RED ALERT! This interview incorporates spoilers for the eighth and most up-to-date episode of Star Trek: Picard season 3, “Give up,” at present obtainable for streaming on Paramount+.
In Picard season 3, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut performs Ensign Sidney La Forge, pilot of the usS. Titan-A. The Beat leaped to Warp 9.99 for the prospect to speak with Chestnut over Zoom to be taught extra about performing completely symmetrical struggle scenes, ask what it’s like to hitch the La Forge household, and to seek out out her response to the surprising developments of this week’s episode!
This interview has been edited for content material and size.
AVERY KAPLAN: Do you will have a private historical past with Star Trek?
ASHLEI SHARPE CHESTNUT: I do. Rising up, my mother was an enormous Trekkie. She used to name me “Quantity One” after I was a child. So I do have a historical past, by default, by way of her.
KAPLAN: How did you come to be concerned in Star Trek: Picard?
CHESTNUT: I initially auditioned a few years in the past. I don’t assume on the time I knew I used to be auditioning for Star Trek; I believe it was underneath dummy sides. Then after I received the official name I came upon not solely that it was Star Trek, however that I used to be going to be enjoying Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton)’s daughter.
KAPLAN: What’s it wish to fly the Titan? Did you obtain any “coaching”?
CHESTNUT: No, I didn’t obtain any coaching. I simply winged it and began to create my very own choreography, if you’ll, enjoying with the keys and buttons on my console with my arms.
KAPLAN: Talking of choreography, was that you just within the scene the place Sidney mirrors the actions of Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) in “Dominion”?
CHESTNUT: It was! Besides the precise roll is my stunt double. However for essentially the most half, just like the ducking and making an attempt to keep away from the swings, that was me.
KAPLAN: What was it like planning that out?
CHESTNUT: We initially had a few stunt rehearsals, simply to make it possible for we have been comfy sufficient to do it on set. Plus, we didn’t do the entire sequence – we minimize in between. However yeah, it was so cool.
KAPLAN: What’s the method of recording “psychic dialogue” like? Do you document your traces later?
CHESTNUT: I didn’t try this till later final yr, or I had a couple of ADR classes earlier this yr. I went again into the studio simply to document a few of these traces.
KAPLAN: Have you ever seen any fan artwork of Sidney but?
CHESTNUT: Oh, sure! I believe that’s a part of the spotlight of having the ability to watch the present again and having the ability to work together with the followers on Twitter and stuff. The best way these followers have embraced me… I really feel tremendous fortunate, truthfully.
KAPLAN: What are the uniforms like? Are there any particulars we would not have the ability to see at dwelling?
CHESTNUT: I do know at first, for me and Stephanie Czajkowski (Lt. T’Veen), our uniforms have been truly onesies. And midway by way of, simply to make it simpler for us to go to the toilet and stuff, they separated it. So our pants turned separate from our high. However for half of taking pictures, it was a onesie. For hours, on and on!
KAPLAN: Do you see any of your self mirrored in Sidney?
CHESTNUT: Yeah, I do. I see her tenacity; her energy. Her loving aspect; her potential to stay up for her crew and her household. Since you see that mirrored in her all through this season. She’s simply a tremendous human.
KAPLAN: What was the atmosphere like on set?
CHESTNUT: It was clearly at all times enjoyable. However I believe it is determined by the second we have been taking pictures, too.
When the TNG characters all reunited? Nothing however jokes. Simply seeing them work together was so cool to see! These have been the moments the place it was most light-hearted. You might actually see their decades-long dynamic. On and off digicam, it was actually enjoyable to see.
KAPLAN: What was it like working with the opposite member of the Titan bridge crew?
CHESTNUT: Oh, crew love! I really like my crew. It was nice. We’re nonetheless in touch now, by way of social media. This was our first time engaged on a Star Trek set, and we every had our personal tie to Star Trek. I had my mother, Stephanie was speaking about her dad. All of us had our personal particular person connection to this franchise, which was actually pretty to bond over.
KAPLAN: What was it like enjoying a personality that may be a member of the La Forge household?
CHESTNUT: Good! I imply, entering into these large sneakers to fill. I did my greatest, I really feel actually good about it. The followers are embracing it. I hold saying it, I’m sorry, nevertheless it’s surreal. I imply, Geordi La Forge was my profile image on Instagram for years! So the truth that I’m on set, I’m enjoying his daughter, I’m having emotional scenes with this man.
