Voice actor Julianne Grossman on giving the ship’s computer a voice in Star Trek: Discovery

The U.S.S. Discovery’s compute

DECEMBER 9, 2020 - Julianne Grossman may not be a familiar face on Star Trek: Discovery, but her voice certainly is. Grossman lends her talent to the series as the voice of the computer on board the U.S.S. Discovery. Her new, in-depth interview with Star Trek Magazine, part of which was shared on StarTrek.com, shed some light on what it’s like for her to be the voice of the ship’s computer, a role once held by the late Majel Barrett-Roddenberry.

Joining the cast of Discovery seemed to come naturally to the talented voiceover artist. Admitting she wasn’t a fan of Star Trek, Grossman said that she had no idea what she was auditioning for. “I get hired to do a lot of Siri voiceovers, Alexa voiceovers, and a lot of automated AI robotic voiceovers,” Grossman shared, adding, “It’s a speciality of mine, which harkens back to the days I did voicemail system prompts.” Citing that experience as an influence, it seems no wonder that Grossman landed the role as the voice of the ship’s computer.

Grossman’s role on Discovery isn’t your typical acting role for a live-action series.

“Remember that I come in during post-production,” Grossman said in the interview. “Everything’s been filmed, and then they add me [...] I get to see a couple seconds [of the scene] prior to my voiceover and a couple seconds after.” Settled on a soundstage with a “feature-film-sized screen” in front of her, Grossman said she doesn’t actually see her lines until the recording process begins. After timing the pace of the line to fit the scene, Grossman records each line twice. In one take, she will read the line with a tone that sounds “robotic and automated”. In the second take, she uses a voice that is “more ethereal, detached, and calm,” giving producers the option to choose whichever reading best fits their concept for the scene.

For many years, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was the voice of the ship’s computer. According to the interview, producers considered editing Barrett’s voice from prior Star Trek episodes into Discovery, but ultimately decided to hire a new actor for the part. “What an honor to carry on the mantle of Majel Barrett,” Grossman said, “and what an honor to have been chosen to move this show in a new direction.”

Pick up the latest issue of Star Trek Magazine to read the full interview, and be sure to listen out for Grossman’s voice in Star Trek: Discovery, streaming now on CBS All Access.