When Jeri Ryan joined Star Trek: Voyager in 1997 as Seven of Nine, she injected new life into a series struggling with declining ratings. Her complex portrayal of a former Borg drone quickly made her one of the franchise’s most memorable characters.
But behind the camera, her arrival wasn’t smooth. Ryan initially turned down the role four times, admitting she found the episode she watched “the worst hour of television” she’d seen. Producers persisted, eventually winning her over with Star Trek: First Contact and a personal appeal from executive producer Jeri Taylor.
Despite on-set tensions and the challenges of her demanding costume, Ryan’s decision proved career-defining—and her character became a cornerstone of the series’ success.
