Seven of Nine: Tension and secrets on set of Star Trek
They may have hired Jeri Ryan for her beauty, but Seven of Nine turned out to be one of the best characters in the entire Star Trek franchise.
They may have hired Jeri Ryan for her beauty, but Seven of Nine turned out to be one of the best characters in the entire Star Trek franchise.
Seeing her stroll around Voyager in her bodysuits was pretty captivating, and her character was super intriguing as well.
But guess what? She actually had a secret rival while filming!
The game behind Jeri Ryan’s success
When Jeri Ryan joined the cast of Star Trek: Voyager in 1997, the show was in trouble. The ratings were dropping, and the pressure was on for the producers to find a way to save it. That’s when they introduced Seven of Nine.
She was a former Borg drone who had been cut off from the Collective. Her character combined a cool, robotic demeanor with hints of her lost humanity, making her an intriguing mystery.
When she first appeared in season four, the impact was instant. The ratings shot up by an incredible 60%. The network took a risk by bringing her on, hoping her captivating presence would attract more viewers, and it definitely paid off.
What they probably didn’t expect was just how amazing she really was. She wasn’t just a stunning figure in a tight uniform; she was an actress with incredible depth. Instead of merely playing the character Seven, she truly became her, revealing layers of vulnerability beneath her tough exterior.
One episode really stands out—where Seven, overwhelmed by a mix of personalities, quickly switches from one identity to another. It was such an impressive performance that it deserved an award, showcasing her talent beyond the sci-fi setting of the show.
They brought her on board to rescue Voyager, but what they received was something even more extraordinary.
Why she turned down the role four times
Jeri Ryan, originally named Jeri Lynn Zimmermann, was born on February 22, 1968, in Munich, West Germany. After finishing college, she moved to Los Angeles to chase her dream of becoming an actress.
In 1997, she was not very well-known when the creators of Star Trek: Voyager wanted her for the character Seven of Nine. Surprisingly, she turned down the offer four times!
So, what was her reason for hesitating? In a January 2020 interview, Jeri Ryan shared that when the producers first contacted her about Star Trek: Voyager, she had never watched the show. Out of curiosity, she decided to check out an episode but ended up regretting it. She called it “the worst hour of television” she had ever experienced.
“They gave me a copy of First Contact, the movie, so I could understand what a Borg was. They also provided me with a big Star Trek encyclopedia to help me learn more about the series,” Ryan said.
Eventually, after a lot of convincing from executive producer Jeri Taylor, she agreed to take on the famous role of Seven of Nine, a Borg who was liberated from the Borg’s collective mind.
The fight the camera didn’t catch
Jeri Ryan could sense it even before the cameras started rolling — a tight knot of anxiety in her stomach just thinking about acting alongside her co-star, Kate Mulgrew. It wasn’t just nerves or stage fright; it was something deeper, an unspoken tension that seemed to fill the air whenever they were on set together.
The rest of the Voyager cast had picked up on it too. The tension between them wasn’t just gossip; it was real and had been unresolved for years. Ryan, the new addition to the cast, had stepped into the spotlight as Seven of Nine, a striking character who used to be a Borg drone. Mulgrew, the experienced lead, had spent years developing Captain Janeway into a strong, independent leader, resisting any attempts to turn her character into a romantic interest. Suddenly, all the attention was on Seven.
For Mulgrew, it wasn’t about personal feelings — at least not at the beginning. She wanted Star Trek to focus on intelligence, leadership, and exploration rather than romance. However, the network had different ideas. They introduced Ryan, a beautiful character who brought a more sexualized element to the show, hoping to boost the ratings. And it worked.
The tension between them continued for years, like a quiet storm brewing underneath. Ryan focused on her performances, while Mulgrew struggled with her own frustrations.
Jeri Ryan and Kate Mulgrew at the 14th annual official Star Trek convention in Las Vegas / Getty Images
In time, though, something changed. Mulgrew, with the wisdom of hindsight, saw the bigger picture. She later admitted her resentment, acknowledged how difficult she had made things for Ryan, and owned her part in their troubled dynamic.
And then, she did something unexpected — she apologized.
“You really did an amazing job in such a tough role,” she said to Ryan. That was all behind them now. The awkwardness, the icy stares, and the things left unsaid were all in the past.
Since then, they’ve been on stage together at Star Trek conventions, sharing laughs, remembering old times, and showing that even the biggest disagreements can be fixed. When you look at photos from today, it’s hard to imagine that these two didn’t get along while filming.
She burned her own catsuit
Seven of Nine’s famous catsuit looked super cool and high-tech on TV, but in reality, it was a total struggle. The corset was so tight that Jeri Ryan found it hard to breathe while wearing it. Between scenes, she often had to lie down just to catch her breath before going back in front of the camera.
The skintight, one-piece suit was tricky because Jeri couldn’t put it on or take it off by herself. Since there was no zipper, the costume team had to sew her into it every time she wore it, and getting out of it was a big hassle.
Even something as simple as going to the bathroom became a long process, making her hold it for a long time to avoid slowing down filming. A quick bathroom break could take up to 20 minutes, which led to her own special code: “Code Jeri-Twenty.”
As time went on, Jeri’s annoyance with the outfit grew, and by the end of Voyager, she was ready to say goodbye to it forever. Without thinking twice, she burned the costume, ensuring she would never have to squeeze into it again.
