Snow Dogs: Interview

Review by By Clint Morris

Interview with Nichelle Nichols
Starring in the forthcoming Snow Dogs film.

If you're one of the many fervent Star Trek fans across the world - or Trekkies as they are affectionately known - you'll have no trouble recognising actress Nichelle Nichols in new Disney film Snow Dogs. Even if you didn't watch Gene Roddenberry's revolutionary sci-fi series, there's little doubt you won't be able to place her face, and now, with a role in the larger-than-life hit movie, it looks like the second coming for Nichelle Nichols - another possible attempt at being known as more than the Enterprises' Uhura.

Nichelle Nichols stars in Disney's Snow Dogs

Nichelle Nichols, no doubt like most of the now famous cast of the first Star Trek series never planned on a career in a weekly science fiction serial.

"Musical theatre has always been my first love. I was on my way to Broadway when, as I tell my fans, Star Trek interrupted my career!" Nichols confesses.

"35 years later, it still is." But the much-admired actress confesses she doesn't look back on her days on Trek badly.

"Through conventions, personal appearances, and email, I still am involved. However, I have always had other professional interests, have never stopped working, and almost always look to the future more than the past."

When director Brian Levant was casting a film, based on the true story of city slicker turned sled dog captain, and needed a warm, affectionate, believably loving parental figure for the shows main star, Cuba Gooding Jr, he went straight to Nichelle Nichols. "I've always been interested in comedy-drama scripts and this one looked quite good. Of course, having the opportunity to work with Cuba Gooding Jr. and James Coburn was a big plus," she happily confesses.

"Also, I had worked before with our director, Brian Levant, and I always love working with him." And as for the slightly hairier, 4 leggered co-stars?

"The dogs were fantastic! It's unbelievable how well trained they were and the things they could do on command. I've worked with many actors over the years that could benefit from lessons from these dogs!" she laughs.

Nichols's male co-star gets most of the praise though. "Cuba was a joy to work with. I was his Mom in the film, and became like a 2nd Mom off screen. He is extremely talented, easy to work with, very generous; I look forward to working with him again." And by the looks of the film, it would have been quite icy cold down there on the slopes. "It was cold in Canada, but we were very well taken care of and the snow was a joy."

With talk of a Snow Dogs sequel already doing the rounds in Hollywood, Nichols confesses her willingness to participate. "I will be very happy to do a sequel to Snow Dogs."

But returning to the Starship Enterprise? "I doubt if Uhura will be in another Trek production, but that's more up to Paramount than I," she says.

"These days, I'm doing a little bit of everything. I'm currently on my book tour with the sequel to my first sci-fi book, Saturn's Child. The new book is Saturna's Quest. I'm just coming out with my new jewellery line (aptly named, 'Saturna by Nichelle Nichols'), I'm desperately trying to find time to remount my one-woman musical theatre piece, Reflections and, at some point, I must finish the Adventures of Saturna Trilogy with another book.

"All this, along with my personal appearances, concert singing, and my beloved gardening, keep me moving at warp speed!" As you can see, from the farthest of solar systems to the ominous terrain of snowy Alps, Nichelle Nichols is determined to live it large.

Snow Dogs opens in cinemas on June 20 in Australia.

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