Mary Chieffo on Language, Legacy, and L'Rell's Evolution

Images: Paramount+ / CBS / NASA

In a recent discussion on the D-Con Chamber, Mary Chieffo, who portrays L'Rell in Star Trek: Discovery, shed light on the intricate portrayal of Klingons in the show's first two seasons. Her insights offer a deeper understanding of the linguistic and cultural nuances that the series explored, reflecting a commitment to authenticity and character depth.

Chieffo emphasized the unique challenge and excitement of speaking the Klingon language extensively on-screen, noting, "In the way we were speaking the [Klingon] language, because we were speaking it more than any Klingon had in the past, we were really diving into, also, an untouched version of the language." 

This linguistic immersion allowed the actors to bring a fresh perspective to the language, which had seen limited use in the Star Trek universe prior to Discovery.

She highlighted the timeline context, explaining, "Because at that point, timeline-wise, there was a moment in Enterprise, obviously - the pilot, right? [Where the Enterprise met Klingons.] But since then, the idea was that there had been no contact." 

This gap in contact provided a fertile ground for exploring a more traditional and isolated Klingon culture.

Chieffo's portrayal of L'Rell, a member of the House Mo'Kai, introduced viewers to a faction of Klingon society steeped in ancient traditions and secrecy. 

"I loved the idea, particularly with T’Kuvma, that they were kind of this ancient sect of Klingon houses, and that we were also kind of the outcasts," Chieffo explained. 

This outcast status added layers to L'Rell's character, presenting her as both a product of and a rebel within her society.

The revelation of L'Rell's heritage as a descendant of spies further enriched her narrative. Chieffo fondly recalled the moment her character revealed this background, saying, "For L'Rell, as is disclosed, I love a good expositional line, when I do start speaking English, I’ve captured Lorca, and I say, 'I’m descended from spies'. That’s why I know English really well." 

This detail not only justified L'Rell's fluency in English but also underscored the strategic and clandestine prowess of the House Mo'Kai.

Chieffo expressed admiration for the female-led House Mo'Kai, noting its unique position within the patriarchal Klingon society. "I love that House Mo'Kai, which is my mother’s side of the family, is a house of spies, is one of the few female-led Klingon houses, and I love that they were spies because, in a lot of ways, that was the way these women were able to function in this patriarchal Klingon society," she elaborated. 

This dynamic offered a compelling contrast to the utopian Federation, highlighting the diversity and complexity of cultures within the Star Trek universe.