Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - A Woman's Trek - Nana Visitor Interview

Nana Visitor (DS9's Kira Nerys) talks to Seán about her upcoming book 'Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman's Trek', her appearance on Lower Decks, her baseball skills and more!
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[@rossdax47]

During the height of the pandemic, I asked Nana to provide a Cameo to my daughter, who was struggling hard. The words she sent back changed my daughter's life, and were so sincere, kind, and uplifting. It was priceless. Hope to meet Nana in person just to say thank you for that tremendous gift.

[@jcsharp86]

I got an anniversary message from Nana, some Mama Nana advice, 5+ minutes of loving words of wisdom from this gem of a human

[@chefdean7257]

How ?!?

[@mikehall962]

Nana is just as sincere and kind in person. Her energy is compassionate and caring and genuine. I’d love to see her again but this time with my daughter who I named after Kira. Such a wonderful lady.

[@chefdean7257]

How did these people communicate with Ms Visitor ?

[@rossdax47]

@@chefdean7257 This was back when most actors weren't working, and many had taken to Cameo. A number of Star Trek actors, including Nana Visitor, were available for short video messages. Haven't checked lately, but there are probably still many available. It'd not quite the same as meeting them in real life, but it is a fantastic connection opportunity! :)

[@dpcnreactions7062]

That final scene with Jake starring out the window and Kira comes up and stands there with him to comfort him just brings me to tears every time.

[@sureshmukhi2316]

I love that scene!

[@Kllgg]

My head canon is that that is the moment she became his surrogate mother and continued to look out for him just as his father would have. And not just because she revered his father but because she had genuine love for Jake after what they had been through together.

[@kadosho02]

​@@Kllgg 100% agree. Kira has a big heart, and if need be someone you could turn to.

[@philiphunn194]

The series finale of DS9 hit the hardest of all the Berman-era Trek shows, I have to say.

[@davetoms1]

Momma Nana sharing words of profound wisdom: _""Star Trek teaches these three things are non-negotiable for humans: Hope, Courage, and Understanding that none of us are ever alone."_ 11:43 Excuse me while I shed a tear of joy 🖖❤

[@QuintusAntonious]

The thing I love about this interview is that Nana shows she's not just a Star Trek actor, she's a Star Trek fan too. She knows about the series beyond her own role and deeply appreciates them and their actors.

[@davidwho1011]

Thank you Seán, for this interview with Nana Visitor. I met her once, about 10 years ago in London. Nana said she hadn’t yet watched the show back in great detail, so I’m so happy that she has connected with the story since then, and explored how the show has inspired and touched so many people all over the world.

[@damienkakoschke3099]

For Rosalind Chao, when DS9 started, she was doing The Joy Luck Club, which she got a lot of accolades for. That probably had a bearing on whether she chose to be a regular or a guest star. Love Nana Visitor & all the actors on DS9.

[@lostfan5054]

I heard that Rosalind Chao auditioned to be Counselor Troi on TNG. That would've been interesting.

[@lesliemckinney8565]

Nana Visitor is an amazing person. I follow her on Instagram and her uplifting messages prove she is wise beyond her years. She is definitely not like most Hollywood stars. She's amazing.

[@weakanklesfornamjoon]

How does Nana only get better and better every time I see her? I’m permanently in awe and reverence for her. An absolute icon. Fabulous interview well done!

[@zazaranger5]

She aged like a fine wine. Still very stunningly beautiful

[@TobyDeshane]

She's so super cool. She mentions the audience recognizing authenticity, and boy do I see it in her here. :)

[@told2stop]

Nana is fantastic, always a great interview. Also she looks more and more beautiful as the years pass by.

[@TheSummoningDark]

I was just about to say almost exactly that. Still absolutely stunning.

[@bobhawkins7827]

This is a brilliant interview of one of the best actors, best characters, and absolutely the best Star Trek series in the franchise. Thank you!

[@bruns.like.spoons9251]

THIS

[@borgdrone100]

Nana Visitor put her heart and soul into the character of Major Kira and it shines through the whole series.

[@GR-nz3om]

As someone who has worked on a film and and tv crew of upwards to 16 hours, thank you.

[@apok1980]

Thank you Nana Visitor. I tell people that part of my core principles are Star Trek. Some people get it, a lot of people don’t. Star Trek is about science first! Inclusion and respect of all sentient beings. Being brought up on shows like Star Trek and Mr Rogers turned me into an adult nerd who at least feels being curious, being kind, and just doing better.

