Martha Hackett Explained

Birth Date:21 February 1961
Yearsactive:1986–present
Alma Mater:Harvard University
Occupation:Actress
Spouse:Tim Disney
(??; 2004)
Children:2

Martha Hackett (born February 21, 1961) is an American actress. She is known for her portrayal of Seska in thirteen episodes of the television series . Hackett is an alumna of Harvard University/Radcliffe College, and was married to independent filmmaker Tim Disney.

Career

Hackett's first experience of Star Trek was when she auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax in , but lost out to Terry Farrell.[1] She subsequently was cast as a member of the Terellian alien species in the finale of , "All Good Things...". She appeared on Deep Space Nine as the Romulan Sub Commander T'Rul in the two-part episode "The Search" in season three.[1]

She was cast in in the recurring role of Seska, a Bajoran member of the Maquis crew who joined Voyager after it was stranded in the Delta Quadrant. She first appeared in the episode "Parallax" where she wore the blue uniform of a Starfleet science officer; this was later revealed to be a costuming error and she was subsequently seen in the uniform of the operations department.[1] The original uniform sold for $1,276 ($ today) in the "It's a Wrap!" auction on eBay in 2008.[2]

When she was first cast in the role of Seska, she was not informed that she was a Cardassian spy. She later explained that "when I first started I was Seska the Bajoran Maquis member and they sort of worked everything else up in soap opera fashion."[1] Hackett became pregnant, which was written into Seska's character. Hackett described Seska as being a character with several layers, saying that "Seska’s darker sides came from a certain emotional instability, at least that’s how I played her."[1] Seska was killed off in the second part of "Basics", which came as a surprise to Hackett as she was previously sent a version of the script where Seska survived, but her baby died. She was only told that Seska was to die less than a day before filming. Following her character's death, Hackett as Seska returned to Voyager twice more in the episodes "Worst Case Scenario" and "Shattered".[1] She appeared in a total of thirteen episodes of Voyager.[3]

In 2001, she appeared in the independent film Question of Faith, where she played the monk Anselm. Her character underwent a sex change from male to female as part of a divine miracle. The film was directed by her husband.[4]

In 2018, she appeared on the game show To Tell the Truth.

Personal life

Hackett was married to Tim Disney, and they have two sons together.[5] Hackett has an A.B. cum laude from Harvard University/Radcliffe College.[6] [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Flight of Black AngelNurse
1993CarnosaurMiss Kroghe
1994Leprechaun 2Detective
1994In the Heat of Passion II: UnfaithfulMuriel Walters
1995One Night StandNora Walsh
1998Music from Another RoomPaula
1998InconceivableJill, WOMB memberCredited as Martha Hacket
1999The Last Man on Planet EarthMother May the Madame
1999Never Been KissedMrs. Knox
1999Let the Devil Wear BlackCop #2
2001Question of FaithAnselmCredited as M.E. Hackett
2003The Lone RangerMargaret
2005Kiss Kiss Bang BangPistol Woman
2014Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayMrs. Gibson

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Hill Street BluesCarole Green2 episodes
1989Hard Time on Planet EarthEpisode: "Jesse's Fifteen Minutes"
1990The Marshall ChroniclesEpisode: "Friday Night Fever"
1992Civil WarsHelen CashmanEpisode: "A Bus Named Desire"
1993SirensCamillaEpisode: "Guy Perfect"
1994T'Rul2 episodes
1995–2001Seska13 episodes
2002The GuardianCynthia PopperEpisode: "Mothers of the Disappeared"
2009–2010I Heart VampiresSiona McCabre6 episodes
2009NCISCelia RobertsEpisode: "Caged"
2012Last ResortForestEpisode: "Nuke It Out"
2013PerceptionLeah SullivanEpisode: "Toxic"
2014Masters of SexShirleyEpisode: "Thank You for Coming"
2016–2018Days of Our LivesPamela Van Damme4 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRole
1996Pok's Mother
2001Additional Voices
2002Cmdr. Saffi Larsen
2003Dr. Stevenson

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sci-Fi Blast From The Past - Martha Hackett (Star Trek: Voyager) . Eramo . Steve . June 8, 2011 . SciFiandTVTalk . March 4, 2013.
  2. Web site: Star Trek: Voy "Seska Starfleet Uniform Jumpsuit" . Star Trek Prop Collector . March 4, 2013.
  3. News: They So Hated They're Loved Characters of Star Trek . Will . Stape . Yahoo! Voices . October 21, 2008 . March 1, 2013 . dead . https://archive.today/20130412055531/http://voices.yahoo.com/the-so-hated-they-re-loved-characters-star-trek-2045318.html . April 12, 2013 .
  4. News: Moving 'Question of Faith' . Elder, Robert K. . Chicago Tribune . May 4, 2001 . March 1, 2013.
  5. Web site: Martha Hackett Gives Birth to Second Child . July 20, 2000 . TrekNation . March 4, 2013.
  6. Web site: Martha Hackett. linkedin.com. 2020-03-26.
  7. News: A Beggar's Banquet. October 27, 1981 . The Harvard Crimson. March 4, 2013.