Natalijah Nogulich

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[00:00:45] Greetings listeners of the BIG Sci-Fi Podcast

[00:00:48] We are so close to Trek Long Island 2 and today we are beyond lucky to be talking in advance to one of the celebrity guests

[00:00:56] Natalia Nogulich

[00:00:58] Now for us Trekkies, Natalia is best known as the formidable Admiral Nechayev from the next generation in Deep Space Nine

[00:01:06] However, her extensive career as a character actress encompasses a wide array of roles across TV and film

[00:01:13] From dramas like NCIS and Bones to comedies such as Fuller House and Two Broke Girls

[00:01:19] Now what truly astounds me about character actors like Natalia is their incredible versatility

[00:01:24] So we'll include links to her demo reels and the show notes for you to witness her impressive range for yourself

[00:01:30] But not before listening to our episode today and Natalia welcome to the BIG Sci-Fi

[00:01:35] Thank you. I'm thrilled to be here with all of you. Great

[00:01:39] Well, the thing that really brought you here is your connection to Star Trek

[00:01:43] so I think I'd like to just start out by asking because I think I saw a note in an interview somewhere that

[00:01:49] Admiral Nechayev is not actually the role you interviewed for originally or is one of a couple roles you interviewed for

[00:01:55] What was that process like?

[00:01:57] Well, I auditioned for Star Trek at least one or two times before I auditioned for Nechayev

[00:02:04] And I remember one of the times

[00:02:08] They said oh it was good. The feedback I got from my agent was there was a fine audition

[00:02:13] But she's too strong for the character whatever that character was it escapes me now

[00:02:18] so some time later the audition for a Nechayev came up and

[00:02:22] My agents read this specs on it and they said oh this this looks like you don't have to be afraid of being strong

[00:02:29] For this audition. So go in there and you know get it and and that's what happened

[00:02:35] So I was yeah, I really liked the character a lot. I liked it right from the audition, but certainly playing her I am

[00:02:43] Much too many fans chagrin. I fell in love with her

[00:02:48] I remember watching

[00:02:51] Chain of command part one

[00:02:54] which I think

[00:02:56] Initiated the character right on the next day

[00:03:01] Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember hating your character

[00:03:05] but I

[00:03:08] Another one of my favorite episodes of next gen is preemptive strike

[00:03:13] and I

[00:03:15] That that I think had if I recall correctly that was much more kind of a peacemaking there was there was

[00:03:22] Not redeeming quality to your character because you're just doing your job

[00:03:27] But you know what? I mean, I those are just two fabulous episodes to have appeared in for one thing

[00:03:32] So well, I agree with you. The first one was kind of harsh and it had that long initial

[00:03:38] monologue that I had where you know, I lay it out and then

[00:03:42] Hard and kind of dis

[00:03:45] Jonathan Frakes as well and it was

[00:03:48] I'll be honest. I was a little nervous about it because you don't have to get a monologue on TV guest spots

[00:03:54] You know, it's it's usually dialogue, but I I'm I'm old school. I really prepare for a role

[00:04:00] I don't use any crib cards or anything. I go in there ready to shoot, you know, and

[00:04:04] And so I I felt you know a little nervous but also confident that I knew what I was doing

[00:04:11] But yeah, the feedback on that was how could I mean at conventions? I get how could you fire Picard? He's so nice

[00:04:19] One guy came up to me and said, you know

[00:04:22] You should have a different name. It should be Admiral bitch. Hey of

[00:04:30] Yeah, would you sign the autograph he bought a picture and paid for an autograph he's but would you sign it bitch

[00:04:36] Hey, I said absolutely. It's your it's your money

[00:04:38] So

[00:04:41] Here's the thing that I wonder about this and I wonder if you've encountered this because I look to

[00:04:47] characters like, you know the Admiral as

[00:04:50] very strong formidable women who also

[00:04:53] Looked like women and I would say for my generation there weren't a lot of those on TV

[00:04:59] so I was in I was in high school when that came out just you know for reference and

[00:05:04] It's one of those because I fought with this in my career

[00:05:07] If that camera was a man

[00:05:10] Would they would people have had that same kind of commentary?