[@weakanklesfornamjoon]

🙏👏👏👏👏

[@sharonkaysnowton]

Nana Visitor was the perfect Major Kyra Nerise. She made the show great. I loved her strength, her loyalty to her Bajaron heritage and her spirituality- all were equally balanced in her life.

[@thecunninlynguist]

Lower Decks rules. Her cameo (along with Quark) were fun

[@francescozenocchini4428]

LD is what introduced Trek to me. Now i'm watching DS9 too and I love it so much and I like pointing out every thing in DS9 that LD referenced (like the Chula game).

[@thecunninlynguist]

@@francescozenocchini4428 you're in for a treat. DS9 is one of the best in the franchise. If you're into podcasts, check out the delta flyers (hosted by Voyager actors + Quark/Dax of DS9)..they're going through it for the first time too.

[@CyclonusEX]

Nana Visitor! One of the BEST PARTS of ANY iteration of Star Trek! Thanks for bringing this interview to us! Thank you Nana for your Great work on the Best Show in the franchise!

[@DaliwolfBacon]

Nana Visitor played Kira Nerys soooo well! She was so believeable! Kira as a character was so complex and layered and Nana navigated that role brilliantly. I absolutely adore Nana Visitor, and I am happy to say I am on my 5th binge viewing of Deep Space Nine right now! Thanks for such a great interview!

[@clancyalexander6192]

Major Kira was probably my favorite character on the show and the way Nana played her with such depth and devotion to her faith, was nice to see. I'm an atheist but the show really delved into how religion affected decisions people made and the politics and everything and I think she did a great job of portraying her as being true to her faith and working with Starfleet.

[@michaelbayer5094]

I think her character was able to seperate her faith (her devotion to the Prophets) from the institutional corruption of her religion (in the person of Kai Winn) while still appreciating the necessity of the insitutional religion itself (how Kai Opaka was a source of hope). As a Catholic, I see some parallels.

[@clancyalexander6192]

@@michaelbayer5094 exactly. They decent job but I think they didn't want to alienate people by having too much religion presented in the context of the show. I wish they had done more like they had in the early seasons about managing the station with the religious people and all of the conflicts that came up because of that.

[@michaelbayer5094]

@@clancyalexander6192 The show veered away from religion per se, and turned the plot into a more black-and -white good v. evil story where the Prophets became non-linear time space aliens (though with very special powers).

[@Mr.Sparkles]

She's still amazing after all these years. Love her!

[@LarryGarfieldCrell]

I alps grew up on Trek. Moreso than any religion, I was raised on Trek. The positivity and hope and commitment to each other is something I have tried to carry throughout my life.

[@davidreddington4381]

I love You Nana! ❤

[@DonnieMulligan]

Kira was such a beautiful and tough character. Her passions, loyalty, leadership, and sex appeal stole the screen for me with DS9. Big fan Nana!

[@ericstewart5852]

Such a great show I'm rewatching it right now it's my favorite Trek series and I loved kira and both daxs but quark and Odo's relationship was brilliant just a great written show the best writing of all the trek shows

[@StanleyNunn]

Nana was one of the best parts of this show and Star Trek in general. She was strong, beautiful and not to be trifled with. I loved how she took no crap from anyone! Excellent performances with wide range.

[@MSmith-Photography]

She's always awesome to see. One of the reasons that I loved DS9. 👍

[@czarcoma]

18:18 Speaking of TV not reflecting what happens in real life when someone's wounded. I remember an interview of Christopher Lee where he schooled the director that a person that's stabbed in the chest or back doesn't scream, because they instantly lost the ability to breath. Turns out this real badass of an actor had a very long military service. And not just from behind a desk, but actual face to face combat. Filmmakers should talk to actual people who went through the scenes and stories they want to portray, Edit: and after literally seconds, Sean tells the same exact story... I should finish watching videos before posting comment 🙂

[@angbald]

This is such a treat for me. I am watching all trek for the 1st time. At the start of season 6 and Nana Visitor owns every scene she is in.

[@Paul-iq6pw]

I only ever saw Kira, never Nana before today, and I am very much old enough to have watched DS9 when it came out. She's so great and sweet. Wonderful interview, thank you both.

[@sureshmukhi2316]

Nana was the only cast member to get an episode in DS9 named after her. "The Visitor". 😄

[@mattyladd]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING INTERVIEW!!!!! Sean, phenomenal job. Nana = love you to death!!!!! DS9 FOREVER!!!!!!!!!

