Mulgrew Criticizes 'Lazy Actors'

P/K all the Way have again posted a digitized version of a UPN9 news segment on Voyager. This time, the focus of the segment is on Kate Mulgrew (Janeway) and while most of the interview is spent discussing her character, she does take some time out to criticize "actors who complain that bad writing holds them back" – seemingly joining Voyager's executive producer Ken Biller in taking shots at Robert Beltran for his continued complaints. The file can be downloaded from here as a 536K Real Media clip, but for those can't for whatever reason view it, we've provided a transcript below.

KATE MULGREW WAS CONSIDERING A RETURN TO THE NEW YORK STAGE WHERE HER CAREER BEGAN, BUT NOT BEFORE SHE SHEPHERDS HER CREW BACK HOME, OR WHEREVER VOYAGER'S PRODUCERS SEND THEM. KATE, OF COURSE, HAS ALREADY EARNED A PLACE IN TV HISTORY AS THE FIRST WOMAN TO COMMAND A STARSHIP.

[Stock footage: Season One, Voyager's briefing Room]

Janeway: Welcome aboard Voyager

[Paris and Kim stand facing her]

Kim: It's a pleasure, sir.

[Stock footage: season one – On bridge]

IN SEVEN YEARS, CAPTAIN JANEWAY HAS CHANGED HAIRSTYLES AND ATTITUDES, AND IN ITS LAST SEASON, KATE MULGREW IS PLAYING THE CAPTAIN A LOT LOOSER THAN EVER BEFORE.

[Janeway walking through the Doctor's office]

[Janeway on the bridge, later season.]

[Janeway walking down a corridor with Tuvok]

Janeway: I'm like you, Tuvok, making it up as I go along.

[Mulgrew in uniform on the bridge]

Mulgrew: I don't care anymore about falling on my butt – let me fall! I'll get up. Not deterred for one second from my captaincy, where as four years ago, if I fell it was a horrible thing.

[Janeway drinking coffee and reading a PADD on a bio-bed]

Interviewer: You wish you had done this sooner?

Mulgrew: I do, but I didn't – I wasn't ready. All things in contrast, I mean, you've tracked me over the years with this. I just had felt… There was such pressure initially, I wanted so much to succeed here, the stakes were very high for the first two years.

[Zoom in to Janeway in a Borg alcove]

[Borgified Janeway faced by Tuvok drone and another drone]

KATE ISN'T READY TO SLIP INTO A VICTORIA'S SECRET TEDDY BUT SHE DOES WANT THE WRITERS TO MORE FULLY EXPLORE JANEWAY'S FEMININITY.

[Janeway standing in front of a mirror]

Mulgrew: I don' think that the issue of the femininity of the Captain has been broadly explored. In an effort to get this command, in order, I think a lot of this has been bypassed. But how provocative and compelling to say that "yes, she's got the authority, but she' still a woman".

[Paris walking over to where Janeway and two crewmen are working at the tactical console]

Mulgrew: What is the difference between a male and a female Captain?

[Shot of tactical console]

Mulgrew: What would a female be doing differently after Seven years.

[Janeway moving to sit in the Captain's chair]

Janeway: Engage

KATE WILL NTO BE SORRY TO LEAVE HOLLYWOOD WHEN VOYAGER WRAPS – WHAT ANNOYS HER MOST ARE TV ACTORS WHO COMPLAIN THAT BAD WRITING HOLDS THEM BACK FROM GIVING A GOOD PERFORMANCE.

[Voyager cast celebrating the 100th episode]

[Janeway walking through a bustling engineering]

Mulgrew: I don't buy that for one minute.

Interviewer: No, as an…

Mulgrew: That's a lazy actor's response. 'They didn't let me act'. Really? Go get a job in a cereal commercial. I just don't have any time for it. Of course, you can find every opportunity... Sit in this seat and say nothing. Do it! Be it! (turns towards second officer's chair) Lift it up! We're all trained here and we're, you know, compensated *very* nicely.

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