Well, by now I'm sure all of you are well aware that I am full up to the brim with random Kate Mulgrew facts. But, today I learned a new one. I already knew Kate was a smoker. What I didn't know was that she stopped. Here's the kicker. According to Kate, she stopped smoking when they were filming "Scientific Method". So, all of that irritation and wild-eyed goodness we see with Janeway is really, more-or-less, Kate having nicotine fits. How's that for putting yourself into your role? Okay, there's my random Kate fact for the day.
Thats pretty interesting actually, many actors have demonstrated a greater "emotional range" during filming after they've quit cigarettes As for other "Trek Smokers" William Shatner James Doohan Walter Koenig George Takei Brent Spiner Marina Sirtis Nana Visitor Colm Meaney Armin Shimmerman Tim Russ Roxann Dawson Although i'm not sure if any of them (Shatner and Doohan, I know quit in the 1980's) still smoke
I just thought, considering the episode, that her timing for quitting was spot on. When she throws that chick up against the wall, it makes so much more sense now how she managed that wild 'I'm gonna rip your head off and spit down your neck' look.
That was a really potent episode, I remember being really pissed off with that "Scientist", her tone was really patronising and they all had that "superiority complex" about them Janeway showed an awesome sense of "taking it personally" throughout
One you left off is Ethan Philips (he's seen on the dvd extras smoking after getting his prosthetics removed and leaving the studio) though I am surprised by the inclusion of both Russ and Dawson. BTW, where did you find out about all the other actors who smoked?
Well, by watching that ep, kate did one hell of a performance. I didnt know that roxanne and tim, nana smoked. I knew terry farrell smoked i read it in a interview somewhere.
What I'm more surprised about is that I can't find a single picture of Kate smoking off set (as in, it's not part of the movie/tv show she's in). I mean, we have pic of Obama smoking; for Pete's sake, why not of Kate? (Note, this is just my full blown curiosity because I've seen a lot of Kate pictures in my brief existence.)
Because she is careful about her image. 9 years ago in Cleveland at the "Women of Star Trek Voyager" convention, there was a free for all to get photos with Kate at the evening cocktail party. The line was too long by the time I realized what was going on, so I walked to the head to watch the Queen and steal a vicarious thrill. What struck me was Kate was holding a wineglass, and went to put it down because she "didn't want a thousand pics of her holding the glass" show up on the internet. Eventually she handed it to a fan to prevent spillage, and intermittently ran over to the wine glass/fan for another sip.
I'm not entirely 100%, but i'll try and explain, in one of Shatner's autobiographies he mentions GR banning the cast from smoking on set between takes (as GR had a particular dislike of smoking), *James Doohan mentioned that he gained weight in the 1980's as a result of quitting smoking (Doohan's cigarette case also saved his life when a bullet meant for him hit his case and bounced off) *Don't ask why LOL!! but i confused Walter Koenig with De Kelley (http://www.trekcore.com/specials/rare/meyer_kelley_smoking.jpg) *George Takei was once upon a time a smoker, but quit and actually made an audio "Stop Smoking CD" to encourage others to quit *Brent Spiner and Marina Sirtis would chain smoke during the first few season of TNG and decided to attend the same hypnotheraphist with the intention of quitting, *Nana Vistor, IIRC quit smoking when she was pregnant, however again, IIRC a holodeck version of Kira is seen smoking, *Colm Meaney smokes (http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/three-and-out-colm-meaney-interview) *Armin Shimmerman mentioned that his "unique voice" may be due to his smoking habit *Tim Russ occasionly smokes during his musical performances *Roxann Dawson, theres a couple of pictures floating about (http://celebsmokers.altervista.org/thumbnails.php?album=1807) *Ethan Philips, I wasn't sure about, however thinking about it i'm pretty sure he does Hope this helps, its not exactly common knowledge, but if you check out some of their more "personal interviews" (ones about them and not their characters) they will usually mention past and present habits, etc
with respect to kelley and dawson, it's tough to know if they smoke IRL or not when all we have are stills from movies they've been in. in dawson's case, most of the photos you linked to were from the movie "guilty by suspicion." i'm not sure about deforrest kelley's scene. in all honesty, hollywood is such a smokestack that it surprises me more to hear about actors who don't smoke. i assume an actor smokes unless i'm told otherwise (which is a shame).
I'm medically trained and couldn't help but notice Kates cough in "The Haunting of Deck 12" - classic emphysemic smokers cough. She may have given up the habit - but she is clearly smoking in Mercy and a few other "after trek" shows.
Yes, well, I never said she stayed on the bandwagon. It's a hard habit to kick, and she has been known to be practically a chain smoker. One interview described her as 'methodically going through a pack of cigarettes' as they did her interview on the Paramount set. Most smokers who have been at it as long as Kate has sound like that when they cough. (My whole family, but me, smokes.) However, I give her props for at least trying, and at least she's not like some heavy smokers I know. She doesn't smell of smoke at all. Actually, she smells quite pleasant. She's somehow managed to avoid most of the wrinkles that develop on your lips from dragging on a cig. Her hands and face aren't stained from the nicotine. Her teeth are lovely. I could go on... That being said, I can't find any evidence that she's actually picked the habit back up since Voyager. It's equally possible that it's a dummy cig in the shows post-Voyager. Even after you quit smoking, you still maintain the cough.
Yeah I know - been treating smokers for years and reformed smokers for years. Although the chances of lung cancer diminish with time after giving up, the damage from emphysema etc is permanent. Pharmacologically speaking, nicotine and benzodiazapines are the 2 hardest drugs to kick, whereas opiates are comparatively easy. Socially, anthropologically and psychologically speaking, it's a totally different story.
Patrick Stewart smoked in his Dickson Hill persona I believe. The few small time actors I've known will smoke for parts, even if they won't smoke in their personal lives.
i remember seeing some interview clip from a late show (tom snyder?) on youtube where she discussed quitting for "scientific method" but then fell off the bandwagon. however, at the time of this interview she said she was trying to quit again with the help of a hypnotist and determined to do so. so it's possible she has quit.
The smoker's signs... wrinkles, stains, etc... I notice them on people because of my family. Since they are all smoker's, I'm always very keen on the signs of a heavy smoker when I see it. I just saw Kate in person not too long ago, and, of course, I'm going to remember what she smelled like. brcarthey, I remember that interview now. So, she did fall off. Who knows? She may have gotten back on...
Scientific Method suddenly makes a whole lot more sense to me now! I smoked for fifteen years before quitting. Now I want to go watch that ep. And when I get to the bit where Janeway slams the alien up against the wall, I shall nod sympathetically and say: "Yes, Kate. I remember that feeling. God bless you. Kick the shit out of that nonsmoking alien." I hope she (and any smokers reading this) can break the habit. It's honestly really great once you get past the point of temporary insanity.
She coughs like that in YoH, too. My friends who smoke sound about the same, although I'm not a medical professional. But it sure seems plausible. I work at a job where I dearly wish I could smoke, but lung cancer is what took the life of a grandparent I never got the chance to know. That's usually motivation enough for me not to think too hard about starting, but it's sure tempting sometimes.