Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Zoë Steiner On Following In Deanna Troi’s Footsteps As Betazoid

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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 2 – “Beta Test”

Zoë Steiner, who plays a Betazoid character in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, talks about being inspired by Marina Sirtis’s role as Counselor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy debuted on Paramount+ with two episodes and has received a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In season one, episode two of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, titled “Beta Test,” we meet Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal, the daughter of the President of Betazed (played by Anthony Natale). Tarima’s calm demeanor catches the attention of Caleb Mir, a mischievous cadet known as the Academy’s “chaos boy.” However, Tarima, who is Betazoid, is also struggling with challenges related to her psychic abilities.

Liam Crowley from ScreenRant spoke with Zoë Steiner and her co-stars, Karim Diané and Bella Shepard, at a press event for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Steiner discussed the significance of playing the first main Betazoid character in the Star Trek universe since Marina Sirtis’s role as Counselor Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Here’s what Zoë had to say:

Liam Crowley asked Zoe, as the first Betazoid lead character since Counselor Troi on The Next Generation, how it felt to take on the role. He also wondered if she had revisited TNG for inspiration while developing her character.

Absolutely. It’s a real honor, and I’m thrilled to be part of this. I definitely rewatched The Next Generation, paying close attention to Marina Sirtis’s portrayal of Deanna Troi. It felt important to understand the established lore – what a Betazoid is, their abilities, and how they behave. However, I also wanted the freedom to create my own interpretation of the character and bring my own personality to Tarima.

I just watched a really cool interview on ScreenRant with Zoë Steiner, Karim Diané, and Bella Shepard, the stars of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy! You can check it out below – it’s a fun look at what they’ve been up to.

Marina Sirtis, as Counselor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation, first introduced the Betazoid race. Betazoids look just like humans, but they have psychic abilities and can sense others’ emotions. However, after TNG, Betazoids became uncommon in Star Trek because the writers found it difficult to consistently define the extent of Troi’s powers. It wasn’t until Star Trek: Starfleet Academy that another main character of Betazoid descent appeared.

The second episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy showed that Tarima Sadal uses a device to control her powerful Betazoid abilities. She experiences emotions much more intensely than other Betazoids, and without the inhibitor, she could unintentionally harm others. Though Caleb Mir wasn’t deterred by her confession, it suggests a difficult past for Sadal. This element of dangerous, uncontrollable powers adds a dynamic similar to the X-Men to the series.

The developing relationship between Tarima Sadal and Caleb Mir mirrors the romance between Deanna Troi and Will Riker from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Like Tarima and Caleb, Deanna and Will first met as young cadets, but their early relationship ended when Will prioritized his career. After many years working together on the USS Enterprise-D and E, they eventually married and started a family.

Tarima and Caleb face some challenges if they hope to become a couple on Star Trek. Tarima’s decision to attend the War College rather than Starfleet Academy could make things difficult for their potential relationship.

Tarima Sadal, a character in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, offers a fresh and interesting take on Betazoids, expanding on the foundation established by Marina Sirtis’ portrayal of Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

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2026-01-18 13:28