In a newly released exclusive clip, actor Sonequa Martin-Green discusses what she's learned on Star Trek Discovery's three-season mission to boldly go where no one has gone before.
Sonequa Martin-Green, who was previously best known for portraying Sasha Williams in The Walking Dead, has spent the past three seasons playing science officer Michael Burnham, the first black woman to be the lead character of a Star Trek series. Martin-Green's portrayal of Burnham, a highly intelligent human Starfleet officer who was raised by Vulcans, has been one of the most widely praised aspects of Discovery. "I've learned so much and I've grown so much over the last three years... Being positive and energetic, it's something that I strive for, but sometimes I have to push for it, sometimes I have to press for it, all of the time I have to pray for it, that's for sure," Martin-Green laughed.
Despite the overwhelmingly positive critical reception to her work, Discovery has taught Martin-Green her limits. "I've also had to learn what I'm not able to do," the actor admits. "I don't get to decide how a character I play affects someone, and if I think I do, then I have a problem. Now I'm living from ego, and that can turn very ugly very quickly." The past three seasons have seen the principled but sometimes stubborn Burnham grow from disobeying orders and getting charged with mutiny during the series' premiere episode to now being one of the most passionate believers in the Federation's purpose and ideals. Likewise, Martin-Green has learned to trust the process behind Discovery's production. "You need only serve. That's it. You need only love. That's it... Everything else resolves itself, everything else takes care of itself, everything else is not up to you."
While Star Trek Discovery began as a prequel, starting roughly ten years before the events of the original series, the Season 2 finale saw Burnham leading the Discovery 930 years into the future to the 32nd Century, a previously unexplored era of the Star Trek timeline. Season 3 sees Burnham and the rest of the ship's crew navigating this new, potentially dangerous future while missing the family, friends and allies they left behind. Similarly, Martin-Green discussed what it's been like working on Discovery full-time while also raising a family. "It is certainly not a complaint, by any means, but... It is hard, it is difficult working these hours. It was difficult with one child and now I have two," Martin-Green said. "I have found a balance, and I am still working on that balance."
Season 3 of Star Trek Discovery will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 20. The entire series is also available for streaming exclusively on Paramount+. Season 4 of the series was announced in Oct. 2020, with filming currently underway.
Source: CBS Studios