The invisible Wall of Shame
On the set of Star Trek: Voyager, where the excitement of sci-fi mixes with the silliness of pretending, the actors often practiced a unique skill called “force field acting.” This meant they had to throw themselves against what looked like an invisible wall and make it seem real.
Take a look at a memorable scene from The Gift, one of the early episodes with Seven of Nine. The actor had to dramatically leap at the brig’s force field, acting like a Starfleet officer facing a huge threat. But here’s the catch: there was no actual force field. No glowing energy barrier. No pushback. Just the empty air of the soundstage.
Ryan once shared that a lot of their acting involved pretending to interact with nothing, since many scenes were filmed in front of green or blue screens. This meant they had to react to things that weren’t really there.
The outcome? An incredibly awkward show where the actors launched themselves forward, only to freeze in mid-air, arms waving around, faces twisted in fake agony — while the crew behind the camera struggled (and sometimes failed) to hold back their laughter.
“Force field acting” soon turned into a funny inside joke. It wasn’t just about making it look real — it was about keeping a serious face while knowing you looked totally silly.
But that’s what makes sci-fi so cool. One moment, you’re fighting off aliens. The next, you’re diving at thin air, just hoping the CGI team can make it look good.
What did Seven of Nine stand for in Voyager?
Jeri Ryan has a lot to share about the character she came to adore.
Seven of Nine wasn’t just another member of the crew; she was a game changer. Before she joined, Voyager had found a nice routine. The tension between Starfleet and the Maquis had eased, and there was hardly any conflict among the crew. They all got along too well, maybe.
Then Seven arrived. As a former Borg drone, she had been cut off from the collective and was learning to be an individual for the first time. She wasn’t just another crew member; she was a challenge and a disruptor. Ryan felt this was exactly what the show needed.
Looking back, Ryan has thought about why her character was so significant, not only for the series but also for the entire Star Trek franchise.
“Humanity was one of the things Seven helped them explore,” she said. “She introduced conflict to the show, which was something it really needed. Once the Maquis made peace with Janeway and the others, it turned into one big happy family.”
But it wasn’t just the conflict that made her character so interesting. Seven of Nine represented a classic Star Trek theme: the outsider who makes humanity reflect on itself. Similar to Spock, Data, or Odo, Seven offered a unique perspective that allowed the series to dive into important questions about identity, morality, and free will.
Why Seven of Nine wore high heels
Have you ever thought about why Seven of Nine walked around on Voyager wearing high heels? Fans have been discussing how practical it is for a long time, but Jeri Ryan has a straightforward explanation: all the female characters wore heels!
She said, “All the female characters wore boots with heels. And if you’re going to be in a body stocking, I want to see you in flats—it’s just not going to happen!”
The choice of heels wasn’t really about the character but more about the design to make her look tall and sleek.
So, even though high heels might not have been the best choice for a former Borg drone, they definitely created a memorable appearance.
The hidden challenge of playing Seven of Nine
Jeri Ryan faced a lot of challenges while filming Star Trek: Voyager, and one of the toughest was her costume. However, there was another challenge that might not be obvious when you watch the show, but it becomes pretty funny when you see behind-the-scenes pictures.
It was all about keeping a straight face.
Ryan once shared that the two biggest difficulties with her character, Seven of Nine, were maintaining a serious expression and dealing with her co-stars, who were always up to some crazy antics.
Even though Seven had that Borg precision and serious look, she was still human. She had feelings just like everyone else, but she found it hard to show them. In fact, she was scared to express any emotions. Everything she felt was carefully hidden behind a calm exterior.
Ryan explained, “There’s a fine line between being unemotional and showing too much.” She found that challenge really enjoyable as an actress.
But while she was trying to keep it together, she was surrounded by a bunch of jokesters. While Seven delivered her lines with her usual seriousness, there was often a lot of chaos happening just out of sight. So, keeping a straight face during all that? Definitely not an easy task.
Ryan has often said that playing Seven was one of the best experiences of her acting career, even though it was tough. “This character was truly a gift for me as an actor,” she explained. “For Seven, everything was fresh and exciting.”
For many fans, Seven of Nine is one of the most interesting and loved characters from Voyager. For Ryan, playing her was both a fun challenge and a source of joy—whether she was fighting the Borg or trying not to laugh during filming.
Now we can appreciate Jeri Ryan’s amazing performance in Star Trek: Voyager! Her role as Seven of Nine added depth, strength, and a bit of vulnerability to the show, making her one of the most memorable characters in Star Trek history.
The AI Illusion of Seven
So, you probably clicked on this article because of that eye-catching picture, right? No worries—everyone loves a cool image. But here’s the surprise: that picture isn’t real.
Yep! What you see is created by AI, a digital trick made by computer programs instead of movie magic. If you look closely, you might notice some things seem a little off, like the uniform that looks almost right but not quite.
The details don’t really match the cool Starfleet designs we remember from Voyager. It could be the material, the way it fits, or maybe it just looks more like Star Trek: Alternate Reality Edition than what we actually saw on the show.
It’s almost like poetry. Seven of Nine — a character who struggles with being human and her robotic side — is now being reimagined by an AI that’s trying hard to copy reality. It’s like the Borg meets Photoshop, and honestly? That’s pretty funny.
What do you think? Do you have a favorite moment with Seven of Nine? Share your thoughts and let’s start a discussion! And if you liked this, feel free to share it with other Star Trek fans!