When Star Trek: Voyager introduced Seven of
Nine, she was meant to be more than just a compelling new character—she was a
strategic move to boost ratings. But what unfolded behind the scenes was just
as dramatic as anything happening on-screen.
Jeri Ryan, the actress who portrayed the former Borg
drone, found herself at the center of conflicts, both within the storyline and
on set. From feuds with co-stars to a grueling costume that was as much a
struggle as the battles in space, the untold truths behind her time on Voyager
reveal a side of the series that many fans never knew.
But perhaps the most shocking revelation? Ryan almost
never took the role at all.
The Gamble That Saved Voyager
By the time Star Trek: Voyager reached its
fourth season, its ratings were in trouble. The series, which had debuted with
high expectations, was struggling to maintain viewership. The network needed a
dramatic change—and fast.
That’s when the producers introduced Seven of Nine, a
former Borg drone liberated from the Collective. The character was designed to
be enigmatic, intelligent, and, undeniably, a striking presence on screen.
What happened next exceeded their wildest
expectations.
The moment Seven of Nine stepped onto the Voyager
bridge, ratings skyrocketed by 60%. The gamble had paid off. But what
the producers didn’t anticipate was just how exceptional Ryan’s
performance would be.
Her ability to portray a character torn between rigid
Borg logic and emerging human emotions made Seven of Nine one of the most fascinating
figures in the Star Trek universe.
But while her arrival saved the show, it also sparked
behind-the-scenes drama that would change Voyager forever.
Jeri Ryan Almost Refused the
Role—Four Times
Before Ryan became an icon in Star Trek
history, she had no intention of joining the franchise. In fact, she turned
down the role of Seven of Nine not once, but four times.
Why?
In a candid interview years later, Ryan admitted that
when she was first approached, she had never seen Star Trek: Voyager.
Wanting to do her research, she decided to watch an episode.
She was not impressed.
“I watched one episode and thought, This is the
worst hour of television I have ever seen,” she confessed.
It took persistent persuasion from the show’s
executive producer, Jeri Taylor, to finally convince her to take the role.
To help her prepare, they gave her Star Trek: First
Contact to watch so she could understand the Borg and a massive Star
Trek encyclopedia to “bone up” on the franchise’s extensive lore.
Despite her initial reluctance, once she stepped into
the role, she transformed Seven of Nine into one of the most unforgettable
characters in Star Trek history.
A Cold War on Set: The
Unspoken Feud Between Jeri Ryan and Kate Mulgrew
While Seven of Nine became a fan favorite, behind the
scenes, Jeri Ryan faced an entirely different challenge—tension with Kate
Mulgrew, who played Captain Janeway.
The conflict wasn’t just a rumor. It was very real.
Ryan later revealed that she would feel a knot of
anxiety before filming scenes with Mulgrew. There was an unspoken resentment
between them, and it was no secret among the cast.
Mulgrew had spent years shaping Captain Janeway as a
strong, independent leader, determined to make Voyager about intellect
and exploration rather than physical appeal. When Seven of Nine was
introduced—a stunningly attractive character in a skintight catsuit—it
went against everything Mulgrew had fought for.
Mulgrew saw it as a move by the network to sexualize
the show and was furious.
For years, the tension between them lingered, creating
an undeniable strain on set. But eventually, something changed.
Mulgrew later admitted her resentment and publicly
apologized to Ryan.
"You did a marvelous job in a very difficult
role," she told Ryan years later.
With time, they mended their relationship, appearing
together at Star Trek conventions, laughing, reminiscing, and proving
that even the deepest rifts could be repaired.
The Costume That Nearly
Broke Jeri Ryan
The Seven of Nine catsuit may have looked sleek and
futuristic, but behind the scenes, it was nothing short of a nightmare.
The corset inside was so tight that Ryan often struggled
to breathe. Between takes, she had to lie down just to recover.
But that wasn’t the worst part.
Since the suit had no zipper, she couldn’t put
it on or take it off without assistance from the costume team. Even
bathroom breaks were an ordeal, requiring 20 minutes just to get out of
the suit and back into it.
The situation became so ridiculous that the crew
created a secret radio code for it—“Code Jeri-Twenty.”
By the time Voyager ended, Ryan had had enough.
She wanted nothing to do with the catsuit ever again.
Her solution?
She burned it.
The Art of "Force Field
Acting"—And the Hilarious Struggles Behind It
Acting in Star Trek often required performers
to react to things that weren’t really there—especially force fields.
One of the funniest behind-the-scenes challenges came
during The Gift, an early episode featuring Seven of Nine. Ryan had to throw
herself at an invisible force field, only to be stopped mid-motion.
Of course, there was no actual force field—just
thin air.
The result? Some takes were hilariously awkward,
with actors flailing in empty space, trying to sell the illusion of hitting an
energy barrier while the crew tried (and often failed) to keep a straight face.
"Acting to nothing is one of the weirdest things
about Star Trek," Ryan once explained. "You just have to trust
that the CGI team will make it look convincing."
The AI Illusion of Seven of
Nine—Did You Fall for It?
So, you clicked on this article partly because of that
stunning image of Seven of Nine, right?
Well, here’s the twist: It isn’t real.
That’s right—what you saw was generated by AI,
not an actual Star Trek scene.
The details are almost right, but if you look
closely, something is just a little... off.
The fabric, the contours, the lighting—it’s not
quite Starfleet regulation. And ironically, the image of Seven of Nine—a
character who was once part of an advanced AI collective—has now been
reimagined by artificial intelligence itself.
It's almost poetic.
A Character That Changed Star
Trek
Seven of Nine wasn’t just another Voyager crew
member—she changed the show.
Her presence brought tension, growth, and some of the
most philosophical storylines in the Star Trek universe.
Jeri Ryan, despite all the behind-the-scenes
struggles, embraced the role, delivering performances that made Seven of Nine
one of the most beloved characters in the franchise.
Looking back, Ryan described the role as one of the
greatest gifts of her career.
“This character really was a discovery,” she said.
“Everything was new to Seven, and that made playing her so incredibly
rewarding.”
And for fans, she remains an icon, a character
whose journey from Borg drone to individual reminded us all of what it truly
means to be human.
What’s your favorite Seven of Nine moment? Share your thoughts and join the conversation! And if you loved this
deep dive, pass it along to fellow Star Trek fans!
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