Marina Sirtis
| Marina Sirtis
(American film, television actor | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Born | March 29, 1955 London, England, UK | ||
| Spouse | Michael Lamper(m. 1992; died 2019) | ||
Marina Sirtis (born February 16, 1957) in Hackney, London, England UK is an British actress, best known for her portrayal of Counselor Deanna Troi on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Sirtis later played the role in four Star Trek films, as well as episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, an episode of Star Trek: Picard, and an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Sirtis has won 4 awards as an actor, her most recent was in 2020 at Southern Shorts Awards for Individual Achievement in Acting the same year she was awarded Best Supporting Actress In A Short Film at the East Europe International Film Festival. Sirtis has also been nominated for 4 awards as an actress. In 1992 Marina Sirtis married Michael Lamper, an American rock guitarist and musician who portrayed an Acamarian gatherer in the Star Trek: The Next Generation third season episode "The Vengeance Factor".
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Early life and Education
Marina Sirtis was born on 29 March 1955 in Hackney, London, England, to Greek parents, John Sirtis and Despina, a tailor's assistant. She has a younger brother whose name is Steve. Although she wanted to become an actress at an early age, her very Greek and very traditional mother objected. While in secondary school, she secretly auditioned for Guildhall School of Music and Drama against her parents' wishes. Following her graduation, she joined Connaught Theatre. Sirtis decided to become an actress against her parents' wishes. She secretly auditioned for drama schools before ultimately being accepted into Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She eventually began her acting career in Connaught Theatre following her graduation from Guildhall.
Early film and television career
In 1976, at the age of 21, Sirtis graduated from Guildhall and began her career by joining the Connaught Theatre.
Sirtis appeared in several British television series such as "Raffles" in 1977, "Hazell" in 1978 and "Minder" in 1979.
In 1982 Sirtis appeared in two episodes of the stand up comedian sitcom series titled "Kelly Monteith". Also in the early 1980s, she appeared in a famous Cinzano Bianco commercial with Star Trek guest actress Joan Collins.
In early 1986, Sirtis worked with director David Carson in an episode of the British crime drama "Call Me Mister" and in an episode of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes". Carson would later direct Sirtis in four episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and in the 1994 film Star Trek Generations.
In late 1986, when she was age 31, Sirtis emigrated to the United States, settling in Los Angeles to boost her career and find better acting roles. She later became a naturalized US citizen. Five days after arriving in Hollywood director James Darren cast Marina Sirtis in the NBC L.A. Cop drama "Hunter". Sirtis stated "The money I earned [on "Hunter"] enabled me to stay in Los Angeles for my Star Trek auditions" ultimately allowing her to audition several times.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Marina Sirtis initially auditioned for the part of Macha Hernandez, a security officer, who was later renamed (and recast to Denise Crosby) in Natasha Yar. as chief security officer. Sirtis read for this Macha Hernandez part at her first three auditions before Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry wanted her and Denise Crosby to switch their roles. Sirtis started auditioning on March 23, 1987 and was cast on May 6, 1987 which was the same day she was offered the role of Deanna Troi by Gene Roddenberry, the same day she was packing to return to Britain, as her her six-month American visa had expired. After receiving her breakthrough role as Troi in the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in 1987 she said writers found it difficult to write for Troi and even left her out of four episodes in the first season. In an interview she noted that the pilot episode "Encounter at Farpoint" was the only time in the first season she wore her own hair.
In a June 2021 Nerd News Today interview with Marina Sirtis, she elaborates that Gene Roddenberry felt that there was one too many women on Star Trek: The Next Generation during season 1. Gates McFadden plays a doctor, Denise Crosby plays security chief and Sirtis as Troi a counselor-psychologist. Sirtis said quote "but you really don’t need a psychologist. It was as simple as that. Security chief is viable, a doctor is viable—a psychologist, not so much." Ironically of the three lead woman cast members Sirtis as Deanna Troi at the end of the first season, was the only one left out of the three women.
At Jonathan Frakes wedding Gene Roddenberry took Sirtis aside to tell her after the writers strike (Season 2) the very first episode is a "Troi episode". Sirtis emotionally burst into tears as she was hanging on professionally and personally to this character. Sirtis was pleased with the first episode of season two titled "The Child" as she felt her character was overlooked during the first season. In this episode her character Deanna Troi becomes pregnant by an alien entity and gives birth to a mysterious child who becomes a fully grown child over the course of only a few days ultimately passing away. The episode was watched by 10.9 million viewers, while additional cameras and equipment were used to improve the style of filming. Despite receiving high praise as a great performance by Marina Siritis critics held a negative opinion of the writing of the episode saying that there was no ongoing effect to Sirtis' character Troi. Sirtis was also given multiple new cleavage showing attire beginning in this episode and beyond while wearing her hair down longer.