And, Patrick Stewart… Professor X! It’s been a wild journey. An pleasurable one.
KAPLAN: Is it fascinating enjoying a member of the family to 2 precise blood family members?
CHESTNUT: Sure! However in a great way. They’ve embraced me. I’ve talked about this earlier than: they invited me to Thanksgiving. They didn’t have to do this! I’m telling you, these persons are simply as good off-camera as they’re on-camera.
KAPLAN: Certainly one of my favourite scenes this season is when Sidney visits Seven (Jeri Ryan) in her quarters in “Seventeen Seconds.” Have you ever seen any of the reactions to this scene particularly?
CHESTNUT: Sure, particularly as a result of Captain Shaw (Todd Stashwick) calls her Commander Hansen, primarily deadnaming her. And I’m like, “Nope. Commander Seven.” And it’s out of respect – it simply exhibits my respect for her.
It’s like, “I see you.” That was one in every of my favorites, too. I believe that was a beautiful second between Sidney and Seven.
KAPLAN: What was it like enjoying a Changeling model of Sidney in “No Win State of affairs”?
CHESTNUT: Uh, nuts! So within the scene, I’m strolling into the room making an attempt to mess some stuff up. The actor Ashlei was making an attempt to make it discrete in a approach that the viewers wouldn’t essentially understand it was a Changeling till I give this look, proper earlier than Commander Seven has a phaser to my head.
It was a enjoyable scene to shoot. I used to be simply looking for that steadiness between being a plausible Changeling and a plausible Sidney.
KAPLAN: How did the scene the place Sidney sees “herself” lifeless on the sickbay desk in “Imposters” come collectively? Was there truly somebody mendacity there?
CHESTNUT: There was a stand-in. So fortunately, it wasn’t like a prosthetic model of myself. I believe that may have been too bizarre. However simply imagining… when she vomits, it’s undoubtedly warranted. You’re seeing your lifeless physique, and it’s like, what? It’s wild, it’s loopy.
KAPLAN: Are there any storylines or components of the character you’d particularly hope to see explored in a possible Star Trek: Legacy spinoff?
CHESTNUT: Completely. I’d like to proceed seeing the blossoming friendship between Jack and Sidney. I’d like to proceed to discover the sisterhood bond between Alandra (Mica Burton) and Sidney. And I’d love simply to proceed seeing my crew from the Titan.
There’s a little bit little bit of all the pieces. Alandra’s the engineer. I’m the pilot. Now we have Jack’s physician/badass factor. Now we have a little bit little bit of all people. The followers are asking for it — #StarTrekLegacy. The followers are asking for this spinoff. I believe it will be a service to them and us to proceed.
KAPLAN: What would you personally order from the replicator?
CHESTNUT: I like seafood, possibly some seafood. Just like the buffet, let’s try this.
KAPLAN: I perceive you will have stage-acting expertise. Did you discover this knowledgeable your efficiency as Sidney in any respect?
CHESTNUT: My background’s undoubtedly in theater. I’ve been appearing – I went to performing arts center college, highschool, and received my diploma in it in school. Simply having that base of data and finding out this craft for a extremely very long time undoubtedly ready me for this.
As a result of on this sci-fi world, we’re doing a number of creativeness, too. Now we have a number of inexperienced screens and issues like that. It’s cliché, however having the ability to play fake and use our creativeness actually helped me step into this position, for certain.
KAPLAN: Do you will have any response to Vadic (Amanda Plummer) killing T’Veen in “Give up”?
CHESTNUT: Yeah! I used to be unhappy, okay? Unhappy! Okay? Distraught! Aw man.
However it’s Star Trek, you by no means know. We’ve seen all through the historical past of all the pieces, folks come again. So, crossing my fingers. You by no means know.
KAPLAN: Is there anything you’d like me to make sure and embody?
CHESTNUT: If we’re speaking particularly on the present, I believe you’re nonetheless in for a very good deal with. These two episodes are going to be jam-packed with the data we discover, what’s behind that crimson door.
Outdoors of that, I might identical to folks to notice the camaraderie that we have now off-set. It’s been a beautiful journey. And I hope we are able to proceed the journey!
New episodes of Star Trek: Picard can be found for streaming on Paramount+ on Thursdays.
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