[@erichartley1846]

Wonderful chat! Thank you Sean, thank you Nana

[@maryellencook9528]

Thank you, Ms. Visitor, for acknowledging the importance of military chaplains. My late husband's uncle was a Catholic priest and U.S. Army chaplain during the Viet Nam conflict. Uncle Ben had a calm, quiet equanimity that served him throughout his career as a priest that I am sure helped those he ministered to.

[@andymok7945]

DS9 was a great series. I bought the DVD box set and enjoy watching it. I binged watched it spring of last year again. Wonderful chemistry between the cast.

[@kadosho02]

Fantastic interview, Nana is incredible. Love her 🖖❤️💕

[@ronniepaco]

What a great interview! I have never heard her speak about the show before. Her perspective is so informative.

[@ivanrawlings]

Find her episode on the shuttlepod show wonderful woman

[@michaelbayer5094]

I need to be honest. I'm a Trek fan, but not a super-fan or trekkie if you know what I mean. So, I would not normally watch an interview or podcasr like this. However, I'm so glad that I discovered this. Nana seems like a wonderful person and her humanity just shines through. Sean did such a great job that I subscribed!

[@omf4ever]

I knew there was a reason I loved Kira as much as I did

[@TheOmega4ever]

Excellent podcast! Deep Space Nine was and still is a phenomenal Star Trek Series!!!!

[@CRYOKnox]

Gosh how I adore her, not only for her portraiyal of Kira but for being my absolute role model of a woman.

[@charleshannant252]

Love this!! Thanks for sharing and great to see Nana.

[@terrenced7742]

This is a wonderful interview. Thank you, Sean!

[@auldthymer]

I am in shock! I can't believe this interview happened. Thank you, Sean!

[@CaptainKwame1773]

Such a great interview, and thanks for sharing this. We love Nana Visitor, and I am doubtful that we could ever be grateful enough for her wisdom, talent, and wit. Here's to Colonel Kira, too!

[@morrisgautreau6704]

12:53 describes me at 3 or 4 years old when I first discovered TOS 'syndicated' in the early 70s. I'm sure my first words I spoke, to the disappointment of my parents, were either "Spock" or "Kirk"!

[@sureshmukhi2316]

It wasn't "Scotty, Beam us up." 😂

[@C..Squared]

Nana you are so right about the influence of Trek. I took a comp sci degree because of watching Trek. On DS9 I identified with Jadzia Dak a science officer.

[@angbald]

What an absolute sweetheart. I live in Las Vegas and we have a big convention every year I think. Definitely going in 2024.

[@brucekaraus7330]

Good lord! The woman is as beautiful if not more so than when she was on the show. One of my absolute favorites.

[@chucka.3520]

Great interview Sean. Nana is so fantastic.

[@sharennyberg7795]

Love Nana and DS9. Thanks Sean

[@virginiarocks]

Met Nana at a convention-she is brilliant

[@GatchamanG4]

Nana Visitor is just as beautiful as ever!❤👍

[@historybuff7491]

Love the interview. Thank you for showing what you showed.

[@soullessmin]

Wonderful interview, thank you Sean and Nana!

[@theonlymatthew.l]

I wish it were possible to give this thumbs up multiple times...👍👍

[@vahi37]

Thank you Nana!

[@fmartell71]

Great interview! Thanks to Nana and to you guys!

[@grumpus_hominidae]

Oh Seán, more of this, please!

[@sjgrall]

I wish Nana had a KZbin channel. She is incredible.

[@aj_chan]

6:40 I like that Nana is such a fan of Star Trek that she's also a fan of Galaxy Quest as well

[@DedieGnomes]

Beautiful interview.

[@craftchest]

@12:54 so true. Especially DS9. I love it so much I named my car Defiant. Have a series called Project Defiant where I restore it and add literal ablative armor, paint scheme ect. Nana and all the cast of DS9 have always to this day given inspiration. Thank you.

[@ReverendMuncle]

I haven't actually watched this yet, but it's our Seán interviewing her majesty Nana Visitor(!!!!), so it's an automatic 10/10 from me

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

I hope she'll make a life-action guest appearance in future Star Trek shows.

[@AbdiqalisMohamud010]

God I love Nana Visitor. My favorite character in DS9

[@ronm6585]

Thanks for sharing.

[@gamingisking6067]

Great interview.

[@Tyler.Briggs_Peradventure]

Wonderful, thank you

[@Skaramine]

Nana talking about my favorite of her fight scenes. ❤❤❤

[@dramonmaster222]

Great Interview Trekculture.

