Yetide Badaki Discusses Her 'Strange New Worlds' Role and Her "deep, deep, abiding love" Of 'Star Trek'

Yetide Badaki as Neera in STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS’ “Ad Astra per Aspera.” Image: Michael Gibson/Paramount+.

JUNE 26, 2023 - Yetide Badaki, known for her role as attorney Neera Ketoul in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 episode 2, "Ad Astra per Aspera," recently sat down for an interview with The Beat to discuss her involvement in the episode, her personal history with Star Trek, and the characters that inspired her performance as Ketoul. Badaki, who was thrilled to be part of the Star Trek universe, shared her excitement and passion for the show.

Badaki revealed that she was offered the role of Neera Ketoul by casting directors Margery Simkin and Orly Sitowitz, who were familiar with her previous work. Although she couldn't read the script due to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), Badaki immediately accepted the offer based on the character synopsis. Being a Star Trek fan herself, she couldn't resist the opportunity to be a part of the series, and when she learned about the specific episode, she was even more enthusiastic about the role.

“I have a deep, deep abiding love of the world,” she said. “My worldview was formed by Star Trek: The Next Generation. I watched it all the way in Nigeria when I was a child.”

She even jokingly mentioned that her first crushes were on Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Data (Brent Spiner). Badaki appreciated that Star Trek presented a future for humanity that was not a dystopia, providing hope and a promise of a better world. Being a part of the Star Trek universe was a dream come true for her.

When Badaki finally received the script for the episode, she was blown away by its quality. Written by Dana Horgan, the script immediately caught her attention and sparked her excitement. However, she also felt a sense of responsibility as a fan working on a beloved franchise. She wanted to do justice to the world of Star Trek and provide a great experience for fellow fans. Despite a momentary panic about the number of lines and speeches she had, Badaki was overwhelmed with joy and awe, especially because she had the opportunity to work with an incredible cast.

For Badaki, the script embodied everything she loved about Star Trek. It felt classic, making the audience think and work toward something. She appreciated the show's ideals, where individuals of different backgrounds and disciplines were not only accepted but celebrated. 

“That was one of the things I loved about Star Trek,” Badaki said. “Yes, there were those ideals, and you saw all kinds of different individuals being not only accepted into the world but celebrated.”

She also praised costume designer Bernadette Croft for bringing back vibrant colors in the uniforms, visually representing the diversity of characters and their respective fields of expertise, all united by a common goal.

In terms of character inspiration, Badaki mentioned several Star Trek characters that influenced her portrayal of Neera Ketoul. She drew inspiration from Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), using her facial expressions and enigmatic smile. Badaki admired Guinan's ability to empower others, which she aimed to replicate through Neera's interactions with La'an (Christina Chong). Another significant inspiration was Jean-Luc Picard, particularly his impassioned speeches about doing better as a society. Badaki also incorporated elements of Sisko (Avery Brooks) into her performance, specifically focusing on his effective use of diction and consonants to convey a point.

Yetide Badaki's involvement in Strange New Worlds as Neera Ketoul exemplifies her love for Star Trek and her dedication to delivering a memorable performance. Her passion for the franchise shines through as she immerses herself in the role and draws inspiration from iconic characters of the Star Trek universe.