Star Trek: Voyager’s Kate Mulgrew is optimistic about Prodigy at Captain Janeway statue unveiling

The Captain Janeway monument in situ in Bloomington, Indiana. Image The Captain Janeway Statue

OCTOBER 26, 2020 - Over the weekend, a new statue commemorating the character of Captain Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager was unveiled in her hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. And as a special guest, Janeway actor Kate Mulgrew was on hand - virtually - to say a few words about Voyager’s (and now Star Trek: Prodigy’s) captain.

The event was streamed live on Facebook by The Captain Janeway Bloomington Collective, and our sister podcast, Women at Warp, covered it on their blog. Appearing remotely, Mulgrew discussed Janeway’s legacy as a role model.

Speaking about her feelings on having a statue erected with her likeness, she told those watching the dedication, “It is a great privilege to have played [Janeway] and to know of her great resonance in the world today.”

Peter Kaczmarczyk of The Captain Janeway Bloomington Collective, the group behind the new statue, said, “I love my Trek but Captain Janeway is so much more than just a great character among the Trek pantheon. [...] We have our share of Trek nerds but we have a lot more people who respect and honor who Captain Janeway is and what she represents.”

Kaczmarczyk continued, “From the very beginning we stressed that this wasn’t just about a Star Trek character, it was about Captain Janeway the role model, the inspiration, the leader who young girls and women could, and still can, look up to.”

Mulgrew told the small crowd that she was moved by hearing the speakers at the unveiling, and expressed optimism that she will continue Janeway’s legacy in the upcoming Nickelodeon animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. She said, “To realize that Janeway has had such an important role in your lives, and I think, in cultural history, is not only terribly affecting to me, but makes me want to go forth in a new way, and I am doing that, I think, with Prodigy.”

If you happen to be in Bloomington, Indiana, you can see the new Janeway statue in person on the B-line trail next to the WonderLab Science Museum. You can watch the entire unveiling ceremony on Facebook, at facebook.com/janewaystatue, or check out the website for more information at janewaycollective.org.