10 Star Trek Actors Whose First Appearances You've Totally Forgotten

Michelle Forbes made such an impression as Ro Laren that she was originally considered as Sisko's second-in-command on Deep Space Nine, before turning it down. Prior to her first appearance as Ro, Forbes had appeared in the episode Half a Life, which made a similarly positive impact on the production team.

The episode was a surprisingly weighty one for a story revolving around Deanna Troi's outrageous mother Lwaxana. The notoriously amorous Betazoid has fallen in love with Dr. Timicin, whose culture dictates that they commit ritual suicide at the age of 60. It's a tragic love story that results in the Enterprise being thrown into the middle of a diplomatic dispute, when Timicin refuses to fulfil the tradition.

During a stand-off between the ship and Timicin's people, the doctor's daughter comes aboard to plead with her father. Dara, is played by Michelle Forbes in a small, but incredibly pivotal role. It is her who eventually convinces Timicin to follow tradition and resolve the ongoing dispute.

Lwaxana leaves with him at the end of the episode, pledging to be by his side when he makes his decision. It's a melancholy story that adds depth to Troi's mother. Gene Roddenberry's widow Majel Barratt is such a force of nature in the role that it's easy for Forbes to fade into the background.