Star Trek The Motion Picture : Remembering Persis Khambatta and Lt. Ilia

Trekweb ^ | 02/23/10 | GustavoLeao

[KevinDavis]

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Continuing our retrospective on the 30th anniversary of Star Trek The Motion Picture, TrekWeb presents excerpts of a rare interview with the late actress and former Miss India Persis Khambatta, who played Deltan navigator Lt. Ilia in the 1979 Star Trek movie directed by Robert Wise.

The interview was published in the now cancelled Star Trek Communicator magazine, issue Issue 120. (Dec 1998/Jan 1999) and it is presented here as part of our "Archives Interviews" series of articles.

Here are excerpts of the last interview with Ms Khambatta, who died on August 18 1998 at the age of 49 from a massive heart attack.

[Sybeck1]

Is “Bald” Brit Beaming Up To The Final Frontier? Hollywood CA, 2/21/2007 Giving all the talk in the news today about the wayward ways of Britney Spears in the news today, consider the latest rumour, Britney is possible starring as the love interest in the possible upcoming relaunch of the dying film and televison series, "Star Trek". This rumour revolves around J.J. Abrams, the director of this possible film, who was spotted having lunch with a publicist of Britney Spears in Hollywood this week. That film has internet "buzz" as being a total makeover of the Trek franchise, with new people in roles made famous by the like of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy over forty years ago. The question is would Spears be cast as a Deltan, which were bald and were heavily sexual. This race of aliens were highlighted in 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", in which the late Persis Khambatta played the role of Lt. Ilia. Many see Spears as a natural in the sexpot role. Having a pop icon such as Britney Spears headline this movie, many insiders say it would be huge success, mainly for the simply curious, as Britney has shown no concern for science fiction in the past. Giving all that is happening in Spears life, with divorce and rehab, it is impossible to easily accept this rumour. She has not acted since 2002, in which she recieved mixed reviews in "Crossroads". But Hollywood is a town in which anything can happen, and one of those things could easily be Britney Spears saying "Beam me up, Scotty".

[fieldmarshaldj]

Even with the bald head, she was hot. With her dark hair, even hotter. It was a tragedy she died as young as she did. I don't know whether it was foul play or not. RIP.

[buccaneer81]

I remember she did a Sylvester Stallone movie sometime after Star Trek,

"Nighthawks" (1981), actually a decent movie for Stallone and Williams.

[jaz.357]

Ilia’s theme from the movie.(speakers on)Very nice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOhvhb95MBM&feature=PlayList&p=A9F9927D38B0A853&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=49

[Perdogg]

Rugter Hauer was a good villian in that movie.

[left that other site]

Warmed over Nomad plot

Absolutely! I remember sitting in the darkened theater, watching the movie for the first time, and thinking those EXACT WORDS! LOL!

[Sloth]

What a horrible movie.

[big'ol_freeper]

There’s no babe like a space babe.

[GOPsterinMA]

BOING!!! She’s hotter with the shaved head!!!!!!

[jaz.357]

Earth girls are easy.

[isom35]

You should also check her out in 1983’s Warrior of the Lost World co-starring Paper Chase Guy and Megaweapon. An MST3K classic.

[PzLdr]

“Nighthawks”. She played a terrorist girlfriend of Rutger Hauer [the head terrorist]. She was good.

[Grizzled Bear]

She looks a lot like my wife, except Mrs Bear is blond and much hotter.

[fieldmarshaldj]

She got a sister ?

[GeronL]

I will consider these posts tomorrow.

*yawn*

I’m going to bed.

[Vanders9]

Jeepers...massive heart attack at 49 - I get worried when I read something like that, being 49 myself now and hardly living a super healthy life.

[Vanders9]

Says he has Mrs Bear is leaning over his keyboard! :)

[Vaquero]

and while we are at it, prayers up for Walter Keonigs son who is missing in Vancouver.....

[calex59]

So did I. Nomad II was my thought.

[catfish1957]

I still haven’t gotten over the loss of T’Pol and her space cat suit.