Warning: This Interview Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Episode 7 - "The Serene Squall"
By guest-starring in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode 7, Jesse James Keitel made history in a few ways. Keitel plays Captain Angel, who poses as a former Starfleet Counselor named Dr. Aspen and forms a connection to Spock (Ethan Peck).
The shocks keep coming when Angel reveals hijacks the USS Enterprise and reveals that they are married to Sybok, Spock's Vulcan half-brother. Keitel, who is a trans woman, also made history because both Dr. Aspen and Captain Angel are the first non-binary characters introduced in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Screen Rant had the pleasure of chatting with Jesse James Keitel about her challenging dual role as Dr. Aspen and Captain Angel, what it's like joining the Star Trek universe, and why Captain Angel is "fifty shades of chaos." Check out a clip of Dr. Aspen and Spock below, then read on for the full interview:
Screen Rant: What was it like for you to get the call that you’re joining the Star Trek franchise? Were you a fan already?
Jesse James Keitel: Oh, I was already a super fan. I'd fallen in love with sci-fi a long time ago and discovered Star Trek sometime in my teen years. Truly, to get to be a part of a project like this has always been a dream of mine since I started acting.
I want to talk about your costume as Captain Angel. Your amazing black skintight outfit. It seemed like Spock missed that something was up when you came out dressed like a supervillain.
Jesse James Keitel: Oh, he didn't miss it. He didn't miss it. Dr. Aspen changes into that outfit at kind of a surprising moment in the show, going to Spock's quarters. Why else would I be donning a mesh catsuit but to try to disarm Spock in a way I hadn't gotten to yet. I think it worked! [Laughs] I think Angel's secret supervillain plan there worked.
Can you talk about how you approached playing Captain Angel? You did such an interesting thing. You played Captain Angel, who’s also playing Dr. Aspen? How did you get into both characters?
Jesse James Keitel: It was difficult. It was a very rewarding challenge. Angel is definitely fifty shades of chaos. I tried my hardest to bring undertones of that throughout. I think for Dr. Aspen, that manifested in a slightly flirty, ever-so-slightly antagonistic approach. Even calling Pike [Anson Mount] a boy scout. There are little, tiny things throughout where, if you watch it again, this bitch is clearly a pirate. [Laughs] It was a pirate masquerading as a humanitarian.
Let's talk about your turn. When did find out? Was it when you read the script or were you told ahead of time, "there's something up with this character you're playing"?
Jesse James Keitel: I knew Dr. Aspen and Spock formed a genuine connection, but maybe Dr. Aspen's intentions weren't quite so pure. That's pretty much all I knew. So, when I got the script, there were so many jaw-dropping moments. I screamed reading that script.
How did you figure out that character? What was your 'in' to this pirate posing as a humanitarian?
Jesse James Keitel: Honestly, it's gonna sound so silly. There's this song. I don't normally do this for characters, but there's this song called "Bang" by Cobrah that I listened to on repeat. It's this very sexy, kind of dark beat. It's just so chaotic that I was like, "This song -- this is Angel."
For the part where Spock walks in on Dr. Aspen dancing, Sydney Freeland, the director, asked, "Is there any particular song you want to play while you're doing that?" I was like, "Yes. 100%. Play this." I actually got to jam out to that song on the Enterprise.
You have so many great scenes with Ethan Peck and Jess Bush. What’s it like working with them?
Jesse James Keitel: The way they welcomed me onto that set, I felt like I was truly part of the Star Trek family. It was so fun. I felt like I got to play two different characters with them. I got to play someone who was really sweet and getting to know them. I was welcomed onto the ship as a crew member. And then I got to turn it all around and really take control. [Angel] was the chaotic dom that we all wanna see in the world. [Laughs]
Do you have a favorite scene or moment in the episode?
Jesse James Keitel: It would probably be the turn. It was just such a supervillain moment that I've always dreamed of having. And getting to do it with two phasers was... [Laughs] I'm still beaming. I truly feel beamed up.
The final big reveal in the episode is that Dr. Angel is married to Sybok. That's a huge deal. You’re part of Spock’s family.
Jesse James Keitel: Yeah! I keep calling it these 'pinch me' moments but that shook me to my core. Not only do I get to be on Star Trek, not only do I get to play a badass villain, but I'm also deeply ingrained in the lore of this world. How cool! How special! There's only a handful of actors in the world that can get to do this, and I still can't believe I got to be one of them.
I rewatched Star Trek V after I saw the episode. I feel like there’s so much story potential for Angel and Sybok leading up to it. There’s like 28 years in between Strange New Worlds and the movie. Have you gotten any indication you get to explore that?
Jesse James Keitel: We'll see.
The way it leaves off, there's no way you're just gone and never coming back.
Jesse James Keitel: The beauty of it is Angel does get away. I think there is definitely plenty of story to tell.
Last question: What's the best part of being married to a Vulcan?
Jesse James Keitel: Oh, listen... [Laughs] Angel is hot for Vulcans. Who isn't? It's very cool. I'm not married to a Vulcan in real life, but I play someone on TV who is.
Check out our other interviews with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stars Gia Sandhu, Christina Chong, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, and Anson Mount.
New episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are available to stream Thursdays on Paramount+.