Kate Mulgrew Urges Star Trek to Champion More Female Captains

Kate Mulgrew, celebrated for her portrayal of Captain Kathryn Janeway on the USS Voyager from 1995 to 2001, left a lasting mark on the Star Trek universe. Janeway’s leadership and pivotal choices have made her a standout figure, resonating with fans across generations. In a recent conversation, Mulgrew addressed the ongoing need for more women in command roles within the franchise.

Breaking Barriers: Janeway’s Enduring Impact

Mulgrew reflected on her groundbreaking role, emphasizing that her achievement as the first female captain should not be the end of the story.

It ’s not enough that I was the first female captain. There needs to be a continual push to open the door for women in positions of authority. In an absolutely equal way, of course. In talking to Bill I thought: This has been very much a boy’s club for a long, long time. I had the privilege and honor to be the first female, but that’s an establishment that needs now to be developed.

Janeway’s collaborative approach and steady hand while leading her crew through uncharted territory set a new standard for Starfleet captains. Her presence paved the way for future women to take the helm, though few have matched her iconic status.

Women at the Helm: Past and Present

Over the decades, the franchise has made strides toward greater inclusivity, as seen in the growing roster of women captains. Janeway’s legacy in Star Trek: Voyager remains a milestone for representation. The series itself, created by Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor, ran for seven seasons and 172 episodes, following the Voyager’s journey home from the distant Delta Quadrant under Janeway’s command.

Before Janeway, a handful of women captains appeared in supporting roles during the 1980s and 1990s, including Captain Phillipa Louvois, Captain Tryla Scott, Captain Rachel Garrett, and Captain Silva La Forge—all featured in The Next Generation. The modern era has seen even more women step into leadership, such as Captain Philippa Georgiou and Captain Michael Burnham in Discovery, Captain Carol Freeman and Captain Sonya Gomez in Lower Decks, and Captain Seven of Nine and Captain Elizabeth Shelby in Picard.

Uncovering the First Female Starship Captain

While Janeway is often credited as the first woman to command a Star Trek series, the earliest female starship captain actually appeared in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Madge Sinclair portrayed the unnamed captain of the USS Saratoga during the Whale Probe crisis, nearly a decade before Mulgrew’s debut. Although her character went unnamed, Sinclair’s role marked a significant moment as both the first Black and female captain in the franchise’s history.

Sinclair later returned to the Star Trek universe as Captain Silva La Forge, mother of Geordi La Forge, in The Next Generation. Her calm leadership during a planetary emergency quietly embodied the ideals of Starfleet and helped shape the franchise’s evolving vision of command.

Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home are currently available to stream on Paramount+ in the United States.