at her. I think she’s an amazing woman.
That’s wonderful. So how can our readers further follow your work online?
Well, I must, I have to be honest. I don’t do Instagram and I don’t do Facebook because of their inaction during the election.
Not this election, not 2020, but 2016. Their inaction and ridiculous policies basically got Trump elected. So to me, that is unforgivable. I don’t want anything to do with Mark Zuckerberg or any of those guys. Sorry guys, if you want to follow me, the only place I’m going to be is on Twitter.
And I’m telling you now if Elon Musk buys Twitter, I’m gone!
This has been such an amazing conversation. I feel so blessed that I did this with you, and I’m so happy to share this. I really appreciate it.
Well. Thank you. That’s very kind words. Thank you so much.
I wish you only a life filled with blessings, success, and good health. We want to watch you, for the next 50 years.
[Laughs] God bless you for saying that, but that would make me 117. So I don’t know that I would want to live that long, Yitzi, but bless your heart the same [Laughs]
Thank you. Have a beautiful night.
All right, my dear. Bye-bye.
