Celia Rose Gooding is opening up about taking on the iconic role of Nyota Uhura, originally played by the late Nichelle Nichols, for the hit Paramount+ series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
While speaking to TV Insider in September 2025, Gooding referenced that the Star Trek: SNW cast is currently filming the show’s fifth and final season. When asked if Gooding is prepared to bid Uhura goodbye, the 25-year-old replied, “I’ve given myself permission to never say goodbye to this character.”
“I don’t want to. I don’t have to, so I won’t. She is a part of me. I talk to myself to her, she talks back to me. I feel a little crazy, but every actor is,” said Gooding while speaking to the publication. “We have to compartmentalize ourselves and chop our personalities up into a bunch of tiny pieces and dedicate what works to a character and then abandon what doesn’t even if it is a very real part of you. And Uhura is, she reminds me of so many people, so many women, so many Black women that I know, and she reminds me so much of myself when I was younger.”
In addition, Gooding said the communications officer has been a source of inspiration.
“And also she inspires me to continue to take risks into becoming the person that I want to be. I have no interest in saying goodbye to this character because it would feel like saying goodbye to a piece of myself, and I don’t want to do that. [Laughs],” continued Gooding.
Celia Rose Gooding Spoke About a Potential ‘Star Trek: SNW’ Spinoff
During the TV Insider interview, Gooding referenced that a potential Star Trek: SNW spinoff, focusing on James T. Kirk’s (Paul Wesley) first year as the USS Enterprise captain, titled Star Trek: Year One, might someday be on the table. As fans are aware, Star Trek: SNW is a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, wherein Kirk, played by William Shatner, has been helming the Enterprise for quite some time.
While speaking to the publication, Gooding suggested that starring in a Kirk-focused spinoff would be of interest.
“I’ll do Star Trek until somebody fires me, and even then they may have to hire a team of very strong people to peel me off of the CBS Studio floor,” quipped Gooding in the interview.
In addition, Gooding shared her hopes for Uhura in a possible spinoff.
“I think if I were to be so bold as to wish for anything, I think I would want her to explore her creative side. We’ve seen her as an intellectual. We’ve seen her as an academic,” said Gooding to the publication. “We’ve seen her as a linguist. I would love to see her as more of an artist because she is very artistic and very creative. She just hasn’t had the opportunity yet to really delve into that or show that off. And I would love for her to just relax. She’s overdue for a vacation, for sure. [Laughs].”
The co-creator of Star Trek: SNW,Akiva Goldsman, let TrekMovie.com know that he wasn’t sure if Year One would ever come to fruition in September 2025. He referenced that Paramount Global recently merged with Skydance Media.
“I think that—as I say, we’re renters, right?—and so the new owners of the house just took possession. So I don’t know. I think Year One’s a dream. And it’s a good dream, and it’s a real dream,” said Goldsman to the publication. “And we would do it in a heartbeat. And right now, we know we promise to end Strange New Worlds well, so that’s what we’re doing. And if, for some reason, that dream is shared by the folks at Skydance and Paramount, that would be amazing. But we’re not relying on it.”
He also assured fans that they’ll feel satisfied with the end of Star Trek: SNW.
“We’re ending the show because we promise to end the show in a way that is complete,” said Goldsman.
Celia Rose Gooding Spoke About Fans’ Response to Uhura in ‘Star Trek: SNW’
In an August 2025 interview with CBS Mornings, Gooding expressed gratitude towards Star Trek fans for being receptive to Star Trek: SNW‘s version of Uhura.
“I think Trekkies are some of the most devoted fans, I think, in fandom history. And so to be embraced with open arms, reprising an iconic character, they’ve been so generous and so kind to me and so receptive of my take on her. And so I’ve been having a great time,” said Gooding, who began playing Uhura during the show’s first season, which premiered in 2022.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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