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5 Shocking Secrets About Kim Cattrall’s Forgotten Star Trek Role As The Traitorous Vulcan, Lieutenant Valeris

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The legacy of Kim Cattrall's brief but pivotal role in the Star Trek universe is experiencing a surprising resurgence, even decades after her single appearance in the franchise's cinematic history. As of December 20, 2025, new merchandise and literary works are bringing fresh attention to her character, the ambitious and ultimately traitorous Vulcan, Lieutenant Valeris. Before she became globally synonymous with the iconic, sexually liberated publicist Samantha Jones on Sex and the City, Cattrall donned the pointed ears and logical demeanor of a Starfleet officer, and the behind-the-scenes story of her casting, her on-set experience, and her character's lasting impact is far more complex than many fans remember.

Her performance in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) marked a significant turning point for the original crew of the USS Enterprise and for Cattrall's career trajectory. This deep dive explores the little-known details of her involvement, from almost rejecting the role to the unexpected modern-day revival of Lieutenant Valeris in new Star Trek canon, solidifying her place as one of the franchise's most memorable one-off villains.

Kim Cattrall: A Brief Biography and Career Overview

  • Full Name: Kim Victoria Cattrall
  • Date of Birth: August 21, 1956
  • Birthplace: Liverpool, England
  • Nationality: British, Canadian, and American
  • Early Life: Moved to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, when she was three months old and was raised there.
  • Education: Attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
  • Breakthrough Role: Samantha Jones on the HBO series Sex and the City (1998–2004).
  • Notable Filmography (Selected): Police Academy (1984), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Mannequin (1987), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), Sex and the City films.
  • Recent Work: Has continued to star in television and film, including a notable role in the series How I Met Your Father and Glamorous.

Cattrall’s career is a study in versatility, spanning comedy, drama, and science fiction. Her transition from 1980s film roles to becoming a cultural icon in the late 90s and early 2000s is well-documented, but her brief venture into the world of Starfleet remains a fascinating footnote in her pre-Sex and the City era.

The Vulcan Logic of Lieutenant Valeris in Star Trek VI

In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Kim Cattrall played Lieutenant Valeris, a young, highly intelligent Vulcan officer who served as Captain Spock’s protégé and the new helmsman of the USS Enterprise-A. Her character was introduced as a potential successor to Spock’s intellectual and emotional detachment, a model of Vulcan logic and discipline.

The character of Valeris was originally intended to be Saavik, a character previously played by Kirstie Alley in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Robin Curtis in Star Trek III and IV. However, due to Kirstie Alley's unavailability and other production decisions, the character was rewritten and renamed Valeris.

The film's plot centers on a conspiracy to sabotage peace talks between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. The shocking twist reveals Valeris as the traitor, the mastermind behind the assassination of the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon and the attempted assassination of Federation President. This betrayal was unprecedented, as a Vulcan had never been revealed as a villain of this magnitude in the franchise's history. The sight of Spock performing a mind-meld on his own student to extract the names of the conspirators is one of the film’s most dramatic and enduring moments.

Valeris’s actions were driven by a hardline, anti-peace ideology, viewing the Klingons as an inferior species that should be allowed to perish. This ideological rigidity, taken to a catastrophic extreme, served as a dark mirror to the very principles of the Federation and the logic she was trained to uphold.

Behind the Pointed Ears: Cattrall’s Unique Experience on the Set

Cattrall’s experience filming Star Trek VI was marked by several unique challenges and creative decisions that she personally influenced.

Almost Turning Down the Role

In a surprising revelation, Kim Cattrall initially almost rejected the role of Valeris. She felt she was "beyond doing those kinds of roles" and was hesitant to take on another science fiction part after previous experiences. It was a phone call with director Nicholas Meyer and a subsequent conversation with Leonard Nimoy (Spock) that convinced her to take the part, appealing to her creative side by allowing her input into the character's development.

Designing Her Own Vulcan Look

Unlike many actors who simply step into a pre-designed costume, Cattrall was given significant creative control over Valeris's appearance. She worked with the production team to shape the character's voice, her sleek, severe hairstyle, and even her costume.

  • The Uniform Complaint: Cattrall expressed dissatisfaction with the standard Starfleet uniform trousers she was initially given. She reportedly requested a skirt uniform, similar to the one worn by Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) in the original series, but was told that the skirt uniform was being phased out. She eventually settled on an alternative, more tailored uniform that fit her vision for the character’s serious, professional demeanor.
  • The Pointed Ears: The process of wearing the Vulcan ears and prosthetics was a new experience. She had to learn how to move and speak with the ears, which added another layer to portraying the stoic Vulcan demeanor.

Working alongside the legendary Original Series cast, including William Shatner (Captain Kirk), DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy), and James Doohan (Scotty), provided Cattrall with a masterclass in cinematic history. Her interactions with Leonard Nimoy, in particular, were key to shaping the Valeris-Spock dynamic, a relationship that provided the film with its emotional core.

Fresh Legacy: Valeris’s Unexpected Return in Modern Star Trek Media

Despite Valeris’s one-time appearance and final disgrace in the film, the character continues to resonate with the *Star Trek* fandom, leading to a surprising revival in modern franchise media, proving her enduring status as a complex Starfleet figure.

The Action Figure and Collectibles

In a clear sign of the character's lasting appeal, Lieutenant Valeris has been officially immortalized with a new, high-quality action figure. This collectible, featuring Kim Cattrall's likeness in her movie-era Starfleet uniform, was released as part of a line dedicated to deep-cut characters from the franchise. The creation of this figure, decades after the film's release, highlights that Valeris is far from a "forgotten" character, but rather a fan-favorite villain whose merchandise is highly sought after by collectors.

Feature in New Star Trek Literature

Adding to her renewed topical authority, Lieutenant Valeris is also featured in new *Star Trek* novels, expanding her story and exploring her life before and potentially after the events of The Undiscovered Country. These literary extensions allow writers to delve into the psychological and ideological motivations of the disgraced Vulcan, providing a richer context for her monumental betrayal. This ongoing narrative expansion keeps the character of Valeris and, by extension, Kim Cattrall’s performance, relevant to the current generation of *Star Trek* enthusiasts.

The continuous exploration of Valeris's character in books and the release of new collectibles confirm her place in the top tier of *Star Trek* antagonists. Her story serves as a powerful cautionary tale within the Federation, illustrating that even the most logical and promising officers are susceptible to political extremism and personal ambition. Kim Cattrall's performance ensured that Lieutenant Valeris remains a dark, intellectual counterpoint to the guiding principles of the beloved Original Series crew.

kim cattrall star trek
kim cattrall star trek

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