Tim Russ Talks Tuvok Wrap-Up

Over the past seven years, Lt. Commander Tuvok has never been as heavily featured on Star Trek: Voyager as characters such as Janeway and Seven of Nine. But according to actor Tim Russ, we did in fact learn quite a lot about the ship's Vulcan security officer.

"He has gone through a number of changes," Russ told Ian Spelling at Starlog Magazine. "We know that he has a family. We know that he has a past with Starfleet. He has gone through changes as a result of alien intervention, breakdowns of his facade, the various Maquis-Starfleet interactions on the ship and the loss of control of his emotions. The guy has really been through the wringer in the past seven years and he has grown a great deal as a result."

Through these character developments, viewers were able to see a bit of the human inside the Vulcan. "[Tuvok] has become more used to and accustomed to - and in some cases has employed - human characteristics in order to facilitate an end," Russ said. "I would say that we've definitely explored the emotional aspects of the character. Vulcans do have emotions; it's just that they keep those emotions under the surface."

For the show's final episodes, Russ insisted Tuvok would remain true to his character. "If Tuvok remains Tuvok, he is not going to do anything that's radically unpredictable. [...] Whatever happens, it'll be something that's in line with his character, based on where he comes from, based on what we've seen him do for the last seven years. If there's a sacrifice to be made, if something happens to him inadvertently, he's going to do this thing. He's going to stay in line and stay very consistent. If anybody on the ship would do that, it would be Tuvok."

Looking back at the past seven years, Russ felt that not only had his character been developed well, he himself had also had enough to do. "I think I've had plenty to do on the show," he said. "In general, there were times that I was busy-busy-busy for two or three weeks at a time and then there were times when I was pretty much off for a couple of weeks and Tuvok was very light in a few episodes. It's still that way now. It comes and goes. That's the nature of Star Trek. It's the nature of an ensemble show. There are many characters. But it's enough for me. It's fine."

Russ also credited Voyager for giving him many new career opportunities, such as producing the film 'East of Hope Street' and creating a music CD. More on that can be found in the full Starlog interview, in which Russ also talked about his favourite Voyager scenes, how it felt to direct for the show, and the difficulties he faced trying to be taken serious with his music.

To subscribe to Starlog or to order just this single issue, which also contains an interview with Tim Russ (Tuvok), please follow this link.

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