Rebecca Romjin Reflects on ‘Star Trek’ Legacy as Franchise Marks 60 Years

For Rebecca Romijn, "Star Trek" isn't just a job — it's a family tradition passed down and now passed forward. As the franchise marks six decades on screen, the actress says its optimistic vision of the future is what keeps new fans coming back.

Rebecca Romijn is reflecting on her journey within the "Star Trek" universe, which marks its 60th anniversary this year, first as a fan and now as a member of its current TV rendition, "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."

Rebecca Romijn attends the Italian Global Series Festival 2026 on July 8 in Riccione, Italy. | Source: Getty Images

Romijn plays Una "Number One" Chin-Reilly on the prequel series, a role first originated by "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's wife, Majel Barrett, in the rejected pilot for the original 1966 series.

"It just feels great to be part of a franchise that has had such a positive impact on the world, a franchise that has literally changed the world," she said. "The show has been around for roughly a quarter of the history of our nation."

"It's been embraced by so many generations, and my experience with it is generational," Romijn continued. "I was introduced to The Original Series by my mom when I was seven or eight. I've been able to share it with my own daughters."

Rebecca Romijn poses for a photo during a visit to Xochimilco canals aboard trajineras on April 24, 2026 in Xochimilco, Mexico. | Source: Getty Images

Indeed, the supermodel shares a passion for the franchise with her family, including husband Jerry O'Connell, who is also part of the "Trek" universe. O'Connell voiced a character on the animated series "Star Trek: Lower Decks."

The couple's 17-year-old twin daughters, Dolly and Charlie, are also devoted fans.

Romijn recently welcomed yet another convert into the fold, this time from the youngest branch of her family tree. "I just introduced my 5-year-old niece to Star Trek for the first time, and we've got a new Trekkie," she revealed.

"She's completely all in, completely enthralled," Romijn shared. "She can't wait to see more."

"And I think that the reason it endures so beautifully is it offers a version of the future, to a younger generation, that's not dark and scary, that's optimistic and beautiful and hopeful, and treats the unknown with open-mindedness. And I think that's why it's got such staying power."

Romijn also opened up about her experience filming the fourth season of "Strange New Worlds."

She singled out one unforgettable sequence in which she had to perform the late Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" entirely in Klingon — a language that, over the decades, has evolved into a fully formed vocabulary with its own devoted speakers.

"First of all, RIP the great Bonnie Tyler — the timing of that blindsided me," Romijn said, referencing the singer's passing this past July. The musical number, she admitted, "was a challenge [she] never knew [she] wanted."

She continued, "When they told me that I was going to have to learn Klingon to sing 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' I took it very seriously, because there are at least 20 people in this world who speak fluent Klingon."

Still, Romijn went into the scene with one distinct edge already working in her favor. "Oh, I know that song backwards and forwards and upside down in English, but not in Klingon," she laughed. "I think it was scripted with a different song.

"I can't even remember what it was. But the one we ended up with was 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' and it doesn't matter whatever the other one was," she said. "'Total Eclipse of the Heart' is the perfect karaoke song. It was so fun."