10 Actors Who Turned Down Star Trek

The incredibly talented Oscar-winning actor Kathy Bates has had a career anyone would be proud of. Having made her name in great movies like Misery, Titanic and many more, she can rest easy knowing that her legacy is secure.

However, one genre that the well-respected performer seems to have neglected is that of Sci-Fi. While she has appeared in some science fictions - such as The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) and a one-episode role in 3rd Rock from the Sun - there are no significant properties that she has lent her name too, but there could have been.

Kai Opaka's role in Star Trek: Deep Space nine may not have appeared so often, but she played pivotal part whenever she was present. The Bajoran religious leader was seen in four episodes of DS9, and she helped to set Sisko on his path to becoming The Emissary. Therefore it was thought that a high-profile actor would be needed, and thus Kathy Bates was approached.

Sadly, she declined the offer as she didn't want to do any TV work at that point in her life. Like Kotto, this made sense, as television was still seen as a lesser medium in the entertainment world at the time - oh, how times have changed.

The role would go to Camille Saviola, who worked well with it, but there's no denying that Bates would have brought some major star power to the part.