[@harvey1965]

Seán, as a gay man, I never thought I'd be jealous of another gay man's involvement with a woman - and then you went and interviewed Nana!!!! Bloody well done - what a prize you scored and I'm jealous! Great interview!! DS9 FOREVER!!!!

[@JeffersonRedeyes]

The redshirt with no last name got a last name when he finally joined the Star Trek universe and that last name is Kirk. That guy from Galaxy quest is now George Samuel Kirk serving on the USS Enterprise. He's come far since being a guy on Galaxy quest whose only name is "Guy".

[@dairedarcy1130]

Just another wonderful Christmas present from Sean

[@joeewing2585]

Great interview 🎉

[@RyanRead]

Love seeing Nana. Looking great.

[@stiofanmacamhalghaidhau765]

such a treat.

[@bjrnfrederiksson2505]

Ahhh, it was AMAZING 😍😍

[@canderousmorningstar3121]

I absolutely ❤ Nana!!

[@dglenn247]

Nana, Rene', and Avery are 3 of my favorite actors ever. She seems to be a good and decent person, which is even more uplifting to me.

[@jthorner2005]

Great interview

[@Herowebcomics]

Omg! She looks amazing! This is awesome!😊

[@rinehardt6837]

I will say this Nina visitor her portrayal of Keira was one of the highlights of DS9. Keira to me is so much more when you hear people say oh she's a bad ass but she was so much more than that. We saw her as a warrior and a fighter we saw her as a beloved friend we saw her fall in love twice. that character had one of the best story arts in Star Trek. And if someone who plays Star Trek online I was thrilled that they brought her back to Voice Keira in the game not the count the mini novels about Keira after the show.

[@stephenward1314]

I love Nana Visitor Didn't know about the book - I must look it up now

[@robbieburns8746]

NaNa is byoooootiful!!! Thanks!!

[@preferredimage]

Gotta love Nana! My favoured franchise space mom.

[@robtrombino8943]

Please have Nana on again, as there are about a million more things we'd love to hear from her about her character and the series itself . . . and of course if there is any chance in hell of those charcters showing up in any new or existing Trek shows!! 🏆

[@romulascott]

She's one of my favorite Star Trek characters. She's still so beautiful and seems to be so down to earth.

[@philigan2339]

👍👍👍 Thank you.

[@Krobra91]

watching sean stutter and struggle and fanboy is the best part :)

[@stevennicol5754]

Love her. Shes my mum on starfield

[@mattf9096]

I'm an across the board Trek fan but I LOVE DS9 so much... No one will ever convince me that it isn't the best Trek ever made.

[@fonkbadonk5370]

This was kind of profound to me. I actually sort of hated Kira for most of my otherwise beloved DS9 watchings. The character just didn't connect with me, and I also, for some reason, just did not like her face. She and Kira always were to me like "the guy you'd love to punch given the opportunity" until the very late seasons of DS9, where I probably just came to accept her and her character. Close to, but not entirely loving the character. BOY did this interview change a LOT of that! Not only do I find her just INSANELY gorgeous these days, but all she says makes so much sense. I wish my teenage self would have the insight and knowledge and appreciation I now have. And just whoa. Nana looks just WOW now. Such an improvement. What a damn babe, with brains! Adorable. Thanks!

[@Shamino-do4oy]

Awesome ❤

[@stevenm1753]

She is so awesome!!!

[@martinmould2598]

Of my favorite things about Nana were her interactions with Gul Dukat and Quark. And her sexy mirror universe self. Extraordinary acting. Such a beautiful badass. Still stunning. Thanks, Trek Culture.

[@richb313]

Thanks

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Major Kira Nerys is one of DS9's best characters. A strong and passionate character.

[@gbkworf]

As a 30 year veteran police officer I can say Nana really nailed it with Hollywood's portrayal of the human reaction to being shot and what really happens. Even when shot through the heart committed people have at least 10 seconds of action. Which why we are taught to shoot until we stop the threat, which might mean multiple shots and hit on target. There are police officers today in jail today because jurors raised on cowboy quick draw where one shot puts you down thought that was reality.

[@ericmadsen7470]

Deep Space 9 deserves a movie of their own.

[@agoon7092]

Just pre ordered the book at Amazon and they have it listed for November 24

[@BobSperber]

Much love to Nana - also subscribe to the podcast, will listen.

[@sjgrall]

I wish Nana had a KZbin channel. She is incredible.