Star Trek: Discovery’s Ethan Peck would love to play Spock again, no surprise there

Ethan Peck as Spock in Star Trek: Discovery

What would it be like to play one of the most iconic characters in science fiction? One person who can answer that is Ethan Peck. The site Ars Technica picked Peck’s brain about what it was like to play Mr. Spock in Star Trek: Discovery. That was ten years ahead of the Kirk/Spock/McCoy days, and decades after the role was played by Zachary Quinto in the Kelvin Timeline and - of course - Leonard Nimoy in both the Kelvin and Prime timelines.

To say Peck was nervous might be an understatement. He told Ars Technica: “I had to overcome a lot of self-doubt…I wasn't sure I was ready to take on that much responsibility. I knew it could change my life dramatically. On the one hand, I'd dreamed of something like this. On the other, when you get your dreams, that's when the real work begins, and you have to figure out what you're made of.”

Who helped him through the nerves? That would be Spock himself. Peck said: “I realized Spock would never think this way…With Spock I learned the importance of honing your own programming. There was a culling of thoughts that were bad for my preparation for the role. That really came from always thinking, 'what would Spock do?' As an actor, you have to weasel your way into minds that are not your own.”

Weasel your way in, though, and there’s a lot to act with. According to Peck: “What makes Spock so compelling is the perpetual conflict within him…The conflict between logic and emotion, between Vulcan and human. I always saw in Nimoy's eyes a depth of understanding of the emotion around him and an empathy with those around him. That wasn't always communicated verbally. But you see it in the time he takes to consider moments or situations. That, I think, expresses his humanity very well.”

As for playing the part again, Peck predictably told Ars Technica that he “would love to continue playing this character and being a part of this world,” saying of Star Trek, “It celebrates what makes us special as human beings, illuminates what makes us great.”