"Uhuru is Swahili for freedom, and that's the history of Africa -- everyone is fighting for Uhuru in one way or another either violently or strategically. He (Gene Roddenberry) says, 'It sounds too harsh for a female.' I said, 'Well why don't you do an alliteration of it, soften the end with an 'A' and it'll be Uhura?' He said 'That's it, that's your name! You named it, it's yours. Now I know exactly where your character comes from, the United States of Africa.'"

    About This Interview

    In her nearly three-and-a-half-hour interview, Nichelle Nichols (1932-2022) talks about her work as a cast member on the original Star Trek (NBC, 1966-69) playing "Lieutenant Uhura." Nichols discusses how this role broke many barriers, including portraying the first African American woman as a high-ranking official and the first interracial kiss on television. She reveals how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. influenced her decision to remain on the show. She talks about the show's creator, Gene Roddenberry, and his vision for Star Trek. She details her early career, highlighting her roles in theater and film and touring as a singer with Duke Ellington. She also discusses her roles in The Lieutenant (NBC, 1963-64), another Roddenberry production. She talks about then-more recent roles, such as "Nana Dawson" on Heroes. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on October 13, 2010 in North Hollywood, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
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    Thumbnail of Nichelle Nichols

    Nichelle Nichols on William Shatner as "Captain Kirk" on Star Trek

    02:24
    Thumbnail of Nichelle Nichols

    Nichelle Nichols on almost leaving Star Trek, and then staying at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    11:38
    Thumbnail of Nichelle Nichols

    Nichelle Nichols on some of her favorite and least favorite episodes of Star Trek

    02:50
    Thumbnail of Nichelle Nichols

    Nichelle Nichols on the backstory and personality of her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura"

    03:33
    Thumbnail of Nichelle Nichols

    Nichelle Nichols on working for Otto Preminger in the feature film version of "Porgy and Bess"

    04:09
    Thumbnail of Nichelle Nichols

    Nichelle Nichols on the end of the original run of Star Trek, and on the show's long second life including the Star Trek Conventions

    07:57
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her early childhood, the origin of her name; on her education in music and dance

    16:28

    On her earliest experiences of television; on how African-Americans were portrayed on television while she was growing up; on acting in the play "Kicks and Co." and on singing at the Playboy Club while understudying for Diahann Carroll

    10:17

    On moving to Los Angeles; on singing with Katherine Dunham and Duke Ellington; on working with Sammy Davis, Jr. and Pearl Bailey

    17:05

    On a bet she made with Marlon Brando; on working for Otto Preminger in the feature film version of "Porgy and Bess"; on appearing on The Lieutenant, produced by Gene Roddenberry

    14:38

    Chapter 2

    On Dennis Hopper appearing with her on The Lieutenant; on Gene Roddenberry coming up with the idea for Star Trek, and wanting a diverse cast

    12:03

    On auditioning for Star Trek; on naming her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura" with show creator Gene Roddenberry

    17:56

    On the backstory and personality of her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura"; on being protective of her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura"

    10:38

    On starting out as a day player on Star Trek which allowed her to also appear on Peyton Place; on almost leaving Star Trek, and then staying at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    19:18

    Chapter 3

    On fan reaction to her role on Star Trek, and on attending the Star Trek conventions; on meeting Coretta Scott King, and discussing Star Trek with her; on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    17:03

    On the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and on her involvement with NASA recruiting; on her frustrations with how her role was written on Star Trek

    16:27

    On Gene Roddenberry making Star Trek a breakthrough for diversity on television; on appearing in various classic episodes of Star Trek

    12:11

    On the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk" (William Shatner)

    16:02

    Chapter 4

    On fan reaction to the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk"; on some of her favorite and least favorite episodes of Star Trek; on having had children named after her because of her role on Star Trek

    08:26

    On the end of the original run of Star Trek, and on the show's long second life including the Star Trek Conventions; on the cast of Star Trek;

    14:25

    On the Star Trek feature films; on her original Star Trek costume; on the legacy of Star Trek

