Kiss And Tell: 'Voyager' Actors On Fandom

There's no question that Star Trek fans are a loyal, if slightly fanatical, group of people. In the latest batch of Voyager cast interviews at StarTrek.com, the actors talked about their meetings with the fans, which range from sweet encounters to experiences which are out of this world.

Many of the stars have been grateful for the chance to get out from behind the camera and strut their stuff. "I enjoy the conventions because I haven't had the chance to do much live theatre during these seven years, so it sort of takes the place," said Robert Beltran (Chakotay).

Of course, Beltran has had his fair share of encounters with over-enthusiastic fans. "The thing that comes quickest to mind is the guy in England who offered to make a large donation to my charity if I would kiss him," he said, laughing. "And he bounded up on stage and I said 'okay.' And I guess he thought I was going to kiss him on his lips and I said 'No, just the cheek.'"

Garrett Wang, who plays by-the-book Ensign Harry Kim on the series, relished the chance to show the fans a little of himself. "They're the one chance that I can actually get up on stage and do a little bit of stand-up, do a little of my imitations of other cast members," he said.

Wang's most memorable experience was a meeting with a mother who clearly wanted their child to share in the Trek experience. "A woman came up and she asked me to sign her baby's head, which I refused - I did not do that," said Wang. "There may be a PETB - 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Babies' - [they] would have been there and would have marked me up for that! But that was pretty funny."

For Roxann Dawson (B'Elanna Torres), her most recent convention visit was also the most poignant. "I love doing conventions actually and meeting the fans," she said. "Particularly last week [at the Grand Slam] because the audience knew it was the last time we would appear on stage while we were still working together. I was surprised at the emotion there - there were people that were crying. I think it was the first time that it occurred to us, as I turned around to Bob Picardo and [Ethan Phillips], that it was ending, and it was almost like the fans told us that."

"A eye-opener" is how Tim Russ (Tuvok) described his convention experiences. In particular, he paid tribute to the loyal fan-base. "I think that there's an awareness of how many people watch the show," he said. "There's quite a number of people who are very, very dedicated fans, and you are made aware of that on a daily basis."

One fan definitely wanted a very special memento of Ethan Phillips(Neelix). "Somebody once asked me for a semen sample," he said, adding that it probably wasn't suitable for the interview. "But that is my favourite story, I'll never forget it - I said 'What?'"

Donations aside, Phillips was amazed by the reaction he received at his very first convention appearance. "I stood up and all these people applauded, and it was pretty amazing because I didn't do anything, I just walked out there and they applauded."

The full set of interviews, which also include Russ talking about his post-Voyager plans, and Robert Picardo's thoughts on the Doctor, can be found here at the official site.

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