During Star Trek: Discovery‘s New York Comic Con panel, moderator Mae Jemison (yes, the astronaut) asked Sonequa Martin-Green about meeting Nichelle Nichols during the show’s premiere, and fans were treated to a teary reminiscence.
Obviously the meeting of Discovery‘s leading actor and one of the First Ladies of Sci-fi was widely reported on as the show launched. But when Jemison asked if Nichols had any specific words for Martin-Green in passing down the Trek legacy, there was more to tell:
“She said, ‘Enjoy this moment — this is yours now.'” As the audience collectively cooed, Martin-Green admitted that her reply was,”Nichelle, you gonna make me cry on this carpet.”
Praising Nichols as “a queen,” Martin-Green was full of fondness for her predecessor as well as her former captain, Michelle Yeoh, who surprised the panel halfway through and joined them on stage. Hearing all of these women talk about one another in such loving, supportive terms was one of the highlights of an incredibly charming, and informative panel.