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The final frontier

Celia Rose Gooding plays original ‘Star Trek’ pioneer

Celia Rose Gooding stars in the Paramount+ “Star Trek” remake. PHOTO BY EVAN AGOSTINI — INVISION/AP

A fan brought lilies to honor actor Nichelle Nichols on her Hollywood Walk of Fame star in Los Angeles Aug.1, 2022. Nichols, who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood as communications officer Lt. Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, has died at the age of 89. DAMIAN DOVARGANES — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Nowhere was the message, influence or cultural resonance of “Star Trek” more visible than with original cast member Nichelle Nichols as Starfleet communications officer Nyota Uhura.

Since 2022 that pivotal role has been played by Celia Rose Gooding in the Paramount+ spin-off series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” which is set in the century before Gene Rodenberry’s landmark original ‘60s series.

“When I first found out that I’d be playing Nyota Uhura, I was immediately overwhelmed,” Gooding, 25, said in a Zoom interview.

“Truthfully, I didn’t know much about ‘Star Trek.’ I was aware of it. As someone who has access to the internet and some interest in pop culture, I feel if you know anything about pop culture, you know what ‘Star Trek’ is and how much it means to people. But I wasn’t a Trekkie yet.

“Once I found out I was playing this character, I became very familiar with who she is and what she has meant to the community.”

Nichelle Nichols, she calls, “A groundbreaking woman who has done so much for the entertainment community, and also NASA, the science world and the science fiction world. She just meant so much to so many people.

“So when I found out that I was going to have anything to do with that legacy or contribute to that character, I was immediately aware of how grand an undertaking it would be.”

Once she met with the showrunners, Gooding felt “empowered” with a series that is confirmed to go on. As Season 3 launches Thursday (7.17) with two episodes, S4 is being filmed.

For Gooding, who grew up in the business — her mother is the Tony-winning Broadway veteran La Chanze — Uhura was a make or break risk.

“She feels like home at this point. She reminds me so much of the many women in my life who are brilliant and soft and inquisitive, who have impacted me. To be able to reflect that back into the world for audiences is such a gift.”

“Star Trek” has spawned a legendary community and Gooding feels “they really welcomed me with open arms. I feel so held and so appreciated, in a way that I did not anticipate.

“And that Uhura is the one who gets me there, the vehicle in which I get to journey through this incredible chapter of my career?

“It’s been the opportunity of a lifetime. Every day on set, I catch a moment where it hits me, like it’s the first day every time: I’m playing Nyota Uhura. Nyota is living through me. I am her. I’m with her. We walk hand in hand through this story.”