Star Trek Social Club

You have a recurring role as Chancellor Kelrec on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy alongside Holly Hunter. What has it been like jumping on the whole Star Trek ride?

RB: I’m very lucky to have that job. I’m in a good chunk of both seasons, and you’ve got Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti. A huge amount of my scene work is with Holly Hunter. You’re working with someone who’s won an Academy Award, but nominated three times, and who also has learned from a whole other generation of actors and peers.

On one level, it’s like, ‘Wow, OK, I’m on this big franchise.’ But then on the other side, it’s been fun to watch these young actors grow over the two seasons. They’ve come from all across the galaxy. They’re from all over the world. They’ve never lived in Toronto before. They’re all here together, bonding and trying to make something special.

And then you have someone like Holly, who sets the bar incredibly high. She probably has more energy than anybody I’ve ever worked with. She’s more focused than anybody I’ve ever worked with. She’s pretty much more prepared than anybody I’ve ever worked with. Like the bar that she sets is so high for everyone, including me. I mean, as I said, I’m in year 30, and it’s like, ‘Hey Raoul, you better not fuck around on this. Let’s go.’

It’s just been great to work with an actor who’s senior to me in fame and experience and all that stuff, who I can still learn a lot from. It’s just a reminder that every day you’re on set, no matter what you’re doing or how long you’ve been doing it for, it really is a privilege to get to do this.