Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Deanna Troi

10. The Role First Went To Denise Crosby

Before filming began on Star Trek: The Next Generation, the producers were set on casting Denise Crosby in the role of Deanna Troi, and, at the same time, Marina Sirtis was reading for the part of Macha Hernandez, who later became Natasha Yar. Crosby admitted that she had difficulties with her fit for the role, not quite grasping, as she once stated, the "gobbledygook and weird" concept of a Betazoid. It was Gene Roddenberry who eventually swapped the roles.

It was decided that Sirtis was a better fit for the part of the empathic Troi. In Crosby’s words (citing Roddenberry, however), she, the actress, was "just this kind of American golden girl" compared to the more "exotic," "otherworldly" element that was wanted for Troi.

In any case, the switch happened not a moment too soon! When Sirtis got the call confirming she’d got the part, her US visa was due to expire that very day. The actress was packing her bags, a little dejected, for a return to her hometown of London. Thankfully, the rest is history.

Had Roddenberry not changed things, perhaps Troi, and not Yar, would have met her end at the hands (gloopy pseudo-appendages?!) of grumpy ol’ prank-bait Armus?