10 Star Trek Facts You Probably Didn't Know
2. Voyager Almost Didn't Have Captain Kathryn Janeway
When casting for Star Trek: Voyager, it was uncertain whether having the first female captain was going to fly with viewers and executives. Several men auditioned for the role. Once the final decision was made to cast a woman, the Captain was meant to have the name Elizabeth Janeway.
Unfortunately, this was the same name as a well-known writer. To avoid legal issues the character's name was changed to Nicole Janeway, and Academy Award nominee Geneviève Bujold was cast in the role for the pilot. Bujold is said to have walked off the set after two days due to the intensive and grueling schedule of filming TV that was very different from what the film actor was used to.
The result was the casting of Kate Mulgrew for the soon to be named Kathryn Janeway. It took a lot to get the Voyager Captain onto the bridge, but it's hard to imagine what the show would have been without her. An important part of Star Trek history, Captain Kathryn Janeway has the honor of being the first Star Trek character cosplayed in space (by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti).