I’m going to guess that Donald Trump is not a Trekkie. They're a distinctly goodhearted group of people and, in many cases, they are people who have experienced some type of isolation or disadvantage. But the Star Trek fans are a particular group. So, people have often said to me on the street, "Your film is great," and I don't know what they mean. Sometimes, and sometimes people think that you are someone who has only done one thing, the thing that they like. When people recognize you on the street, do they want to talk about your plays, your political writings, or is it usually Clueless, Star Trek, Toy Story and The Princess Bride? The play was quite successful and I was, you might say, discovered by Juliet Taylor. So, when I was offered a part in the play, despite the fact that I was not an actor, I said sure. It was clear they couldn't support me even in immodest living, much less a bourgeois living. A friend put me in a play and I kept at it because I’d not found a way to support myself, because my plays were odd. There was never a time when I thought I would be an actor. But I’ve been a writer for 50 years and continue to write. Most people have never heard of it and, if they have, they aren't particularly attracted to it. I began in my 20s as a writer, and at least in my own personal belief, I still am, even though only a small cult of people appreciate my writing. When you started out, what did you aspire to? Each episode that I was in I had something fascinating to do. There were no throwaway episodes for me, where I was just there, which sometimes can happen on television. I knew they were taking my character seriously and giving me great, wonderful stuff to do in every episode. I knew that the writers were taking particular enjoyment out of my character when they presented me with a companion - a wonderful female Ferengi. That was amazing. So, keep on doing it.” That was fortunate because I really wouldn't have known what to do.Ĭonsidering that your seven episodes were spread over seven seasons, the Grand Nagus really had a full arc, even initiating reforms. I told the director, “Wow, a guy from upstairs told me this and I don't know what to do now.” He said, “No, I love what you're doing. I really never had seen a complete episode of the show. Well, I wasn't an expert on the show because, as I said, I don't have a TV and I never did have one. I was not it wasn't appropriate for the show. I’m not quoting him exactly because I don't remember his exact words, but in effect he was saying I was being too funny or I was clowning. I also remember that, maybe even on the first day, an executive from upstairs - I don't know what sort of executive he even was - came down and took me aside and said, "Now, you do understand, this is a serious program? Star Trek is not a comedy." And the makeup, going through that the first time, that was an unforgettable moment. The writers invented the character and, basically, I had all of three seconds to figure out how to interpret him based on the script. The fake death was an amazing plot twist. The first episode was the one where the character was invented. Was there an episode, a scene, you were most satisfied with? So, the reality seemed in some ways less real than the made-up versions. Max and Armin, most of our relationship was Ferengi to Ferengi, really, with only these strange glimpses of each other out of makeup. But mostly I knew these people as Ferengi, really. I guess, ultimately, I saw Max out of makeup, too. Armin, I've seen subsequently and I did fairly soon, I think, see him out of makeup. I don't know if I ever saw Tiny Ron outside of the makeup. How did you enjoy working with your fellow Ferengi, Armin Shimerman, Max Grodenchik, Tiny Ron, Cecily Adams and Aron Eisenberg? I think that that was just the choice of the writers and producers, and it worked out very nicely. Was that your decision to only do it once a year because of the makeup? Did they want you more often? Or was it their idea to have you on once a year? And if you had to scratch your forehead, you couldn't. But to be trapped inside that head for at least 12 hours, not counting three hours to put the makeup on and an hour to take it off, was a little bit disturbing and uncomfortable and exhausting. Once a year, which is what I did, was basically perfect for me. But it was physically very, very arduous, and I couldn't have done it on a regular basis. I felt completely free, so it was a joyful experience. To be in that world and to be in that makeup really liberated me in a way that I never experienced before - or since. The character was such a Ferengi, cunning and funny, but also wise.
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