Kate Mulgrew Urges Star Trek to Champion More Female Captains

Kate Mulgrew, best known for her portrayal of Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager from 1995 to 2001, remains a defining figure in the franchise’s history. Janeway’s command decisions, often spanning the full spectrum of Starfleet’s ideals, have left a lasting impression on audiences. In a recent conversation, Mulgrew addressed the ongoing need for more prominent women in command roles within the Star Trek universe.

“It’s not enough that I was the first female captain. There needs to be a continual push to open the door for women in positions of authority. In an absolutely equal way, of course. In talking to Bill I thought: This has been very much a boy’s club for a long, long time. I had the privilege and honour to be the first female, but that’s an establishment that needs now to be developed.”

Janeway’s leadership style, marked by collaboration and resilience, set a new standard for Starfleet captains. Her tenure paved the way for future women to take the helm, though few have matched her iconic status. The franchise, however, has made strides in broadening its representation, with a growing roster of female captains emerging over the years.

Women at the Helm: Past and Present

Star Trek’s commitment to diversity has become more apparent as the decades have rolled on. Janeway’s place in the annals of television is secure, but she is far from the only woman to have worn the captain’s pips. Voyager itself, the fourth live-action series in the Star Trek canon, ran for seven seasons and 172 episodes, following the USS Voyager’s journey home from the distant Delta Quadrant under Janeway’s command.

Before Janeway, a handful of women briefly took command in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Among them were Captain Phillipa Louvois, Captain Tryla Scott, Captain Rachel Garrett, and Captain Silva La Forge, all of whom appeared in The Next Generation. Their roles, though limited, hinted at a future where women would play a more central part in Starfleet’s leadership.

Fast forward to the 2010s and 2020s, and the list of female captains has grown considerably. Notable names include Captain Philippa Georgiou, Captain Michael Burnham, Captain Carol Freeman, Captain Seven of Nine, Captain Elizabeth Shelby, and Captain Sonya Gomez. Each has brought her own approach to command, reflecting the evolving landscape of the franchise.

Breaking New Ground: The First Female Captain

While Mulgrew is often credited as the first woman to lead a Star Trek series, the honour of being the very first female starship captain on screen actually belongs to Madge Sinclair. Sinclair appeared in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, released nine years before Voyager’s debut, as the unnamed captain of the USS Saratoga during the infamous Whale Probe incident. Although her character was never given a name, Sinclair’s performance marked a quiet but significant milestone—she was both the first Black and female captain to appear in the franchise.

Sinclair would later return to the Star Trek universe as Captain Silva La Forge, mother to Geordi La Forge, in The Next Generation. Her understated authority during a planetary crisis subtly shifted perceptions of leadership within the series, even if her contributions have sometimes gone unrecognised.

Legacy and the Road Ahead

From the earliest appearances of women in command to the present day, Star Trek has gradually expanded its vision of who can lead. Mulgrew’s call for continued progress serves as a reminder that, while much has changed, the journey towards genuine equality is far from over. The franchise’s willingness to embrace new faces and stories suggests that the push for more inclusive leadership is gathering pace, but as Mulgrew herself notes, there is still work to be done.

Both Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home are available to stream on Paramount+ in the UK.