Today in Star Trek history: Tawny Newsome’s birthday!

Pictured: Tawny Newsome as Ensign Mariner of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. ©2019 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

It was today, back in 1983 that Star Trek: Lower Decks actor Tawny Newsome was born. Newsome is known best to Star Trek fans as the voice of Ensign Beckett Mariner on Lower Decks, and she’s also one of the hosts of the official Star Trek podcast, Star Trek: The Pod Directive.

Before and beyond Star Trek, Newsome has had a varied career as an actor, comedian and podcaster. She recently starred in the Netflix comedy Space Force, she makes music with her band Four Lost Souls and with her creative partner Bethany Thomas, and she’s been the host of the hit podcast Yo, Is This Racist? Since 2018.

Please join me in wishing Tawny Newsome a very happy 38th birthday.