[00:05:20] Angers me a little bit. Yeah. I also had couples come up to my table and the woman would say oh

[00:05:26] I guess the wife I really loved your character and the guy would say I really hated her and they

[00:05:33] But you know, here's

[00:05:37] Here's the way I've approached, you know strong characters because I played a few

[00:05:40] I'm also playing more vulnerable ones as well

[00:05:43] But I just I do my best to join the consciousness of the character and come from where she is

[00:05:49] What's what's her point of view? What is she defending? What is she willing to go to the mat for and clearly?

[00:05:57] Nechay I've wanted to preserve the Federation and

[00:06:00] That meant some hard choices like moving the Indians off the land

[00:06:05] Wanting the car to take advantage of the opportunity to destroy the Borg and getting upset when he did

[00:06:10] Mm-hmm, and that was all in in the interest of of

[00:06:14] You know preserving the Federation and the principles that she stood on and I think when you play a cat one

[00:06:20] I I'll speak for myself play a character that could be interpreted as you know

[00:06:26] unlikeable, you know perhaps

[00:06:28] The best way for me to go about it is to is to you know, defend their position and then you know

[00:06:34] People can take take it or leave it. Of course Picard was more sympathetic. I'm first of all, he was the lead and

[00:06:40] Secondly, he had been in their homes for so many years by time the season came along that I did and

[00:06:47] And he was the humanist

[00:06:49] You know

[00:06:49] The captain was always taking the humane side and I was always standing for principle and that was a clash

[00:06:54] Which is why I think the writers were so smart to have that conflict between the two of us and you're right that it did

[00:07:02] Soften in a few a few episodes later and eventually he's serving me tea and Bollerian canopy and God only knows

[00:07:13] Well Natalia I can say without a doubt and I can believe that I'm correct you are the highest ranking

[00:07:20] Starfleet officer to appear on ours

[00:07:22] Show we've never had an arrow. So may I if you don't mind all hands on deck

[00:07:31] Admiral is on the podcast

[00:07:36] Thank you and I'm honored to

[00:07:39] To hold that position and thank you you definitely you but you know what you were saying about

[00:07:44] people reacting to your character in a negative way and that means that you

[00:07:49] portrayed the character

[00:07:51] Exactly the way it was supposed to be done and you got the reaction you expected you did maybe you didn't mean to you know

[00:07:58] you know have a

[00:07:59] Argument between men and women over who likes you and who doesn't but the fact that you did

[00:08:04] portray that way and people reacted that way means you nailed it well

[00:08:09] Thank you. I I felt fine about what I did

[00:08:12] I didn't do a convention till a good I don't know a few years after I was

[00:08:16] You know finished shooting it

[00:08:17] So I didn't even know what conventions were like or how people came up and talked to you now and the ones who loved

[00:08:22] Me were the military

[00:08:24] You know

[00:08:29] Superior officer like you and I you know, and

[00:08:32] So that was that was interesting too. And of course, I'm very military friendly. My dad was a

[00:08:39] World War two Normandy invader

[00:08:44] Last year at 102 God bless Wow

[00:08:47] My goodness and my grandfather on my mother's side was a Medal of Honor recipient for World War one

[00:08:53] so I come from a

[00:08:57] Generations of respect for the state of the military and she had you know, she was clearly kind of a military character, you know

[00:09:04] Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Definitely. Yeah thing is, you know, you have to get to a point and when you're acting

[00:09:09] Well, you don't worry about being liked, you know, they're gonna like me. They're gonna hate me

[00:09:13] I don't care

[00:09:13] Tell the truth of this as best I can and let the story decide, you know, who's the who's the villain or whatever, you know

[00:09:24] Okay, I was gonna say well so conventions are a big part of you know

[00:09:29] Trek fandom and such were you are you do you consider yourself a Star Trek fan or you know before after at all?

