Famke Janseen (AKA Kamala) Could Have Been on DS9?

[Ro_Laren]

I was on IMDB.com and was reading about the actress Famke Janssen who played Kamala in the 5th Season TNG episode The Perfect Mate. According to her biography:

Originally, Famke Janssen cast for the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) series after her work on the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) episode "The Perfect Mate" and was to reprise her role as Kamala. However, she wanted to leave herself open for feature film work and turned the role down. Jadzia Dax's role was created to take the place of this character, performed by actress Terry Farrell.

However, according to her article on the site Memory Alpha:

She was one of many actresses considered for the role of Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. However, she wanted to work primarily as a film actress, so she turned the role down. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion.

So which is true? Was Famke supposed to surpise the role of Kamala on DS9 or was she to play the role of Jadzia? Since the Memory Alpha factoid is from the DS9 Companion I would guess that that is more likely to be true. That and the fact that it would be surprising for Kamala to leave her role as wife to Chancellor Alrik- the role she was raised all her life to fill. Of course one could argue that perhaps she would want to leave (or Alrik would want her to leave) since she had already bonded with Picard. Regardless, I had no clue that Famke Janssen was considered for a role on DS9.

 

[Michael]

What I like most about your post:

"Star Trekeep Space Nine"

Somehow that fits the series.

 

[Ro_Laren]

What I like most about your post:

"Star Trekeep Space Nine"

Somehow that fits the series.

Stupid typo. I originally pasted the quote from IMDB, but "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" was hyperlinked on that site and therfore it looked like gibberish on my post. I tried to retype "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," but was typing too fast hence the . LOL!

 

[Navaros]

Yes it's true that she was supposed to play Jadzia.

She woulda been a million times better in the Jadzia role than Terry Farrell was, as would any qualified actress.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Yes it's true that she was supposed to play Jadzia.

She woulda been a million times better in the Jadzia role than Terry Farrell was, as would any qualified actress.

True on all accounts!

 

[Kegek]

Jadzia. I remember reading the DS9 Companion, and the character of Melora Pazlar (who eventually appeared in the episode "Melora") was an early protoype for Jadzia, but they essentially moved from her to the Jadzia character. I'd never heard of them considering Kamala as a series regular, though they eventually and coincidentally reused the Kriosian make-up design (a decision made after Farrell had been cast).

I'm not sure Janssen would necessarily make a better Jadzia, she was good in "The Perfect Mate" but that role didn't require a lot of nuance (not that Farrell provided any, but it would have been nice).

 

[Michael]

I have the strange feeling this thread will relatively fast degenerate into another "Tarry Ferrell was so awful" fest.

 

[Ro_Laren]

I have the strange feeling this thread will relatively fast degenerate into another "Tarry Ferrell was so awful" fest.

I hope not as I never had a problem with her portrayal of Jadzia. In fact, Jadzia Dax is my favorite DS9 character (with Kira a close second).

 

[Michael]

I have the strange feeling this thread will relatively fast degenerate into another "Tarry Ferrell was so awful" fest.

I hope not as I never had a problem with her portrayal of Jadzia. In fact, Jadzia Dax is my favorite DS9 character (with Kira a close second).

Glad to hear that. She's not exactly my favorite character but I can't understand the outright hatred some posters on this BBS bear towards Terry Farrell. There's NO WAY she was THAT bad!

 

[Defcon]

I think some of the hatred comes from the fact that she had the "audacity" to leave Star Trek for a sitcom.

I don't undertand the hatred myself. Sure she isn't one of the top performers in the world, but that is true for many trek regulars. And I can certainly understand her decision to jump off the ship when she has the oppurtunity to become a regular on a series that has at least the potential to run for several years, in contrast to the one year that was left on Deep Space Nine.

 

[Kegek]

I think some of the hatred comes from the fact that she had the "audacity" to leave Star Trek for a sitcom.

Not on my part (though she's pretty dull on Becker too). I was just never all that impressed with her acting. If anything, Farrell leaving was one of the best things that happened to the Dax character, as we got Ezri.

 

[Ro_Laren]

I think some of the hatred comes from the fact that she had the "audacity" to leave Star Trek for a sitcom.

I don't undertand the hatred myself. Sure she isn't one of the top performers in the world, but that is true for many trek regulars. And I can certainly understand her decision to jump off the ship when she has the oppurtunity to become a regular on a series that has at least the potential to run for several years, in contrast to the one year that was left on Deep Space Nine.

Yeah, I wasn't happy with her leaving either. But, as you mentioned who can blame someone for wanting a little job security (though she ended up getting the boot from Becker).

 

[CorporalClegg]

I think some of the hatred comes from the fact that she had the "audacity" to leave Star Trek for a sitcom.

Not on my part (though she's pretty dull on Becker too). I was just never all that impressed with her acting. If anything, Farrell leaving was one of the best things that happened to the Dax character, as we got Ezri.

I agree. She can't act. I don't hate her, it's just ... it is what it is.