Uhura
Communications officer of the USS Enterprise, first played by Nichelle Nichols.
Nyota Uhura is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. In the original television series, the character was portrayed by Nichelle Nichols, who reprised the role for the first six Star Trek feature films. A younger Uhura is portrayed by Celia Rose Gooding in the 2022 prequel series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, while an alternate timeline version of Uhura has been portrayed by actress Zoe Saldaña in the feature films Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and Star Trek Beyond (2016). Uhura is a polyglot, translator and communications officer who specializes in linguistics, cryptography, and philology. She was an important part of the original series' multicultural crew and one of the first Black characters to be portrayed in a non-menial role on an American television series.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Star Trek
- Portrayed by
- Nichelle Nichols (1966–1991)
- Zoe Saldaña (2009–2016)
- Celia Rose Gooding (2022–present)
- Voice
- Nichelle Nichols (The Animated Series); Celia Rose Gooding ("Those Old Scientists")
- Creator
- Gene Roddenberry
- Occupation
- Linguist
- Cryptographer
- Philologist
- Gender
- Female
- Affiliation
- United Federation of Planets; Starfleet
- Partner
- Spock (reboot films)
Lore & Background
Uhura, from the United States of Africa, speaks Swahili and was born on January 19, 2233. She first appears in the episode "The Man Trap", joining the crew of the USS Enterprise as a lieutenant, and serves as chief communications officer under Captain Kirk. She is depicted as a capable bridge officer and readily assumed control of the helm, navigation and science stations on the bridge when the need arose. Uhura was also a talented singer, and enjoyed serenading her shipmates when off-duty; Spock occasionally accompanied her on the Vulcan lyre in episodes "Charlie X" and "The Conscience of the King".
In "The Lorelei Signal", a 1973 episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series, Uhura assumes command of the Enterprise when the male officers fall victim to a species of sirens and leads an all-female rescue party. She is later promoted to lieutenant commander in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and to full commander in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Did You Know?
- The name "Uhura" comes from the Swahili word uhuru, meaning "freedom".
- Nichel Nichols planned to leave Star Trek in 1967 after its first season, but changed her mind after talking to Martin Luther King Jr., who was a fan of the show and told her, "You are our image of where we're going, you're 300 years from now."
- Uhura's first name "Nyota" was created by author William Rotsler for his 1982 licensed tie-in book Star Trek II Biographies, and means "star" in Swahili.
- The end credits of the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country incorrectly refer to Uhura as "Uhuru".
- In the 2009 film Star Trek, Zoe Saldaña's Uhura is a former student of Spock's and is romantically involved with him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nyota Uhura?
Nyota Uhura serves as the Chief Communications Officer aboard the USS Enterprise in Starfleet, originally introduced during The Original Series. She holds a historic place in television history as one of the first Black women to appear in a prominent, non-stereotypical role.
What happens to her story in the original timeline?
She is depicted maintaining a long-term professional and personal relationship with Captain James T. Kirk.
More in Characters & Crews
Elsewhere in Star Trek
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