La’an Noonien-Singh, Chief of Security aboard the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, has a complicated history. She is a descendant of Khan Noonien Singh, after all, and suffered a traumatic childhood. Christina Chong, who plays La’an, can relate. She brings her own history to her character, which she almost decided not to portray. Chong spoke with Los Angeles Confidential about her journey to La’an and beyond.

While she almost didn’t take the role of La’an, Christina Chong eventually discovered during auditions, and during a scene involving La’an and Una (Number One) in particular, that “… cheesy to say, but it’s true. It felt like the role was meant for me…. I instantly connect[ed] to La’an’s feelings of shame with regards to her being a descendant of Khan. Being bullied as a child for being Chinese meant I too felt a similar sense of shame. I don’t now, of course, but those vivid childhood memories are a part of what makes me who I am today.”

Chong says she enjoys working with the subtleties of La’an’s multifaceted personality and loves the variety and the magic of working on Strange New Worlds. “I also personally enjoy pitching the wackiest ideas to the writers (or anyone who’ll listen) in between takes.”

Chong also wants her character to be accessible to fans who can also relate to La’an’s backstory.

“La’an’s journey throughout this season is the overcoming of her childhood trauma. I think we all have some form of that, and it’s all relative and unique to each individual. My hope is that by infusing my own personal trauma into La’an, and making her a survivor as opposed to a victim, it might inspire people who have walked a similar path, making them feel seen and understood.”

Chong had more to say about her Star Trek journey and about other aspects of her life inside and outside of Trek. Head over to Los Angeles Confidential for the full interview – and to see what a security chief can bring to a fashion shoot.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is streaming now on Paramount+.