    07:26

    On then-current projects; on how things have changed for African-American actors since she began her career; on advice to an aspiring actor, and how she'd like to be remembered

    10:30

    Heroes

    Nichelle Nichols on appearing on Heroes

    01:43

    Lieutenant, The

    Nichelle Nichols on appearing on The Lieutenant, produced by Gene Roddenberry

    07:17

    Nichelle Nichols on Dennis Hopper appearing with her on The Lieutenant

    00:54

    Peyton Place

    Nichelle Nichols on starting out as a day player on Star Trek which allowed her to also appear on Peyton Place

    07:40

    Star Trek

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry coming up with the idea for Star Trek, and wanting a diverse cast

    06:11

    Nichelle Nichols on auditioning for Star Trek

    10:22

    Nichelle Nichols on naming her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura" with show creator Gene Roddenberry

    07:34

    Nichelle Nichols on the backstory and personality of her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura"

    03:33

    Nichelle Nichols on being protective of her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura"

    07:05

    Nichelle Nichols on starting out as a day player on Star Trek which allowed her to also appear on Peyton Place

    07:40

    Nichelle Nichols on almost leaving Star Trek, and then staying at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    11:38

    Nichelle Nichols on fan reaction to her role on Star Trek, and on attending the Star Trek conventions

    04:14

    Nichelle Nichols on meeting Coretta Scott King, and discussing Star Trek with her

    07:47

    Nichelle Nichols on her frustrations with how her role was written on Star Trek

    02:28

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry making Star Trek a breakthrough for diversity on television

    04:58

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry's "Charlie X" episode of Star Trek

    03:05

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "Space Seed"

    00:57

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever"

    02:20

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"

    00:51

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk" (William Shatner)

    16:02

    Nichelle Nichols on fan reaction to the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk"

    03:12

    Nichelle Nichols on some of her favorite and least favorite episodes of Star Trek

    02:50

    Nichelle Nichols on having had children named after her because of her role on Star Trek

    02:24

    Nichelle Nichols on the end of the original run of Star Trek, and on the show's long second life including the Star Trek Conventions

    07:57

    Nichelle Nichols on Leonard Nimoy is "Mr. Spock" on Star Trek

    00:42

    Nichelle Nichols on DeForest Kelley as "Dr. McCoy" on Star Trek

    00:18

    Nichelle Nichols on James Doohan as "Scotty" on Star Trek

    00:26

    Nichelle Nichols on George Takei as "Sulu" on Star Trek

    00:58

    Nichelle Nichols on Walter Koenig as "Chekov" on Star Trek

    00:37

    Nichelle Nichols on William Shatner as "Captain Kirk" on Star Trek

    02:24

    Nichelle Nichols on Majel Barrett as "Nurse Chapel" on Star Trek

    01:29

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek feature films

    05:44

    Nichelle Nichols on her original Star Trek costume

    01:00

    Nichelle Nichols on the legacy of Star Trek

    00:42

    Nichelle Nichols on then-current projects

    05:12

    Star Trek: "The City on the Edge of Forever"

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever"

    02:20

    Advice

    Nichelle Nichols on advice to an aspiring actor

    01:28

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Nichelle Nichols on the backstory and personality of her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura"

    03:33

    Civil Rights Movement

    Nichelle Nichols on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    05:02

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Nichelle Nichols on how African-Americans were portrayed on television while she was growing up

    02:27

    Nichelle Nichols on almost leaving Star Trek, and then staying at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    11:38

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry coming up with the idea for Star Trek, and wanting a diverse cast

    11:09

    Nichelle Nichols on the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and on her involvement with NASA recruiting

    13:59

    Nichelle Nichols on meeting Coretta Scott King, and discussing Star Trek with her

    07:47

    Nichelle Nichols on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    05:02

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry making Star Trek a breakthrough for diversity on television

    04:58

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk" (William Shatner)

    15:59

    Nichelle Nichols on how things have changed for African-American actors since she began her career

    01:21

    Nichelle Nichols on fan reaction to the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk"

    03:12

    Pop Culture

    Nichelle Nichols on the backstory and personality of her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura"