[00:09:38] during and since

[00:09:40] Since my sister my older sister was really into the original one and

[00:09:46] So I kind of by by association was it was aware of it, but clearly

[00:09:51] Later, I think next gem was the best incarnation. That's my humble opinion

[00:09:57] And yeah, I mean since yes sure. Yeah, I love it now

[00:10:01] I mean, you know Roddenberry was a prophet really. Yes, he was so

[00:10:07] When you did you what was it like being able to tell your sister that oh by the way, I'm gonna be on Star Trek

[00:10:16] You know, I'm very fortunate I am siblings that rejoiced in every victory I had and I airs they weren't entertainment and but

[00:10:27] Yeah, they were all they were right behind me, but she was she was thrilled

[00:10:31] Well, yeah, she was thrilled but she said oh too bad. It's not the original

[00:10:37] Shatner but but no they

[00:10:41] And they even came my sister came a couple times to the Vegas Convention

[00:10:45] My brother also that seemed to be the one where they wanted to accompany me

[00:10:50] It's fun to have once my parents came and

[00:10:54] The fans wanted to talk to them more than me

[00:10:57] Especially the military guys were like picking my dad's brain about Normandy and I was like anybody want to buy a picture

[00:11:04] So you were a part of another fandom

[00:11:07] And I don't know if if many people would know this I happen to be a personal fan of the radio

[00:11:13] broadcasts of the original three Star Wars films

[00:11:17] But is it true? You played Mon Mothma and return of the Jedi on that radio broadcast

[00:11:21] You know, there's a lot of talk about that. I

[00:11:26] I don't remember that I mean, okay

[00:11:30] I must have been in another, you know, I don't know but yeah, so

[00:11:37] Am I credited with it did you that's on on your Wikipedia page?

[00:11:43] In on a done it and I've forgotten and you know, I mean 104 years old these things slip away

[00:11:52] And on the other Star Trek website that's

[00:11:56] In on the other Star Trek website that everybody

[00:12:02] It I can't remember the name of it now has memory alpha

[00:12:07] You know, you're not the first person that's brought that to my attention

[00:12:10] Okay, I think you're probably right and I'm it's on IMDB. Yeah, you're right and I'm oh

[00:12:17] It's nice to have done so much work. You forget some of it, right? Right, right, sir

[00:12:22] But they did the check clear. That's the important

[00:12:25] question, isn't it? Yeah, I

[00:12:28] Am I have to say I have had a very a very varied career in terms of the kind of

[00:12:36] Characters I played but I really enjoyed everyone. I

[00:12:40] Love to work. I love

[00:12:44] You know playing, you know the good bad and the ugly frankly, it just makes it more interesting. I

[00:12:49] Move movie stars don't always get that opportunity

[00:12:54] But some do clearly I mean Helen Mirren can do anything

[00:12:59] one of my idols but I'm

[00:13:03] Grateful for the variety that I've been blessed with through throughout, you know

[00:13:07] Many. Oh does anything rise to being a like a favorite? Yes

[00:13:11] There's one that I think it's just now gonna be available to see it was in the 90s

[00:13:17] I did this a series called Lazarus man who was starring Robert Urik and we shot in

[00:13:25] Santa Fe, New Mexico and it was right after

[00:13:27] It takes place

[00:13:29] immediately after the Civil War when there was still a lot of people killing each other on both sides and I played a

[00:13:36] Double spy disguised as a lady of the night. She was very complex. There's one

[00:13:42] Do when Joie de winter was her name and I loved it

[00:13:46] We did several episodes and then Robert Urik took ill he he got cancer actually

[00:13:53] So they shut it down, but you know, he got well and he went on to do another series

[00:13:59] He's passed now and and to a TMS Ted Turner was producing it

[00:14:05] He just didn't release any of it and that was like one of my favorite characters because of her Wow

[00:14:12] Now I think you can get it. I don't know exactly where but I somebody told me they saw the episode

