Ethan Peck discusses the terror he felt after auditioning for the role of Spock in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Ethan Peck plays Spock in STAR TREK: STRANCE NEW WORLDS
JUNE 9, 2022 - Ethan Peck is the latest actor to embody the iconic character of Spock, first brought to life, of course, by Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek: The Original Series and subsequent productions. Peck wasn’t comfortable with the idea even after getting the role – in fact he was “terrified” – and he has been searching for his inner Vulcan ever since. In an interview with Variety, Peck delves into the story going on between his ears – both the human and Vulcan sets.
Peck first appeared as Spock during the second season of Star Trek: Discovery. As often happens, he didn’t know what role he was auditioning for going in. “I assumed it was something small. By the time I learned what the role was after two auditions, I was quite frankly terrified. I was terrified of the audition, but also of the need to live up to this mythical icon, as Spock has become…. After getting the part, I was still terrified. I felt unworthy of it. I felt I had so much personal growth to undergo in order to fulfill the needs of this character. Spock is such a vast-minded person—he’s otherworldly, hyper-intelligent, and has great integrity. I’m constantly working to live up to him.”
While he is now feeling more capable of meeting the demands of the character, Peck says Spock has driven him in unexpected directions. “I'm still trying to grab the Vulcanism in myself. I felt that I was called to undergo profound evolution to serve the needs of this character, because he’s just so extraordinary. I've been pushed to develop in ways that maybe I wouldn't have if I hadn't been cast in this role.”
He went on to talk about other aspects of his experience with the Star Trek universe, so for a lot more from Ethan Peck about himself and his relationship with his inner (and outer) Vulcan, including fandom, his famous grandfather, and the Great Filter, head over to Variety.
You can check out Ethan Peck as Spock in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, streaming now on Paramount+.
David is a contributing writer for Daily Star Trek News on the Roddenberry Podcast Network. He is a librarian, baseball fan, and book and movie buff. He has also written for American Libraries and Skeptical Inquirer. David also enjoys diverse music, but leans toward classical and jazz. He plays a mean radio.
