Star Trek: Discovery’s David Ajala reveals how the Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry film Boomerang introduced him to Star Trek
Pictured (l-r) David Ajala as Book and Grudge of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: James Dimmock/CBS ©2019 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NOVEMBER 24, 2020 - Star Trek: Discovery’s Cleveland “Book” Booker has come and gone and come back again, and caused a bit of drama while he was at it. But how has newcomer David Ajala adapted to his new role? StarTrek.com published an interview with the British actor this week, to talk about how he came to Star Trek, what it’s really like acting with a cat, and how fans have treated him since his series debut.
Ajala recounted how his first experience of Star Trek was through the eyes of a pair of other fictional characters, in the 1992 film Boomerang. “There’s a scene where Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry are watching Star Trek,” he said, “and they’re both talking about their love for Star Trek. [...] I remember watching it and then seeing bits of Star Trek which were featured in the film. And then cut to a few years later, seeing it on TV, just in the background, being aware of it but not really paying attention to it.”
It wasn’t until years later, while working with Sir Patrick Stewart at the Royal Shakespeare Company, that Ajala started watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. So what about Discovery? Was it a long, arduous audition process? Not quite. According to Ajala, Discovery contacted him about the role, and he thought to himself, “I have to say yes to this. [...] If I don’t, I’m going to feel it.”
Turns out, he ended up “feeling it” anyway. While acting across from a feline co-star has had its advantages, it can get physical. When asked what working with Grudge the cat has been like, he said, “No one day is alike. Constantly kept on your toes, which is fun.” Ajala went on to explain that Grudge (played by brothers Leeu and Durban) has scratched him before, badly enough that he needed medical attention. But, he said, “My heart has been opened and I still love my on-screen co-star Leeu the cat.”
As for his reception by Star Trek fans, Ajala said they’ve “just been really kind.” “It’s wonderful to see how they responded to this new season and the development of the characters. It’s very, very humbling.” Oh, yeah, and he’s seen your fan art, too: “The fan art that I’ve received has been really, really cool,” he said. “And I’ve taken photos of as many of the pieces as I could and I’ve kept them in my phone, because I’m mushy like that.”
The rest of the StarTrek.com interview has some great (but spoilery) insights into Ajala’s character Book, so it’s worth checking out if you’re into that sort of thing. And you can catch up with him getting in on the action in the latest episode of Star Trek: Discovery, now streaming on CBS All Access.