[00:14:18] so, um, so that's a favorite, um, I

[00:14:22] liked

[00:14:23] You know, I do a good lawyer and I did a lot of lawyer thing

[00:14:27] You know LA law the practice civil wars. I played a lot of lawyers and and I know there's a great deal of

[00:14:35] Satisfaction in that because there's there's always you know meaty dialogue

[00:14:39] And to I don't always win the case, but the first time I did an LA law my mother called me

[00:14:45] I'm so sorry. You lost honey

[00:14:54] Yeah, do you enjoy doing voice

[00:14:57] Characterizations, you know using accents and things like that because it seems like you play into that really really well from what I saw

[00:15:04] The clips thank you for bringing that up because I

[00:15:08] Grew up bilingual my parents spoke Serbian at home. They were immigrants and

[00:15:13] That is very close to Russian which I studied in college and I also studied Spanish and and

[00:15:21] Studied one term in Spain. I was an art student. Then I went to Italy and studied in Italy

[00:15:26] So I added Italian then later I was playing a role

[00:15:30] Where I had to speak a little French and I hired a coach just to help me with the dialogue

[00:15:35] To learn but I liked studying with her so much I stayed with her for years and now I have a conversational

[00:15:43] understanding of French and

[00:15:45] So I I have a theory that when you grow up bilingual

[00:15:49] You can add other languages with facility because your mouth has not but your your

[00:15:55] Hasn't been limited to saying things in one way. There's kind of more

[00:15:59] Movement there so I do get called for the foreigners

[00:16:02] You know for the Italian or the Russian or that a lot of Slavic roles I get I'm always I always love it when they

[00:16:08] Say we want this or this dialect. I think I'm good

[00:16:10] I got a chance at nail on this one because it kind of in my wheelhouse. Um, no says say about the languages

[00:16:17] um, oh

[00:16:18] I even um, I did a thing with Tory spelling and Zachary Kinto

[00:16:24] So that yeah. Yeah, and I had to learn Farsi

[00:16:28] Oh, wow, yeah, which I had none of that in my experience, but I

[00:16:34] Oddly enough. I had an Iranian neighbor in Brentwood where I was living and he helped me with the dialogue and I managed to pull

[00:16:41] It off, you know, so now I love doing that kind of stuff

[00:16:44] I love you know anything that stretches you but yes, thanks for bringing that up. I'm a I love the dialects

[00:16:50] I love the other languages. I love

[00:16:53] Like to go to all those places

[00:16:55] Again, I did get to go to Moscow a few years ago

[00:16:57] Oh, wow worked on a movie but not as an actor

[00:17:01] I was hired as the acting coach because I've taught act a lot and so that was fun

[00:17:07] English Russian English Russian trying to you know balance it all but yeah, I'm grateful for that

[00:17:15] Aspect of my education really great. Yeah. Thank you

[00:17:18] Yeah, so I'm also very curious what's it like going from a drama like a TNG a bones to

[00:17:25] Say to back to two broke girls where it's filmed in front of a live audience is that more challenging to do?

[00:17:32] Thank you for asking that because I love doing sitcoms and the reason I do is

[00:17:37] Because it's because it is a live audience because it's more like theater

[00:17:42] Which is my my initial foundation was in Chicago theater

[00:17:46] And then I went to New York and did theater and ended up in LA

[00:17:49] And so when you're in front of a live audience, you know, you know

[00:17:52] I mean they can redo it on a sitcom but on stage they can't you mess up you better fix it like on

[00:17:58] Your feet somehow and I like that edge

[00:18:02] You know deliver right there for that

[00:18:06] For the moment in the moment. I love sitcoms. I loved it and and you know switching from drama to comedy

[00:18:15] It's interesting people ask that a lot, you know, I think comedy is more difficult

[00:18:23] But I think that it's it's similar to drama it just the stakes are higher

[00:18:30] And when you make the stakes higher, that's where the humor comes in because you know

[00:18:35] You want a cup of coffee, but you really have to have a cup of coffee, you know, and it becomes so urgent