During TNG's first three years, Sirtis did not act in any other film or television production. In 1990, during a break between Star Trek: The Next Generation third and fourth seasons, Sirtis starred in the British movie One Last Chance for director Gabrielle Beaumont. The following year, she co-starred with Zach Galligan and Jim Metzler in the horror-comedy film Waxwork II: Lost in Time.
Sirtis would frequently join the away team missions throughout the series. Sirtis appeared in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and her character was developed from a more passive therapist to a tougher Starfleet officer. She would also be a main cast member on the bridge sitting next to Captain Picard and had her own counselors room. Troi's switching to a standard Starfleet uniform part way through the 6th season in "Chain of Command" elevated the character's dignity in Sirtis' eyes, and her enthusiasm in playing her.
During her time on the show, she became close friends with her co-stars Jonathan Frakes (who played Commander Riker), Michael Dorn (Lieutenant Worf) and Brent Spiner (who played Lieutenant Commander Data). The latter cast members were groomsmen at her wedding in 1992.
Sirtis, as a Betazoid character, like her mother Lwaxanna played by Majel Barret, wore black-colored contact lenses during the seven-year run of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the subsequent films because her character had black eyes. Sirtis own eyes are light brown. Outside of the 2 part pilot episodes where she wore a mini-skirt style skant and her own hair, she wore a wig throughout the seven year series run.
Acting after Star Trek
After TNG wrapped in 1994, Sirtis began voicing the major character of Demona in the animated series Gargoyles. Her TNG co-star Jonathan Frakes also joined her on that series as the voice of David Xanatos. Two other TNG cast-mates, Michael Dorn and Brent Spiner, had recurring voice-over roles on the show, while LeVar Burton and Colm Meaney each voiced in one episode.
In 2000, Sirtis appeared on the Sci-Fi Channel's Stargate SG-1. In 2003, she guest-starred on the drama series The Closer, on which Raymond Cruz is a regular cast member. In 2006, Sirtis had a recurring role on the UPN series Girlfriends, which starred Star Trek: Enterprise guest actress Golden Brooks. That same year, Sirtis was seen on the CBS series Without a Trace, playing the mother of a missing high school basketball star. Former Enterprise star Connor Trinneer played the basketball coach in the same episode, but he shared no scenes with Sirtis.
Sirtis and Star Trek actor Ben Cross both had supporting roles in the Sci-Fi Channel original movie Grendel, which aired in 2007. Shortly thereafter, Sirtis and her TNG castmates (Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton, and Denise Crosby) all voiced themselves in the "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven" episode of Seth MacFarlane's hit animated show, Family Guy. Sirtis previously voiced Counselor Troi for another Family Guy episode ("Peter's Got Woods"), but her segment was cut and replaced by a different TNG segment. Sirtis was also heard in an episode of MacFarlane's The Cleveland Show later in 2009.
Also in 2009, Sirtis guest-starred on the short-lived CBS series Three Rivers.
In 2013 and 2016 Sirtis appeared 3 times on the CBS hit series NCIS as the character Orli Elbaz.
From 2011 thru 2019 Sirtis voiced multiple characters over six episodes in the series Warner Brothers animated series "Young Justice".
In 2020 Sirtis appeared in an episode titled "Nepenthe" during the spin-off series first season of Star Trek:Picard as Deanna Troi, who is now married to William Riker with two children, one child passed away. Then later in the 2020 year Sirtis reprises her role as Troi in the animated series Star Trek:Lower Decks season 1 finale Episode: "No Small Parts".
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Wicked Lady | Jackson's Girl |
| 1984 | Blind Date | Hooker |
| 1985 | Death Wish 3 | Maria Rodriguez |
| 1992 | Waxwork II: Lost in Time | Gloria |
| 1994 | Star Trek Generations | Counselor Deanna Troi |
| 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact | Counselor Deanna Troi |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Insurrection | Counselor Deanna Troi |
| 1999 | Paradise Lost | Dr. Christine DuMaurier |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis | Counselor Deanna Troi |
| 2002 | Terminal Error | Alex |
| 2004 | Spectres | Laura Lee |
| 2004 | Crash | Shereen |
| 2007 | Fist of the Warrior | Mary |
| 2007 | The Deep Below | Sarah |