    03:33

    Representation on Television

    Nichelle Nichols on how African-Americans were portrayed on television while she was growing up

    02:27

    Nichelle Nichols on almost leaving Star Trek, and then staying at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    11:38

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry coming up with the idea for Star Trek, and wanting a diverse cast

    11:09

    Nichelle Nichols on meeting Coretta Scott King, and discussing Star Trek with her

    07:47

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry making Star Trek a breakthrough for diversity on television

    04:58

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk" (William Shatner)

    15:59

    Nichelle Nichols on how things have changed for African-American actors since she began her career

    01:21

    Nichelle Nichols on fan reaction to the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk"

    03:12

    Television Industry

    Nichelle Nichols on advice to an aspiring actor

    01:28

    Underrepresented Voices

    Nichelle Nichols on how African-Americans were portrayed on television while she was growing up

    02:27

    Nichelle Nichols on almost leaving Star Trek, and then staying at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    11:38

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry coming up with the idea for Star Trek, and wanting a diverse cast

    11:09

    Nichelle Nichols on meeting Coretta Scott King, and discussing Star Trek with her

    07:47

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry making Star Trek a breakthrough for diversity on television

    04:58

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk" (William Shatner)

    15:59

    Nichelle Nichols on how things have changed for African-American actors since she began her career

    01:21

    Nichelle Nichols on fan reaction to the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk"

    03:12

    Actress

    Nichelle Nichols on the challenge of moving from acting on stage to acting in features or on television

    02:19

    Nichelle Nichols on advice to an aspiring actor

    01:28

    Performers

    Nichelle Nichols on the challenge of moving from acting on stage to acting in features or on television

    02:19

    Nichelle Nichols on advice to an aspiring actor

    01:28

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    Nichelle Nichols on appearing on The Lieutenant, produced by Gene Roddenberry

    07:18

    Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

    Nichelle Nichols on playing "Nyota Upenda Uhura" on Star Trek

    54:03

    Nichelle Nichols on playing "Nyota Upenda Uhura" on Star Trek

    01:01:43

    Nichelle Nichols on playing "Nyota Upenda Uhura" on Star Trek

    30:17

    Nichelle Nichols on appearing on Heroes

    01:43

    Pearl Bailey

    Nichelle Nichols on working with Sammy Davis, Jr. and Pearl Bailey

    03:09

    Marlon Brando

    Nichelle Nichols on a bet she made with Marlon Brando

    03:11

    Diahann Carroll

    Nichelle Nichols on acting in the play "Kicks and Co." and on singing at the Playboy Club while understudying for Diahann Carroll

    05:18

    Dorothy Dandridge

    Nichelle Nichols on working for Otto Preminger in the feature film version of "Porgy and Bess" with Dorothy Dandridge

    04:09

    Sammy Davis, Jr.

    Nichelle Nichols on working with Sammy Davis, Jr. and Pearl Bailey

    03:09

    Duke Ellington

    Nichelle Nichols on singing with Katherine Dunham and Duke Ellington

    09:14

    Dennis Hopper

    Nichelle Nichols on Dennis Hopper appearing with her on The Lieutenant

    00:54

    Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Nichelle Nichols on almost leaving Star Trek, and then staying at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    11:38

    Nichelle Nichols on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    05:02

    Otto Preminger

    Nichelle Nichols on working for Otto Preminger in the feature film version of "Porgy and Bess" with Dorothy Dandridge

    04:09

    Gene Roddenberry

    Nichelle Nichols on appearing on The Lieutenant, produced by Gene Roddenberry

    07:18

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry coming up with the idea for Star Trek, and wanting a diverse cast

    11:09

    Nichelle Nichols on naming her Star Trek character "Nyota Upenda Uhura" with show creator Gene Roddenberry

    07:34

    Nichelle Nichols on Gene Roddenberry making Star Trek a breakthrough for diversity on television

    04:58

    William Shatner

    Nichelle Nichols on the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in which she shared television's first interracial kiss with "Captain Kirk" (William Shatner)

    16:02

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