The Ladies of Star Trek: The Next Generation

Marina Sirtis as Counselor (Lieutenant Commander/Commander) Deanna Troi

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Counselor (Lieutenant Commander/Commander) Deanna Troi, Ship's Counselor on the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D and NCC 1701-E, was born on Betazed on 29 March 2336.  Her parents were Ian Andrew, a human Starfleet officer, and Lwaxana, a Betazoid; the Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Riix, and an incorrigible man-chaser and match-maker for her daughter.  Deanna Troi lost her father, whom she adored, when she was only seven years old.  He had often read stories of Earth's ancient American West to her; stories she still missed as an adult (A Fistful of Datas).   Kestra Troi, Deanna's older sister whom she didn't remember, drowned when Deanna was around three or four (Dark Page).  Deanna has a natural empathic ability; an ability to sense emotion and feelings in others. She decided to take advantage of this ability and enrolled in Starfleet Academy to become a ship's counselor.  She entered Starfleet Academy in 2355 and graduated in 2359, having also attended the University of Betazed during that time.  Deanna met Lieutenant William T. Riker in 2357 while he was assigned on Betazed.  They were romantically involved until 2361, when he accepted a position on the USS Potempkin.   The remained good friends, although they were not lovers again until 2377 (Star Trek IX: Insurrection).  They each pursued their own careers for three years until they are reunited when he, now a full Commander, was assigned as First Officer of the newly-commissioned USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D, and she, a Lieutenant Commander, was assigned as Ship's Counselor (Encounter at Farpoint).  Deanna has a number of responsibilities.as the ship’s counselor; she is in charge of the crew's emotional stability’s, and she fulfills a vital role to the Captain. She often provides him with insight into the true motivations of his current opposition. This is also helpful on diplomatic missions where negotiations are required.  Deanna Troi became a mother by "immaculate conception" in 2365 when a non-corporeal life form impregnated her while she slept one night (The Child).  The entity was attempting to learn about humans by becoming one.  The child, whom Deanna named Ian Andrew Troi, after her father, matured rapidly and was born after only hours of gestation.  He soon left the enterprise when Lieutenant Commanders LaForge and Data discovered he was the source of a form of radiation that was posing a threat to the ship and the crew.  Counselor Troi lost her empathic powers briefly in 2367 when the Enterprise encountered a field of two-dimensional creatures (The Loss).  Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi assumed command of the Enterprise in 2368 as the senior officer present on the bridge when the ship collided with two quantum filaments and cut the bridge off from the rest of the ship (Disaster).  She decided to test for and passed the Bridge Officer's Test in 2370, and was promoted to full Commander (Thine Own Self).   Deanna also became romantically involved with Lieutenant Worf about this time, but their relationship ended when he was transferred to Deep Space Nine.  Commander Deanna Troi was in command at the time the USS Enterprise-D crashed on Veridian III in 2371 (Star Trek VII: Generations).

See Some Photos of Deanna Troi

Marina Sirtis was born in East London, England, of Greek parents, on 29 March 1959, and was brought up in North London.  She plays Counselor (Commander) Deanna Troi, a half-human/half-Betazoid empath who has the ability to read others' emotions and sense what they are feeling, but she cannot read their thoughts.  Marina says, "Deanna is a very wise person with extensive knowledge of philosophy, psychology, and different religions.  She is called on to advise Captain Picard  in a variety of situations."  She attended the Guild Hall School of Music and Drama, in London.  Marina became a member of the Worthing Repertory Theatre shortly after graduation from the Guild Hall School.   She portrayed Ophelia in Hamlet, among other classical roles.  Marina has worked extensively in British television, in musical theatre, and in repertory companies throughout England and Europe.  She appeared in the feature film, The Wicked Lady, with Faye Dunaway, and revealed her considerable vocal talents in a European tour of the immensely popular Rocky Horror Show.   Marina returned to England during the third-season hiatus, where she filmed the feature, One Last Chance.  The film, produced for the BBC, was shot on location in London and Windsor.  She also played a cameo role in the soon-to-be released film, Waxwork II: Adventures in Time.  Marina ventured into her own new frontier - marriage, during the fifth- season hiatus.  She wed musician Michael Lamper in a traditional Greek ceremony.  They make their home in Los Angeles.  Star Trek: The Next Generation viewers do not hear Marina's natural English accent.  She has devised a combination of several different accents for the part.   "In the 24th century, geographical or nationalistic barriers are not so evident. The Earth as a planet is your country, your nationality. I didn't want anyone to be able to pin down my accent to any particular country, and being good at accents, the producers trusted me to come up with something appropriate," she says.  "My favorite is episode is Face of the Enemy, because it was not a "girlie" episode.   Any one of the crew could have been transformed into a Romulan.  Troi was chosen because she was an empath, not because she was female."  The fans seem to agree.  It was the highest-rated episode of the season.

See Some Photos of Marina Sirtis

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