[00:18:40] that's where some of the humor comes in and

[00:18:44] But yeah, I like doing both but I'm glad you asked about sitcoms. I'm very fond of that live audience

[00:18:50] I love it. You know, I want to do more theater now in my old age

[00:18:55] So I have to make my agents get after that

[00:19:00] I did see the clip of Fuller House on your demo reel and I enjoyed that

[00:19:06] That was a that was a lot of fun

[00:19:08] Yes, wasn't she grand what a great character they she was a designer of a bridal

[00:19:15] Salon and of course, there were a lot of mishaps of who's wearing what dress but I had no I

[00:19:22] She was another no-nonsense character with a very thick Russian accent, you know

[00:19:26] And they the the characters would come in and start to tell me about themselves and I'd say Belter doesn't care

[00:19:32] I

[00:19:35] Have just having a smoking break leave me alone, you know, and I like I like better

[00:19:43] Some of my friends who have young children

[00:19:46] When I run into them they go do some better because that's cute. That's great

[00:19:52] It was a good series actually

[00:19:55] long long running one to yeah, that was it was a nice

[00:19:59] Second go at that

[00:20:03] Yeah, and the music that they had it was great

[00:20:09] Last I've been so blessed with a variety really. I'm

[00:20:12] Deeply grateful. We are really excited that you're gonna be at Trek Long Island

[00:20:20] It's gonna be awesome and and we're we are gonna tell everybody how nice you are

[00:20:26] They did not hold some other writers who wrote the character for Star Trek that way it's not your fault

[00:20:33] It's but also the chief wasn't wrong

[00:20:36] I've come around where I've gone from how dare you even suggest Picard is wrong too

[00:20:41] You know what? You have a good point if you can destroy the board now

[00:20:47] To apologize for the writers

[00:20:50] Well again as someone who also is somewhat military adjacent, you know

[00:20:54] There is something to be said for a rank because you know more not that necessarily you're smarter

[00:21:00] But you have access to more information and you have a broader view and so that's that's why you have people in those positions

[00:21:06] So yes, I'm I've always been on the side of you know, Admiral de KF is correct

[00:21:13] Well, I just think that you know

[00:21:16] She was always fighting for principle and that's something I could get behind

[00:21:20] Yeah

[00:21:21] You know, it's not always the most popular stand

[00:21:25] even today we could we can see that but

[00:21:28] So yeah, she was she was great lady. When people ask me my favorite character

[00:21:32] she's always one of them and then this Lazarus man woman was another one because

[00:21:37] And oh gosh and all the comedy ones. I like news radio. It was a lot of fun. I mean just I

[00:21:44] Have fun

[00:21:46] Good

[00:21:49] Did you keep any little props from Star Trek when you're I want to you know what I went after I started going to

[00:21:58] Conventions I went to Paramount and I had a nice relationship with the costume people, you know, I usually do I'm you know

[00:22:05] Pretty friendly and I said could I you know get that my costume or I'd be happy to pay for it

[00:22:11] You know, I was like I asked for their firstborn son

[00:22:15] Absolutely, we are saving all the message you mama asking for what

[00:22:21] Maybe it's like a museum down the road

[00:22:24] I don't know

[00:22:24] But but they would not part with it and so no not that the costume is what I would have wanted

[00:22:29] I didn't get any chakras either. I did have somebody a very talented fan

[00:22:37] friend

[00:22:38] build the

[00:22:39] jacket for me exactly

[00:22:41] And I do photo ops at conventions, I'll be bringing in

[00:22:47] Okay, we might have to do that. Yes, and and even though I don't quite get my hair the way they had it

[00:22:52] It's it's very

[00:22:55] It's a good thing to do and it was his idea

[00:22:57] He said well, let me make you a jacket you couldn't get more photos taken with you know photo ops, etc

[00:23:02] And I said, well, yeah, you can't it was it's impeccable. You'll see when you come and

[00:23:08] So and you all get free autographs and I'll write whatever you want

[00:23:16] You can write per card was wrong on mine

[00:23:24] A couple years ago and Vegas it was a few years ago actually, you know

[00:23:28] Like maybe five and I was in my uniform, you know the newly made uniform and I was waiting and they said he'll be out

[00:23:35] He didn't know I was waiting for and I'm waiting and I'm waiting waiting

[00:23:38] It was backstage somewhere and finally he comes out and I said, how dare you keep an admiral waiting?