| 2007 | Oranges (film)/Game of Life | Mrs. Rafiki |
| 2008 | InAlienable | Attorney Barry |
| 2009 | Green Street 2: Stand Your Ground | Veronica Mavis |
| 2009 | The Grudge 3 | Gretchen |
| 2009 | 31 North 62 East | Sarah Webber |
| 2014 | Finders Keepers | Janine |
| 2014 | Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films | Herself |
| 2015 | A Dark Reflection | Maggie Jaspar |
| 2016 | Little Dead Rotting Hood | Esmerelda Winfield / Grandmother |
| 2017 | The Assassin's Apprentice | Miranda |
| 2017 | My Christmas Prince | Felicia Holst |
| 2018 | 5th Passenger | Alana |
| 2020 | Max Winslow and the House of Secrets | H.A.V.E.N |
| 2020 | Debt Collectors | Mal Reese |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Raffles (TV series) | Faustina | |
| 1977 | Who Pays the Ferryman? | Ariadne | |
| 1978 | [[Hazell | Melina Stassinopolus | |
| 1978 | The Thief of Baghdad | Harem Girl | TV film |
| 1979 | Cinzano commercial | Stewardess | TV commercial |
| 1979 | Minder | Stella | Series 1, Episode 6: Aces High...And Sometimes Very Low |
| 1982 | Kelly Monteith | Uncredited | |
| 1985 | Up the Elephant and Round the Castle | Lisa | |
| 1986 | Room at the Bottom | Carla | |
| 1986 | Call Me Mister | Sally | |
| 1986 | The Return of Sherlock Holmes | Lucrezia | Episode: "The Six Napoleons" |
| 1987 | [[Hunter (TV series) | Kate Scanlon | |
| 1987–1994 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Counselor Deanna Troi | 176 Episodes |
| 1988 | Reading Rainbow | Herself | Episode: "The Bionic Bunny Show" |
| 1990 | One Last Chance | Maria | TV film |
| 1994 | Heaven Help Us | Carolyn Paris | |
| 1994–1996, 1997 | Gargoyles | Demona | Animated series |
| 1996 | Gadgetman | Detective Inspector Walker | TV film |
| 1997 | Duckman | Aurora Abromowitz | Animated series |
| 1998 | Diagnosis: Murder | Mary Ann Eagin | |
| 1999 | Earth: Final Conflict | Sister Margarette | |
| 1999 | The Outer Limits | Olivia 'Liv' Kohler | Episode: "The Grell" |
| 1999–2000 | Star Trek: Voyager | Counselor Deanna Troi | Episodes: "Pathfinder"; "Life Line"; "Inside Man" |
| 2000 | Stargate SG-1 | Dr. Svetlana Markova | Episode: "Watergate" |
| 2001 | Casualty (TV series) | Jane Taylor, MP | |
| 2003 | Threat Matrix | Dr. Nabila Hassan | |
| 2005, 2009 | Family Guy | Marina Sirtis, Herself | Animated series |
| 2005 | The Closer | Layla Moktari | Episode: "L.A. Woman" |
| 2005 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Counselor Deanna Troi | Episode: "These Are the Voyages..." |
| 2006 | Without a Trace | Alexas Soros | |
| 2006 | Girlfriends (U.S. TV series) | Gina Richards | |
| 2007 | Grendel (film) | Queen Wealtheow | TV film |
| 2008 | Holby City | Lucy Simmonds | |
| 2009 | Annihilation Earth | Paxton | TV film |
| 2009 | The Cleveland Show | Athena the Greek Prostitute/Woman at Party | Animated series |
| 2009 | Green Street 2 | Veronica Mavis | |
| 2009 | Three Rivers (TV series) | Layla Rahimi | |
| 2010 | Make It or Break It | Dr. Anna Kleister | |
| 2010–2013, 2019 | Young Justice (TV series) | L-4 / Queen Bee (comics)/ Scientist No. 2 | |
| 2011 | Grey's Anatomy | Sonya Amin | |
| 2013 | Star Trek Continues | Computer voice | |
| 2013 | Adventure Time | Samantha | Episode: "The Pit" |
| 2013–2016 | NCIS | Mossad Director Orli Elbaz | Episodes: "Berlin", "Past, Present, and Future", "Family First" |
| 2016 | My Summer Prince (Hallmark TV movie) | Penelope Sheridan | |
| 2017 | Scandal (TV series) | General Fletcher | Episode: "The Box" |
| 2017 | OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes | Cosma (voice) | Voice role |
| 2018 | The Last Sharknado: It's About Time | Winter | Voice role |
| 2018 | Titans (2018 TV series) | Marie Granger | Episode: "Hank and Dawn" |
| 2019 | The Orville | Schoolteacher | Episode: "Sanctuary" |
| 2020 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | Commander Deanna Troi (voice) | Episode: "No Small Parts" |
| 2020-2023 | Star Trek: Picard | Commander Deanna Troi | 11 episodes |
Voice acting
- Griffin and Sabine audio series (1993) ... Sabine
- Gargoyles (TV series) (1994–97) ... Demona
- Mass Effect (Video game) (2007) ... Matriarch Benezia
- Young Justice (TV series) (2010–12, 2018) ... Queen Bee
- Pilgrim of Eternity (2013) ... Computer (recreation of the Computer from Star Trek: The Original Series)
- Adventure Time (2013) ... Samantha (Episode "The Pit")
- XCOM 2: War of the Chosen (Video Game) (2017) ... Elena Dragunova
- OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017) ... Cosma
- Elite: Dangerous (2018) ... COVAS Carina
- The Worlds of Doctor Who: The Year of Martha Jones" (2021) ... Karen
