ROBERT DUNCAN MCNEILL

PLAYED TOM PARIS

Federation bad boy come good, the Voyager pilot and medic saw his entire life change.

What’s changed for you over 25 years of Star Trek?

We had a female captain – the first female captain – and even though that seems like a non-issue in 2020, that was a big deal 25 years ago. A lot of people rejected the show and said, “Oh, Trek doesn’t work with a female captain.” New fans don’t even blink at that. That’s a wonderful evolution for our 25-year anniversary.

Have you found that those people have now changed their minds?

People who dismissed it back in the day, or undervalued it, have maybe changed their mind. They’ve come around to realise that it’s a better show than it was given credit for. The stories are strong and the relationships, I always felt, were really good. Voyager had its own unique twist in terms of our situation, being lost out there and alone. I think the show has gotten a lot more respect in the last 10 years.

Have you noticed the fanbase continuing to grow?

It’s fascinating to hear that [for some] we were the first show they found in the Trek universe, whether it was on Netflix, late night re-runs or wherever. They judge everything else against Voyager. I love it when I meet fans who say, “Voyager was our way into Star Trek, and nothing else has ever stood up to it.” There’s enough Trek for all different people, and I appreciate everyone who connects with our show, whenever they actually made that connection.