WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 4 of Star Trek: Picard, "Absolute Candor," now streaming on CBS All Access.

As Star Trek: Picard takes to the stars, the series continues to expand both its scope and cast. Elnor, the latest member of Jean-Luc Picard's intrepid crew made his entrance in the most recent episode in Elnor. Portrayed by Evan Evagora, Elnor is a Romulan, although he's very different from the strategic and secretive aliens that Trek fans are familiar with.

Raised on the planet Vashti alongside many Romulan refugees, he developed a fondness towards Picard, until his and Starfleet's subsequent abandonment of the Romulan relocation project made those feelings sour into bitterness. Elnor spent the intervening years training his sword and mind with the Qowat Milat organization. And though his reunion with Picard is far from sweet, he ultimately agrees to join his cause, no matter how hopeless it may be.

Evagora -- who also appears in Fantasy Island -- spoke with CBR about his audition story, the backstory of Elnor, and who he would pick as a captain between Jean-Luc Picard and Patrick Stewart.

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CBR: What information were you given about the character when you auditioned?

Evan Evagora: I really wasn't given much. I knew it was Star Trek, and I knew it was with Patrick Stewart. I was given two pages of a script and maybe a sentence for a character description. My character's name was Kabar, not Elnor. And they change Picard's name to O'Toole. I auditioned for the casting director in Sydney before I went off to film a movie I was working on. I was praying I'd get it, because it's Star Trek and Patrick Stewart, the ultimate dream come true. Then at five in the morning, I got a call from Star Trek. They really found me in the final hour.

When you find out more about Elnor, what was your initial approach to the character?

I was given a list of episodes to re-familiarize myself with Star Trek. It involved Romulans, the Borg, I think [the film] Star Trek: Nemesis was on there. I had this perception of Romulans from everything I watched. Then I was given my first script and basically had to forget everything I knew. It's the process for any actor going into any role. You have to find the similarities between yourself and the character and find any connections. The benefit of it being Star Trek is that it's such an advanced futuristic world that there's a plethora of knowledge available. It was easy for me to approach my character and the world that he knows, what he understands about the Federation and the Romulan empire. That's the approach I ended up sticking with.

Star Trek Picard Elnor

What was your training and preparation like to get fighting-ready for Elnor?

I hit the ground running. The first day I arrived in L.A., we began sword training. My stunt double taught me everything I know. We drilled fight sequences and some other stunts. I found everything to be a learning process. If they gave me a go at doing a certain stunt, I'd jump at the opportunity. There was a lot of information to absorb. They were very patient with me and made me look good.

You can definitely draw parallels between what the Romulans are experiencing on Vashti and modern refugee crises. What's your take on that comparison?

I think it's a major issue that's going on today. You can't turn on the news without hearing about people fleeing war-torn countries. People want to build a better future for themselves and their families. Given that Star Trek has always held a mirror to our society, of course it's going to be something people compare. It's always been Roddenberry's vision. I think we continue that. It was easy getting into the mind of a refugee or immigrant. My father immigrated to Australia when he was from Cypress. It was about finding the similarities in order to connect with this character.

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Talk to me about Elnor's relationship with Picard. Would it be fair to say he's a father figure?

I most definitely would say that. I'm not completely educated on Elnor's backstory, but in my version of things, he doesn't remember his parents. He loses his planet and his parents and is abandoned by the one person he trusts. We see that in the first moment when Elnor lays eyes on Picard again. It's a mix of emotions. Happiness, confusion, anger, frustration, and the need to know why. I think we'll see that play out throughout the season. Though he holds him in high regard from the good memories, there are also a lot of memories he has now without him in his life.

Moving from on-screen to off-screen, what was it like to work with Patrick Stewart?

I owe all my development over this season to Patrick Stewart, Michelle Hurd, Santiago Cabrera, Alison Pill, Harry Treadaway and Isa Briones. We have such a talented ensemble. I'm pretty sure the first time I met Patrick, he said, "Hi, I'm Patrick," and I said, "Good, thanks." (Laughs.) It was pure fear, I'll be 100% honest; I was running on adrenaline. But he and Jonathan Frakes made me feel so at ease.

Working with Patrick, there were scenes where I was a part of it and got so immersed I would forget my lines. I would just stare at him, watching him because he's so talented and so good. I've progressed so far and learned so much thanks to Patrick. I owe so much to him. He really is an actor's actor. He's all about being part of an ensemble. He may be number one on the call sheet, but he looks out for everyone. Honestly, if I had to choose a captain between Jean-Luc Picard and Patrick Stewart, I'd choose Patrick Stewart every time.

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What do you think made Elnor ultimately promise his service to Picard?

He's 17, stuck on a planet where nothing's going on. He wants adventure. He wants to experience life, like many other 17-year-olds who want to know what's out there. Going with Picard allows him to experience life.

What can we expect from Elnor in the future, especially as a part of Picard's crew?

I think he brings a different perspective on things, given the way he was raised. He'll speak up not necessarily when he should, but when people need to hear it. He's viewing the world that Trek fans have known for so long with a fresh pair of eyes. It will be interesting to see that perspective. He's a young Romulan who's still trying to fit in. There are some really funny moments I can't wait for you to see. I have some great scenes with Seven of Nine, and it's really amazing working across from characters like Raffi and Narek.

Star Trek: Picard stars Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera and Harry Treadaway. A new episode arrives each Thursday on CBS All Access.

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