[00:23:50] But I have to say there was a moment where you know, he kind of like and then he realized, you know

[00:23:55] I was I was not for a change

[00:23:58] chastising him, you know

[00:24:00] Little story when I did you know, I was always dissing Frank's, you know my

[00:24:07] and

[00:24:08] The first DS 9 that I shot I did too. Don't ask me the name my key one in my key to iron

[00:24:16] Frank's was directing and so I got on the set and he said now I can get my revenge

[00:24:22] I

[00:24:33] Have to say thank you so much for joining us today. We're just about the end of our time

[00:24:38] It was my pleasure

[00:24:39] I I just looking forward so much to meeting you in person and

[00:24:44] Maybe I'll think of some other little things to share with you by then

[00:24:48] but thank you for making this so easy and

[00:24:52] Questions and all you're welcome. You're welcome. I must say I love all the memorabilia behind you

[00:24:58] It's fascinating and if we had more time, I'd want a story behind each of them

[00:25:02] I'm sure there is some other time. Well, we'll definitely have you back

[00:25:06] So thank you today

[00:25:08] And I'm gonna also say thank you to our listeners who have tuned in to listen to us at the big sci-fi podcast

[00:25:14] And everybody not only continue listen to us

[00:25:17] Remember that you're gonna get to see all of us at Trek Long Island to this May 31st through June 2nd

[00:25:23] You're gonna see us you're gonna see Natalia and so much more and especially if you're there

[00:25:28] Remember to come test your trek knowledge at Trek trivia on that Saturday night

[00:25:32] We will have prizes and there might even be a question about Admiral and a chafe in there because I'm the one making

[00:25:38] The questions that I can do whatever I want

[00:25:41] Yes

[00:25:43] I am

[00:25:45] Always everybody keep in mind that you can interact and chat with us on our Facebook group or find us on Instagram and Twitter

[00:25:50] Or drop us a note at the big sci-fi podcast at gmail and y'all it's a great big sci-fi

[00:25:56] Universe out there and the voyage never ends

[00:25:58] Please always remember to extend kindness respect and understanding to all beings across the galaxy

[00:26:04] Live long and prosper and join us once more for the next interstellar journey on the big sci-fi podcast

[00:26:10] Attention all Starfleet personnel New York's only fan run Star Trek convention Trek

[00:26:17] Long Island is back this summer get ready for three days of sci-fi fun celebrating your favorite franchise in the Empire State

[00:26:25] Meet the stars from Trek shows spanning different eras including Melissa Navia and you td pedaki from strange new worlds

[00:26:31] Gabrielle Ruiz from lower decks Armin Shimmerman chase Masterson JG Herzler and kitty swing from DS 9

[00:26:38] Ethan Phillips from Voyager Janet Kidder Tara Rosling Conrad Coates and Elias Defexis from Discovery and

[00:26:45] Many more including celebrities who haven't been at a Star Trek convention in years like Clyde Kusatsu

[00:26:51] Natalia Nogalich and Daphne Ashbrook come meet your fellow fans take in a panel with your favorite podcasters

[00:26:58] Enjoy dinner with the stars featuring live musical performances

[00:27:01] The authors artists and musicians and so many more during this epic three-day event brought to you by the talented and

[00:27:09] Inclusive community that makes Star Trek go at warp speed

[00:27:13] Trek Long Island takes place from May 31st to June 2nd at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Hawthog, New York

[00:27:20] Visit trek long island comm for tickets exclusive packages and more information

[00:27:25] Trek Long Island going kindly this summer