"All the Star Trek captains are very hands-on," Dawnn Lewis tells Inverse. "But Captain Freeman is hands-on like your mama. She not only makes sure your hair is combed, but she puts spit on her fingers to make sure it stays combed and smooths it down." This quote illustrates the unique, nurturing leadership style of Captain Freeman in contrast to traditional heroic depictions.
Before 2020, there had never been a Black woman in a recurring role as a starship captain in Star Trek. This sounds strange, but it's true. Although Sonequa Martin-Green led Discovery in 2017, Michael Burnham wasn't promoted to captain until the end of Season 3 in 2021.
Dawnn Lewis’s portrayal of Captain Freeman not only offers representation but also a refreshing realism, showcasing the evolution of leadership portrayals in the Star Trek franchise.
As Lower Decks warps toward the end of its final season, we caught up with Lewis to get her sense of why she loves Trek, and what she thinks could be in the future for Captain Freeman.
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